THE ADVANTAGES OF COUNTRY LIVING
HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY STRESSED THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY COUNSELS.
THE GATHERING STORM CLOUDS SIGNALIZE THE APPROPRIATENESS OF RE-SOUNDING
THE CALL TO LEAVE THE CITIES. IT MUST BE EVIDENT TO EVERY THOUGHTFUL
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST THAT CITY LIVING, WITH ITS CONGESTION, ALLUREMENTS,
AND MOUNTING LABOR CONFLICTS, DOES NOT PROVIDE A WHOLESOME ENVIRONMENT
FOR CHRISTIAN FAMILIES.
THROUGH THE YEARS
THOUSANDS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS HAVE BEEN GUIDED IN THE CHOICE
OF HOME ENVIRONMENTS AND IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO ORGANIZATIONS
OF THE WORLD BY THE WIDELY PUBLISHED TESTIMONY COUNSELS ON THESE
VITAL POINTS. AS THE OMENS OF THE IMPENDING CRISIS INDICATE THE
SUBTLETY OF THE PERILS AND THE FURY OF THE CONFLICT BEFORE US,
IT SEEMS FITTING TO REPUBLISH THIS COUNSEL IN SUCH FORM AS TO
ARREST THE ATTENTION OF EVERY CHURCH MEMBER.
AND, CONSIDERING THE
TIMES, IT IS IN PLACE, NOT ONLY TO REPEAT THE MORE FAMILIAR COUNSELS
OF LONG PUBLICATION, BUT TO LEND FORCE TO THESE STATEMENTS BY
PRESENTING WITH THEM THE MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTION PRINTED FROM
TIME TO TIME IN THE REVIEW AND HERALD OR PENNED IN LETTERS OF
COUNSEL ADDRESSED TO RESPONSIBLE WORKERS IN THE CAUSE OF GOD.
SUCH ACTION IS IN FULL HARMONY WITH MRS. E. G. WHITE'S INSTRUCTION
TO HER TRUSTEES IN PROVIDING "FOR THE PRINTING OF COMPILATIONS
FROM MY MANUSCRIPTS," FOR THEY CONTAIN, AS SHE SAID, "INSTRUCTION
THAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN ME FOR HIS PEOPLE." THE YEAR OF WRITING
OR OF FIRST PUBLICATION IS GIVEN WITH THE SOURCE REFERENCE OF
EACH PASSAGE.
THE EARNEST APPEALS
PRESENTED IN THIS PAMPHLET CALL FOR DECIDED ACTION, BUT SOLEMNLY
WARN AGAINST PRESUMPTUOUS MOVES. WE WOULD DIRECT SPECIAL ATTENTION
TO THE CAUTIONS FOUND IN SECTION VII, "GUIDED BY GOD'S PROVIDENCES,"
APPEARING ON PAGES 24-28. THIS PAMPHLET IS NOW PLACED IN THE FIELD
IN RESPONSE TO THE SETTLED CONVICTION OF THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH
THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO REITERATE THE CRY, "OUT OF THE
CITIES."
THE TRUSTEES OF THE
ELLEN G. WHITE [UBLICATIONS