The Review Office To Go To Battle Creek, Michigan

Having consulted with the brethren in Michigan and Vermont, the two states from which there had been the strongest moral and financial support, on his return to Rochester on August 30, 1855, James White was prepared to make the announcement of what seemed to be the consensus of opinion. He did so in early September under the title of “The Office”:WV 65.6

1. We are happy to say that the brethren in Michigan cheerfully take upon themselves the responsibilities of the Review office. They will probably move it to that state this fall. Brethren in Vermont are willing and ready to do the same, but regard Michigan to be more the center of the future field of labor, and are willing that the press should be established in that state.WV 65.7

2. The Review will probably be issued weekly after the press shall be established at Battle Creek, Michigan. It will be our duty and privilege to be freed from the office at present, at least. God has raised up others who are better able to conduct the Review, and bear these burdens, than we are (Ibid., September 4, 1855).WV 65.8

The decision having been made that the press would go to Battle Creek, the men there went into action. The Review of October 2 placed before the church the plans and decisions the Michigan brethren were making:WV 65.9

3. The Advent Review office would remain the property of the church.WV 66.1

4. It would be moved to Battle Creek, Michigan.WV 66.2

5. A financial committee of three would be chosen, whose duty it was to move the office, and publish the Advent Review.WV 66.3

6. The church-at-large would be called upon to send their freewill offerings to defray the expenses of moving.WV 66.4

7. There was a call for a plan on which the editorial department of the Advent Review would be conducted (Ibid., October 2, 1855).WV 66.5

The response from the field was uniform and favorable. The month of November was given over to erecting the little publishing house on the southeast corner of Washington and Main streets in the western edge of Battle Creek, and to moving both the press and the families connected with the Advent Review office. The White family moved into a little cottage that they rented for $1.50 a week. The general conference, which had been called for Friday, November 16, met in the newly constructed house of worship, a building 18’ x 24’ (six meters x seven meters), provided for the Battle Creek congregation of 24 (Ibid., August 22, 1935). It was one of three church buildings erected in 1855.WV 66.6

Actions of the conference included the appointment of Henry Lyon, David Hewitt, and William M. Smith, all of Battle Creek, to be a committee to investigate the financial condition of the Review office, and the appointment of Uriah Smith as the resident (or managing) editor, and five corresponding editors. These were J. N. Andrews, of Iowa; James White and J. H. Waggoner, of Michigan; R. F. Cottrell, of New York; and Stephen Pierce, of Vermont. The minutes also recorded:WV 66.7

8. That a vote of thanks be tendered to Brother White for his valuable services as an editor, in spreading the light of present truth (Ibid., December 5, 1855).WV 66.8