THE DONATION OF JULY 6.
By S. H. Lane
We feel confident that the readers of the REVIEW will be pleased to learn that the collection taken up in our churches, July 6, was a success. We have received, up-to-date, August 16, as the result of that collection for the Christiania publishing house, $13,414.40, and a few States have not yet reported. We hope they will soon. We are indeed thankful that our brethren and sisters in this and other countries felt moved upon to give toward this worthy object; even from the islands of the sea responses have come. The following is an extract from a letter written from Honolulu on the 26th of July:— “Please find inclosed a post-office order for forty dollars for the Scandinavian fund. This was raised by the church here, assisted by one of our nurses. We are glad to be able to aid, be it ever so little, in lifting the debts of the denomination.” This certainly has the right ring to it. In quite a number of our Scandinavian churches the brethren have been very liberal. One of our ministers, writing from Chicago, says:— “I send you the collection of July 6, from our Danish brethren in Chicago, to the publishing house in Christiania. The check is for $102.61. I have received a few dollars since I bought the check, and have the promise of yet a few more, which I will send later. We have sent two donations before to the work in Europe, and shall remember it again.” Surely, when churches and individuals are filled with an earnest desire to see our institutions out of debt, and our institutions manage well, it is only a question of time before we shall sing the song of jubilee of freedom from debt. In our various publishing houses, sanitariums, and schools, including what has been given to Christiania, our denominational debt has been reduced fully $80,000 in the last year. This reduction has been brought about by the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” the earnings of our institutions, and donations; and the reduction of these debts has materially lessened the interest money. We trust our brethren and sisters will respond nobly to the calls made for help. The next collection for the general work is for the Skodsborg Sanatorium. This institution is outstripping its own history in patronage, paying its expenses, and reaching a better class of people. As has been stated in the REVIEW, it is not bankrupt, but needs a few thousand dollars to put it in a condition where it can do a more extended work than it is doing, and not be hampered. We are glad that a spirit of liberality is coming in among our people, and hope that each one will heartily give something, the second Sabbath in September, for the sanatorium. Our sanitariums are doing a wonderful work in reaching what is termed the better class of people, and that class, when once impressed with the truth, and led to accept it, will have means with which to aid the cause. It is true that not many mighty and wealthy are called, but occasionally some are called, and in cases of emergency they step forward and aid the cause wonderfully, as Joseph and Nicodemus came to the front at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The poor disciples could mourn as could no others, but they were powerless to give Jesus such a burial as they felt He should have, and Joseph and Nicodemus pleased Heaven and glorified God by using their means in that emergency. So when we who are poor in this world’s goods do our duty, the Lord will not see His cause suffer, but will send help from various sources, one of the most prolific of which will be the better classes, such as are being more effectually reached through the sanitariums than through any other means which we are employing. The General Conference Association, the legal arm of the General Conference, carries the denominational debt. It is not embarrassed as it was, and is not borrowing money to run into debt, yet it can use some means at four per cent. If any of our people have money they wish to let at four per cent, the association will receive it. If any one is able to loan for a time without interest, that would be a still greater aid to the association. Its only necessity for borrowing money arises simply from the fact that those who have loaned money at a low rate of interest, and in many instances without interest, are in such circumstances that they need their money. If money is sent to us at a low rate of interest, or without interest, we can comply with these requests. We would be glad to correspond with any who may wish to loan us money without interest, or at a rate of interest not to exceed four per cent. As a denomination we should become one great family, and never tire in our efforts until the Master says enough has been given. The Lord is in the work, and it will succeed. S. H. LANE.