HEAD-QUARTERS by James White

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, February 5, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 6

HEAD-QUARTERS

By James White

We have decided to remain at Battle Creek until camp-meeting season. Our interests and feelings are so interwoven with the prosperity of our institutions located here, that we have decided to remain and labor to guard against the selfishness of not only those who have moved to Battle Creek for worldly profit, but also against the influence of some who have resided here a score of years. Here we have spent the strength of a quarter of a century of the best of life in building up these institutions, and here we have appropriated five times as much means for the benefit of these institutions as any other man has done. And here we pledge ourselves before God to do what we can to guard our own and our brethren’s property that has been put into these institutions.

Here is a church that has in past days done nobly and liberally for the upbuilding of the cause. The influence of some who have come in among us to speculate

has gradually affected others, and, we blush to say it, there has evidently been overreaching in trade to the disadvantage of some who have moved to Battle Creek.

Our duties as pastor of the church at Battle Creek shall be first, and other matters, at home or abroad, shall be second. For exposing sins among us and defending the cause of the widow and the fatherless, we have had the blessed privilege of sharing some reproach. We only regret that we have not always borne it with rejoicing. These things, with many cares and labors, have led us from time to time to flee in sadness from the scene of battle. By the grace of God we decide to remain at our post, and trust the consequences with Him who is able to sustain.

J. W.