“In reply to the question that has been asked in regard to settling somewhere else, I answer, Yes. Let the General Conference offices and the publishing work be moved from Battle Creek. I know not where the place will be, whether on the Atlantic coast or elsewhere; but this I will say: ‘Never lay a stone or a brick in Battle Creek to rebuild the Review Office there. God has a better place for it.’” —The General Conference Bulletin, April 6, 1903.
(LS 389.1)
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Before the close of the 1903 General Conference, the delegates voted:
(LS 389.2)
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“That the General Conference offices be removed from Battle Creek, Mich., to some place favorable for its work in the Atlantic States.” —The General Conference Bulletin, 1903.
(LS 389.3)
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Soon after the close of the Conference session, the General Conference Committee took the following action:
(LS 389.4)
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“Voted, That we favor locating the headquarters of the General Conference in the vicinity of New York City.” —The Review and Herald, May 12, 1903, p. 16.
(LS 389.5)
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And in the forty-third annual meeting of the Review and Herald Publishing Association, held April 21, 1903, recommendations were adopted looking toward the transfer of the work of the Association to some point in the Eastern States.
(LS 389.6)
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In the discussion of these recommendations, the object set forth during the General Conference session—placing the institution where it could best share the burden of giving the third angel’s message world-wide publicity—was reiterated. As one of the members of the Committee on Resolutions declared, in support of the recommendations offered:
(LS 389.7)
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“Why do we talk about moving this institution? Is it not to place ourselves where we can do the work entrusted to us to better advantage? Is it not to place ourselves where ... we can hasten on to the whole wide world with our message, and bring the glorious consummation of our work?” —Supplement to The Review and Herald, April 28, 1903, p. 7.
(LS 390.1)
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As a preliminary step toward the carrying out of the recommendations of the General Conference and of the stockholders of the Review and Herald, representative men were chosen to serve as a locating committee. Before proceeding with their work, they wrote to Mrs. White, requesting her to communicate to them any definite light she might have regarding the exact place where they should transfer the publishing interests. In her first response to their request, Mrs. White wrote:
(LS 390.2)
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“I have no special light, except what you have already received, in reference to New York and the other large cities that have not been worked. Decided efforts should be made in Washington, D. C. It is a sad thing that the record stands as it does, showing so little accomplished there. It will be best to consider what can be done for this city, and see what ways of working will be the best.”
(LS 390.3)
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“In the past, decided testimony has been borne in regard to the need of making decided efforts to bring the truth before the people of Washington....”
(LS 390.4)
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“May the Lord help us to move understandingly and prayerfully. I am sure that He is willing that we should know, and that right early, where we should locate our publishing house. I am satisfied that our only safe course is to be ready to move just when the cloud moves. Let us pray that He will direct us. He has signified, by His providence, that He would have us leave Battle Creek....”
(LS 390.5)
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“New York needs to be worked, but whether our publishing house should be established there, I cannot say. I should not regard the light I have received as definite enough to favor the movement.”
(LS 391.1)
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“Let us all lift our hearts to God in prayer, having faith that He will guide us. What more can we do? Let Him indicate the place where the publishing house should be established. We are to have no will of our own, but are to seek the Lord, and follow where He leads the way.” —The Review and Herald, August 11, 1903, p. 6.
(LS 391.2)
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The locating committee met in New York City, May 18, 1903, formed their plans, and began at once an investigation of properties in suburban places, and along the Sound and up the Hudson. Day after day they continued their search, until finally they began to despair of finding anything suitable for their needs. Two or three of their number had already returned to Battle Creek, when a second letter was received from Mrs. White, in which she gave further counsel, as follows:
(LS 391.3)
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“During the past night many things have been presented to me regarding our present dangers, and some things about our publishing work have been brought most distinctly to my mind.”
(LS 391.4)
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“As our brethren search for a location for the Review and Herald publishing house, they are earnestly to seek the Lord. They are to move with great caution, watchfulness, and prayer, and with a constant sense of their own weakness. We must not depend upon human judgment. We must seek for the wisdom that God gives....”
(LS 391.5)
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