To the Friends in Texas.
By R. M. Kilgore
Dear Brethren and Sisters: The time of our annual camp-meeting and the sessions of the different State organizations is drawing near. The appointments please read in another column. We have selected Dallas as the place for our general meeting, because it is the most central and important point. The grounds upon which we expect to hold the meeting are two miles southeast of Dallas, about a half mile south of the Texas Pacific R. R., near the Clear Springs, where ample supplies of water and good protection from the winds are afforded. Although the time is two weeks earlier than was expected, yet we hope that this will not hinder any from attending. We have solicited help from the General Conference, and they send to us Eld. Geo. I. Butler, who is well qualified to impart just such instruction as we so much need. Dear brethren, you cannot afford to lose this golden opportunity to learn the way of the Lord more perfectly. Come prepared, and with a determination to work for the Master wherever you can. Come to seek God, and a more thorough conversion, that we may be more fully imbued with the spirit of good religion. Bring your unconverted children and neighbors with you. Do your part, and the blessing of God will rest upon you; while a curse will follow the neglect of duty. All are acquainted with the fact that our finances are not in a flattering condition, on account of hard times, and the short crops caused by the drouth we are experiencing. Yet we should remember that while the crops were better last year, sickness and death were on our track, and many of us were prostrated by disease. The yellow fever threatened our borders, bringing discouragement and gloom upon us. This summer the health of our neighbors and of our own families has been remarkably good. The Lord has wonderfully blessed the labors of his servants, so that nearly a hundred persons have embraced the truth during this summer. With this more cheering aspect in view, let us look up, and lift up our heads, realizing that God has not left us to go alone. If we live economically and within our means, we shall always have something with which to help advance the cause of God. When we have a heart to sacrifice, and are willing to bestow liberally where most needed, God will bless in basket and store, so that we shall have more to give. Anciently God required the first fruits; can anything be more reasonable than that the same should be rendered to him now? All the blessings which we enjoy come from his bountiful and merciful hand. The tenth he claims as his; it is not ours. “It is holy unto the Lord.” In appropriating that which is the Lord’s to our own use, are we not “robbing God”? The Lord says we have robbed him. How? “In tithes and offerings.” Read carefully Mal. 3, and then render unto God that which is his. Some of our brethren and sisters are doing nobly in this respect, perhaps all that they can and should do; while others do not realize the extent of their obligations in this matter, and therefore have not yet come up to the Bible standard. Our isolated brethren and sisters should not feel that they are released because they do not have the same privileges that others enjoy, nor because they do not have a church treasurer to call on them and receive their tithes and offerings. God’s claim is the same everywhere and upon all. Of the poor he requires no more than they are able to give; and he asks no more than this of the rich. But we are not to serve ourselves first, and give to the Lord and his cause the remnant, or nothing at all. It is possible for every one to do something, and every little helps. At the coming Conference the ministers who have been laboring in the State will be expected to bring in their reports of labor, of time employed, and such expenses as they have necessarily incurred to carry on the work in their respective fields. With an empty treasury, as ours is now, what shall we do? I do not believe it is your mind that the message should stop, and that the ministers should retire from the field, and engage in other work to support themselves and families. Then let the church treasurers collect the tithes, and the T. and M. officers assist in gathering up the offerings; and let the brethren and sisters bring in all the tithes and offerings, and prove the Lord if he will not pour them out a blessing. Send these contributions by your delegate to the Conference; and let the scattered ones come and bring their offerings, or send them in advance to the treasurer, James Gage, Peoria, Hill Co., Texas. All who have made pledges to the T. and M. society should remember that the time is drawing near when they will be due. Do all you can to meet the obligation; and let not those who have not pledged to help lift the debt of the society, think that no responsibility rests upon them in this matter. None of us are released. Do the best you can, and help lift now, when help is most needed. Ten dollars given now is worth more than one hundred will be by-and-by. Cotton season will soon be over; and now, while you are very careful to pay the debts you owe to your fellow-men, do not forget that the debt you owe to God is the highest obligation you have resting upon you. “Pay thy vows to the Most High.” Please read and ponder well the story of faith in 1 Kings 17: 8-16, and appropriate to our present circumstances here in the State, the principle taught in verse 13. He did not ask for a large loaf, but for a “little cake first;” and because she complied, her supplies were exhaustless. The librarians of the different church societies should send in their reports, with all money collected, to the State secretary, Maggie J. Dickerson, Peoria, Hill Co., Texas. Both district secretaries are absent from home; therefore send direct to the State secretary immediately, that a summary of all the work may be made out. At our annual meeting in November, we shall want a full report, from the State secretary, of the standing of the society,—the amount of books on hand in each church, as well as in the general depository. The librarians, district secretaries, church clerks, and treasurers should bring their books with them to the camp-meeting. The secretaries of the different Sabbath-schools should do the same. Each church will be supplied with the proper blanks to be filled by the clerks and treasurers. Let these blanks be properly and promptly filled, and placed in the hands of your delegate. Each church is entitled to one delegate if it has a membership of twenty or less, and to one more for every additional fifteen members. We shall expect to see a general turnout of all our brethren and sisters at this meeting. Remember, the first meeting will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 P. M., and the last one early Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Come so as to be present at the first, and let none go away till the meeting closes. We shall make application for reduced rates on the H. & T. C. and T. P. R. R. If obtained, instruction will be given in due time. Provisions for man and beast will be found on the grounds at the lowest possible rates. Let all who can, provide themselves with tents and bedding. One of the large tents will be on the grounds to shelter those who have no tents. So let all come.