Speculation by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 19, 1883

“Speculation.”

By Editor

THIS cry has followed the earnest workers in the cause of the Third Angel’s Message ever since we have been acquainted with it, which is more than thirty years. We do not like to notice the evil and groundless reports raised against our associates; but when they succeed in injuring their influence for good, and crippling their efforts to help the cause, we consider it our duty to arrest the evil for the truth’s sake.

As a sample of these reports, we now notice one which is being circulated about our efficient and devoted fellow-laborer in this office, Bro. C. H. Jones. It is said that he came here poor; that he has purchased a fine residence; and that it is nicely furnished; and that they do not know where their tithes go. A few simple facts will set this matter right. And any wishing to know the facts could have had them at any time, and saved themselves the wrong of violating the ninth commandment.

1. They can find where every cent of the tithes has gone by applying to the Conference Secretary and Treasurer. Not a cent of it has ever gone to pay expenses in the office, or to any individual in the office. So strictly is this true that we have received no pay from the Treasury (nor from any other source) for the preaching we have done in California since our connection with the SIGNS office in 1878. The tithes have gone to those in the employ of the Conference and to no others. In our case we except those weeks when we have been absent from the office at camp-meetings.

2. Bro. Jones came to Oakland with $400. He has now been here four years.

3. He purchased a place recently on which he paid down $800—all the money he possessed.

4. He has labored exceedingly hard, to a great extent depriving himself of the benefit and pleasure of evening meetings, devoting all his energies to the interests of the office.

5. Considerable of the time Sister Jones has also worked for the office, being our most reliable proof-reader.

6. By this hard labor they have saved about $100 a year! a sum which most of those who talk about his circumstances would spurn with contempt as the avails of a year’s labor.

7. While those who instigate this talk choose their own methods and means of making money, and choose those which bring them the greatest gains, we know that Bro. Jones could command much larger compensation for his skill, experience, and faithfulness, in other places. But he chooses to labor here for the sake of the cause which we are here trying to advance.

8. Although he has paid less than one-fifth of the price of his residence, and pays interest on the remainder, it is a profitable investment both to himself and to the office. For (1) He bought on very favorable terms, so that the interest he pays is considerable less than rent in the same neighborhood. (2) He is near the office, where he could not afford to rent sufficient room to well accommodate his family. And (3) He has the advantage of a permanent residence, close to his work, which he could not secure by renting.

Now we must add one painful truth, namely: many of those who do this kind of talk are people who could buy his residence, pay down in full, and not suffer any inconvenience from the outlay!

And to some we can answer the question they propose: Where do their tithes go? They mostly go where they do not belong, namely, into their own pockets, to be used to advance their own worldly interests, and to be burned up when the day of the Lord comes.

We do not believe there is any class of people connected with this or any other good cause who labor as hard with as limited compensation as they who bear the burdens of our publishing work.