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To the Brethren in Illinois

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 18, 1872

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 40, No. 1.

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To the Brethren in Illinois.

By R. J. Whitham; Seth Newton; R. F. Andrews

DEAR BRETHREN: We wish to call your attention to the financial condition of our Conference. The following are the facts in the case:—
  1. Nearly $500.00 of the Systematic Benevolence pledged for last Conference year is unpaid.
  2. As a consequence there is due the ministers in the employ of the Conference $245.00 of the small compensation allowed them.
  3. For lack of means we could only pay the traveling expenses of the laborers sent us by the General Conference to attend our Camp-meeting and Conference, thus forcing them to make a draft upon the General Conference fund, for compensation for their time, if they have any.
  4. We are in debt for our new tent $105.00 borrowed money.
  5. Both our tents are in the field and not one dollar in the treasury to meet current expenses, but, worse still, our Conference actually $350.00 in debt.
In view of these facts, we appeal to you, brethren, to come up to the work like men of God, and relieve the Conference from its embarrassment, and thus help those that are in its employ to meet their obligations.
It is true our Conference is young, and weak financially. Still we do not believe that there is any need of its remaining in its present crippled condition, if all the professed friends of the cause will do their duty. We offer the following suggestions, which we believe, if heeded, will not only bring present relief, but prevent a like difficulty from arising in the future:
  1. Let all those who have not redeemed their past pledges to the Conference immediately do so.
  2. Let all put forth an earnest effort in the future to meet their pledges when due. This is no more than rendering to God the things that are his. If it is but just to meet our obligations to our fellow-men when due, we ought, to say the least, to be as punctual with our God. “Will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me—in tithes and offerings.” Mal. 3:8.
  3. Let our brethren and sisters that are already paying Systematic Benevolence look over their s. B. figures and see if they are as high as they ought to be; and if not, raise them to what they should be.
  4. We invite our scattered brethren and sisters who have heretofore taken no part in this branch of the work of God, to commence in earnest, and help us what they can in our present embarrassed circumstances, and to unite with us in the future, in carrying out the plan of s. B. as practised by our people.
  5. Those who are able, and have a willing mind, we invite to donate to the Conference independent of their s. B., and those who have not yet taken any stock in our new tent, we would earnestly solicit to come right forward with their means and assist in this noble enterprise.
God has said that he “loveth a cheerful giver,” and that “the liberal soul shall be made fat.” “There is that scattereth and yet increaseth, and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” Every man shall be rewarded “as his work shall be.”
We close by calling your attention to a resolution touching this subject passed at our Conference. See minutes of Conference when published in Review.
All remittances should be sent to the Conference treasurer, Ivory Colcord, Coleta, Whiteside Co., Ill.
Come now, brethren, let us work while we have opportunity.
R. J. Whitham, } Ill. Conf. Seth Newton, } Committee. R. F. Andrews,