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Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
Association, to a proposal for the consolidation of the work of the
publishing houses under one board of control. The proposed union of
the publishing interests was advocated as a means of securing unity,
economy, and efficiency. At the same time the hope was expressed
that at no distant day all the sanitariums might be brought under one
ownership and control. By the same ones who advocated consolidation
of the publishing houses and the medical institutions, the theory was
advanced that the surest way to establish confidence in the work that
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Seventh-day Adventists were doing was to strengthen the institutions
at headquarters, by providing them with large and substantial buildings
and with ample facilities.
But those who were personally acquainted with the conditions
existing in the home and foreign mission fields, felt that there was
greater need for broadening the field work and establishing many
centers of influence. They felt that already a disproportionate amount
of means had been expended at headquarters. Moreover, the men
bearing responsibility at the publishing house in California did not
approve of any plan of consolidation which might result in the crippling
of the work on the Pacific coast.
Suggested Changes in Policy
Among those working in the cause of religious liberty there had
arisen serious differences of opinion regarding the best way to conduct
that rapidly developing work. For several years the American Sentinel,
and the ministers of the denomination, had treated the question of
religious liberty as a vital part of the third angel’s message. But during
the year 1890 the leading speakers of the National Religious Liberty
Association had found an open door to present the principles that they
were advocating, and their protest against religious legislation, before
large audiences of secular and non-Christian people, and it appeared to
them that it would be a wise plan to improve these opportunities, and
also that it would be consistent to let these principles stand out very
clearly, unassociated with the teachings of the Scriptures regarding
the sacredness of the Sabbath and the nearness of the second advent
of Christ. They urged that the policy of the Sentinel be changed, and
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declared that if this could not be effected, they would propose that
another paper be published in Battle Creek, the editorial policy of