A Word of Caution by R. A. Underwood

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 10, 1914

A Word of Caution

By R. A. Underwood

R. A. UNDERWOOD

Past experience ought to teach our people a lesson. Land agents and promoters of various schemes promising great advantages have from time to time led many to sell their homes and go to some place reported to be a favored locality that a kind providence had saved for our people. Many families have gone to New Mexico, California, Colorado, Cuba, and other places in hope of bettering their condition. Sometimes flattering promises of school privileges are offered. In other cases, our brethren hope to find in their new-sought home an ideal place, like the Garden of Eden, with fruit, climate, soil, and the association of those of like faith. In most cases, those led to move their families with the hope of great advantages have been sadly disappointed. This has been the experience of hundreds of families. Many have made unwise investments and moves without due investigation, and have repented when it was too late. I have seen so much loss and sorrow come as a result of schemes started by some well-meaning brethren exploiting great blessings to follow some colonizing move, that I feel it a duty to give a note of warning to our brethren to go slow in accepting all that hopeful promoters or agents of land companies may offer.

The General Conference has recommended that no new institution or school above the eighth grade be started without the approval of the local and union conferences of the General Conference. This action was taken to keep out of trouble some of our brethren who move unadvisedly in starting a new institution, either a school or a sanitarium, without experienced counsel as to the real demand for such an institution.

It is much easier to buy than to sell; it is easier to get into trouble than to get out of it; it is easier to lose a home than to make one. Before chasing a mirage,—a promise of great things,—at a large expense, as many have done, we should take the precaution of thorough investigation.