THE COLLEGE by Dudley Marvin Canright; A. O. Burrill; E. R. Jones

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 18, 1879

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 25

THE COLLEGE.

By Dudley Marvin Canright; A. O. Burrill; E. R. Jones

At the late General Conference, the undersigned were appointed a committee to examine the list of unpaid pledges to our Battle Creek College, and to devise means to collect them. Upon examination, we find that there are several thousand dollars of unpaid pledges made some six or seven years ago. We looked over these names with the presidents of the various Conferences, and found that nearly all the persons against whom these pledges stand are still alive and connected with our churches. With few exceptions, they are able to pay the pledges, and ought in conscience to do so.

The College has but a small capital for the work it is called to do, and there is a debt of $6,000 upon this. On this debt it must pay interest annually, whereas it should be just the other way; it ought to have a fund at interest to produce an annual income for the support of the institution. This is a matter of vital importance to the success of any college, and one which must be secured to ours as soon as possible. But we must first pay our debt. For this purpose we appeal to our people to make good these pledges on which we have relied. Certainly no longer time can reasonably be asked on them. If you are ever to pay them, you could do it in six or seven years. The great majority of them are for sums of $10 or $20, many for only $5, and a few for $30 to $50. We appreciate the fact that times have been very hard, but they are better now. Suppose you have to hire the money, and pay interest on it. This is what the College has to do for the whole amount. How much easier to have this burden distributed among many, than to have it borne by the institution alone. So small a sacrifice would scarcely be felt by the individuals, while it would relieve the College of a heavy load.

Solemn pledges made for such purposes cannot be easily set aside. The Lord takes notice of them, and we should not rest till they are discharged. Hear the word of the Lord on this subject: “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it; for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.” Deut. 23:21. So these pledges, though made years ago, should not be forgotten.

The pledge list has been carefully revised. Persons who have died or apostatized, or are wholly unable to pay, have been stricken from the list. All payments have been credited. Of course, there may be some slight mistakes yet, but these will be corrected when found. The list in each State, as thus revised, will be sent through the tract society to the President of the Conference for collection. He is requested to see these brethren personally if he can, and if not, to write to them and secure the payment of these pledges. The names will also be sent through the T. and M. society to these persons. The money can be paid to the librarians. We want to clear up the old list as soon as possible.

But why should not every Seventh-day Adventist take stock in our College? Why should it be left to a few to build up and sustain this important institution? Of those who have come into the truth during the last five years, very few have any stock in our College. No special effort having been made on this point, they have not realized the importance of investing means in it. All who have not already done so, and who are able, are invited to assist in sustaining this institution. One share is $10. And are there not many who have given more or less in the past who can now give still more? Do not drop the matter and consider your duty done, because you have given something in the past.

We trust that the work of the College is only just begun. Each year additions to its apparatus, to its library, and to its other facilities, must be made. But the only way this can be done is by constant donations, as it is never expected that the earnings of such an institution will any more than meet its running expenses, if, indeed, they do even that. May we all remember to help, and may God bless our College.

D. M. CANRIGHT, A. O. BURRILL, E. R. JONES, } Committee.