As we are about to establish our facilities for the manufacture of health foods, the question has come up: How shall we treat this matter? Where shall we locate the work so important to ourselves and to the school established in Cooranbong? Shall this branch of business be established in Cooranbong, and thus open ways and means whereby many more students may obtain an all-round education?SpM 134.3

From the light given me in regard to the location and building up of our school interests, I know that it is the purpose of God that this institution be established at a distance from the city that is so full of temptations and snares, of amusements and holidays, which are not conducive to purity and piety and religious devotion. He designs that we shall connect manual labor with the improvement of the mental powers. I have been shown that study in agricultural lines should be the A B and C of the educational work of our schools. This institution must not depend upon imported produce,—for the fruits so essential to healthfulness, and for their grains and vegetables. This is the very first work that must be entered upon. Then as we shall advance and add to our facilities, advance studies and object lessons should come in. We are not to subtract from that which has already been taken hold of as a branch of education.SpM 134.4

From the light given me there is to be opened to our youth means whereby they, while attending school, may learn how to use tools. Buildings should be erected on the school grounds by the students themselves. Under the guidance of experienced workmen, carpenters who are apt to teach, patient, kind, the youth are to learn how to build economically. Then it is essential that our printing should be done where our principal school is established, and we should have a printing press and fonts of type where another class of students may be trained to manage everything connected with typesetting and press work.SpM 135.1

Again, our youth, both men and women, should be taught how to cook savingly, and to dispense with everything in the line of flesh foods. This is a very serious matter to the world. Thousands of human beings who subsist upon the flesh of dead animals, are suffering and dying from causes of which they are ignorant. By painstaking effort they can be taught to discriminate between a proper healthful diet and the use of flesh meats. No encouragement should be given in the training of our youth to prepare dishes which are composed in any degree of flesh meats; for this is pointing to the darkness and ignorance of Egypt rather than to the purity of health reform. Teach the students to prepare healthful drinks from grains suitably prepared to take the place of tea. This drink is unhealthful in its purest preparation, and it is so adulterated, mixed with other ingredients that resemble tea, that [it] has become a dangerous beverage.SpM 135.2

All the arts are to come into the education of the students. Even in the school at Avondale there are too many studies taken by the students. The youth should not be left to take all the studies they shall choose, for many will be inclined to take more than they can carry, and if they do this, they can not possibly come from the school with a thorough knowledge of each study. There should be less study of books, and greater painstaking effort made to obtain that knowledge which is essential for practical life. The youth are to learn how to work interestedly and intelligently, that, wherever they are, they may be respected because they have a knowledge of those arts which are so essential for practical life. In the place of being day laborers under an overseer, they are to strive to be masters of their trades, to place themselves where they can command wages as good carpenters, printers, or as educators in agricultural work.SpM 135.3

If the brain is overtaxed by taking too many studies, the student is robbed of physical health. This can only be secured to him by the exercise of the muscles. The human machine must be taxed proportionately, or health and vigor can not be maintained. When brain and muscle work proportionately, the youth can bring to the study of the Word of God healthy perceptions and well-balanced nerves. They can have wholesome, healthful thought and can retain the precious things that are brought from the Word. They will digest its truths, and as a result will have brain power to discern what is truth. Then, as occasion demands, they can give to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in them with meekness and fear.SpM 135.4

The question has been asked me, Have you any light for us? If so give it to us. From time to time many things have been opened before me, and often has come just before difficulties have arisen. Thus it was when I was at Stanmore a few weeks ago. All through the night, in my dreams, we were making changes. Some were packing up, and moving to other localities. When examination was made of the purposes of each, there was much said. Some said they were on the way to Cooranbong, where they intended to locate in connection with the school. They said they purposed to work as work should be provided for them in any line whatever. If they could not take all the studies they would take what they could, and learn how to work. This, they said, would fit them for practical life and for the work to be done in the missionary field. They said they could see that great changes must be wrought in their own minds in the living policy before they could be prepared to enlighten other minds.SpM 136.1

Good ideas were brought out in regard to temperance in eating and drinking. Said he, We must first learn ourselves; then, as we shall go out to do missionary work for others, we can give them our own experience. In Cooranbong, we shall have the most favorable opportunities, not only to obtain a practical knowledge of how to work, but we shall also learn to read and study our Bibles. Then we shall know in our own experience the words of David in the 119th Psalm: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy words have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”SpM 136.2

Quite a number, both of men and women, were awakened to a purpose. Then questions were asked as to the advisability of educating others to supply the place of meat and tea and coffee with a more healthful diet. Should we make known our methods; and thus cut off from ourselves the benefits we might receive in establishing the trade in the colonies? Should we give away the science of how to make these healthful foods? Should we teach the poor people how they can live without using the flesh of dead animals. Should we teach the poor people who come into the truth how to plant and raise nuts, how to produce for themselves those things which would cost too much if they bought them prepared by other hands? Should we teach them how to prepare these foods for themselves?SpM 136.3

These seemed to be important questions, and hard to solve, Then the voice of wisdom was heard: the subject of health reform is a great subject, and important subject, and this missionary work is to be carried into the highways and byways of life. The third angel's message is present truth for 1898, and the health question is as closely connected with that message as the arm is to the body. Therefore light must be given to the best methods of introducing health reform. Meat is the greatest disease breeder that can be introduced into the human system. But you can not touch health reform unless you present the most inexpensive methods of living. The enemy must have no advantage in any line. The Lord can only bless those who are keeping every precept he has given in relation to this life.SpM 136.4

Many physicians in our world are of no benefit to the human family. The drug science has been exalted, but if every bottle that comes from every such institution were done away with, there would be fewer invalids in the world today. Drug medication should never have been introduced into our institutions. There was no need of this being so, and for this very reason the Lord would have us establish an institution where he can come in and where his grace and power can be revealed. “I am the resurrection and the life,” he declares.SpM 137.1

The true method for healing the sick is to tell them of the herbs that grow for the benefit of man. Scientists have attached large names to these simplest preparations, but true education will lead us to teach the sick that they need not call in a doctor any more than they would call in a lawyer. They can themselves administer the simple herbs if necessary. To educate the human family that the doctor alone knows all the ills of infants and persons of every age, is false teaching, and the sooner we as a people stand on the principles of health reform, the greater will be the blessing that will come to those who would do true medical work. There is a work to be done in treating the sick with water and teaching them to make the most of sunshine and physical exercise. Thus in simple language we may teach the people how to preserve health, how to avoid sickness. This is the work our sanitariums are called upon to do. This is true science.SpM 137.2

We are laborers together with God. Believest thou this? The knowledge, the capabilities, the powers, God has given us are not to be hoarded as men hoard riches. We are not to do as the selfish money-loving men of this age are doing. The passion to accumulate their possessions and retain their power has grown upon the men of the world. In their selfishness they buy up wheat and goods so that others in their need will have to buy them; then they charge whatever prices they desire. This is the spirit that is prevailing in the world, and is making the money-hoarder Satan's co-partner in robbing the poor. This is keenly felt by the poorer classes, and the devil leads them to do his will in stubbornly resisting the things they can not help. Thus selfishness and violence are exercised by man over his fellowman. The ones who are robbed and injured become exasperated, and violence and wickedness and cruelty are created in the world.SpM 137.3

The greed of the moneyed man increases as it is indulged, and this spirit will rule the church unless its members are followers of Christ. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: that ye visit the fatherless and the widow in their affliction and keep yourselves unspotted from the world.”SpM 137.4

This worldly policy has wrestled for the victory among Seventh-day Adventists, and the principles which should have been kept pure and unadulterated have been overcome, and selfishness has come into the very courts of the Lord. The Lord has permitted those who did not love the light, who departed from a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” to walk in the sparks of the fire of their own kindling; but he says, “They shall lie down in sorrow.”SpM 137.5

This condition of things has been created in our conference and churches under a religious cloak which existed in the world. Confederacies have been formed to make their showing stand out as superior, and they have gained the name of having done a large work in their responsible positions of trust. They flatter themselves that they were doing God service when they were establishing principles of robbery. They were depriving their brethren of their rights in gathering everything in the book line under their control, and making their own laws and rules,—rules that were not after God's order at all, but which revealed the very attributes of Satan.SpM 138.1

It was this spirit that was manifested by the priests and temple officials in their gatherings for the Passover. Cattle were bought by the dignitaries, the moneyed men, who oppressed them of whom they purchased. The representation was made that these animals were to be offered as a sacrifice to God at the Passover, and thus urged the owners sold them at a cheap price. Then these scheming men brought their purchases to the temple,—purchases which meant double robbery-robbery of the men of whom they had purchased, and robbery of those who wished to sacrifice, to whom they were sold again at exorbitant prices.SpM 138.2

They used the courts of the temple as though the animals brought there made them of the highest value. Oh, what deceit, what hypocrisy was practiced. Twice Christ's displeasure was evidenced against them. Divinity flashed through humanity, and he drove out the buyers and sellers from the temple courts, saying, “Take these things hence: it is written, My Father's house shall be a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves. He overturned the tables of the money changers, and priests and people fled before that one man as though an army of soldiers with drawn sword were pursuing them.SpM 138.3

This work has been carried on at Battle Creek. The publishing office was turned from the original design; men made terms with authors; councils were formed; schemes were entered into. While one author was engaged in the services of a meeting at a distance, the expenses of one man were paid to go and see this brother and induce him to put the lowest figures on his books. They urged that they wished to get this important matter before as many people as possible, and that the book would have a very much larger sale if it were sold at cheap price.SpM 138.4

The royalty was placed at the lowest figure. Then this confederacy held this example up as a rule for others. Warnings were given me that all this was the working out of a system of oppression and robbery, and that the whole institution was leavened throughout with corrupt principles, that the light of God was fast departing from all who were engaged in this confederacy. God sanctioned none of this spirit. He could not place his signature upon this devising. He would forsake those men, remove his spirit from those who entered upon this course, and the glory of his presence would depart from them.SpM 138.5

The cause of God is not to be advanced by such policy; for it is born of Satan, and can only have his inspiration. All who do not repent and seek to set things right, God will leave to stumble on in darkness. They have not discerned unrighteousness in practice. They have secured books, and diverted them from their original design to make up the sum which they wished to secure. But every page of that dark history is written in the books of heaven to react upon every soul who has engaged in these schemes, unless they shall repent with that repentance that needeth not be repented of. The Lord can not tolerate any such transactions as those that have been professedly done in his name. He abhors all such Satanic principles.SpM 139.1

What shall be done in the future? Lest you offend God, place no responsibility upon any man who has become leavened by connection with this work, unless he shows that he has sense of the evil practice, and separates from the institution, unless he condemns all that savors of injustice, overbearing, or lording it over God's heritage. There has been a betrayal of sacred trusts. The work of God has been abused, and covered up with man's unsanctified attributes, and God says, Shall I not judge for these things?SpM 139.2

It is for such workings as these that Christ says, “I come not to send peace, but a sword.’ May God grant that never again shall this policy exist in our institutions, that no events or combination of events shall lead men to repeat the past.SpM 139.3

There is a work to be done that has not yet been done. The temple courts are not yet cleansed as they must be before the work which Christ did after the cleansing of the temple can be done. Then all the sick were brought to him, and he laid his hands upon them, and healed them all. Here was revealed true godliness, true righteousness, a true use of the temple for a practical purpose which brought no defilement.SpM 139.4

That faith which works by love and purifies the soul is to be revealed among God's people. The Lord has no commendation for those who were lording it over God's heritage. He sets his face against every such work. He blows upon all pharisaical forms and prayers and ceremonies. Religion, what is it unless the experimental elements of piety are revealed in deep heart service because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: that ye visit the fatherless and the widow in their affliction, and keep yourselves unspotted from the world.”SpM 139.5

I see a work to be done that may appear to be working against our own interests financially. This is to give to others that information which we would have others give us. Teach those whom we wish to restore to correct principles of health reform, how to prepare for themselves the simple nut foods. They are too poor to obtain them if they do not work them up for themselves.SpM 139.6

There is a work to be done by our churches that few have any idea of. “I was an hungered,” Christ says, “and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye come unto me.” We shall have to give of our means to support laborers in the harvest field, and we shall rejoice in the sheaves gathered in. But while this is right, there is a work as yet untouched that must be done. The mission of Christ was to heal the sick, encourage the hopeless, bind up the broken-hearted. This work of restoration is to be carried on among the needy suffering ones of humility. God calls not only for your benevolence, but your cheerful countenance, your hopeful works, the grasp of your hand. Relieve some of God's afflicted ones. Some are sick and hope has departed. Bring back the sunlight to them. There are souls who have lost their courage; speak to them, pray for them. There are those who need the bread of life. Read to them from the Word of God. There is a soul sickness no balm can reach, no medicine heal. Pray for them, and bring them to Jesus Christ. And in all your work, Christ will be present to make impressions upon the human hearts.SpM 140.1

This is the kind of medical missionary work to be done. Bring the sunshine of the Sun of Righteousness into the room of the sick and suffering. Teach the inmates of poor homes how to cook. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, “with temporal and spiritual food. Christ invites you. “Take my yoke upon you and learn me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”SpM 140.2

E. G. White

School Finance

A Satanic Program