Chapter 53—At the Nation’s Capital
The destruction in one year, by fire, of the main buildings of two of
the leading Seventh-day Adventist institutions at Battle Creek, Mich.,
led to a study of the advantages that might accrue to the cause of
God through a removal of the denominational headquarters and of the
Review and Herald printing office to some other place.
This problem was spread before the delegates assembled at the
1903 General Conference. The brethren were urged to express freely
their convictions as to the proper course to pursue. While they had
the matter under advisement, Mrs. White, who was in attendance as
one of the delegates, bore a decided testimony in favor of adopting a
policy that would result in a widespread dissemination of the truths of
the third angel’s message. She called attention to oft repeated counsels
to establish centers of influence at strategic points, and to arrange for
a wise distribution of the working forces, rather than to follow plans
tending toward centralization. The stakes were to be strengthened, but
only that the cords might be lengthened. From established centers the
influence of present truth was to be extended into all the world. Mrs.
White said, in part:
“Will those who have collected in Battle Creek hear the Voice
speaking to them, and understand that they are to scatter out into
different places, where they can spread abroad a knowledge of the truth,
and where they can gain an experience different from the experience
that they have been gaining?
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“In reply to the question that has been asked in regard to settling
somewhere else, I answer, Yes. Let the General Conference offices
and the publishing work be moved from Battle Creek. I know not
where the place will be, whether on the Atlantic coast or elsewhere;
but this I will say: Never lay a stone or a brick in Battle Creek to
rebuild the Review Office there. God has a better place for it.”
The
General Conference Bulletin, April 6, 1903
.
307