The Dime Tabernacle

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 6, 1879

The Dime Tabernacle.

We call the attention of the friends of the cause to the fact that there still remains a debt of about $10,000 on the Battle Creek Tabernacle, though it has been finished about six months. This large debt is all due now. It has been a difficult task for those who have become responsible for this debt to make arrangements to meet it from time to time, till our people should raise the means to pay it. Money has been hired on interest, and borrowed for short periods, to give time to our brethren to redeem their pledges, and for others who have not pledged to send in donations.

If those who have made pledges on the Tabernacle, whether small or large, could now pay them, or even a part of them, it would be a great relief in several ways.

1. It would help to pay these debts, which are due, and need to be settled immediately.

2. It would relieve the REVIEW Office of a heavy burden which it has carried for over a year, in lending large sums to the Tabernacle.

3. It would stop the payment of interest on money hired to meet bills which could not be put off.

There are unpaid pledges amounting to nearly $7,000, the most of which were made at the dedication, and were to be paid within one year and a half. Over six months have passed, and very little has been paid on these pledges.

Cannot those who have made these pledges pay them now? All can readily appreciate how much the money is needed. Suppose you have to make an effort to raise the money—have to hire it for the purpose; ought you not to do it? This would divide the burden among many, instead of leaving it all for a few. Or, if you cannot pay all your pledge, pay a part of it. Do not put off the matter till you forget it.

But if all the pledges were paid, it would still leave $3,000 unprovided for. Who will help raise this? Let all who have not taken any share in this worthy enterprise do so now. Every Seventh-day Adventist should have some share in this house. Many who have done something should do more. We invite them to do it now if they reasonably can.

Six months’ use has proved the Tabernacle to be just what is needed for the place. The Biblical Institute, the General Conference, and our other annual meetings held here at the present time, could not have been convened without it. It was for such large meetings of general interest that the Tabernacle was built; hence all should feel responsible to help pay for the house.

GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.