An Offering May 19 for the Pacific Press
By A. G. DANIELLS
In last week's Review a brief announcement was made that it had been decided to call on all our people in the United States for an offering in behalf of the Pacific Press Publishing House. As soon as this had been agreed to by the General Conference Committee a message was sent to our brethren at the Pacific Press asking if this plan would be acceptable. A reply had not been returned when the Review went to press last week, but we have since received a message approving of our proposal. Before our announcement reached any of our people, letters began coming to our office suggesting that a Sabbath offering be taken. One union conference president telegraphed us that his committee had decided to take an offering throughout their union conference Sabbath, May 12, if the General Conference had no plans that would conflict with this. We believe that the Spirit of the Lord is impressing the minds of God's people to do this, and therefore we feel assured that we are doing the right thing, and that this effort will be a success. We do not believe that it is necessary to make a long, loud, pressing call to our people. We believe that they have the sympathy for, and interest in, this publishing institution that Congress and millions of this country have for the homeless ruined people of San Francisco. The publishing house does not, of course, suffer hunger and exposure, but it is one of the Lord's facilities for aiding in giving his last warning message to the world before he arises to shake terribly the earth. The message God is giving is greater than the people to whom it is being given, and the messengers and facilities used by the Lord in giving his message are great in his estimation. The building and machinery of the Pacific Press can be of value to the Lord only as they are used as facilities in finishing his work in the earth. We are assured by our brethren at Mountain View that this dreadful earthquake has aroused them to a sense of the nothingness of everything in this world save true Christian character. This means personal experience in appropriating the righteousness of Christ, and in devoting our lives to, and using our facilities for, the one thing to which God calls us. The Pacific Press Board of Trustees have telegraphed us that their loss is thirty-three thousand dollars. They are not in a financial condition to stand this. They must have help. The Lord has greatly blessed us with means during the last ten years. We are well able to help this institution in its hour of misfortune. Shall we not, therefore, respond liberally to this call for help? This dreadful disaster in San Francisco and other cities on the Pacific Coast shows how utterly uncertain the things of this world are, and how quickly and completely our means can take wings and fly away. We know that soon there will be a greater earthquake than any that has ever been, when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The only right, sensible thing for a people knowing what we do, is to devote all we are and have to the Lord's work as he directs. Then let us give liberally for the Pacific Press, Sabbath, May 19. For the General Conference Committee.