Chapter 21—The Battle Creek Church
There are serious objections to having the school located at Battle
Creek. The church is large, and there are quite a number of youth
connected with it. If the influence which one member has over another
in so large a church were of an elevating character, leading to purity
and consecration to God, then the youth coming to Battle Creek would
have greater advantages than if the school were located elsewhere. But
if the influences at Battle Creek shall be in the future what they have
been for several years past, I would warn parents to keep their children
from Battle Creek. There are but few in that large church who have an
influence that will steadily draw souls to Christ; while there are many
who will, by their example, lead the youth away from God to the love
of the world.
With many of the church at Battle Creek there is a great lack of
feeling their responsibility. Those who have practical religion will
retain their identity of character under any circumstances. They will
not be like the reed trembling in the wind. Those situated at a distance
feel that they would be highly favored could they have the privilege
of living in Battle Creek, among a strong church, where their children
could be benefited by the Sabbath school and meetings. Some of
our brethren and sisters in times past have made sacrifices to have
their children live there. But they have been disappointed in almost
every case. There were but few in the church to manifest an unselfish
interest for these youth. The church generally stood as pharisaical
strangers, aloof from those who needed their help the most. Some of
the youth connected with the church, who were professedly serving
God, but loving pleasure and the world more, were ready to make
the acquaintance of youthful strangers who came among them, and to
exert a strong influence over them to lead them to the world instead
of nearer to God. When these return home, they are further from the
truth than when they came to Battle Creek.
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Men and women are wanted at the heart of the work who will be
nursing fathers and mothers in Israel, who will have hearts that can
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