How to Raise It by James Edson White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Aug 1, 1878

How to Raise It.

By James Edson White

In the article, “The Pacific Press,” a call is made by the General Conference Committee to the friends on the Pacific coast, to raise $10,000 by January 1879.

This may be considered a large amount to be raised in so short a time; and it would be if there were only a few to lift. But the membership on this coast has more than doubled since the establishment of the publishing work in Oakland. We can safely say that in California, Oregon, Washington Territory and Nevada, there are from twelve to fifteen hundred Seventh-day Adventists. We therefore propose that each one of this number be urged to take at least one share in the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, to be paid by January 1, 1879.

It can be done in the following manner: We will send pledge papers to the Tract and Missionary librarians of the different churches, to which every member of the church should have opportunity to subscribe.

There are a little over twenty weeks before the first of January, 1879. If each one so subscribing pays 50 cents per week for each share subscribed, the money will all be paid in season to reach the Office by the time specified. Of course those who can do so are requested to pay down at once. But for those who would find the installment plan easier this suggestion is offered.

There are wealthy brethren who have joined us since the Office was first started, who can as easily raise several hundred dollars as some can raise ten. Persons of no greater financial ability paid from $500 to $1,500 to help in starting the work, and it would seem that the time has come for those who have more recently started to take hold and lift in the present necessity.

The necessity for establishing the work was imperative. But it is just as necessary to increase our facilities at the present time to meet the rapidly increasing demands. The outlay required at the present time is but little less than was required to establish the work at first.

If we all take hold and lift with a will $20,000 will probably be raised instead of $10,000. When this Office was first established our brethren east of the Rocky mountains donated over $10,000 to furnish us with presses, type, etc. If more is raised than is necessary to carry on the business properly here, we can use some of it in refunding this amount, to be used in establishing the work in new missionary fields.

J. E. White, Vice-President Cal. T. and M. Society.