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housing and sanitary facilities for some 40,000 people---nor the
vast dining halls and other facilities. Our plan was to turn the
present Tabernacle into the second dining hall. To do this we
needed to ADD ON a wing for the kitchen. We were planning to add
this wing---in the form of the "stem of a T" at the rear of the
Tabernacle, directly facing the stage. That would have had to be
done this year, ready for the Feast beginning late September---for
over 9,000 are expected in attendance, and we could seat only 7,500
at present. Also we were going to have to construct a new dining
hall, new sanitary buildings, new housing, all in a rush CRASH
PROGRAM before this coming Festival this year.
To do this and finance it we were going to have to pay
out about $40,000 per month for the next ten months. It would have
to be paid in full within ten months, so that we could then start
making even larger payments every month on the first half of the
great 100,000-seat BOWL auditorium. Our architect had been working
some two or three months on the plans for the big addition to be
built on the present Tabernacle this summer. His plans were almost
completed, when, in May, I received over here in England, a long
letter from my son Garner Ted Armstrong, with the news that this
Squaw Valley project had opened to us.
I will say candidly that I was not enthusiastic. I was
dead against it. I didn't want to see the Festival held in two
locations. But that brings me to the current discouragement
number 2:
2) Although there are now more than TWICE as many
members in God's Church as there were early in 1958, when I first
asked for pledges to build the big Tabernacle at Gladewater, you
brethren ARE NOT SENDING IN ANY INCREASE IN SPECIAL OFFERINGS FOR
THE PROPERTY AND BUILDING FUND! I have just received a report from
the Headquarters office in Pasadena, with these exact figures:
contributions for this Building Fund, June 1960, $16,789.13. For
June, 1961, $15,371---LESS than a year ago. Besides, in June 1960
there were special offerings for Booths at Gladewater of $4,734,
and for June 1961, only $985. This, I believe, was advance
rentals, however. I have written and explained to our entire
membership the seriousness of this failure to keep up the special
offerings for the Property and Building Fund---two or three times.
But ONLY SOME OF YOU BRETHREN TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND RESPOND.
Brethren, I simply WILL NOT pester and hound you, or beg
you, about this! If about HALF of you brethren do not wish to
respond, or to help carry your part, and wish to let God's Church
and His work down, and do not want to stand behind me in the
terrifying responsibilities Christ has given me to carry, then I AM
SIMPLY GOING TO LET CHRIST DEAL WITH YOU AS HE WILLS! But I do
have to say it is mighty discouraging!
So all this brought us to a certain point. My son wrote
me all about the Squaw Valley opportunity---he had visited it---
told me how wonderful a place it is---and said the final decision
was mine. I replied that it was NOT mine at all---but that we have
to meet AT THE PLACE WHERE CHRIST CHOOSES. Well, of course, he
said he knew that---but he meant it would be my responsibility to