A Few Suggestions by David Arnold

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 30, 1862

A Few Suggestions.

By David Arnold

My mind for two or more years past has been deeply impressed with the importance and work of organization. I have also frequently felt the weight of the remark made by Bro. White in No. 18, Vol. xx, in reference to the Mich. State Conference, that it "was only partly organized," and thought perhaps the remark might properly apply to all our State and church organizations.

While I have read the varied forms adopted by our several State Conferences, I have been led to cry out, Who shall present us with a form and system of organization adapted to our present wants, and insuring a oneness of action throughout the body. Perhaps under present circumstances it is not practicable to meet in general conference, and talk over the matter; but may we not through the Review present rules, forms, and systems, and leave them open for remarks, amendments, or adoption, and thus arrive at a plan that shall insure a union of action throughout the church?

We find that in all human associations for the accomplishment of any enterprise, system and order are essential to its successful accomplishment. There are two things always indispensably necessary to accomplish any work through human agency, whether it be national, civil, ecclesiastical, mechanical, or agricultural; viz., men and money: men to do the work, means to sustain them and furnish the material for the work.

Now we, as a church, have before us a work of greater magnitude, involving greater interests than any national, civil, mechanical, or agricultural enterprise in which men can embark; yea, greater than all these combined. The third angel's message, with its kindred truths, is yet to be proclaimed to the world with a loud cry through human agency. Leaving the choice of men more especially to the Chief Shepherd, it devolves upon us as a church humbly relying upon the great Counselor for wisdom, to devise such a plan and adopt such a system for raising the means and employing the men as shall best accomplish the great work of giving the last message of mercy to a perishing world, by which a people are to be sanctified through the truth and fitted for translation at the appearing of Christ.

In devising such a system some things are necessary in its frame-work in order to bring success.

1. It should embrace equality "so that none be eased and others burdened." 2 Cor. viii, 13.

2. Each deposit should be so guarded that men of corrupt minds, 1 Tim. vi, 5, shall not pervert it from its intended use.

3. Its outlay should be entrusted to men of sound judgment and business habits, so that every dollar shall tell for the advancement of the cause.

4. The agencies employed, whether in gathering in or paying out money, or laboring in word and doctrine, should have their place and work clearly defined, that like Gideon's army they may all act in their place at their own work.

With these remarks by way of introduction I will venture (with much diffidence of my own ability, and due deference for the judgment of others) to suggest for the consideration of the brethren a plan for raising, depositing, and paying out means for the advancement of the cause of present truth.

Question 1. How shall we raise the means to support our preachers, pay tent and other expenses, for the general advancement of the cause?

Ans. Let each member of the S. D. Advent church, and as many others as feel free to do so, firmly adopt and faithfully carry out the plan of systematic benevolence, as recommended in the Review and sanctioned by the gift of the Spirit. See Spiritual Gifts, Vol. ii, pp. 230–238, Testimony to the Church, No. 6, pp. 17–22. This, when properly carried out, will produce equality and create a thousand rills to form the river.

Question 2. How shall we bring these offerings together? or how shall we carry out Mal. iii, 10?

Ans. First, let each one regulate and define the weekly sum to be paid in by them for the ensuing year by the 1st of Nov. as near as practicable, and send a bill of the same to the clerk of the church to which they belong, before the 15th of Dec. ensuing. It shall then be the duty of the clerk to record in the church book of S. B. the names of all sending bills, with the sums set opposite their names, and transmit to the State conference secretary a copy of the same before the 1st of Jan. It shall then be the duty of the State secretary, in concert with two or more of the State Committee, to ascertain as near as practicable the general expenses of the current year, and determine the percentage of the whole amount of S. B. fund necessary to meet said expenses, and send the same to the Review for publication. It shall be the further duty of each donor to the S. B. fund to pay to the deacon of their respective churches once a quarter, the amount due on their S. B. subscription. It shall then be the duty of the deacon to transmit quarterly to the State treasurer the percentage as above determined, retaining the balance to meet other public expenses in the church.

Question 3. What safeguards shall be thrown around these deposits?

Ans. It shall be the duty of each deacon, State treasurer, and committee, to present to the State auditors at each annual State conference a written account of all moneys received in and paid out by them during the conference year.

Question 4. How shall evangelists and preachers who labor among us be supported, and tent and other expenses be met?

Ans. Let the State committee, to whom is entrusted the care of these matters, draw from the State treasury from time to time, as the necessities of the cause demand.

Your brother in tribulation, looking for the upbuilding and perfection of the church. DAVID ARNOLD.

REMARKS. We are decidedly in favor of systematic action, and believe it indispensable in the real advancement of the cause of truth. We may apparently advance in disorder, but a little time will show no real advance. But we feel guarded against too much machinery. The simplest plans of action possible which will accomplish the objects desired, are best. Too much machinery will be badly in the way. We have a simple arrangement in Michigan which works well thus far, and the more it is proved and considered, the more it is admired. It is simply this:

1. Our approved ministers receive their credentials annually from the State conference.

2. The conference is pledged to liberally sustain its preachers.

3. We have a conference committee of three to take the general oversight of the labors of ministers in the State, and missionaries to other States.

4. We have a financial committee of five, all, that they may be efficient, located at Battle Creek, who receive from the different churches, and from scattered brethren, their pledges of monthly payments for the support of preachers, whether they labor with tents or otherwise, during the conference year. These pledges are obtained by sending out circulars in the Review, to be returned to the committee by letter, with the amount of their pledges on them. Each church can ascertain the amount of their S. B. funds, and the probable amount required for other objects, and can pledge what remains to the support of the ministry. The monthly pledges are to be paid to the committee, or when more convenient, be handed to preachers when laboring among the churches. Each minister is required to make a report quarterly, or oftener if he chooses, to the financial committee, of his receipts. Also, each S. B. treasurer is requested to report to the committee quarterly of all money paid out of their treasuries, and to whom paid.

5. Each minister is required to make a report to the State conference of the amount of his expenditures and receipts during the conference year.

6. Each minister is required to make a report to the general conference of each week's labor during the conference year.

7. The amount of each minister's labor, his receipts and expenditures, for the year, will then be before the general conference, and the amount to be made out to each of the ministers that they may have a liberal support, can be taken from the State funds in the hands of the committee.

8. To complete the security of funds sacredly devoted to the cause of truth, the financial committee at the close of each year will make a printed report in pamphlet form of all receipts and expenditures during the year, also the quarterly reports from S. B. treasuries, embracing the amount paid by each church, and by scattered individuals.