SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 18, 1861

SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE.

By John Norton Loughborough

I HAVE not kept silence on the subject of Systematic Benevolence because of not favoring the plan. I have watched the plan since it was first proposed and put into operation, and it seems to me that as far as means are concerned this plan has been the salvation of the cause of present truth from bankruptcy. In places where, before the adoption of this plan, the brethren thought they could scarcely take care of themselves and did comparatively nothing for the support of the cause, we see them now stating that their Systematic Benevolence amounts to over $100 a year. I think what this plan has accomplished should be sufficient to carry it above all the trifling objections that are raised against it. But still as some object to it, I thought I would make a few remarks on a couple of the objections that some have of late made to me on this subject.

One says, "I have no objection to Systematic Benevolence as it was first entered into (as they entered into it I suppose) to let each one give what he wished each week; but this last plan, proposed in Samaritan No. 5, will rob our children of what we ought to do for them." I do not understand that the last plan proposed differs materially from the object aimed at in the first plan. One object of the plan as first proposed was "that there might be an equality in raising the necessary means to support the cause." This equality could not be gained by such a case as the following: A., a mechanic who has no property but his tools, and is dependent on his labor to support himself and family, denies himself of many comforts of life and gives twenty-five cents a week. B., a farmer in good circumstances, and a fair crop of wheat coming on, does not know how he shall be prospered, thinks he must have all the comforts of life any way, and puts down ten cents a week. Any reasonable man says that is not equality. Now the last plan proposed will bring those upon an equality by taking a tenth part of their increase, and this can be easily told by the farmer, for he knows that his land if tillable will average him ten per cent a year increase, taking one year with another, after making all due allowance for occasionally a poor crop or low prices. And a mechanic can tell without much difficulty what he averages each year.

This plan of a tenth of the increase is certainly in accordance with the ancient plan of tithing, and as has been already shown, Malachi has declared to those who are living just before the coming of Christ that they are "robbing God in tithes." I hope brethren and sisters we shall bring in all the tithes and make the sacrifice God has required of us (see Testimony No. 6). The objection against this plan referred to above might have been urged by the Israelites with equal force against the ancient mode of tithing. Perhaps it would be better for children to labor more and secure their own livelihood than to be put at once in possession of large sums of money without ever having known by experience how to manage property. As far as I have noticed, at least, those who have gotten means by their own efforts generally manage it better than those who have it put into their possession without any effort on their part to accumulate it.

Another one says he thinks it is wrong to pledge ourselves to do something that we do not know that we can do, and thinks the Bible is rather against pledging. Now I think it is not a very difficult matter in this case at least to show that the Bible is not against pledging, but in favor of it. If you turn to 2 Cor. viii, you will find Paul stirring up the brethren on this subject of which he had spoken to them the year before in his first epistle (see 1 Cor. xvi, 1, 2). "And herein I give my advice; for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have." Verses 10, 11. What can this mean? Here was something that they willed a year before that they were then to perform out of their substance. It seems to me they must have pledged something on the matter a year before, and Paul wishes them now to redeem their pledges. Here it seems they had willed on the subject in such a way that Paul knew it. Of course it could not have been a secret will, but must have been a pledge.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Crane's Grove, Ills.