But we are sorry to say that our fine building with all its advantages is not more than half filled with students. This cripples, not only the usefulness of the school, but also its financial ability. There is a debt of $10,000, on the school, on which sum interest must be paid. There should be, instead of this debt drawing interest, a fund greater than the debt, the interest of which coming in would help sustain the school. Measures must be taken immediately for the relief of our school and to place it where it will accomplish the greatest amount of good possible.
1. The debt must be removed. There are more unpaid pledges than to cover the debt. These must be collected, excepting in a few cases of inability to pay. The Supplement which accompanies this week’s REVIEW gives the names of all who have made pledges to our College, whether paid or unpaid. These names will appear each month, either in a Supplement or in a monthly paper published in the interests of our College. Delinquents will in this way be fully notified of their delinquency, and as fast as they pay up, due credit will be given them as having paid. If mistakes occur they will cheerfully be corrected on receiving notice.
2. There should and must be equality in the pleasurable task of sustaining and nourishing our school. But few of our people have taken any part in this good work. The certificates of stock in our College number less than seven hundred, when in fact there are not less then three thousand persons among our people in the United States who are each able to hold stock to the amount of $10 each, and upward.
3. Many who have already taken stock in our College are fully able to take more, and as the necessities of the case are set before them they will cheerfully add to their number of shares. The writer has one hundred shares, and now, in consideration of the pressing wants of the College, takes fifty more for Mrs. White. The friends of education in the ranks of S. D. Adventists have only to know that our school needs money at this time, in order to know their immediate duty. We hope for a prompt response to this appeal from hundreds who have taken stock in the Battle Creek College, and who are able to take more. Forward the cash if you have it on hand. If not, send your pledges to be paid during 1876.
4. There are persons in the several States who should take a course of study at our school to prepare them for usefulness in the cause. Many of these need more or less pecuniary assistance. Each State Conference should give this assistance as far as possible to persons in their own State, and the General Conference should meet such wants in the weaker Conferences. The devoted poor, who give themselves to the Lord to labor in his cause, should have the benefits of our school. Let the College building be filled with students, and let our school be freely and fully sustained that it may accomplish the great good Heaven has designed.
5. Finally, we shall publish the names of all those who have pledged means for our College each month, and let it appear who have paid, and who have not paid. And each month it will appear who have paid pledges during the month, and who have added to the amount of their stock, and what new names are added to the number of stock holders. Less than seven hundred persons hold stock amounting to about $40,000. We are fully resolved to prosecute our present plans until at least 3,000 persons hold stock in our College to the amount of $100,000.
The College owes the Publishing Association $10,000, and our publishing work is crippled for the want of this sum. We urge liberal equality by all those who are able to take stock in the Battle Creek College. And the real friends of our institutions, who can take from one to one hundred shares, and not feel the least embarrassed by so doing, is not less than three thousand persons. When every State and every church shall be thoroughly canvassed this will be found to be the case. Those who have not ready cash can give their pledges, to be paid during 1876. We hope to see the number of names doubled in the first number of the new paper for June.
We ask for no sums less than $10 from any one. Those who find sums set to their names in this Supplement less than $10, are invited to make them up to $10, if they are able so to do, or give permission to have them turned over to the General Conference which has already appropriated $1,000 to the College.