UNLIMITED AND LIMITED by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 11, 1903

UNLIMITED AND LIMITED.

By Editor

The generosity of a Christian ought to be as unlimited as the love of Christ, taking in all needy ones everywhere. That is the proper disposition for a Christian to have. The practical beneficence of such a Christian is, however, subject to all human limitations. The poorest man may be generous enough to give the world. Evidently the poor widow was; but her beneficence was limited by two mites. Since California Conference last autumn generously voted to pay the expenses and salaries to as many of her workers as would go out into the regions beyond, and several thousand dollars more, persons in various parts of this country and Europe have seemed to think that California’s resources, like her generosity, were practically unlimited. If California—that is, the people of God in California who are believing and giving to the world God’s last great message—were worth more, she would give more. Her material resources are limited. Let the editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, unsolicited by any others whatever, say a few words, which he hopes may help to a better understanding.

1. What California has already done will use up all her surplus, and make it a question of coming out even at the end of the year. Her dollars will have to be laid the longest, broadest way to meet current expenses.

2. In respect to the institutions in this State, all of them are in debt, sanitarium, college, and publishing house. And the two former, which do, in the nature of the case, much charitable work, are greatly in need of funds; and the third has donated for missionary work, during the last two years, from $12,000 to $15,000.

3. As respects Oakland Church itself. It has a large membership—nearly 600—but many of these are non-resident members; many are not producers in the sense that they are able to help much financially; some, as in many churches, are unwilling leaners instead of lifters; and, therefore, the chief burdens fall very heavily upon a few, a hundred or less. These are lifting nobly, faithfully, constantly.

4. The church has its local burdens. It still has a debt upon its house of worship of $6,000; a few years ago it was double that amount. It expends for its poor about $500 a year. Its church-school expense the past year has been nearly $1,000; its running expenses, repairs, etc., $800. Its tithes and offerings for the last year amount to about $12,000. Living expenses—house rent, fuel, provisions, etc., are constantly increasing, without a corresponding increase of wages.

5. Upon the other churches in the Bay District great burdens also rest. While business is brisk in California, as a general thing there is not the ready money among the masses there was twenty years ago.

We are not saying this to boast of the benevolence of California or Oakland, but that our brethren and friends may know that whatever our spirit of sympathy or generosity may be, our beneficence and ability, as a whole, are much more limited than our friends or we could desire.