SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE by James White; Dudley Marvin Canright; S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 12, 1878

SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE.

By James White; Dudley Marvin Canright; S. N. Haskell

At the General Conference held at Battle Creek, Mich., October, 1878, it was recommended that all our brethren pledge to God one-tenth of all their income for the support of the ministry; this one-tenth to be laid aside weekly as fast as received, and paid to the systematic benevolence treasurer at least once a quarter. It was further recommended that this be done, instead of pledging a definite amount each week, as heretofore.

We are fully satisfied that this is the scriptural plan, and that no Christian can fail to see it so. If the Lord blesses us with but little, we have but little to give. If he gives us abundantly, we have the more to give. We are alarmed to find that quite a share of our brethren are withholding the Lord’s tithe. Particularly is this true of the scattered Sabbath-keepers, who do not live near a church. We are fearful that the curse of God will rest upon them for this. Brethren and sisters, if we fear God and believe his word, let us act like honest men.

It was recommended that the several States pay to the General Conference one-tenth of all their receipts. Also that our Publishing House, Sanitarium, and College, and all those brethren who are not connected with some State Conference, pay a tenth to the General Conference. Therefore we recommend that, commencing with the first week of 1879, all our brethren throughout the world subscribe to the following pledge:—

“We, the undersigned, believing that the Holy Scriptures require each person to give for the support of the ministry one-tenth of all that the Lord shall give him or her, do hereby solemnly pledge ourselves in the sight of God, and in the presence of each other, to faithfully set apart each week one-tenth of all that the Lord shall give us, this tenth to be paid into the systematic benevolence treasury at least once a quarter.”

The treasurer in every church in each Conference should visit every Sabbath-keeper in his section, whether he belongs to the church or not, men, women, and children, and induce them to sign this pledge. The president of each Conference should look after this matter, and particularly those who belong to no church organization.

And we appeal to our scattered brethren and sisters who do not live in the vicinity of any church to come up and lift with their brethren in this sacred work. You cannot expect the blessing of God when you bear no burdens in the cause. Those who live where there is no State organization should send their pledges to the General Conference treasurer, Mrs. M. J. Chapman, Battle Creek, Mich.

Let our institutions above mentioned commence with the first of January, 1879, and carry out this plan. Our General Conference treasury is greatly in debt, and in need of means. We recommend that at the quarterly meeting each State treasurer send one-tenth of his receipts to the General Conference treasurer at Battle Creek, and not wait until the end of the year or until camp-meeting, as heretofore.

Jas. White, Gen. Conf. Com.; D. M. Canright, Gen. Conf. Com.; S. N. Haskell, Gen. Conf. Com.