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Testimony Studies on Diet and Foods
fanatical. We could not raise an interest anywhere in the West to
obtain subscribers for the Health Reformer. We saw that the writers
in the Reformer were going away from the people, and leaving them
behind. If we take positions that conscientious Christians, who are
indeed reformers, can not adopt, how can we expect to benefit that
class whom we can reach only from a health standpoint?
We must go no faster than we can take those with us whose con-
sciences and intellects are convinced of the truths we advocate. We
must meet the people where they are. Some of us have been many
years in arriving at our present position in health reform. It is slow
work to obtain a reform in diet. We have powerful appetites to meet;
for the world is given to gluttony. If we should allow the people as
much time as we have required to come up to the present advanced
state in reform, we would be very patient with them, and allow them
to advance step by step, as we have done, until their feet are firmly
established upon the health-reform platform. But we should be very
cautious not to advance too fast, lest we be obliged to retrace our steps.
In reforms, we would better come one step short of the mark than to
go one step beyond it. And if there is error at all, let it be on the side
next to the people.
Above all things, we should not with our pens advocate positions
that we do not put to a practical test in our own families, upon our own
tables. This is dissimulation, a species of hypocrisy. In Michigan we
can get along better without salt, sugar, and milk, than can many who
are situated in the far West or in the far East, where there is a scarcity
of fruit. But there are very few families in Battle Creek who do not
use these articles upon their tables. We know that a free use of these
things is positively injurious to health, and, in many cases, we think
that if they were not used at all, a much better state of health would be
enjoyed. But at present our burden is not upon these things. The people
are so far behind that we see it is all they can bear to have us draw
the line upon their injurious indulgences and stimulating narcotics.
We bear positive testimony against tobacco, spirituous liquors, snuff,
tea, coffee, flesh-meats, butter, spices, rich cakes, mince pies, a large
amount of salt, and all exciting substances used as articles of food.
If we come to persons who have not been enlightened in regard
to health reform, and present our strongest positions at first, there is
danger of their becoming discouraged as they see how much they have