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Testimonies for the Church Volume 9
on these books to the cause of God. In the future there should be
well-planned and persevering efforts made to increase their sale.
Lift the Debts
God designs that we shall learn lessons from the failures of the
past. It is not pleasing to Him to have debts rest upon His institutions.
We have reached the time when we must give character to the work
by refusing to erect large and costly buildings. We are not to copy
the mistakes of the past and become more and more involved in
debt. We are rather to endeavor to clear off the indebtedness that still
remains on our institutions. Our churches can help in this matter if
they will. Those members to whom the Lord has given means can
invest their money in the cause without interest or at a low rate of
interest, and by their freewill offerings they can help to support the
work. The Lord asks you to return cheerfully to Him a portion of
the goods He has lent you, and thus become His almoners.
Another View of the Book Work
Afterward we were in camp meetings and in large meetings in
our churches, where the ministers presented clearly the perils of the
times in which we live and the great importance of making haste
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in the circulation of our literature. In response to these appeals
the brethren and sisters came forward and purchased many books.
Some took a few, and some purchased large quantities. Most of
the purchasers paid for the books they took. A few arranged to pay
afterward.
Because books were being sold at low prices, some being espe-
cially reduced for the occasion, many were purchased, and some by
persons not of our faith. They said: “It must be that these books con-
tain a message for us. These people are willing to make sacrifices in
order that we may have them, and we will secure them for ourselves
and our friends.”
But dissatisfaction was expressed by some of our own people.
One said: “A stop must be put to this work, or our business will be
spoiled.” As one brother was carrying away an armful of books, a
canvasser laid his hand upon his arm and said: “My brother, what