THE WORTHY POOR by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 7, 1856

THE WORTHY POOR.

By Editor

We have often signified our willingness to send the REVIEW to any who are prevented by misfortune or unavoidable embarrassments, from contributing towards its support, provided they love the truths it advocates, and prize it as a source of aid and consolation. To many we have reason to believe it is such, and we thereby feel strengthened and encouraged.

But who are to be considered the worthy poor? Some have claimed to be among this number who appropriated more to several useless expenses singly, than the cost of their paper. But we cannot consider those worthy of receiving benefits at the expense of others, who lay out means more than sufficient to meet this expense, in the unnecessary, not to say injurious, articles of tea, coffee and tobacco.

We have been led to these remarks by the following letter from R. Townsend of Steuben Co., N. Y.

"I have not received the Review since the 12th of June. I suppose you have got tired of sending it free to me; but as my circumstances are, it is not possible for me to pay. I do not use tobacco, tea or coffee. Your paper is the only means I have of hearing from the scattered brethren. I have been trying to keep all the commandments for over four years; and I have never heard one of the Advent brethren preach in the time. If you feel it duty to continue the paper to me, I shall be very glad; and if not I shall have to do without it. I render you my sincere thanks for what time I have received it, and trust in God for the future."

We do not tire of sending the REVIEW to those who can bear a testimony like the above. Why the papers have not been received we cannot tell; as we presume they have been regularly mailed.

Again we say that a lack of means with any, under the above circumstances, shall prove no barrier to their receiving the paper. Wherever true christianity is found, it will be found that there the poor have the gospel preached to them. And again we read that God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him.

The truth is free for all. God hath set no price to the blessings of salvation, except to leave all and follow Christ. While therefore we are endeavoring to send out truth to individuals, many of whom have no means to use in the cause, we labor on with confidence, expecting that the Lord's faithful stewards to whom he has committed a portion of this world's goods, will, according as he hath prospered them, cheerfully furnish the means necessary to meet the expense of its dissemination.