HOW SOME HAVE HELPED THE CAUSE.
By Stephen N. Haskell
BROTHER A was anxious to help the cause of present truth, and when its wants were presented to him, his heart was stirred. He felt that he would be glad if possible to do something that would relieve it from its embarrassment. Having a few thousand dollars in the bank, and realizing the insecurity of banks in these days, owing to the frequent unfaithfulness of those who have charge of such institutions, he took his money which he had on deposit and placed it in the cause, but was particular to receive a note bearing as high a rate of interest as he had been previously receiving. Thus Brother A felt greatly relieved. He had eased his conscience, bettered his circumstances, and, in a sense, helped the cause; for under its financial embarrassment it could better afford to pay interest than to be deprived of the means which should have been freely given by those who were able. Brother B pursued a somewhat different course. He also felt anxious to help the cause, and made liberal pledges, but it was a time when it was difficult to dispose of property, and when subsequently called upon to help, he said that he had made liberal pledges, and as soon as he found a chance to sell to advantage, he would pay them and do even more. Finally a buyer came, and offered him within a few hundred dollars of what he thought his place was worth. Brother B did not, however, feel like making any sacrifice on what he considered the actual value of his property, but when he was offered his price he would sell. Thus he held his property, while his pledges remained unpaid, feeling content in the thought that when the Lord wanted him to sell he would send him a purchaser. But the buyer didn't come, and the means needed to help in the emergency had to come from some other source. Brother C also thought over his finances to see how he could help along the work. He had money at interest, and was enjoying a good degree of health so he could earn his living expenses; therefore he gave the interest on his money in full every year. This certainly was doing well. He felt that he had done the best he could. Had he not given all his interest? Most certainly he had. Could he be asked to do anything more? Brother D adopted another method. He could not sell his farm for what he thought it was worth, but having lived in the neighborhood many years, and been an economical farmer, he said to himself: "This thing will I do: as long as my farm pays me the interest on three or four thousand dollars, I will do more than simply give that. I will borrow money, and place it in the cause, paying the interest from my income on the farm until I sell it." So he borrowed $4,000, and placed it in the Third Angel's Message. Year after year, for many years, he has earned the interest on the money, and given the cause the benefit of the principal. All can readily see that this has helped the cause, and it was a sacrifice on his part. Brother E pursued an entirely different course, because he was under different circumstances. He had notes and mortgages out, and it was a very easy thing for him to give the interest, as he was not dependent upon it. So thought he, "I will dispose of my notes and mortgages, and place my money in the cause without interest, giving it the benefit of the entire amount; and I will donate from my substance as the needs of the cause demand, and will so arrange the matter that, should I die, the money never can be drawn from the cause of God." Brother F heard the same plea for means, and a statement of the condition of the missions and realized that help must be furnished to relieve them from their embarrassment. He also had a few notes at interest and owned a nice farm. After duly considering the matter, he decided that he would better sell and give alms, even though it was at a sacrifice. He had also read in the book of the law that the people anciently were to value their property according to the number of years to elapse before the year of jubilee. He thought that the evidence was conclusive that the Lord would soon come. He did not leave a stone unturned in his efforts to sell, which he did finally at a sacrifice of over a thousand dollars. He also disposed of his notes, and placed their value in the cause of present truth. Having disposed of his property so as to be released from care and perplexity, he found he had much time to labor. He did not feel that God had called him to preach, so he began to sell our publications. Although he was not considered a successful canvasser, he paid his expenses and some more. He enjoyed a peace of mind that gave constant joy, and he felt that God had blessed him. He also read Rom. 13: 12-14 and thought that it applied to him. We leave it with our friends to judge which of these brethren took the wisest course and came the nearest to making a covenant with God by sacrifice. S. N. H.