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Shall We Colonize?

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 28, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 4.

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Shall We Colonize?

By C. H. BLISS

C. H. BLISS
I RECEIVED a letter a few days ago from a good brother, saying that he thinks of joining the Seventh-day Adventist colony now locating in —. He speaks of others who think of going. Many have already gone. Now, is this right? Shall a large number of Seventh-day Adventists select a location and form a colony, and isolate themselves from the world? Are we not told to come out from the world and be separate? — True; but are we not also told to go into all the world and preach the gospel? and is not the third angel's message the gospel that is to go to every kindred, nation, tongue, and people? And how shall this be done without the help of our lay brethren? God has given us a special message to this generation—to the world; and all, both old and young, are to take part in some branch of this work. God has placed this burden upon us. Now shall we, like Jonah, flee away from the very place where God wants us? or, like ancient Israel, hide our lamp under a bushel, and get away in some lonely place where we have no opportunity to work for God? .
As many as twelve or fourteen of our churches have been broken up in the last few years in one of our smallest conferences by removals. If these brethren have been led by the Spirit of God into new fields to work for the advancement of this message, we can not complain. But now several of our conferences are being weakened by removals brought about by the circulation of literature presenting in glowing colors the advantages of “securing homes in a Seventh-day Adventist community, in the Southwest, where all can have church and school privileges, and worship God unmolested.”
Now, my brethren, in all candor, let me ask, Is this the call of God? Shall we retreat to some lonely place where our opportunities for work are very limited? Shall we sell our homes and lands, and at high prices purchase land in sections where there is no rain, and thus put money into the hands of land speculators, with no certainty of any material returns? The writer knows several who have tried this, and repented too late.
Lovington, Ill.