ps to become departments of the general conference. The General
Conference Committee, consisting of thirteen men, was enlarged to
twenty-five. In 1903 the committee was further enlarged to include
those connected with the newly organized departments of the General
Conference. Within a few years’ time, five hundred men were carrying
the responsibilities that prior to the General Conference of 1901 had
been carried by a handful of men.
Through this reorganization, provision was made for those who
were in local fields to make decisions relating to the work in hand.
So sound were the foundations laid, that when continued growth made
it advisable, the denomination was able to move without any great
problems into the development of divisions of the general conference.
In this plan, great areas of the world field were knit together, union
conferences becoming units in the division organization.
BATTLE CREEK INSTITUTIONS SUFFER GOD’s JUDGMENTS
Unfortunately, not all of the counsels sounded by Ellen White at
that General Conference session of 1901 were heeded. Changes which
should have been made in two of the institutions at Battle Creek were
not made. Before twelve months rolled around, during the night of
February 18, 1902, the sanitarium burned.
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Before 1902 passed, the publishing house was also in ashes. This great
loss of denominational property was recognized as a judgment from
God, inflicted because men failed to heed and follow the counsel given.
Warnings had been sounded, but they had gone unheeded. Now God
spoke in a way that none could misunderstand.
The church headquarters was moved away from Battle Creek with
its attendant problems and, in the providence of God, established in
Washington, D.C. The publishing house was reestablished in the capital
of the nation, and the leaders resolved that the time of the employees
and equipment should be devoted 100 percent to the publication of the
message of the church. The sanitarium was rebuilt in Battle Creek,
but unfortunately its great interests were soon wrested from the church.
Battle Creek ceased to be the denominational center, as the world
headquarters was transferred to Takoma Park.
“EXCEPT AS WE SHALL FORGET”
The closing section of this volume is drawn essentially from
communications written in 1907 and 1914. Ellen White had
occasion to review “vital principles of relationship,” particularly in the
article “Jehovah Is Our King,” a message she read at the Southern
California camp meeting in August, 1907; and the article, “Individual
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
Responsibility and Christian Unity,” read by her at the 1907 session of
the California Conference held in January. These articles recapitulate
the points comprising the main themes of the volume. These counsels,
restated, reminded all that to lose sight of these principles would imperil
the church.
History can repeat itself, and human bei
