A Circular to the Citizens of Battle Creek, Relative to The Dime Tabernacle

BY

ELDER JAMES WHITE.
PASTOR SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH.
BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

THE DIME TABERNACLE

FELLOW CITIZENS OF BATTLE CREEK AND VICINITY:-
A CHURCH edifice is now in successful progress in this city, which, when completed and comfortably and neatly furnished, will cost, including a Town Clock, a sum not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars. It will have a seating capacity of not less than three thousand persons. The work is being pushed forward as fast as practicable, and the house will be ready to dedicate before New Years.

This house will not only be Seats Free, and No Collections on the Sabbath, but will also be free when not occupied

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by the regular Sabbath service, for all Funerals, Temperance Lectures, Temperance Conventions, and Sunday-school Conventions. It will also be free for Moral and Religious Lectures, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. The poor had the gospel preached to them in Christ's day, and we know of no reason why they should not hear the gospel of the Son of God in our day. The want of such a house has long been felt. This will take in the crowd in Summer or in Winter. Tents have answered this purpose well in mild and dry weather, but this building will be ample and comfortable at all seasons.

The name, Dime Tabernacle, is taken from the plan instituted to raise the sum necessary to build and furnish it these "Hard Times," from the

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free-will-will offerings of the people. The poorer classes, whether inside or outside of the Seventh-day Adventist church, are invited to contribute one dime each month, for one year, which amounts to $1,20 during one long year. But few persons are so poor that they cannot save this small sum in prospect of hearing the gospel of the Son of God in its primitive simplicity, in the largest house of worship in Michigan. These, however, with but very few exceptions, make but one payment of this small sum. The more wealthy donate larger sums, all the way up to one hundred dollars each. So that sums are thankfully received, commencing with the children, ranging all the way from a dime to one hundred dollars.

Seventh-day Adventists have no

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boasting to do over what they have done; but it may be proper to say that we have added something to the tax-paying population of the city in locating three of our most important institutions at this point. These call a large amount of money to this city annually. We have not, up to this time, asked a dime of this city, or of our fellow-citizens. But having very nearly exhausted our limited treasuries, and our private purses, we now ask help, and hope to receive $5,000 from our many friends in this community, outside the S. D. A. church. The city and vicinity will be thoroughly canvassed. This circular will be left at every house and business place, to remain one week, when the canvassers will call for your free-will offerings. You will each be invited to give in

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connection with your name and address, the amount you choose to donate.

A copy of a book will be furnished to each donor free which will contain,

1. The Dedicatory Address and Prayer.

2. The Hymns and pieces of music sung on the occasion.

3. A complete record of the enterprise from the first, with a minute statement of the cost of the edifice.

4. The names and addresses of the donors, and the amount which each one gives.

All are invited to the dedication. The books will be distributed in one week after the dedicatory services. JAMES WHITE. Pastor.