To the Different Churches and Scattered
By E. S. Walker
Members of Seventh-day Adventists
WHERAS the season is rapidly advancing when our Tent should be manned and sent into the field, and in order to do so it is necessary that means should be raised to defray expenses, and for the support of those brethren who go with the Tent, and as there has been no action taken by our Conferences in reference to the matter, we deem it duty to adopt some plan of raising the necessary means as soon as possible; therefore, Resolved, That Five Hundred Dollars be raised for this purpose, and in order to raise said amount we adopt the following plan: Inasmuch as a number of our young brethren have no taxable property, who would esteem it a privilege to bear a part in the support of the cause, we therefore recommend that every able-bodied male member pay one dollar each, without reference to property, and that the balance of the $500 be raised upon the principle of gospel equality, or in other words, by a direct tax upon the amount of all the taxable property, both personal and real, belonging to the members of the church, as ascertained from the Tax Books of 1860. And for the purpose of carrying out the above plan we call upon the different churches in Southern Iowa to appoint some one of their number to make out a list of their members, with the several amounts of their taxable property set opposite their respective names, and forward said lists to the Secretary of our Committee, at Knoxville, Iowa, who will, as soon as the lists have been received, make out and send back to each church said lists with the proportionate share of each member annexed to their names. The scattered brethren and sisters throughout Southern Iowa, where there are no organized churches, will please forward, as above directed, their names with the amount of their taxable property, and their proportionate share of the foregoing amount will be returned to them. Before adopting the foregoing plan we consulted with as many of the brethren as we could, and those to whom we submitted it were well pleased with the plan, and were willing to adopt it. We should have consulted with more of the brethren if we could have had opportunity, and would have liked to have all the brethren of Southern Iowa in Conference, but that was not practicable, and the time was fast approaching when means would be needed to send out the truth to others, and upon consultation among ourselves, and with some of the brethren, we came to the conclusion that under existing circumstances it would devolve upon the Tent Committee to take action in the premises. We accordingly submit the foregoing as the best method of raising the necessary means that we could devise, trusting that it will meet with the approbation of the brethren generally, and that they will cordially unite with us in carrying it out. But should any of the churches or brethren differ with us in opinion in regard to the plan we have adopted, we hope they will adopt such other system or plan for themselves as may seem most advisable, and notify us of the fact through our Secretary immediately, together with the amount they propose to raise as their part of the expenses of running the Tent the ensuing season. In either case, brethren, let us hear from you at as early a day as possible. By order of the Southern Iowa Tent Committee.
E. S. WALKER, Secretary.