p. 100 | Mutual Obligation-No. 2 by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1872

Mutual Obligation.—No. 2.

By John Norton Loughborough

TO THE CHURCHES IN CALIFORNIA: Before receiving this, you will all doubtless have read my former article on this subject, in No. 5, of the present volume of the Review. Those who read carefully Bro. White’s articles on “Mutual Obligation” can see clearly that in all the mutual relations existing among men there are obligations to each other, growing out of those relations. This is most emphatically true in the church. So Paul admonished the Galatians to bear one another’s burdens, and “so fulfil the law of Christ.” In writing to the Romans, he makes the broad statement: “None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.” Every one has an influence for good or for evil. In our associations with our fellow-men, we are either gathering with Christ or scattering abroad. It is best for us to know our relations and our obligations, and seek to discharge them in such a manner that we shall indeed “live unto the Lord.” What can that be but devoting our time, our strength, and our means, in that manner that shall “gather with Christ”?

Do we make the cause of God “first” in all our plans and devisings for the expenditure of means? Do we keep the different enterprises that have as their object the wider spread of this truth before us, in our thoughts, in our prayers, in our calculations? Do we plan simply for ourselves, for our own comfort and convenience, or, while thus planning, do we give the cause of God an equal place? Do we live simply to ourselves, or do we realize that we owe our all to God, and seek to “live to him” by using all we can of our substance to advance his cause, and as little as possible for self-gratification? Do we act like those who will be waiting for our Lord, or do our actions, our plans, and our financial course, show that we expect to make a long stay here? Are we “providing bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heaven, that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth”? Do we realize that all we conscientiously invest to God’s glory, for the advancement of his truth, and to help on the great work of preparing a people for the coming of the Lord, is really so much treasure laid up in Heaven?

We see how earnest men are to invest in mining stocks when a favorable lead is struck, and there is a prospect of a rise in stocks; and yet we see, too, how often they fail in their anticipations. Can we not realize that what is used to God’s glory of the means at our command, which is all soon to perish, is so much invested in a treasure in Heaven which will soon be the only valuable substance? Shall we not, in view of these facts, “make to ourselves friends (God and Christ) of the mammon of unrighteousness (the means of this world, which is the god of the unrighteous man), that, when we fail, they may receive us into everlasting habitations”?

But I trust none of you will be like a friend I met not long since, who complacently said that he “did not see but the brethren East were doing all that was necessary on book fund, &c., so we need not do anything with our means in that direction.”

I tried to make the matter plain in a former article, that we have received from the general treasury of the cause $1700 to start the work in this State, while we have placed into that treasury, at present writing, only about $196. So it must be apparent to all that there are at least $1500 of the general funds of our brethren East invested in the cause here. Under such circumstances it is not very becoming in us to let them bear all the burden of sustaining Health Institute, Publishing Association, New Missions, and the $10,000 book fund, and, last but not least, the $10,000 thank offering to the Health Institute. I believe the Lord wants us to solemnly consider these things, and act our part.

Some, who have little idea how the printing business is carried on, do not see what is wanted with any more means at the Office. When they read in the report of the Association meeting that the net value of the property of the Association above all debts is $60,893.09, they are ready to exclaim, Why, that is all that is necessary there, surely. It must be remembered that this sixty thousand is not all cash, but includes buildings, with the land they stand upon, Office fixtures, presses, engine, type, &c. And when you have said that, you have taken up the largest portion of the means, and most of the balance is invested in books.

It cannot be otherwise than that much means must lie for a time in books. Suppose, for instance, there were only twenty different kinds of books to be published, and in order to have the first kind last until you could get around again by printing them all, you needed an edition of each book of 4000 copies. You must buy all the paper for the 4000 copies of each book, which is no small item on twenty books, even averaging between such works as “Thoughts on the Revelation,” and small tracts.

Again, the type setting, press work, printing, and folding of each book in its turn, must be done at once. So you perceive there must be much means invested in publishing the truth to get out a variety of books.

Again, as the work increases there must be a larger number of copies of each work published, or the first will be reported “all gone!” long before the publishers can complete the list of books and get around to publish the first again. Twice, in the last year, have I ordered several hundred of that little tract “Elihu on the Sabbath,” and been informed that it was “out of print;” whereas it once took an edition of only two thousand of that tract to last until they could get around to print it again. The last edition issued was ten thousand copies; and I have feared by the time the Pacific Railroad was open for freight, and we order our supply for spring, they will report again, “Out of print.”

Brethren and sisters, the publishing fund must be increased. It will be increased to meet the demand of a rapidly rising message. The question is, Shall we, on this coast, act our part in raising this fund, and thus show that we feel under some obligation for what has been done for us? Shares in the Publishing Association are only $10. each. Donations can be made to the Association or to the $10,000 book fund all the way from ten dollars to one thousand dollars. All this serves to increase the publishing fund.

Then there is the General Conference Missionary Fund. As already shown, we actually owe that a debt of gratitude of $1500 for what it expended in starting the work here. If it was a good work to have the truth brought to us, it will be just as good to have others receive it. Shall we help extend it by contributing of our substance to the General Conference Treasury? Of the Health Institute I would say, I know it has been the means of bringing many to a knowledge of the truth. Persons brought under the friendly help of those connected with it, and having their bodily infirmities relieved, are anxious to learn the truth that prompts a people to act as S. D. Adventists are acting in the cause of humanity. Learning the truth, they embrace it. I baptized, on one occasion, in Battle Creek, before I left there, seven new converts, all from the Health Institute. There are many who will rejoice in God’s kingdom that ever such an Institute was established. Many of you have figured up to me what you have saved per year in doctor’s bills, tobacco, tea, coffee, &c., by what you have learned of health reform through the medium of the Health Reformer published by the Institute. Do you not wish to do a part in raising the $10,000 thank offering?

Now, dear brethren and sisters, as I have given you a faint idea of how matters stand, I trust, and expect, you will all act with that promptness with which you have acted on former occasions, and that, at least, you will do enough soon to amount to as much as the $1500 invested from General Conference funds in our behalf. And then, acting on the plan that this cause is one, and concerns us mutually, with our brethren and sisters in other fields, shall we not act our part still in the work?

Pray over these things. Is there not some self-denial, some sacrifice, some contributing of our substance, that we can make to advance the light of this glorious truth? May God help us to lay these things to heart, and act promptly, and in the fear of God.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.