Moving by Joseph Clark

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 17, 1865

Moving.

By Joseph Clark

THE waves move, the clouds move, the winds move, the earth moves and everything that pertains to it, in its daily and yearly motion; and people move. Indeed, it is fashionable to move.

By saying that people move, I mean that they change their residence; while the waves, the clouds, the winds, and the earth move constantly, yet constantly are at home.

Well, why should not people move? If a man is born and bred in a country where there are five or six months of cold weather, and a barren rocky soil to work upon during the scanty summer, and he chooses to search for some more genial clime, let him search. Or, if another has been long under the iron rod of some despotic government, we can not blame him for hoping to find in our vaunted land of liberty, a home in which he may be free to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

Still it is more than possible that the passion for moving may be carried so far as to become a sort of mania; and even conscientious people, that is, people who are conscientious in many other respects, seem to think that it is right for them to sell out and buy again, and move just as often, and sell as often as they please, to go when they please, and where they please, and that God does not care how often they make this change, and that it is the business of no one but themselves.

One thing is certain that when Abraham made an important move, he waited till he was sure of a call.

So Jacob feared when going down into Egypt, lest it might not be in the order of God.

The passion for moving is so great that often whole neighborhoods change in a few years, so that hardly an inhabitant remains who has not changed his place of abode within that time.

But it is better to move than to be discontented, as God has provided a variety of soil and climate, so that all may find what they desire; but it generally happens that those who get addicted to moving, never get quite to the Elysian fields, and so they murmur to the last.

With one the soil is too dry, another has it too moist, and a third has it too hard, another too soft; too flat for a fifth, and too hilly is the complaint of a sixth.

Everywhere are farms changing owners, and houses changing occupants. Well, there is an excitement in this; but alas! how many make a losing bargain! Old friends changed for new untried acquaintances who will have to be tested; and then how much you suffer while waiting! Waiting! yes, waiting to test those new acquaintances, and—well, let people try it. For my part, let me be among mine own people.

One thing, however, if you do move, beware of manifesting your contempt for your new neighbor, however you may think he merits it; and on the other hand, do not be hasty to elevate your own merits to them, or magnify yourself, or your former home and people to them, however much they may merit it. There is policy in this. If you would make friends among strangers, try to be pleased (as far as possible and consistent) with your new associates. Thus will you soonest gain their confidence, and love; and if consistent, you need not lose their esteem, if it is found in any case your new friend is unworthy; for it would do him no good to tell him so; only be careful whom you trust.

Sometimes a move is very well, but the present mania for selling out and moving, may be looked upon with some distrust.

JOSEPH CLARKE.