Ellen G. White Comments on the Use of Tithe Funds

2. The Education of Needy Students

“Now, in regard to educating students in our schools. It is a good idea; it will have to be done; but God forbid that in the place of practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice our individual selves, to do this work, we should subtract from the Lord’s portion, specifically reserved to sustain the ministers in active labor in the field.... EGWCUTF 22.8

“All these things are to be done, as you propose, to help students to obtain an education, but I ask you, Shall we not all act in this matter unselfishly, and create a fund, and keep it to draw upon on such occasions? When you see a young man or a young woman who are promising subjects, advance or loan the sum needed, with the idea that it is a loan, not a gift. It would be better to have it thus. Then when it is returned, it can be used to educate others. But this money is not to be taken from the tithe, but from a separate fund secured for that purpose.”—Letter 40, 1897; Manuscript Releases 1:193, 194. EGWCUTF 22.9