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these different designs for the external appearance and shape of
the building. Why did we choose this particular one? Simply
because we thought It looked the most beautiful. Others had much
lower height. Yet to all of us, this one design was by far the
most attractive. Later, at Pasadena, all of our ministers and
officials there agreed -- they, too, chose this same design. None
of us knew lt was shaped like the Temple at Jerusalem. But somehow
I think God knew!
Several months ago the architects gave us their carefully
figured cost estimate for this building. Our business management
and financial representatives went to work to obtain long-term
financing to pay the cost of construction. They obtained definite
loan commitments from insurance companies and banks. We hoped to
break ground and start construction about August or September, this
year. Then, just before I left Pasadena on this present trip to
Jerusalem, the architects gave us bad news: They had made a
mistake in figuring the cost, by about 40%. They said it will cost
40% more than their first estimate. Our financing does not provide
that much money.
So now our business department and financial
representatives are having to start all over and try, first, to get
the same banks and insurance companies to increase the loan
commitments by 40%; and second, failing in that, to obtain the
higher financing elsewhere. Meanwhile too, we are having other
firms figure this cost as a double check. I hope we shall not have
to delay this wonderful building another year -- or perhaps give
it up altogether.
I have a brother-in-law in Portland, Oregon, who for years
has been the leading architect in that area for public buildings --
school and college buildings. He has carefully studied these
plans, and examined the small-scale model the architects had made
for it. He told me with enthusiasm that this is the most PERFECTLY
designed building, architecturally, he has ever seen. He simply
marvelled at its simplicity, the perfection of its proportions, at
its beauty.
Are we going to be able to build it? THAT DEPENDS ON YOU,
BRETHREN. Once again, instead of increasing the special building
fund by 25% or 30% a year as we should -- since we have that many
more members -- you Brethren are FALLING DOWN on it again. Since
January 1, the SPECIAL offerings for the building fund have been,
NOT 25% higher than the same period last year, but MUCH LOWER.
When I first started this building fund, a few years ago,
I expected to build this building first. That's what I wanted to
do. At that time the response from all Church members was
ENTHUSIASTIC. But necessity gave other buildings priority, and
we had to delay this HOUSE FOR GOD. Now, at last, we are ready to
build it.
So HOW ABOUT IT, Brethren? Are we going to have to give it
up, because so many of you are dropping off on this building fund?
Remember, it is to be ADDITIONAL to your regular tithes and
offerings -- and additional to Holy Day offerings. I believe God