Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

558 Testimonies for the Church Volume 1[607]and by recent confessions from nearly all the members of this church,that some one or more of the false reports have been fully credited bynearly all and that those professed Christians have cherished feelingsof censure, bitterness, and cruelty against us, especially against myfeeble husband who is struggling for life and liberty. Some have hada wicked, crushing spirit and have represented him as wealthy yetgrasping for money.Upon returning to Battle Creek, my husband called for a councilof brethren to meet with the church that matters might be investigatedbefore them and false reports met. Brethren came from different partsof the state, and my husband fearlessly called on all to bring what theycould against him that he might meet it openly and thus put an end tothis private slander. The wrongs which he had before confessed in theReview he now fully confessed in a public meeting and to individuals,and also explained many matters upon which false and foolish chargeswere based, and convinced all of the falsity of those charges.And while looking up matters relative to the real value of ourproperty, we found to his astonishment, and that of all present, that itamounted to only $1,500, besides his horses and carriage, and remnantsof editions of books and charts, the sale of which for the past year, asstated by the secretary, has not been equal to the interest on the moneyhe owes to the Publishing Association. These books and charts cannotat present be regarded of much value, and certainly not to us in ourpresent condition.When in health, my husband had no time to keep accounts, andduring his sickness his matters were in the hands of others. The inquiryarose: What had become of his property? Had he been defrauded?Had mistakes been made in his accounts? Or had he, in the unsettledcondition of his affairs, given to this and that good object, not knowinghis real ability to give and not knowing how much he gave?As one good result of the investigation, confidence in those whohave had charge of accounts relative to our affairs is unshaken, andwe have no good reason to conclude that our limited means can beattributed to errors in the accounts. Therefore in looking over myhusband’s business matters for ten years, and his liberal manner ofhanding out means to help the work in all its branches, the best andmost charitable conclusion is that our property has been used in thecause of present truth. My husband has kept no accounts, and what he