The Annual Offering for Orphanages

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 28, 1907

The Annual Offering for Orphanages

To Be Taken Sabbath, April 6

In the spring of 1891, at the session of the General Conference in Battle Creek, Mich., it was voted that an orphanage and an old people’s home should be established and maintained by our people.

A committee was appointed to inaugurate this work. The outcome was the establishment of an orphanage, known as the Haskell Home, and an old people’s home, known as the James White Memorial Home, both of which institutions are located at Battle Creek, Mich.

A lady, not identified with our cause, but interested in orphanage work, contributed thirty thousand dollars toward the erection of the Haskell Home. A corporation for these enterprises was later created, and operated under various names, according to the desire of those directing its affairs. The last corporate name of the organization was the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, which ultimately became involved financially, and petitioned the court to appoint a receiver.

Prior to the dissolution of this corporation by the court and the appointment of a receiver, its trustees, unbeknown to many of the numerous creditors of the association, deeded the properties known as the Haskell Home and the James White Memorial Home to corporations which had been created by some of those directly connected with the Battle Creek Sanitarium, the Haskell Home, the James White Memorial Home, and the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association.

The reader can well imagine the surprise that was felt when it was learned that the Medical Missionary Association had divested itself of these properties which had been carried on its books as an asset.

The records show that the trustees of the defunct Medical Association had, without financial consideration, deeded away both properties, and left the liabilities of the Medical Association unchanged. It has been repeatedly stated by those representing the corporations to which these institutions were deeded that they were undenominational. These institutions were therefore placed beyond the ownership and management of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.

Notwithstanding the large amount of money which our people were annually contributing for the support and maintenance of these institutions,—amounting, since 1891, to $176,594.34, according to the books of the Medical Association,—the trustees, elected to control and manage the enterprises for the denomination, deeded the properties to these undenominational organizations, in the management of which the denomination has no voice or control.

The question has naturally arisen among our people, Shall our denomination continue the support and maintenance of these institutions?

The Washington General Conference, held in the spring of 1905, recommended “that five general collections be taken,” naming with four others, “an offering for the orphans of the Haskell Home and similar institutions.”

In the spring of 1906 the usual offering for orphanages was taken, amounting to about $4,500. Notwithstanding the knowledge the General Conference Committee had regarding the change in the ownership and management of these institutions, it turned over to the Haskell Home out of this donation for 1906, $3,000. The rest has been set aside and appropriated for other orphanage work carried on among our people.

In the autumn of 1906, the secretary of the General Conference received from the secretary of the Haskell Home and the James White Memorial Home an inquiry concerning the future support of these institutions. The question was laid before the General Conference Committee, together with a large number of presidents of conferences who were assembled in council at Takoma Park, in October, and the following recommendation was adopted:—

“In reply to the inquiry received from the secretary of the Haskell Home and the James White Memorial Home concerning the attitude of the denomination toward the further maintenance of these institutions, we recommend,—

“1. That reply be made to the effect that in view of the present well-known conditions, it is not deemed expedient that any further special appeal be made to the denomination for collections to provide for the maintenance of these institutions.

“2. That the officers of the General Conference be instructed to enter into negotiations with the management of the Haskell Home and of the James White Memorial Home on the basis that the offer be made that the denomination will take charge of and provide for the maintenance of any orphans now in the institution coming from Seventh-day Adventist families; and take charge of and provide for the maintenance of any aged people belonging to the denomination now in the James White Memorial Home who are dependent upon that institution for their support, not having placed in the hands of the management any funds or property providing for the same, and who may desire to go elsewhere.

“3. That each union conference make provision for the care of orphans and aged people within its borders, and that in the future the general call be made for the collection for orphans and aged people as heretofore, and that each union conference be permitted to retain whatever amount is raised within its territory.

“4. That a committee composed of the vice-president of the General Conference and one representative from each union conference be appointed to consider and recommend plans for the establishment and maintenance of the homes for orphans and aged people, or to make other provision for their care as may be deemed advisable.”

The secretary of the Haskell Home and the James White Memorial Home was notified of this action, and acknowledged receipt of the same, but no request has been made of the General Conference Committee to take the supervision and care of any of the inmates of these institutions.

The recommendations of the council concerning the care and maintenance of orphans and aged people in each union conference, should at once be taken up by the union conferences, and a plan worked out whereby persons needing assistance may have the same.

The donation to be taken the first Sabbath in April, 1907, will be used by the union conferences to establish and maintain suitable accommodations for the needy in their respective territories.

We believe that our people will approve of the arrangement to have the aged and orphans among us cared for by our union conferences. These unions will be better able to care for the needy than any central institution. They will more readily find it possible to provide homes among our people. And where it may be deemed necessary to establish an institution, those who share its benefits need not be taken so far away from friends and former associations.

We believe this will bring to us the fulfilment of the prophecy in Isaiah, where the Lord says: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.”

Let it be remembered that the offering which will be taken the first Sabbath in April will be devoted to the care of orphans and needy aged persons in each union conference. The money contributed will be retained by the union conference treasuries for the work in their respective territories.

Let us take hold of this work with renewed energy, and make a liberal offering in behalf of those who shall need our assistance.

OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE.