Centering Too Much in Battle Creek
South Lancaster, Massachusetts,
October 16, 1890
To the Managers of the Battle Creek Sanitarium
Dear Brethren,
While in Petoskey I had some conversation with your physician
in chief in regard to establishing a home for orphan children at Battle
Creek. I said that this was just what was needed among us as a
people, and that in enterprises of this kind we were far behind other
denominations.
In my conversation I spoke of my fear that we were centering
too many responsibilities in Battle Creek, and I am still of the same
opinion. It is perilous to center so much in one locality. A large
amount of means is being expended in this one place, while cities are
neglected that will become more and more difficult to work.
I have been looking over some of my writings, and I find that
warnings on this point were given years ago. It is plainly stated that
the buildings in Battle Creek should not be enlarged, that building
should not be added to building to increase facilities there. We were
instructed not to accumulate interests in that one place, but to enlarge
our sphere of labor. There was danger that Battle Creek would become
as Jerusalem of old—a powerful center. If we do not heed these
warnings, the evils that ruined Jerusalem will come upon us. Pride,
self-exaltation, neglect of the poor, and partiality to the wealthy—
these were the sins of Jerusalem. Today when large interests are
built up in one place, the workers are tempted to become lifted up
in selfishness and pride. When they yield to this temptation they
are not laborers together with God. Instead of seeking to increase our
responsibilities in Battle Creek, we should bravely and willingly divide
the responsibilities already there, distributing them to many places.
[134]
We are “a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”
1
Corinthians 4:9
. Our mission is the same as that which was announced
by Christ, at the beginning of His ministry, to be His mission. “The
132