Chapter 47—The Lord’s Poor
I was shown that our people living out of Battle Creek do not
appreciate the cares and burdens which come upon those at the heart
of the work. They allow their church members who are not able to
support themselves to come to Battle Creek, thinking that they can
obtain work in our institutions. These do not first write and ascertain
if there is an opening for them; but crowd themselves upon the church,
and find, upon application, that there is already a surplus of hands
employed, many of whom are as needy as themselves. They were
taken in out of pity, and are still retained, not because they are of the
most service to the institutions, but because they are so needy.
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There are families residing in Battle Creek who have seen these
institutions grow up, and who need and are worthy of positions in
them, but who are not able to obtain them because so many from
abroad will suffer if not employed. This brings upon the church and
these institutions burdens of perplexity to know how to treat all these
cases with wisdom, offending none, and showing mercy to all. Our
institutions have sustained loss by seeking to help these cases, for
frequently the applicants are in poor health and therefore not to be
relied upon. Could their places be supplied with able, efficient workers,
it would save quite a sum to the cause of God.
It is the duty of every church to feel an interest for its own poor.
But many selfish ones have felt gratified to have their poor members
move to Battle Creek; for then they would not be required to help
support them. The Battle Creek church spend every year from one
to five hundred dollars for the support of the poor and sick, whose
families must suffer unless they are sustained by charity. God would
not be pleased to have this church allow the poor among them to suffer
for the necessaries of life; therefore there is a continual draft upon the
funds of those at the heart of the work.
Our brethren must retain their poor at home and take those already
at Battle Creek off from the hands of the church. They could do very
much more than they now do for the poor by furnishing them with
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