To the Churches and Scattered Friends in Indiana.
By Wm. Covert
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I wish to say a few things to you in behalf of the dear cause within our infant Conference. At our late camp-meeting, we separated from the Michigan Conference, and formed ourselves into the Indiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. I trust you all feel that new responsibilities are resting upon you. And now let us begin at once to discharge those duties. The S. B. treasurers will please report quarterly to our State Treasurer, Isaac Zirkle, Mechanicsburg, Henry County, Ind. Our Conference year commenced with September. The second report is due December 1. There are quite a number of scattered ones who are not paying S. B. Such are requested to join in this good work. Send your tithe either to the nearest church treasurer or to the State treasurer. Don’t begin to excuse yourselves because you have no preaching. We want to make this the means by which you may obtain help. We expect to send some preachers to good points, and those that take the most interest in the work are most likely to get up the best interest in their neighborhoods, and get preaching first. Take hold of the Missionary and Tract Society work. We will have it in operation soon. You can have books and tracts at one-third retail rates. All can help in this branch of the work. The lonely ones have a better chance to do good in this part of the work than any others. We would say to those who are taking our periodicals, see to it that your subscriptions are paid up. We shall have a list of the delinquents shortly, and shall have to learn the reasons of your indebtedness. Will you please to save us this unpleasant duty? Friends, we want your co-operation in this great work. “Each should feel his brother’s sigh, and with him bear a part.” Mutual obligation is one thing that many never seem to think of; but probation has not yet closed, and all have a chance yet to repent of this sin. Dear brethren, what shall be done for the cause in this State this year? This has been with me of late a subject of earnest thought. We are just starting here, but the message has a quarter of a century the start of us; and in order for us to overtake and keep pace with the progress of the cause, we have to use more energies than we have been wont to do. And now, while our Conference is young and weak, let us put forth our best efforts to push the work forward. We have a goodly number of brethren in Indiana that have abundance of means to help the cause. God has given you this means and the light on the third angel’s message, and he now asks you to use them in warning fellow-mortals of the approaching doom of this present generation. Every consideration demands that we act now. If we are really living in the last generation of mankind, what is the use for brethren to hold from five to thirty thousand dollars, and go about the country telling their neighbors that this is the generation that shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven. But before Christ comes, the two-horned beast will enforce an edict that will keep commandment-keepers from all trade and traffic. They may feel the force of the argument; but the greater part will reject it unless they can see more consistency in works. I propose that we run two tents in Indiana next summer. I am fully satisfied that it can and should be done. I believe we can get the ministerial help if we show ourselves to be in earnest. I propose to double my Systematic Benevolence for next year, and do a good share toward another tent to start the first of June, if we can get the help to man them. What say you? I can think of no other way to fill the numerous calls. We have a good field and plenty of means (except preaching help) in this State. Let us put these talents out to the “exchangers” while we can buy and sell, so that the message may be kept moving. The question with some is, “Can we pay for two laborers?” But the question should be, Can we get four laborers to pay for? Perhaps we can. At any rate, we can try. But the money the brethren already have. Many of us are behind with the Lord several years, and must pay up; and we think this is a good opportunity. Shall we use it? Wm. Covert, President of Ind. Conference.