“Give and It Shall Be Given.”
By James White
THE enterprise of a camp-meeting in Kansas is one that calls for sacrifice. Nothing but a deep sense of duty in the case could induce us to peril health and life to hold a camp-meeting in Kansas, at this late season of the year, after holding eleven the present season under circumstances which have greatly exhausted our strength. At the close of the Michigan camp-meeting, we gave up the meeting in Kansas, agreeably to our statement in REVIEW for Sept. 20, 1870. We were then much worn, and very hoarse. And what added to our discouragements, was the apparent, to say the least, indifference, on the part of wealthy brethren to the wants of the cause, and the general stupor of those whose worldly wealth and consequent cares had benumbed them. Such an enterprise would cost much, and we could hardly expect the scattered friends in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, to meet the entire expenses. The General Conference was in debt, and we did not feel willing to add to that debt by such a journey. And our people in Michigan came up to their annual camp-meeting empty handed, or if they did not, they failed to open their hands wide on that occasion. With these discouragements upon us, we gave up the Kansas Camp-meeting for the present season. But on the Ohio Camp-ground, the burden of the western meetings rolled upon us, and we there talked out our feelings upon the subject, and stated our discouragements. The brethren present pledged their prayers, and their means to help. And although their number was not more than one-sixth the Michigan Camp-meeting, they pledged nearly $300, and paid about $150 on the ground. We then decided to hold the meetings in Indiana and Kansas, and also to appeal to all the friends of the cause to help with their prayers and their means. There are, however, wealthy brethren in Indiana who will esteem it a pleasure to meet the expenses of the meeting in that State, and also to assist in the work still further west. The journey to and from Kansas will be an expensive one. Express charges on books and tents will be large. And we wish to scatter, in the West, our publications free to those who are not able to pay for them. We shall go forward in this enterprise, and manage it judiciously, yet upon a large scale, in full faith that the friends of the cause everywhere will come liberally up to the help of the Lord with their means. There are many among us abundantly able, and who would please God in so doing, to put from $100 to $1000 each into the treasury at once, to be appropriated to the different branches of the cause. And there is a larger class who can spare $5 to $100 and never feel it, only in the way of enjoying the satisfaction of doing right. We appeal to all, to come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty, with their means. The field of usefulness is opening before us everywhere, and it is time to be awake to the wants of the cause. What more may be received than shall be necessary to meet the expenses of the Kansas Camp-meeting will be appropriated to pay the debts of General Conference. And then what shall remain will be applied to the book and tract fund. This whole matter will be laid before the General Conference, at its next annual session, for inspection; therefore none need fear that their money will not be properly appropriated. We will furnish blank subscription papers to churches, which we request shall be circulated for subscriptions, to be paid at once as far as possible, and forwarded to this Office. Scattered brethren, who do not need them, can send their donations without delay. All receipts will be acknowledged in REVIEW.