QUESTIONS | AdventAI

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

QUESTIONS.

A QUESTION has arisen here regarding the distribution of the Systematic Benevolence funds.

1. Does the church have a voice in the distribution of it?

2. And is it ever deemed expedient to use it in cases of want or suffering outside of the church. I am requested to inquire, if some of the brethren will please explain the matter through the Review, so that it may be understood.

Yours in love of the truth. J. A. DAYTON. Chesaning, Mich.

ANSWER.

First question. We would recommend an appropriating committee of two or four, who, with the treasurer, could appropriate the funds of the church without consulting the whole church.

Second question. We have never known any such case. The primary object of Systematic Benevolence was the support of the cause of the third message. The spiritual wants of the world are a thousand fold more than their temporal wants. The laws of our country provide for the temporal wants of the suffering, but not for their spiritual wants. In a few cases we have known poor brethren helped from this fund. But these cases should be extremely urgent, however, to call funds from the Lord's treasury, which have been devoted to sustain those who break the bread of life to those starving for spiritual food. There are but very few persons in our country, if they should labor as actively with their hands as our traveling preachers do in their calling, who cannot fully sustain themselves.