September 1, 1904

“The Missionary Acre Fund” The Advent Review And Sabbath Herald 81, 35, p. 5.

BY the regular monthly reading in the churches for the month of April last, the call was made for all to take part in contributing to the Missionary Acre Fund by setting apart a portion of ground or orchard or vineyard, the whole proceeds from which should be devoted to that fund. As it is now in the midst of harvest time, we call the attention of all to this matter.ARSH September 1, 1904, page 5.1

The proceeds of the Missionary Acre Fund have been devoted especially to the paying off of the debts of the old Battle Creek College property. About sixteen thousand dollars of this debt is due to the Review and Herald Association in Washington. About twice this amount is due to individuals of our own people, who loaned their money to the college when it was in need.ARSH September 1, 1904, page 5.2

That which is due to the Review and Herald is now greatly needed in establishing the work in Washington. Many of the individuals to whom money is due from the college debt now desire to have their money, that they may help establish the work in Washington. Others desire to have their money because they personally need it very much.ARSH September 1, 1904, page 5.3

The Training School Association was organized as an intermediary corporation, solely for the purpose of raising the money and paying off these debts on the college property, and of transferring the property to the designated corporation for the designated purpose. This association has no enterprise of its own; it has rightly no will of its own; it is confined to the one matter of raising the money and paying off these debts and transferring the property. The Acre Fund was assigned to this association as its principle resource and indeed its only regular source—of income for the purpose for which the association exists. We want to pay all. But we simply can not possibly pay any, without money; and the Acre Fund is practically our only source of means.ARSH September 1, 1904, page 5.4

Donations to the Acre Fund can not really interfere with donations to any other enterprise; because practically the Acre Fund is the proceeds of a certain portion of ground or orchard or vineyard that is set apart for that purpose; and after the portion of ground or orchard or vineyard is so set apart, the amount which shall be given is decided solely by what that portion produces, whether it be little or much; and even only a little from each one of our people, devoted for this fund will be all-sufficient to effect in a short time the purpose which the Training School Association was organized to accomplish. Indeed, in the matter of the sixteen thousand dollars due the Review and Herald, and much that is due to individuals, it is the truth that every dollar paid to the Training School Association pays double; each dollar counts the same as two dollars; for it pays those debts, and at the same time helps the work in Washington. And we can fully assure all people that the officers of the Training School Board could take no more pleasure in anything than in putting into the hands of our brethren in Washington that sixteen thousand dollars; and in paying to the individuals what is due to them so that they can put the money into the hands of the brethren in Washington.ARSH September 1, 1904, page 5.5

Therefore, the officers of the Training School Board earnestly request that all our people will remember the Acre Fund, throughout the harvest time of the abundant crops that the Lord has so graciously given this year. Please send in promptly the proceeds of the portion of field, orchard, vineyard, or garden that you have or will set apart, that it may be passed on to the cause and the persons that so much need it. We believe that it is safe to say that if the debt of the college property were all to be paid now, the greater part of all the money would go directly into the hands of the brethren of Washington to aid in establishing the work there.ARSH September 1, 1904, page 5.6

All money to the Acre Fund and all other money to help pay the debts on the college property should be sent to the Treasurer of the Training School Association, 267 West Main St., Battle Creek, Mich.ARSH September 1, 1904, page 5.7

ALONZO T. JONES, President of Training School Board.