GOOD PROPOSITION by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 11, 1860

GOOD PROPOSITION.

By James White

Under this head we introduced extracts from a letter from Bro. S. H. King in No. 14, relative to raising means to put up an Office building, pay borrowed money, and have a fund sufficient to publish to advantage. To Bro. King's proposition Bro. F. T. Wales of Melbourne, Canada East responds as follows:—

“Our Bro. S. H. King speaks my mind perfectly concerning the liabilities resting on the Office, &c. I can say with Bro. King, I am willing to help shoulder the burden. I for one am willing to set apart one day each month which probably will be about two dollars for each month if my heavenly Father gives me health, until the debt of the Office is paid up.

“I am a mechanic, and my means are small, but I feel determined to do all that God will have me do until Jesus comes.

“Dear brethren, it seems to me that if we are in the work as God would have us be, we can all do something for the welfare of the cause of God. I for one think much of Bro. King's proposition. Come brethren, let us try and set ourselves at work, and God will bless.”

Let others speak out. The subject will doubtless be considered at the General Conference. We have no doubt but the enterprise will meet with general approbation. The brethren want the Office placed above embarrassment, and properly secured.

It is now thought best to take the Office building and lot off the hands of the three brethren who own it, move the old Office back, and repair it, and build a new front sufficient for the business. This would require the sum of $2000. Add to this $1500 of borrowed money which the Office owes, and it makes $3500. Add to this, say $1000, necessary to raise the book fund so as to enable the Office to keep on hand a full supply of all our publications, and it makes the sum of $4500 to be raised instead of $6000, as suggested in No. 14.

By purchasing the old Office building and lot, considerable will be saved, so that by a close calculation we arrive at the above figures as the probable sum.

We wish to say that with punctuality on the part of subscribers the receipts for REVIEW AND INSTRUCTOR will equal their cost. Also, our present prices for books will fully meet their cost. Some may ask, “Why then call for more means?” For their information we will here state that the Office Book Fund is only $1500, which is only about one third the sum necessary to manage the book business properly. Let the church raise the means necessary for the Office building and to publish and keep on hand a good supply of all our books, and the Office will then fully sustain itself. Shall it be done? We hope to hear from the friends of the cause before the conference. J. W.