Words of Instruction to Physicians and Nurses
April 3, 1900
Physicians are placed where peculiar temptations will come to them. If they are not prepared to withstand temptations by the practice of the principles of truth, they will fall when Satan tempts them. There are ministers of the Gospel who are too weak to resist temptation. They may have long preached the Gospel, and with marked success; they may have won the confidence of the people, but when they think they are strong, they show that they can not stand alone without being overcome. Unless they govern their habits and passions, unless they keep close to the side of Christ, they will lose eternal life. If ministers are in such danger, physicians are even more so.
The perils of physicians have been opened before me. The physicians in our sanitariums must not allow themselves to think that they are in no danger. They are in positive danger; but they may avoid the perils which surround them if they walk humbly with God, taking heed not to be presumptuous. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” A power higher and stronger than human power must hold the fort in our medical institutions.
Connected with each sanitarium should be a man and his wife of mature age, who are as firm as a rock to the principles of truth, who can act as guide and counsellors. The education of men and women in a sanitarium is a most important and delicate work, and unless physicians are constantly prepared for this work by the power of God, they will be tempted to look upon the bodies of ladies with an unsanctified heart and mind.
There should always be connected with our sanitariums women of mature age, educated and trained for the work, who are competent to treat lady patients. At whatever cost they should be employed; and if they can not be found, persons having the right dispositions and traits of character should be educated and prepared for this work.
Physicians must avoid all freedom of manner toward ladies, married or unmarried. They should ever be circumspect in their behaviour. It is better that our physicians be married men, whose wives can unite with them in the work. Both the doctor and his wife should have a living experience in the things of God. If they are devoted Christians, their work will be as precious as fine gold.673To the young men and young women who are being educated as nurses and physicians I will say, Keep close to Jesus. By beholding Him we become changed into His likeness. Remember that you are not training for courtship or marriage, but for the marriage of Christ. You may have a theoretical knowledge of the truth, but this will not save you. You must know by experience how sinful sin is, and how much you need Jesus as a personal Saviour. Only thus can you become sons and daughters of God. Your only merit is your great need.
Those selected to take the nurse’s course in our sanitariums should be wisely chosen. Young girls of a superficial mould of character should not be encouraged to take up this work. Many of the young men who present themselves as being desirous of being educated as physicians have not those traits of character which will enable them to withstand the temptations so common to the work of a physician. Only those should be accepted who give promise of becoming qualified for the great work of imparting the principles of true health reform.
Young ladies connected with our institutions should keep a strict guard over themselves. In word and action, they should be reserved. Never when speaking to a married man should they show the slightest freedom. To my sisters who are connected with our sanitariums, I would say, Gird on the armor. When talking to men, be kind and courteous, but never free. Observant eyes are upon you, watching your conduct, judging by it whether you are indeed children of God. Be modest. Abstain from every appearance of evil. Keep on the heavenly armor, or else for Christ’s sake sever your connection with the sanitarium, the place where poor ship-wrecked souls are to find a haven. Those connected with these institutions are to take heed to themselves. Never, by word or action, are they to give the least occasion for wicked men to speak evil of the truth.
There are two kingdoms in this world, the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan. To one of these kingdoms each one of us belong. In His wonderful prayer for His disciples, Christ said, “I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so I have also sent them into the world.”
ELLEN G. WHITE
The Unwise Use of Money
and the
Spirit of Speculation
By Ellen G. White
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Pacific Press Publishing Association
Mountain View, California
1911
Introductory Note
The spirit of speculation is ever increasing. The desire to acquire riches quickly by speculative methods is growing even among Seventh-day Adventists.
There is reason to believe that during the last thirty years, more than one hundred thousand dollars has been lost by our brethren through their investments in mines and mining stock, and in various manufacturing enterprises, which have been recommended by their friends as providential opportunities to acquire means rapidly for the furtherance of the gospel.
A warning is needed, and recent occurrences have called it forth, as presented in the following pages.
W. C. WHITE.
Selections Regarding
The Unwise Use of Money
THE TRUE RICHES
Sanitarium, Cal., Dec. 7, 1903.
Christ beholds the world full of activity in seeking for earthly treasures. He sees many eagerly trying first one thing and then another in their effort to obtain the coveted earthly treasure which they think will satisfy their selfish greed, while in their eager pursuit they pass by the only path that leads to the true riches.
As one having authority, Christ speaks to such ones, inviting them to follow Him. He offers to lead them to the riches that are as enduring as eternity. He points them to the narrow path of self-denial and sacrifice. Those who press on in this path, surmounting every obstacle, will reach the land of glory. In lifting the cross, they find that the cross lifts them, and they will at last gain the imperishable treasure.
Many think to find security in earthly riches. But Christ seeks to remove from their eye the mote that obscures the vision, and thus enable them to behold the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. They are mistaking phantoms for realities, and have lost sight of the glories of the eternal world. Christ calls upon them to extend their view beyond the present, and add eternity to their vision. . . .
GRASPING FOR RICHES
From Review and Herald, July 10, 1888
The people of God, who have been blessed with great light in regard to the truth for this time, should not forget that they are to be waiting and watching for the coming of their Lord in the clouds of heaven. Let them not forget that they are to put off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let no man set up his idols of gold, or silver, or lands, and give the service of his heart to this world, and to its interests. There is a mania for speculating in land, pervading both city and country. The old safe, healthful paths to competence are losing their popularity. The idea of accumulating substantial means by the moderate gains of industry and frugality, is an idea that is scorned by many, as no longer suited to this progressive age.
The desire to engage in speculation, in buying up country and city lots, or anything that promises sudden and exorbitant gains, has reached a fever heat; and mind, and thought, and labor are all directed toward securing all that is possible of the treasures of earth in the shortest possible time. Some of our youth bid fair to be hastened on to ruin, because of this feverish grasping for riches. This desire for gain opens the door of the heart to the temptations of the enemy. And the temptations that come, are of such an alluring nature, that there are some who can not resist them. . . .
The spirit of gain getting, of making haste to be rich, of this all-absorbing worldliness, is painfully contradictory to our faith and doctrines. Should the Lord most high be pleased to impart His Holy Spirit, and seek to revive His work, how many would be hungering for the heavenly manna, and thirsting for the waters of life? . . . I see there is danger of some of our brethren saying, as did the foolish rich man, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” Many are forgetting that they are God’s servants, and are saying, “To-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.” God is looking on your every business transaction. Be on your guard. It is time that deep, earnest thought should be given to laying up treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal.
ALL ON TEST AND TRIAL
From a Testimony sent to the General Conference, 1897.
In acquiring money, Christians are safe only as they follow God’s direction, and use it in channels which He can bless. God permits us to use His goods with an eye single to His glory. He blesses us, that we may bless others. Those who have adopted the world’s maxim, and discarded God’s specifications, who grasp all they can obtain of wages or goods, are poor, poor indeed, because the frown of God is upon them. Walking in paths of their own choosing, they681do dishonor to God, to the truth, to His goodness, His mercy, His character.
Now, in probationary time, we are all on test and trial. Satan is working with his deceiving enchantments and bribes, and some will think that by their schemes they have made a wonderful speculation. But lo, as they believe that they are rising securely, and are carrying themselves loftily in their selfishness, they learn that God can scatter faster than they can gather.
A FATAL SELF-DECEPTION
From “Testimonies for the Church,” volume 1, pages 477, 478.
Many flatter themselves that their desire for gain is that they may help the cause of God. Some promise that when they have gained such an amount, then they will do good with it, and advance the cause of present truth. But when they have realized their expectations, they are no more ready to help the cause than before. They again pledge themselves that after they purchase that desirable house or piece of land, and pay for it, then they will do a great deal with their means to advance the work of God. But as the desire of their heart is attained, they have far less disposition than in the days of their poverty, to aid in the advancement of the work of God. “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh682unfruitful.” The deceitfulness of riches leads them on, step by step, until they lose all love for the truth, and yet they flatter themselves that they believe it. They love the world and the things of the world, but the love of God or of the truth is not in them.
THE MESSAGE TO SELL
Burrough Valley, Cal., July 7, 1888.
Dear Brethren and Sisters at ——:
Let not the enemy of God and man control your thoughts, your words and actions. The message from the lips of Christ is, “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not.” There will be many great failures in earthly banks, and in speculations, including mining and real estate.
How pleased Satan would be if in the very time when men should be selling their possessions to sustain the cause of God, he can so deceive them that all their available means shall be invested in land speculation and other worldly enterprises, thus taking away from the cause of God means which should flow into the treasury to advance His work in the earth.
When Jesus tells us to “sell,” He does not mean that our principal burden should be to buy possessions. If Satan can get us entangled in worldly possessions so that we have no means to put into the Lord’s treasury, then he is leading us to do the very thing that Jesus has told us not to do.
MISLEADING PROSPECTS
Many have conscientiously loaned their money to our institutions, that it may be used to do a good work for the Master. But Satan sets in operation schemes that will produce in the minds of our brethren a great desire to try their fortunes, as in a lottery. One and still another are flattered by strong representations of financial gain if they will only invest their money in lands; and they take their means out of our institutions, and bury it in the earth, where the Lord’s cause is not benefited.
Then if one is successful, he is so elated over the fact that he has gained a few hundred dollars, that he decides to keep on getting money if he can. He continues to invest in real estate or in mines. The device of Satan is successful; in the place of increased funds flowing into the treasury, there is a withdrawal of means from our institutions, in order that the owners may try their fortunes in the mining business or in land speculation. The spirit of greed is fostered, and the naturally penurious man begrudges every dollar that is called for to be used in the advancement of the cause of God in the earth.
UNWISE INVESTMENTS
From a talk given at Los Angeles, Cal., August 15, 1905.
A few weeks ago, while I was attending the camp-meeting at San Jose, some of our brethren presented before me what they considered wonderful opportunities684to invest means in mining and railroad stock, that would bring large returns. They seemed confident of success, and spoke of the good they would do with the profits they expected to receive.
Others were present, and seemed interested to see how I would receive their proposition. I told them that such investments were very uncertain. They could not be sure that these enterprises would succeed. I spoke to them of the everlasting reward that is assured to those who lay up their treasures in heaven; but in these uncertain ventures, I begged them, for Christ’s sake, to stop right where they were.
In the night season I was instructed to tell God’s people that it is not according to His will that those who believe in His near coming should invest their means in mining stock. This would be burying our Lord’s talent in the earth. I will read a copy of a letter I wrote to one of the brethren I have mentioned:
“SAN JOSE, CAL., JULY 2, 1905.
“Dear, Brother:
“You have presented before me a proposition to invest in mining stock. You feel confident that such an investment would prove successful, and you think that in this way you will be able greatly to help the cause of God.
“The Lord has given me instruction that at meetings I would attend I would find men encouraging our people to invest their money to work mines. I am bidden to say that this is a device of the enemy to consume or to tie up means that is greatly needed to carry on the work of God. It is a snare of the last days, to involve God’s people in loss of their Lord’s entrusted capital, that should be used wisely,685in the work of winning souls. Because so much money is invested in these very uncertain enterprises, the work of God is sadly crippled for lack of the talent that will win souls to Christ.
“The kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
“Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. . . . But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” . . .
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.”
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance:686but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.’ . . .
“All around us there are souls to save. There is a work to be done by every man or woman who hears the truth to enlighten some other one. To every one is given some responsibility in the Lord’s work. As these responsibilities are assumed, there will be an increase of strength and power to win souls.”
“A great work is before us. We must watch and work for souls, in this time of waiting for our Lord. Cultivate personal piety. Every precaution must be taken to prevent spiritual declension, lest the day of the Lord come upon us as a snare. To be good and to do good should be the study of every human being. There is, my brother, great need that your spiritual eyesight be enlightened. ‘Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.’ Keep the channel of your mind clear, that you may understand how to use the Lord’s entrusted capital. If there are those who have means that they can possibly spare, it is their duty to use it to advance the cause of God.
“Last night in vision, I was raising my voice in warning against worldly speculations. I said, ‘I invite you to take shares in the greatest mine that has ever been worked.’”
“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not?”
“If we will invest in God’s mining stock, the return is sure. He says, ‘Hearken diligently unto Me,687and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.’ Please read this whole chapter.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
“My brother, will you make an investment to secure the heavenly pearl of great price?” “Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”
“This is mining stock, in which you may invest without running a risk of disappointment. But, my dear friend, we have not a dollar of the Lord’s money to invest in mining enterprises in this world.”
I am exceedingly sorry that any of our people have made the mistake of burying their God-given capital in mining stock, thinking thereby to increase their revenue. The prospect may seem flattering, but many will be sadly disappointed.
I recall the case of a brother who was once interested in the work and cause of God. Some years ago, when I was in Australia, this brother wrote to688me, saying that he had purchased a mine from which he expected to receive great profits. He said that he would give me a portion of what he would receive. Occasionally he would write to me, saying: “Now the prospects are good. Soon we shall receive returns.” But the returns did not materialize; and after sinking many thousands of dollars, his ventures proved to be an entire loss.
This is one of many similar cases that have come to my attention. Many have expressed to me their sorrow that they had ever encouraged any one to invest their means in mining stock. If there is one here who has received money from a brother or sister for any such investment, it is his duty to return it, if the one who gave it so desires.
I warn you to be careful what you do with your Lord’s goods. By placing it in God’s treasury you may insure for yourselves a revenue from the inexhaustible treasures of His kingdom.
The people of God have been too easily satisfied with mere surface truths. We should search diligently for the deep, eternal, far-reaching truths of God’s word. Having found them, we shall joyfully sell all, that we may buy the field.
CAUTIONS AND ADVICE
Report of an Interview
Early Monday morning, May 29, Mr. S. J. Harris called at the home of W. C. White, and expressed a desire to see Mrs. Ellen G. White, that he might lay689before her his plans of work and receive her advice. When told that Mrs. White did not willingly enter into such matters as he had to present, he returned to San Francisco. Mrs. S. J. Harris and a friend remained, and late in the forenoon, secured an interview with Sister White, a portion of which is here given.
There were present Mrs. E. G. White, Elder W. C. White, Mrs. Ada I. Harris, Miss Gossard, Sara McEnterfer, Mary Steward, and Helen Graham.
The interview was introduced by the statement from Mrs. Harris: “My husband is very anxious to advance the cause of present truth, and is devoting sixty per cent of the proceeds of his business to this purpose. He wants the direction of the Lord in everything he does, and decides his business affairs and all matters pertaining to his daily life by casting lots. His method is to toss up a coin. . . . He has made successful land deals, and has been able to turn thousands of dollars into the work. In these deals he has sometimes been guided by the method above mentioned. His business affairs are assuming larger proportions, and greater sums of money are being involved. If he continues to depend upon this method of guidance, I feel that his affairs may end disastrously at any time.”
“The advice of his friends has no influence with him, for he is sure that he is led by the Lord. I know that in the past when the course of individuals has been detrimental to the work of the Lord, He has690given light. This morning my husband acknowledged that if he should receive a testimony condemning the course he is pursuing, he would stop his present method. So I lay the matter before you, earnestly praying that the Lord may send us some word of counsel.”
Mrs. E. G. White: Here is a course of action that if it appears at all successful, will call in the talents of our people. The enemy of souls is very anxious to hinder the completion of the special work for this time by bringing in some erroneous transaction. He will bring it in under the garb of great liberality; and if those pursuing this course have apparent success for a time, others will follow. And the very truths that are testing our people for this time, and which, if clearly understood, would cut off such a course of action, lose their force.
Some will strike out into flattering speculative money-making schemes, and others will quickly catch the spirit of speculation. It is just what they want, and they will engage in lines of speculation that take the mind off from the sacred preparation that is essential for their souls in order for them to be prepared to meet the trials which will come in these last days.
The enemy of souls has his plans carefully laid, and he will try in every possible way to carry them to success. Something after this order; a plan that promises to be as gracious and successful as this, has been started a good many times among our people. But when the time came that they expected great success, it proved to be an entire failure. That confused691the minds of the people. They had gotten into speculation, and they liked that plan better than hard work and going right on as we have done usually, laboring perseveringly and trusting in the Lord. . . .
W. C. White: What is your mind regarding the matter of deciding business questions and questions about the daily movements and decisions of an individual by asking the Lord to answer “Yes” or “No” to his question, in this way? He writes the words on either side of a card, and then drops it, and accepts as an answer, the way in which the card falls, believing that in this way God indicates that He does or does not want him to do a certain thing.
[It is a haphazard method, which God does not approve. To men who have suggested such tests, I have said, “No, no.” The sacred things which concern the cause of God must not be dealt with by such methods. God does not instruct us that we are to learn His will in any such way.
Will it furnish us with experiences that will glorify God, for us to decide what is His will by the dropping of a card or a coin, and observing how it falls? No, no. Such tests as this will spoil the religious experience of the one who adopts them. Every one who depends upon such things for guidance, needs to be reconverted.
After the great disappointment of the Adventist people in 1844, we had all these things to contend with over and over again. Then I was raised up from a bed of sickness, and sent to give a message of reproof for such fanaticism.
They used different methods. They would select a sign, and then follow the course indicated by the sign. In one case they would not bury a child that had died, because they understood from the sign that they had set, that the child was going to be raised from the dead.
I was sent to bear my testimony regarding the fallacy of these things that they were using as signs. According to the light that God has given me, there is no safety for us except to take a “Thus saith the Lord.” Nothing that we can control is to be accepted as an evidence of God’s guidance. No, no; we have had all that over in the past, and I have had to rebuke it repeatedly.
W. C. White: Suppose it comes to a business transaction. I see a property that looks good to me, I ask the Lord to tell me whether to buy it or not. Then I adopt the manner of tossing up a piece of money, and if it comes one side up, I buy it; and if the other side comes up, I will not buy it.
E. G. White: God has given me the message that no such thing is to come into the work of His cause. It would lower it into the dust. This is how it was presented to me. It would divert the mind from God and His power and His grace, to commonplace things, and the enemy would use these commonplace things so as to show something wonderful as the result of following these man-made tests. One would say, I can roll like a hoop; another, I can put my hand on a hot stove, and it will not be burned. God wants no haphazard work brought in to decide questions whether you shall do this or whether you shall693do that. This is the testimony that I have ever had to bear. . . .
W. C. White: Sister Harris says that Brother Harris always prays before he tosses up his coin. Would not that make some difference?
E. G. White: Not a whit of difference. Did not the fanatics of whom I have spoken always pray when they were going through those awful experiences in the state of Maine? This plan leads to trusting in what the human can do. What we want is not less of the power of God, but more. We want a solemnity that will come alone from the God of heaven. Then we shall work in accordance with His divine teachings.
W. C. White: There is a mine that Brother Harris thinks of buying. It is to cost about $300,000. He thinks that the Lord has shown him that he is going to make several millions of dollars out of it. He wants to use the greater part of the earnings in carrying the message and hastening the close of the work. Sister Harris and some others have advised him that he ought to have expert men go and examine it, but he has depended upon these tests, and he feels that the Lord would have him buy it. He has several thousand dollars of the price to raise to-day. Do you have any word of caution to send him?
E. G. White: I would certainly discourage such action. I would say to Brother Harris, Let your movements be guarded. God does not place His approval on any such movement as this. I could talk from morning till night, and give incident after incident of how our people have entered unwisely into694mining speculations. We met a case of this kind at Fresno. There our brethren thought they were going to secure a very rich mine. And they kept at it and at it, investing money, and more money. I told them that it would not amount to anything, because they were not working after the Lord’s plan; . . . that they were drawing the minds of the people away from the truths that the Lord would have them dwell upon. I said, Here you have the money from this one, and that one, and the other one, that they intended to use to help the cause of God in this section, and they have been persuaded to place it in your hands to invest in the mining business; but the Lord will not bless you with success. Well, they worked and worked, and the mine never amounted to anything.
Every movement of this order, which comes in to excite the desire to get riches quickly by speculation, takes the minds of the people away from the most solemn truths that ever were given to mortals. There may be encouraging prospects for a time, but the end of the matter is failure. The Lord endorses no such movements. If this work is sanctioned, many would be attracted by these speculative schemes that could not in any other way be led away from the work of presenting the solemn truths that must be given to the people at this time.
I told our brethren in Fresno that in coming in and getting money from our people for the purchase of mines, they were drawing minds away from truths of the highest value, and that they were pleasing the enemy who tries in every way to bring in some fanciful picture of financial gain, to divert us from the695work of God. Our work in the Fresno district was hindered for several years on account of this matter being handled as it was; and I had to work and work to undo the evil that had been done.
I shall never consent to anything of this kind coming in among our people. It must not be permitted. We have been working with all our powers to encourage our people to come to God in faith, and to believe that His Holy Spirit will be freely given them as a teacher and guide, and that by its ministration they may know the will of God. But if you bring in the spirit of speculation among our people, if you encourage them to invest in mining stock, there will follow confusion and discouragement. . . .
My message to Brother Harris is, Stop right where you are. Do not proceed further. God does not want His people to depend upon haphazard speculations for the advancement of His cause. When our people come to depend on such things, their minds will be drawn away from the truths that they should heed, and they will neglect the most solemn truths of His word. But let the Spirit of God rest upon the hearts of God’s children, and they will sacrifice for His work, and He will open the way for it to go forward in verity and godly dignity.
LETTER FROM MR. HARRIS
San Francisco, May 30, 1911.
“Dear Sister White: I enclose you a copy of proof of an article I gave the Signs to publish, and also sent to the Watchman, and which they both refused to publish on account of having agreed not to publish696anything more of this nature. So I am getting out 35,000 copies to send to our people. Will you take it and read it carefully and place before the Lord, and ask Him to show you if it is His work or the work of Satan? . . .”
The letter from which the paragraph was taken, was accompanied by a printed statement, from which the following paragraphs are taken:
JOYFUL NEWS
To All Sabbath-Keepers Throughout the Earth
Dear Brethren and Sisters:
Two years ago in April, Mrs. Harris, myself, and our son Paul, organized a corporation known as The Harris Company, with the chief place of business at Mariposa, California, capital stock ten thousand shares, of a par value of $1.00 each, with three directors, Mrs. Harris, Paul, and myself. I was chosen president and general manager, and Mrs. Harris secretary and treasurer. Unlike any other financial corporation, we set aside ten per cent. of the capital stock for a general tithe, and ten per cent. of the remaining stock for a second tithe to the poor—nineteen per cent. in all. . . . About a month ago, the Company, under my advice as consulting engineer, went still farther and increased the tithe to the poor to ten per cent., and set aside ten per cent. more of the capital stock for foreign missions, and ten per cent. for the church schools, and ten per cent. for the sanitariums and publishing work and for the Southern field—eight per cent. alone for the latter—subject to any changes which the servant of the Lord, Sister E. G. White, might advise in the future, and one per cent. additional for the vegetarian restaurant work, giving the Lord’s work fifty-one per cent., or the controlling interest in the Company.
After squaring up with the bank of heaven, by bringing all the tithes into the storehouse, adding one fifth to all back tithe, about one month ago, amounting to $3,100.00 in all, the Lord has wonderfully kept His promise in Malachi, and is pouring out a blessing on the Harris Company—valuable property coming into the hands of the Company from which a million dollars can be realized already. . . .
After counseling with the Lord, the Company decided to increase its capital stock from ten thousand shares at $1.00 each to 5,000,000 shares, with a par value of $1.00 each, to give us capital enough to handle heavy propositions in oil lands, and for drilling oil wells, and for purchasing and working gold and copper mines, and for buying large tracts of real estate for subdivision, and for building a Sabbath-keeping railroad from the Mariposa big trees to the sea.
[Then follows an enumeration of properties recently acquired, including an option on “the best gold mine in California,” to be purchased “at the low price of $300,000.”]
This mine is already incorporated for one million shares, with a par value of $1.00 each, and 10 per cent. of this stock we now offer our own people at par, 100,000 shares at $1.00 each, and we also offer 10 per cent. of the stock in the Harris Company at par, or 500,000 shares at $1.00 each. The Lord has made it clear to me that I must not sell any of this stock to any but Sabbath-keepers, but it must all go into their hands, so our own people will get the prosperity from it to make free-will offerings in addition to the tithes. . . .
Brethren and sisters, it looks too good to be true, but the Lord has shown me this mine will yield $21,000,000, and the Harris Company will pay $5,000,000 in dividends, outside of the mine dividend, and the proposed railroad will pay $74,000,000, making in all, an even $100,000,000.698How mathematical the Lord is! This will give $10,000,000 alone for the poor. Ten millions for foreign fields, ten millions for the ministry, ten millions for the church schools, ten millions for the sanitariums, the publishing work, and the Southern field, eight millions alone for the latter, and one million for the vegetarian restaurant work. All this shows the end is near, even at the door, for the Lord’s cause must have means to finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness. . . .
Brethren and sisters, so much wealth will flow into His treasury; the Lord has shown me not to trust so much money with the worldly banks, but to start a bank of our own about the middle of June, on Mission Street, south side, between Third and Fourth.
Be sure to state in your order whether you want stock in the mine corporation or in the Harris Company or in the railroad, or in all, and how much in each. . . .
“Praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.”
Yours in the Master’s service,
STONEWALL JACKSON HARRIS,
County Surveyor and U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor, Mariposa, California, U. S. A.