SIGNING NOTES by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 14, 1877

SIGNING NOTES.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Everywhere I go, even among our people, I find many cases of persons who have lost, some more, some less, and many, all they have, by signing notes with some friend. They did it because he was a friend, not with any idea of paying the note themselves, but simply as a recommendation. Then something happens that that friend cannot pay his note. Now it comes on the indorser; and he who never had one cent’s profit from it, has to take his own hard-earned means to pay. This is very distressing.

Frequently our brethren get involved for life in this manner, and some of them lose their homes in their old age. More than that, it is not unfrequently a positive injury to the man with whom they sign. It may be the cause of his venturing more than he otherwise would have done, of contracting debts which he would not have contracted had it not been for this friend’s encouragement. It would have been better for him to have kept out of the business entirely and gone at something within his means. It would have saved trouble all around.

It is astonishing that men will do this when they know that the Bible is so positively against it, and when they know the risk there is in it, having seen so many others bitten by it. Brethren, you had better keep out of it. There is only one way to do it—never to sign with anybody for any consideration. If your friend must have help, and you feel bound to help him, hire the money yourself right out, and then lend it to him and take his note for it. Then it is all understood. You, yourself, owe that debt now, and your creditor will look to you for it and to nobody else. These hard times are cramping many, and some who ventured in this manner are now suffering for it.

D. M. Canright.