Chapter 13—Evils Resulting from Centralization and
Colonization
Introduction
In this section the reader will find select statements dealing with
five important aspects of the church and its publishing work: 1. Cen-
tralization, 2. Colonization, 3. Confederacy, 4. Consolidation, and 5.
Cooperation.
As far back as the middle 1870S, Mrs. White gave counsel against
colonization of people and institutions resulting in consolidation and
centralization of power—specifically, in Battle Creek. Writing to O.
A. Olsen, president of the General Conference, she stated in 1896 that
“Twenty years ago” She had been shown that the publishing house
on the Pacific coast “Was ever to remain independent of all other
institutions; that it was to be controlled by no other institution.” She
went on to say:
“Just prior to my husband’s death [1881], the minds of some were
agitated in regard to placing these institutions under one presiding
power. Again the Holy Spirit brought to my mind what had been
stated to me by the Lord. I told my husband to say in answer to this
proposition that the Lord had not planned any such action.”—
Letter
81, 1896
.
Much of the counsel against consolidation relates to the efforts to
bring the publishing interests of the denomination under the control
of Battle Creek. It is important to grasp this fact in the setting of the
historical times.
But the counsel in some cases broadens to the health and educa-
tional interests, and certain principles that have a broad application
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are suggested. (See comprehensive index to the writings of Ellen G.
White under the following entries: Centralization, Confederacy, Con-
solidation, Colonization, Cooperation, Review and Herald Publishing
House, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Southern Publishing
Association.)
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