The Relief of the Schools

P. T. Magan

P. T. Magan: It is now almost three years since the battle for the relief of our schools was commenced. The first part of that fight is over; the flood tide, when every one was willing to go to the front, is also over, and we have now come to the place where we are to decide if we will stand by until the day is won.GCB April 13, 1903, page 183.8

I have been thankful during the three years in which we have been fighting that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, there has never been a word of censure from the Spirit of God regarding this work, or the way our people have taken hold and conducted it. There have been many, many Testimonies relating to it; but every one has been of good comfort and good cheer over what has been done. And in one, especially, I remember the expression that God was pleased with His people in this thing. So I believe this morning that, whatever the results may be, we have great reason to be thankful to God for what has been accomplished.GCB April 13, 1903, page 183.9

You will remember those touching words which appeared in one Testimony from Sister White, telling how the work started; that “God heard the prayers and saw the tears of a few poor men who were struggling with a terrible burden of debt; and in the night season revealed to me, His humble servant, the heaven-born plan of ‘Christ’s Object Lessons’ for the relief of our schools.” I have always felt thankful and comforted in thinking over those words. And when we think that the author of the plan herself, and the giver of the book, states that it was a matter of deep struggle for her to do it, as she had counted upon that book with which to pay her own debts; but after praying over it, and pondering over it during the night season, she decided to make the sacrifice, and then that light filled her mind, so that this work has been born of God, and God’s blessing has attended it every step of the way.GCB April 13, 1903, page 183.10

I suppose we can all look back to the beginning and see how different the work has been to what we expected it would be. When we started this work we counted that we were about 70,000 Seventh-day Adventists strong. We have come to the conclusion now that we are not quite so many as that, and we are not quite so strong as we ought to be. And if you doubt my word on that at all, I will hand you the signed reports of the presidents of conferences and secretaries of tract societies, in which the memberships of many of the conferences have grown smaller and smaller and beautifully less. One conference that I have in mind, that started out with a membership of 3,000, has reduced to 2,000. One church that started out with a membership in the neighborhood of 2,000 has come down to about 900. I believe. But I am sure, when the sifting is over, and the smoke of the battle is cleared away, that those who stay in will be thoroughbred Seventh-day Adventists.GCB April 13, 1903, page 183.11

I know that it looked on the face of it like the easiest thing in all this world to get all our people to work and sell 300,000 books. It looked as if 70,000 Adventists strong ought to be able to sell that number of books in a very short time, and I think you will all agree with me in this; that if our churches had been filled with the Spirit of God, the spirit of work, as we all wish they might have been, this whole work could have been finished up in three months’ time, and no very hard job about it.GCB April 13, 1903, page 183.12

Now I know that there are any amount of people who have sold six books, and done it in just a few days. And I know that any man or woman of average intelligence and strength and average spirituality can sell six books in a remarkably short space of time. But I am sure you will all have to agree with me on this, that when this “Christ’s Object Lessons” work came to us, it found our churches badly disorganized, as far as power to do active work for Jesus Christ was concerned. And it has revealed to us a number of weaknesses in our churches; and I believe this has been the means of eradicating some of these weaknesses and giving us strength and blessing.GCB April 13, 1903, page 183.13

When this work came to us, the spirit of circulating literature was practically dead. There had been a time when the old tract and missionary work had been a very live work among us; but that work had dwindled down to almost nothing. The canvassing work, which ten or twelve years ago was in a high state of progress, had also dwindled, so that I believe with all my heart that God gave this work to call us back to that divine line of spreading the truth by means of our literature. And while these debts, in one sense, have been a curse, in another sense God has used them and the method for getting rid of them as a blessing to this people, because there are thousands of the people all through our ranks who have learned that they may go out and do work. They have learned that. without waiting for any special commission, they can do real. live, active work for Jesus Christ; and we now have. as a result of this work, I believe, at least several thousand of people in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination who are first-class, courageous canvassers. I have seen a number of instances, scores of them, yes. even hundreds of them. where I know that it is so.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.1

I believe, if we will simply hold on to the principles of this thing, and not grow tired of it, but keep at it with other literature, that we will have an army of active workers in this cause, such as we have never seen before. Now I do not believe that the thousands of Seventh-day Adventists who have become courageous Christian evangelistic canvassers as a result of this work should be allowed to lapse into their old ways again. I believe we ought to get some other good book, and follow right along, perhaps not exactly in the same way, but that every soul among us should sell our literature.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.2

I have in my hand a sheet giving the figures returned by the different schools and societies and organizations which have become beneficiaries under this movement. Personally, I can not vouch for the absolute accuracy of all these figures. These are simply the compilations made in my office from the figures returned to me by the different schools. I may say, in the start, that, up to date, the movement to relieve our schools from debt has resulted in the creation, or the realization, of an amount of money, as nearly as it can be figured up, of $237,910.75.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.3

Now that amount is not entirely made up of “Christ’s Object Lessons” money; there are other gifts and donations and appropriations which have entered into that, which I will endeavor to explain as I go along.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.4

The original amount of debt on the Healdsburg College is given as $42,846.78. The present amount of the debt is given as $22,784.66. The total amount paid on the original debt is given as $20,162.12. I understand that a large proportion of that is from other sources than “Christ’s Object Lessons.”GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.5

A. T. Jones: About ten thousand dollars.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.6

P. T. Magan: The original amount of the Walla Walla School debt was $55,670. The present amount of the debt, $25,754.42. The total amount received from the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” up to date, $9,000. The amount which has been paid on the original debt, $29,925.58.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.7

My understanding of the Walla Walla debt matter is this: You will notice that only $9,000 is reported from the sales of “Christ’s Object Lessons;” but they also report a large amount outstanding in accounts with tract societies. But I understand in that original amount of $55,670 debt they figure in the entire amount which has been placed in the institution by the General Conference Association, and that in the reapportionment of the General Conference Association liabilities they were relieved of some $20,000 of that amount.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.8

S. H. Lane: That is right.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.9

P. T. Magan: So that while their debt has been reduced $29,925.58, a large amount of that has been by a gift from the General Conference Association.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.10

Union College reports its original debt as $79,000. The present amount of its debt, $31,825.90. It has received from the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” $47,139.19; and from other sources, $1,925.13. The amount paid on the original debt is $48,940.70. It has on hand $123.62 to apply on the debt, and there has been paid on interest $1,766.60.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.11

Mount Vernon Academy’s original debt was $17,000. Present amount of the debt, $10,000. Total amount received from the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” $7,000. Amount owing by the tract society, $1,000. Therefore total amount paid on debt, $7,000.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.12

South Lancaster Academy.—The original amount of the debt is given as $44,000. The total amount received from “Christ’s Object Lessons” sales, $25,569.60. Debt on principal, $17,583.37. Cash on hand to be applied on the debt, $3,633.50. Amount paid on interest, $4,352.73.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.13

L. A. Hoopes: Is that $20,000 in Walla Walla figured in this amount?GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.14

P. T. Magan: Yes, sir; that has been figured in, but there are eight or nine or ten thousand dollars, at least three thousand from one tract society alone, that has been received from the sales that is not figured in, and a number of amounts like that.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.15

J. E. Jayne: Is it the same of the $10,000 in California?GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.16

P. T. Magan: The $10,000 is a genuine reduction, but it is not a distribution. The total reductions are figured simply on the reductions by “Object Lessons.”GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.17

Graysville, the Southern Missionary Society, and Huntsville.—The only information I can give in regard to these three beneficiaries of “Object Lessons” is that to the Atlanta branch of the Review & herald Office, to the Southern Publishing Association, to the Southern Missionary Society, there have been shipped “Christ’s Object Lessons” aggregating in value an amount of $12,262, as nearly as it can be figured. How that money has been distributed, I have not the reports or figures.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.18

The Emmanuel Missionary College has had from the sale of “Object Lessons” the sum of $22,393.10.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.19

Keene Academy.—Original debt, $17,624.40, according to their last report. The present amount of their debt is given as $5,395.64; the amount paid on their debt, $12,228.76; cash on hand to apply on debt, $100; amount on interest, $899.75.GCB April 13, 1903, page 184.20

The Battle Creek College has received from the sales of “Object Lessons,” both before and after the transfer, from the Missionary Acre Fund, and from a transfer of some other property on the Review & Herald account, a net amount of $26,669.86. The old Battle Creek College property advanced to the Berrien Springs school on its equity in the property a sum, I think, in round numbers, of about $12,000. The corporation which owns the Berrien Springs property, on the other hand, turned over its assets and from “Christ’s Object Lessons” work a considerably larger amount than that. I have allowed for those conditions on both sides, and I simply give the net figures. I think this will make the matter plain.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.1

I will say, further, that computing these amounts has been an exceedingly difficult task. When the original amounts of these debts were given, I supposed they were reasonably straight, and I think everybody intended that they should be, but in the distribution of the liabilities of the General Conference Association vast differences have been made. Now, as I understand it, Union College in the beginning simply figured about $79,000 worth of notes, which were a standing and floating obligation against the property, and the entire amount which has been invested, in it by the General Conference Association figured into that. Now. when you come to the distribution of the liabilities of the General Conference Association, they figured it like this: In Union College were several hundred thousands of dollars worth of property, and all that college was bearing was about $79,000, and it would be perfectly proper to ask this institution to take some $25,000 more. So. while a good deal has been done, we are not out of the woods yet.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.2

Avondale School, in Australia.—Original debt, $25,000, in round numbers. The amount paid altogether on the original debt from the sale of “Object Lessons” I understand to be practically $10,000.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.3

England.—Amount raised for the London school I have approximated at about $10,000. I have not the exact figures, but a considerable period ago they had sold the first 5,000 edition of the book, and were well along in the second edition.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.4

European Fields.—In foreign books sold in this country, a sum approximating $15,000, not all of which has been sent over yet.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.5

The Canadian school has received $1,000 from the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” for their work.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.6

Now that is the total report of the returns which I have, making a gross amount of $237,910.75. That, of course, does not include the amounts which are on hand in the tract societies and owing to the schools, or what is still in the hands of the people, to be paid in. Of course, those figures will have to be discounted to the extent of the apportioning of that Walla Walla debt, and whatever scale-down there should be on this English matter.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.7

Are there any questions on the report as a whole?GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.8

H. W. Cottrell: Brother Chairman, I wish to make a statement. The figures of the South Lancaster Academy debt are based on a former estimate. We now think that it is somewhat more, but I dare not say just what it is, lest it be taken as official. We have an auditor working on it, and when the audit is completed, it will be an audit in the truest sense of the term, and then we shall know just exactly where we are.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.9

A. J. Bourdeau: What is the general plan in regard to the amounts received from the sales of foreign books?GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.10

P. T. Magan: I will read a letter from Brother H. M. Mitchell, treasurer of the Mission Board. in regard to this matter:—GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.11

“Yours of the 11th instant is received, and, in looking into the matter in which you wish to be informed, we are able to give you the following facts: The total credits to the Danish school fund to March 1 is $5,685.07; Nyhyttan (Swedish) school fund, $4,612.59; Friedensau (German) school fund, $5,189.75. The total amount still owing us from the tract societies on these funds is about $1,500. I am not able to tell you how much belongs to each school fund, but the greater part of this sum is due the Swedish and German schools. Of course, you understand that there have been charges for freight, translating, etc., against all these funds, and the figures I here give you are not the balances now due these different schools. We have sent all but about $500 to the Friedensau school, and $1,000 to the Nyhyttan school, and the proceeds from the sale of Danish “Christ’s Object Lessons,” as you know, are given to the Christiania Publishing House debt.”GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.12

The report of the material fund was then read, as follows:—GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.13

Complete Report of Material Fund from July 1, 1900, to March 1, 1903

No Authorcode

Total cash received on material fund	$53,271 92
Total paid to publishing houses	44,506 89
Total paid for freight, express, and general expense, such as typewriter supplies, stationery, telegrams, telephone and cable messages, boxes for shipping “Christ’s Object Lessons,” taxes and expenses on Gregory and Eastman property	445 38
Traveling expenses	224 26
Donation to England	500 00
Postage	1,082 22
Office fixtures and expenses, including desks, typewriters, chairs, tables, filing cases, rent, fuel, etc	615 77
Total paid for salaries, two years and eight months	2,758 15
Total charged to General Conference as its proportion, on postage, and general expenses	157 87
Paid for translation	141 88
Paid out, donations incorrectly credited to material fund in office of General Conference	1,038 77
Cash invested in Search System, to be refunded as system is used by other branches of the work	470 78
Cash on hand March 1	151 52
Cash in bank March 1
($1,260.08—$159.13 Acre)	1,100 92
Bills receivable	77 48
	$53,271.92

Total amount still owing on “Christ’s Object Lessons.” $1,789.73.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.14

P. T. Magan: I will ask the auditor, W. H. Edwards, to render his report.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.15

The report was read, as follows:—GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.16

“March 5, 1903.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.17

“This is to certify that I have given a careful examination to the books of the General Conference secretary of finance, P. T. Magan, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1902, and find that they have been neatly and correctly kept, and the ledger in balance. The cash in the safe agreed with the amount demanded by the cash book on March 1, 1903, and the amount of the bank deposit, telephoned to the undersigned by the cashier of the Berrien Exchange Bank, agrees with the ledger account against the bank. I have spent considerable time checking the books from the original vouchers from correspondence which contained money, and find all carefully entered and the money accounted for. I have also looked into the expense of running the department, and note that a good degree of economy has been maintained throughout.GCB April 13, 1903, page 185.18

“(Signed) W. H. EDWARDS, “Auditor.”

L. A. Hoopes: I move that we accept the secretary’s report and the auditor’s report.GCB April 13, 1903, page 186.1

This was seconded and the reports adopted.GCB April 13, 1903, page 186.2

Adjournment was made, on motion, to 2 P. M.GCB April 13, 1903, page 186.3

W. T. KNOX, Chairman.

H. E. OSBORNE, Secretary.