Establishing Publishing Houses in New Locations
163
to every man his work. Choose some locality where you will have
opportunity to let your light shine forth amid the moral darkness....
Let those who are thinking of settling at Mountain View remember
that this is not wisdom unless they are called there to connect with the
publishing work. The world is large; its needs are great. Go, make
new centers in places where there is need of light. Do not crowd into
one place, making the same mistake that has been made in Battle
Creek. There are hundreds of places that need the light God has given
you.—
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 493-495
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[189]
Guiding Principles in Building Operations—When plans are
laid to erect a building in one place, give careful consideration to other
places that are in just as great need of money for the erection of needful
buildings. Time is short, and while buildings must be erected, let this
be done with due consideration for all parts of the Lord’s vineyard. Let
the one who has charge of the building be a man of sound, sanctified
mind, not one who, in his anxiety to erect a fine piece of architecture,
will bring perplexity upon the work by expensive investment.
God is not the author of confusion, but of order and progress. Let
those who desire to advance His kingdom make haste slowly and
build intelligently. Let no one rush on with a stumbling supposition
that means must be invested to make a display. Thus saith the Lord:
“Means must not be so expended, for it is at the expense of souls.”—
Testimonies for the Church 7:284
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Never are we to rely upon worldly recognition and rank. Never
are we, in the establishment of institutions, to try to compete with
worldly institutions in size or splendor. We shall gain the victory,
not by erecting massive buildings, in rivalry with our enemies, but
by cherishing a Christlike spirit—a spirit of meekness and lowliness.
Better far the cross and disappointed hopes, with eternal life at last,
than to live with princes and forfeit heaven.
The Saviour of mankind was born of humble parentage, in a sin-
cursed, wicked world. He was brought up in obscurity at Nazareth,
a small town in Galilee. He began His work in poverty and without
worldly rank. Thus God introduced the gospel, in a way altogether
different from the way in which many in our day deem it wise to
proclaim the same gospel.
At the very beginning of the gospel dispensation He taught His
church to rely, not on worldly rank and splendor, but on the power of