WHAT DO OUR RECEIPTS INDICATE?
By Chas. P. Whitford
In reply to the question asked in REVIEW, Vol. 49, No. 1, “What do our receipts indicate this week?” we submit the following answer:— |
|
|---|
| To receipts for REVIEW, |
$601.82 |
| “ books by mail, |
294.37 |
| “ “ “ express, |
401.69 |
| “ “ “ freight, |
154.17 |
| S. D. A. E. Society, |
58.50 |
| Cash on acct., |
258.51 |
| To Pacific Mission, |
10.00 |
| “ General Conf. Fund, |
15.50 |
| “ Swiss Mission, |
8.25 |
| “ Mich. Conf. Fund, |
910.69 |
| “ Book Fund, |
12.00 |
| “ Camp-meeting Fund, |
17.00 |
| “ Swedish Mission, |
.50 |
| “ Mich. T. and M. S., |
51.85 |
| “ Danish Norwegian Mission, |
4.00 |
| Total, |
$2798.85 |
To our mind, the above indicates health and prosperity to the cause of the third angel’s message. It looks as though the message was going to “peoples, nations, tongues; and kings,” as predicted in prophecy. The receipts in REVIEW for Dec. 14, 1876, were $2492.97. Upon stating this fact to a prominent first-day Adventist, he expressed great surprise, and remarked that their party did not get $500 in two months. But here are five times $500 in one week. These facts are a matter of great surprise to many, and they are led to ask, “What do these things mean?” to which we reply, God has a controversy with the nations. A truth of unparalleled clearness and importance is given us. The world must hear it. Cease to agitate? Never. Cease to urge the claims of God’s holy law? Not while men disobey it. Let this great reform stop and go backward? We have not so learned duty. Be less zealous in the work? We shall be more so. Contract the limits of our operations? We shall enlarge them. Let the agitation die away? We shall increase it. A counterfeit Sabbath is soon to be made a civil test in the law of the land, as the true one is now a moral test in the law of God. The people must be enlightened on the subject. And they will be so enlightened that when they decide against the right, it will be in obedience to the claims of self-interest, in opposition to clear convictions of duty.