TO THE BRETHREN IN OHIO.
By J. Clarke
Dear Brethren and Sisters: The season for active operations with the tent is close at hand, and you all, no doubt, are desiring, and praying, that success may attend the labors of the brethren with the tent, during the coming tent season. But it is necessary to inform you that an effort will be necessary in order to carry forward the work, by way of raising the funds required for the enterprise. The old tent is unfit for further use, and a new one must be bought for the coming season. Seven hundred dollars have been subscribed for the enterprise, and but little of this has been paid as yet; indeed, it has not been necessary; but it will be very important to raise a good part of this money soon, in order to have the tent and its fixtures in readiness in time for action, so soon as the season will admit. Bro. Waggoner kindly volunteers to labor in Ohio with the tent this season, and he will, if God permit, visit the churches soon, and will receive all funds which may be ready to be paid on subscription. Dear brethren, shall the tent committee be crippled? Shall the work lag for want of means already pledged? True, it may be urged the money is not now due; but what if it is not? That was perhaps an oversight on the part of the writer of the subscription. If we send for a tent at all this season, it certainly should be procured soon; also a good supply of books should be on hand, and paid for, and funds are needed to carry forward the work even now. I would urge the brethren who have subscribed for the cause, to be ready soon to pay their subscriptions; and when Bro. Waggoner visits you (within a week or two of this date, March 19), have what you can ready; if you cannot raise the whole, have a part to pay in now. I am informed that some three or four hundred dollars will be necessary in order to start the tent, and pay up present indebtedness, and relieve the committee, and those who have labored in the cause. It must be borne in mind that the labors of the committee are entirely gratuitous, and it would be unjust indeed, if they should be obliged to borrow funds for present use, at their own risk, and the necessity and proposal to do so, has prompted this line to you. I feel confident that an earnest effort on the part of the church will relieve the committee, and encourage our dearly beloved Bro. Waggoner. He will go forward with zeal, when he sees the church are truly alive in the times; and I will venture to say that most of us would be very sorry to confine our expenses to the limits that most of the messengers are obliged to do. Now in order to insure the blessing of God upon the labors of Bro. Waggoner with the tent, let us not only pray for the influences of the Spirit, but bring all the tithes into the storehouse. Thus may we hope, with good reason, for a glorious harvest of souls. Thus we may all have courage to exercise faith in supplicating the mercy of God. Your unworthy brother.
J. Clarke.