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Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
be secured at a distance from the cities, where schools can be built
up in which the youth can be given an education in agricultural and
mechanical lines.
“The principles of present truth are to become more widespread.
There are those who are reasoning from a wrong point of view. Be-
cause it is more convenient to have the work centered in one place,
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they are in favor of crowding everything together in one locality. Great
evil is the result. Places that should be helped are left destitute.
“What can I say to our people that will lead them to follow the
course that will be for their present and future good? Will not those
in Battle Creek heed the light given them by God? Will they not deny
self, lift the cross, and follow Jesus? Will they not obey the call of their
Leader to leave Battle Creek and build up interests in other places?
Will they not go to the dark places of the earth to tell the story of the
love of Christ, trusting in God to give them success?
“It is not God’s plan for our people to crowd into Battle Creek.
Jesus says: “Go work today in My vineyard. Get away from the places
where you are not needed. Plant the standard of truth in towns and
cities that have not heard the message. Prepare the way for My coming.
Those in the highways and hedges are to hear the call. ’
“The Lord will make the wilderness a sacred place, as His people,
filled with the missionary spirit, go forth to make centers for His work,
to establish sanitariums, where the sick and afflicted can be cared for;
and schools, where the youth can be educated in right lines.”
“It has been urged that there were great advantages in having so
many institutions in close connection; that they would be a strength
to one another and could afford help to those seeking education and
employment. This is according to human reasoning; it will be admitted
that, from a human point of view, many advantages are gained by
crowding so many responsibilities in Battle Creek; but the vision
needs to be extended.”
Notwithstanding frequent counsels to the contrary, men continued
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to plan for centralization of power, for the binding of many interests
under one control. This work was first started in the Review and Herald
office. Things were swayed first one way and then another. It was the
enemy of our work who prompted the call for the consolidation of the
publishing work under one controlling power in Battle Creek.