FIRST-DAY OFFERINGS

The idea, we understand, has gone forth to some extent, that the first-day offerings are designed to supersede the necessity of all other contributions whatsoever in behalf of our foreign mission work; and with all such there is therefore a query why a call is made again this year for holiday gifts and offerings to go to our foreign mission.MMM 412.24

This query is based on a misunderstanding. The first-day offerings are not designed to take the place of the holiday offerings. The means now raised may be classified as follows: the tithe, Sabbath school donations, fourth Sabbath offerings, first-day offerings and holiday gifts. The tithe is for the support of the ministry; the S. S. donations to some special enterprise; the fourth Sabbath offerings for the home mission work; the first-day offerings and holiday gifts, for the support of our foreign missions, and the opening of new fields,MMM 412.25

The question may then arise, What do the first day offerings take the place of? The answer is, They are designed to take the place of the vacuum that has heretofore existed in the treasury. They are not intended to make up for any unpaid pledges, or to stand in the way of any other method of raising means, which may be thought advisable. To be sure, if all would enter into the plan of first-day offerings, which is at once scriptural and admirable, such an amount of means, in connection with the holiday gifts, would be raised as would doubtless render so many public calls for such a variety of objects unnecessary. And such a change it is desirable to bring about.MMM 412.26

So far, the amount of the holiday gifts is far in excess of the first-day offerings. The Committee on Finance, who were appointed by the last Conference, and who call for the holiday gifts this year, stated in their report that “it requires not less then $50,000 a year to carry on the missions already established in different parts of the world.” But the first-day offerings reported for the first two quarters were but little over $4,000. From this it will be seen that until there is a great coming up on this latter plan, the chief support for the missions must come from some other source.MMM 412.27

We trust the report of the quarter just closed will be more favorable, and that this system will be finally taken bold of as it should be by all, and faithfully carried out, and then the treasury would not experience the dearth it now suffers of means to carry the warning message to foreign lands. Meanwhile let the holiday gifts come in from cheerful and liberal hands.MMM 412.28