SYSTEM IN THE WORK OF GOD.
By James White
The Jews had a system of tithing to support the cause of God, which bore upon the people in an equitable manner. It did not oppress the poor, nor burden the rich. It touched all, and burdened none. God would have his people bear the burdens of the way in the Christian age in a manner to secure the same desired results. There was system then. There should be system now. There was equality then according to every man's ability. There should be system now that shall require means according to what a man hath, as well as then. The same God rules in the Christian age that reigned in the Jewish age. He is a God of order and equality. What men give they should give willingly. God called for free-will offerings in the days of Moses and the Jews. He calls for free-will offerings of us Christian men. But a free-will offering does not imply absence of order. What is wanted in the Christian church is free-will, systematic giving under a sense of duty to support the cause of God. Seventh-day Adventists have prospered and succeeded in sustaining the ministry wonderfully, under a system of benevolence, which, if carried out, would appropriate a sum equal to one per cent. annually of all the property held by the members. While this touches the poor man very lightly, if at all, the rich would not feel it, only as it might vibrate on the chord of covetousness. But the practical workings of this system up to the present year had to do with the support of the ministry only; and the raising of means for home and foreign missions, and other worthy objects, was left to the mercy of the old haphazard style, which calls a stinted amount from the liberal, who are generally poor, until the subject was pretty thoroughly considered at the General Meeting at Battle Creek a few months since. It was decided at that meeting, that system which would secure equality in raising funds for missionary work at home and abroad was as necessary as in raising means to support the ministry. The winter's work of the T. and M. Society was at hand. Means must be raised in some way to carry forward this work. The manner of raising means by individual subscription, especially in these hard times, was proving a failure. The Conference decided to put into operation the plan of equality, and to meet the urgent, immediate want of means to carry on the T. and M. work, recommended that one-third be added to the S. B. of all our churches, to be used by the T. and M. Society in the distribution of our periodicals and publications. The general management of this work should be left to the General Conference Committee, who will labor to do their work well and without confusion. We are pleased with Elder Haskell's article on this subject in the REVIEW for Feb. 8, 1877. Our article for the REVIEW for Feb. 15 is in perfect agreement with Bro. Haskell's, excepting in one short paragraph. But in that it will be seen that we state that the best way would be to have the work done through the T. and M. Societies. Want of time alone pressed us to admit this deviation. “If all our churches and scattered brethren would act upon these suggestions at once, our list of subscribers would be swelled to 15,000 in a few weeks. If it is thought that this work should all be done through the T. and M. Society, that will be the best way, if the T. and M. workers will take hold of it at once. But let it be done immediately in some way.” The added one-third must be paid into the S. B. treasury of the churches, to save endless confusion. The only question remaining to be settled is whether each church can use the added one-third, or whether it must pass into the hands of the T. and M. workers. We ventured in the paragraph above to admit, that in present haste to circulate the SIGNS, it might do, where T. and M. workers move slowly, for the several churches to order packages of the SIGNS, to be paid for on the installment plan, direct from the church treasuries. We unhesitatingly say that the best way is for the T. and M. Societies to take hold of this work at once, and see that each church has packages of the SIGNS, and let the business all be done through the T. and M. officers. But if the officers of the T. and M. Societies do not act promptly, the churches should act in the matter. We hope to see Eld. Haskell at Battle Creek, ready to manage this important branch of the work in season for next fall and winter campaign. Meantime, let the added one-third be paid into church S. B. treasuries, to be passed into the T. and M. treasuries, to be used under the supervision of the T. and M. officers in carrying forward the Tract and Missionary work. The explanations of C. W. S. in the same paper with Bro. Haskell's good article tend to confuse the workers. The strength of the T. and M. movement lies in unity among managers and workers. Very minute explanations in our prints and too many managers will produce confusion. The members of the General Conference Committee will set forth general plans in our prints. And if more definite explanations are wanted, presidents and directors of the T. and M. Societies will please address either Eld. S. N. Haskell, South Lancaster, Mass., Eld. D. M. Canright, Rome, N. Y., or Eld. James White, Oakland, Cal.