p. 404 | THE CHURCH by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 25, 1901

THE CHURCH.

By John Norton Loughborough

Legal Organization.

ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

“ALL things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” I Cor. 10:23, 24.

An address setting forth the “tithing principle” as the best method of gathering funds for the support of the ministry, was published in the REVIEW of Feb. 6, 1859. This same address had been adopted by a vote of the Battle Creek church, Jan. 26, 1859. The plan proposed was so reasonable and consistent that it was readily accepted and acted upon by the generous and liberal hearted. It was welcomed as a measure well calculated to give greater efficiency to the work of the ministry. An address on the same subject was read at a general gathering of Sabbath-keepers in Battle Creek, June 3–6, 1859. It was adopted by a vote of that body, and recommended to all as a plan to be acted upon at once. The majority of our people began immediately to carry out the principle. Some, however, delayed, and the principal cause of such delays was well set forth in the following Testimony: “Rob not God by withholding from Him your tithes and offerings. It is the first sacred duty to render to God a suitable proportion. Let no one throw in his claims and lead you to rob God. Let not your children steal your offerings from God’s altar for their own benefit.

“I saw that in the arrangement of systematic benevolence, hearts will be tested and proved. It is a constant, living test. It brings one to understand his own heart, to see whether the truth or the love of the world predominates. Here is a test for the naturally selfish and covetous. They will put down their possessions at very low figures. Here they dissemble. Said the angel, ‘Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully.’ Angels are watching the development of character, and the acts of such are carried to heaven by the heavenly messengers. Some will be visited of God for these things, and their increase will be brought down to their figures. ‘There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.’”

“This tithing system, I saw, would develop character, and manifest the true state of the heart. If the brethren . . . have this matter presented before them in its true bearing, and are left to decide for themselves, they will see wisdom and order in the tithing system.”—Vol. I, pages 221, 222.

With a slight modification of keeping account of actual income, and giving one-tenth of that to the cause of God, the system introduced in 1858 is still carried out. It supplies a steady flow of means into the treasury for the gospel work. Note that the Testimony, from the first, called it “tithes” that should be rendered to the Lord.

As the message advanced, and the number of the laborers constantly increased, the Lord, in His providence, as we have seen, led us to an effective Bible plan for the sustenance of the ministry. With the increase in numbers came a demand for, and an increase in, facilities for printing and publishing the truth, and a corresponding accumulation of property at the Review and Herald office. That branch of the work, started in July, 1849, by Brother James White, printing the first number of a paper (The Present Truth) with money earned mowing grass, had grown until now there was several thousand dollars invested in the business. It became needful for some one to take the responsibility of this in the initiative. As the business had grown under his judicious management, the plant and “good will” of the business were legally his. He did not wish it so understood. He called it “the property of the Church.” In this position was an illustration of the principle expressed in the text at the head of this article, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.” He desired to place the matter in the hands of the Church; but the Church was not in a condition to legally hold property. This brought us, as a people, to a point where something was “wanting.” That was a third step in order—to make a move by virtue of which the Church could receive and lawfully hold its real estate and other property.

In the REVIEW of Feb. 23, 1860, Elder James White, in an article on this subject, said: “We hope, however, that the time is not far distant when this people will be in that position necessary to be able to get church property insured, hold their meeting-houses in a proper manner, that those making wills, and desiring to do so, can appropriate a portion to the publishing department. We call upon our preachers and leading brethren to give the matter their attention. If any object to our suggestion, will they please write out a plan on which we as a people can act?”

In the REVIEW of March 8, under the heading of “Legal Organization,” a minister made the following statements in reference to Brother White’s request: “What I understand is necessary to remedy all the defects in the matter, is to organize in such a manner that we can hold church property legally. Then the property could be held in the name of the Church. Money could be borrowed in the same way, and no one individual would have to take a burden upon himself which he ought not to bear. If it is wrong to protect church property, why is it not wrong to hold any property legally? If it is not wrong to hold farms and village lots in a lawful manner, neither is it wrong to hold church property in the same way. I think the same principle is involved in both cases.”

It may seem strange at the present time, to those unacquainted with the situation of our cause in 1860, that in the REVIEW of March 22 appeared an article from a brother in the faith, much esteemed, in which he stated that what was desired by Elders White and — was to “make a name, so as to be like the nations around them,” like the builders of the tower of Babel. He claimed that in the movement proposed for legally holding church property, these

brethren were going into Babylon, “uniting Church and State,” etc.

In the next two numbers of the REVIEW, Elder White fully answered the brother, showing that while it is wrong to resort to the civil arm to enforce the worship of God, “the Lord’s goods can be managed in this state of things only according to the laws of the country.” And it is “vain to talk of church property, if the Church is not in a position to hold it legally.”

The position of the brother opposing “legal organization” was that we should “trust the Lord in these matters;” that the “Lord would not allow the world to take advantage of us, because the property was the Lord’s own property, devoted to His service;” that “those pleading for legal organization showed a lack of faith in the Lord,” etc. He seemed to forget what the Testimony had said about Satan’s counsel to his angels to keep money matters in their control, and out of the hands of this people.

On this brother’s case the Lord was pleased to speak to His people in these words: “I saw that in temporal matters Brother B was too easy and negligent. He has lacked energy, considering it a virtue to leave to the Lord that which the Lord has left to him. It is only in cases of great emergency that the Lord interposes for us. We have a work to do, burdens and responsibilities to bear, and in thus doing we gain an experience.

“The Lord requires His people to use their reason, and not lay it aside for impressions. His work will be intelligible to all His children. His teaching will be such as will commend itself to the understanding of intelligent minds. It is calculated to elevate the mind. God’s power is not manifested upon every occasion. Man’s necessity is God’s opportunity.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, pages 212, 230.

From September 28 to Oct. 1, 1860, there was a general meeting of our people from Michigan and adjoining States, held at Battle Creek. At this time there was a full and free consideration of legal organization for the purpose of holding the office of publication and other church property—meeting-houses, etc. As the result of these deliberations, it was voted unanimously to legally organize a publishing association, and a committee of five was elected by those assembled, that such a corporation might be formed as soon as practicable.

As soon as a move should be made to organize, a name would needs be taken for the corporation, so this led to a consideration of the name by which we should be known. Some were in favor of the name “Church of God.” This was objected to on the ground that it gave none of the distinctive features of our faith, while the name “Seventh-day Adventists” would not only set forth our faith in the near coming of Christ, but would also show that we are observers of the seventh-day Sabbath. When this matter was put to vote, only one person voted against the name “Seventh-day Adventists,” and he decided in favor of it shortly after.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association was organized May 3, 1861. This was the first of the various legal corporations formed by this people. The formation of such corporations was point number THREE in establishing, in God’s opening providence, the “order and system” of managing the work of the Third Angel’s Message. All can now see the necessity for such corporations, and may wonder that it was not always seen by us. But let none lose the practical lesson contained in this case. While we should most earnestly seek the Lord for divine guidance, we must remember that as He works in us, as His instruments, we too have a work to do. We are not to expect Him to do what He has left for us to do, and what He “works in us” to “do.”