REPORT OF THE RECORDING SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION GCB April 4, 1901, page 62

M. H. BROWN

The following table shows the membership of our schools, the total contributions, and the amount donated to missions each year during the last fourteen years:— GCB April 4, 1901, page 62.16

The following figures show the amount of donations to each mission field, and the time when they were given:— GCB April 4, 1901, page 62.17

The following is a condensed summary showing the amount given to each missionary enterprise:— GCB April 4, 1901, page 63.1

There has been much discussion and some confusion in regard to the use of the Sabbath-school donations. We therefore take this opportunity to place before our people a few facts and thoughts on the subject, trusting that it may result in more harmony of action and a better understanding of the matter. We will first call attention to the facts. GCB April 4, 1901, page 63.2

1. When the plan of making Sabbath-school donations was first adopted they were designed and used for Sabbath-school supplies only. That was the original plan. GCB April 4, 1901, page 63.3

2. Afterward the plan was proposed and adopted of giving a portion of the donations for some particular foreign field. This plan originated in California, and was subsequently adopted by the International Association. GCB April 4, 1901, page 63.4

3. The idea of giving all the Sabbath-school donations to foreign missions was donations to foreign missions was never proposed nor approved by either the General Conference or the International Sabbath-school Association. If any of our laborers have used their influence in our schools to have them do this, it has not been authorized or warranted by the action of our people. GCB April 4, 1901, page 63.5

In view of the foregoing facts we trust that all our workers will use their in favor of the present plan, viz., using from the donations to purchase necessary Sabbath-school supplies, and sending the surplus to the Foreign Mission Board for the work in foreign lands. It is evidently our duty to carry out, and use our influence in favor of, the present plan, till it is changed by the official action of the denomination. To do otherwise is to cause confusion, and injury the work. GCB April 4, 1901, page 63.6

[CD-ROM Editor’s Note: Table incomplete - will be completed in future edition of CD-ROM]

It is well for us to remember that no plan has ever been found by which to pay for Sabbath-school supplies, except the present one. This plan has been in operation through our entire history as a people since our schools were organized, and it has become well established. We can also add that it has been successful in its working, and has given excellent and almost universal satisfaction. Is it wise to change to an untried plan from one that has worked so well? GCB April 4, 1901, page 63.7

The same argument can be made in favor of continuing the present plan of giving the surplus donations for the work in foreign fields. The help given by our schools to the foreign mission work by this plan has been a great blessing to our schools as well as to our missions. Shall this plan be changed, and an effort be made to have all the donations given to foreign missions? Will such a change be an improvement, and will it result in greater good to the cause?—Manifestly not. GCB April 4, 1901, page 64.1

We are aware that some have advocated such a change. It has seemed sometimes as if some of our laborers saw in our Sabbath-schools simply a money-raising agency, and all the interest they would manifest in them would be to appeal to them for money for foreign missions, or some other enterprise. But there is such a thing as killing (or starving) the goose that lays the golden egg. If the schools are robbed of the material support, which is one of the elements of success and prosperity, their vitality and strength will be correspondingly lessened. If all their life-blood is sapped for supporting other enterprises, how long will they thrive and prosper? The result would be disastrous. GCB April 4, 1901, page 64.2

What would we think of the business ability of a man who spends all his income for the support of others, and then undertakes to earn or procure another income for the support of himself and his family?—We would say that he is a foolish man. So if our schools give all their income to foreign missions, they will be obliged to raise another income to provide for themselves. Is that wise? Who can say that it is? It is a source of comfort and congratulation that there are very few indeed who have advocated such an idea, and we sincerely trust that their numbers will continually grow less. GCB April 4, 1901, page 64.3

There is another important fact that has a strong bearing on this question, and it deserves careful consideration. It is this: According to the present plan, our people are urged to give a weekly offering for foreign missions in addition to the annual offering, and services are held in all our churches on the second Sabbath of each month in the interests of that branch of our work. This plan reaches all our people, old and young, who attend the Sabbath services in our various churches. All these weekly offerings are devoted to the foreign mission work. This is an excellent plan, and deserves our cordial support. Shall we ask another weekly offering from the same people for the same purpose, and urge them to give it all, and leave no means for the home work? To ask the question is to answer it. GCB April 4, 1901, page 64.4

The truth is that the home work must be supported, and not left to suffer. Donations must be made for the poor, for church schools, for missionary supplies, for Sabbath-school supplies, for church expenses, for the erection of church buildings, and last, but not least, for the payment of debts on our churches and our institutions. We should remember that there is a limit to the ability of our people to give, and wisdom and sanctified judgment must be exercised in our appeals for financial aid. GCB April 4, 1901, page 64.5

In conclusion we would raise these questions for the consideration of our workers: What effect will it have upon the weekly offerings to foreign missions to urge our Sabbath-schools to give liberally, or give all their donations, for the foreign work? If the latter plan is pushed, will it not lessen the amount received from the weekly offerings? Is it wise to push both plans aggressively, and thus make prominent the fact that we are calling upon the same people for two weekly offerings for the same purpose? Which will produce the best results, to push a plan for supporting foreign missions in which all the donations are held sacred for that purpose, or one in which nearly half is used for another purpose, and in which a habit of making small donations has been formed and established by years of custom? GCB April 4, 1901, page 64.6

We will not attempt to answer these questions, but will leave them for the consideration of our workers. We sincerely trust that they will awaken thought, lead to right conclusions, and result in good to our work. GCB April 4, 1901, page 64.7

We now have fifty-four associations, comprising about two thousand seven hundred schools, with an approximate membership of fifty-eight thousand. Since our report two years ago, eight new associations have been organized as follows: Chesapeake, Cumberland, Ontario, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and the West Indies. It will be noticed that four of these are situated in Australasia. GCB April 4, 1901, page 64.8

M. H. BROWN, Rec. Sec.