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The Publishing Ministry
Christ. He gave His life that He might save souls, and the people are
losing confidence in the managers of the office.—
Letter 5, 1892
.
Large Wages Contrary to God’s Plan—Those who made and
executed the plans appropriating God’s entrusted money in large wages
for themselves were not profited thereby in a single instance, although
they may imagine that they were. In accepting this money they reveal
that they could not be trusted to handle the Lord’s goods. This action
will stand against them, revealing that they were actuated by principles
that God has not given us any liberty to adopt in His work.
The action in this matter instituted in Battle Creek robbed the cause
of God of money which He would have employed in advancing the
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work where the banner of truth has not been uplifted. The payment
of such large wages was entirely contrary to the plan of God in any
line of His work; it was contrary to the example of Christ in His life.
The greatest Teacher the world ever knew gave every institution in our
world a pattern of self-denying, self-sacrificing principle.—
Letter 31a,
1894
.
Employees to Have a Voice in Setting Wages—Those who
change God’s order of things in order to follow the counsel of selfish
men will be prompted to cut down the wages of men whose work is, in
the sight of God, of such a character that through Him their influence
is bringing means into the treasury to sustain His cause. This action
before the universe of heaven and before men reveals the character
and disposition of the men who are handling sacred things. And under
the inspiration of the same selfish spirit these very men, if they see
a chance, will cut down the wages of the laborers in the vineyard
of the Lord, without their consent, and without understanding their
situation. In many cases this action brings families into strait places,
and those who have the power in their hands know little what may
be the consequences of deducting from the wages of the laborers. It
is just as much the right of the ones employed in the cause to have a
voice in such transactions as it is of men employed in various branches
of trade.
God’s cause can afford to be fair and true; it can afford to deal
on right principles. When any such work as cutting down wages is
contemplated, let a circular be published setting forth the true situation,
and then ask those employed by the conference if, under the pressure
of lack of means, they could do with less means of support. All the