Systematic Benevolence.
By James White
The Jews had a system of tithing to support the cause of God which bore upon the people in an equitable manner. It did not oppress the poor, nor burden the rich. It touched all, and burdened none. God would have his people bear the burdens of the way in the Christian age in a manner to secure the same desired results. There was system then. There should be system now. There was equality then, according to every man's ability. There should be system now that shall require means, according to what a man hath, as well as then. The same God rules in the Christian age that reigned in the Jewish age. He is a God of order and equality. What men give they should give willingly. God called for free-will offerings in the days of Moses and the Jews. He calls for free-will offerings of us Christian men. But a free-will offering does not imply absence of order. What is wanted in the Christian church is free-will, systematic giving under a sense of duty to support the cause of God. Seventh-day Adventists have prospered and succeeded in sustaining the ministry wonderfully, under a system of benevolence, which, if carried out, would appropriate a sum equal to one per cent annually of all the property held by the members. While this touches the poor man very lightly, if at all, the rich would not feel it, only as it might vibrate on the chord of covetousness. But the practical workings of this system up to the present year had to do with the support of the ministry only, and the raising of means for home and foreign missions, and other worthy objects, was left to the mercy of the old hap-hazard style which calls a stinted amount from the liberal, who are generally poor, until the subject was pretty thoroughly considered at the General Meeting at Battle Creek a few months since. It was decided at that meeting, that system which would secure equality in raising funds for missionary work at home and abroad was as necessary as in raising means to support the ministry. The winter's work of the T. and M. Society was at hand. Means must be raised in some way to carry forward this work. The manner of raising means by individual subscription, especially in these hard times, was proving a failure. The Conference decided to put into operation the plan of equality, and to meet the urgent, immediate want of means to carry on the T. and M. work, recommended that one-third be added to the S. B. of all our churches, to be used by the T. and M. Society in the distribution of our periodicals and publications. The general management of this work should be left to the General Conference Committee, who will labor to do their work well and without confusion. We are pleased with Elder Haskell's article on this subject in the Review for Feb. 8, 1877. The explanations of C. W. S. in the same paper tend to confuse the workers. The strength of the T. and M. movement lies in unity among managers and workers. Very minute explanations in our prints, and too many managers will produce confusion. The members of the General Conference Committee will set forth general plans in our prints. And if more definite explanations are wanted, presidents and directors of the T. and M. Societies will please address either Elder S. N. Haskell, South Lancaster, Mass., Elder D. M. Canright, Rome, N. Y., or Elder James White, Oakland, Cal. J. W.