Washington, D. C., the Headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventists
By George I. Butler
It is a little over one year since the General Conference decided to remove its headquarters from Battle Creek, and the Review and Herald voted to remove that institution also to another locality. After much careful inquiry, it became evident to those in charge of this work of removal that Washington was, all things considered, the most suitable place for the headquarters of this denomination. Since this removal about one year ago, the writer has never heard of a single instance, outside of those especially interested in Battle Creek, of regret that this removal had been made, and large numbers have made known their gratitude that the headquarters of our denomination is now established in Washington, D. C. The writer has never had a single doubt that these steps were in the order of God, and that the wisest selection had been made that it was possible to make. We fully believe that the United States of America is, all things considered, the leading nation in the world to-day. Standing first in freedom and general intelligence, in wealth and real power, the nation to whom the eyes of expectancy and hope throughout the world are directed, more than to any other, how can it but be the first in rank and importance as a nation? As a people, we firmly believe God has given us the last great warning message to prepare a people for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This coming is very near, and hasteth greatly. It is to enlighten the earth with its glory; it is to go to every people, nation, tongue, and king; it must reach to the darkest places of the earth, and arouse the attention of mankind. What other place, then, could have been so logically considered and chosen as Washington for the headquarters of its influence? When the gospel, after the death of our Lord Jesus Christ and his ascent to heaven, had its baptism of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, its headquarters were at Jerusalem, the great religious center. Thousands upon thousands were converted there, and from that point it started out in its work to the nations of the earth. After the Jewish nation had rejected it, and did its utmost to persecute and destroy it, and had at last filled up its day of probation, Jerusalem was destroyed. There can be no question that Rome, the great city of power, was the next important center from which the gospel went out to various portions of the earth. In the very nature of things, this truth, which is to reach and influence souls in all parts of the world, should have its headquarters in the great central point of the most influential nation on the globe. That is Washington, D. C. To this center, more and more, are coming intelligent people from all parts of the globe. Men of influence are constantly going forth from this city, on various missions of importance, affecting the well-being of society throughout the world. The light of this great message ought to reach all in such a center of importance. The time has come, in this stage of our work, when this seems absolutely essential. It was very proper, in the early period of this work, when it was starting in obscurity and poverty, struggling for a very existence, that it should have originated in comparatively obscure localities, until it had attained sufficient strength to draw the attention of people to itself. In its earliest days it was moved from place to place in various localities, in Connecticut, Maine, New York, and finally centered in Battle Creek, Mich., where it became an influential power. Probably there is no city of its size that has become so well-known throughout the world as has Battle Creek because of the presence of Seventh-day Adventists. That city, and the country in all directions for a long distance outside of it, had become very familiar with our people, and the doctrines they taught. Little more could be done than had been done to reach this radius of influence. It was high time that the headquarters were removed from this center to a place of more commanding influence, where the people had learned very little comparatively concerning it. The providence of God demonstrated, in various ways, that the proper opening existed for us in Washington city. The printing of our leading denominational organs has been located there for months in the past, in small and unfavorable quarters; land has been procured in a favorable locality at a reasonable price. It certainly is now high time that our people should be able to present to the citizens of Washington, and those from all parts, of the world who may be there, suitable quarters for the different departments of our work. All important branches of the work should be represented in neat, modest, plain quarters, that will be respectable and worthy of a denomination looking for the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our influence should be made to be powerfully felt in that locality, by a presentation of the glorious principles of truth which God has given us as a people. The leading men of the nation should also be made acquainted with us. Light has come to us that men in responsible positions will yet embrace this truth. All classes of people, of our own nationality and of others, are to be found in Washington and its vicinity. To say the very least, when our various periodicals go forth with the superscription of Washington upon them, everybody will know the location of our headquarters. It is a city of world-wide influence. With this brief and incomplete introduction, the writer wishes to say to all with whom he has influence, that he is in hearty sympathy with the efforts made to establish our headquarters at Washington. A modest, respectable office of publication should be established; a sanitarium suitable for our work should be erected and properly managed; schools of instruction, properly equipped, should most certainly be located there; and a vigorous campaign should be entered upon to make the truth of God known to all who will lend a listening ear in a radius of many miles around this important city. Various calls have already been made for means with which to establish these agencies. One hundred thousand dollars has been estimated as a reasonable amount with which to establish our work there at the first. The writer is in no suitable position to ascertain just7how much is needed, but is willing to take the judgment of those who are upon the ground, men of ability and influence, as to the amount necessary. We doubt not that the great enemy of this cause will make every effort possible to hinder our work, and our establishment in this great center of the world's influence. This we must always expect, wherever anything great and good is opening, the enemy will do his best to hinder it. We hope, indeed, that the spirit which actuated Nehemiah and his fellow workers when they promised “to arise and build” will actuate the workers in Washington, and our people everywhere, to rally to the proper establishment of the agencies which God has instituted for the promulgation of his truth at the capital of the nation. We urge our people to make this enterprise successful by liberal contributions of their means for this purpose. With such abundant resources in possession of our people, it would indeed be a disgrace should this work be hindered for lack of means. Our men of comparative wealth should not look askance at this important enterprise, but move on as we have in the past, in every new effort in our work. It will take quite an effort to raise this amount of money. The writer is closely connected with the difficult, perplexing work in the great Southern field. We are very much in need of means. Sometimes we feel almost in perishing need of help, but we would, at the present time, give our work in Washington the precedence, and advise our people to do so in their liberalities. It takes quite an effort to be able to say this truly, when we feel and realize how much we need means here to help forward the work, but we hope never to get so warped by local influences that we can fail to see the importance of great enterprises a little distance away. The work must be established in Washington. May the Lord bless every effort put forth in good judgment to obtain this important consummation.