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Welfare Ministry
ministers. They hope that thus they can do something to remove the
impression that seems to be held by some in St. Helena—that this
institution is a place where only imbeciles and decrepit people are
cared for. Brother B, manager of the San Francisco Vegetarian Cafe,
will come up to take charge of the preparation of the banquet.
I saw no objection to this plan. When the light of health reform
first came to us we used, on holiday occasions, to take cooking stoves
to the grounds where the people were assembled, and right there bake
unleavened bread—gems and rolls. And I think that good was the
result of our efforts, though, of course, we had not the health food
preparations that we now have. At that time we were just beginning to
learn how to live without using flesh meat.
Sometimes we gave entertainments, and we took great care that
all that we prepared for the table was palatable and nicely served. In
fruit season we would get blueberries and raspberries fresh from the
bushes, and strawberries fresh from the vines. We made the table fare
an object lesson which showed those present that our diet, even though
it was in accordance with the principles of health reform, was far from
being a meager one.
[286]
Sometimes a short temperance lecture was given in connection
with these entertainments, and thus people became acquainted with our
principles of living. As far as we knew, all were pleased and all were
enlightened. We always had something to say about the necessity of
providing wholesome food and of preparing it simply, and yet making
it so palatable and appetizing that those eating it would be satisfied.
The world is full of the temptation to indulge appetite, and words of
warning, earnest and right to the point, have made wonderful changes
in families and in individuals.—
Letter 166, 1903
.
Peril of Making Financial Gain in Sale of Food the Primary
Objective—Light was also given that in the cities there would be
opportunity to do a work similar to that which we did on the Battle
Creek fair grounds. In harmony with this light, hygienic restaurants
have been established. But there is grave danger that our restaurant
workers will become so imbued with the spirit of commercialism that
they will fail to impart the light which the people need. Our restaurants
bring us in contact with many people, but if we allow our minds
to be engrossed with the thought of financial profit, we shall fail to
fulfill the purpose of God. He would have us take advantage of every