Some who have been long in Battle Creek, and who ought to be responsible men, are occupying positions of trust in name only. They have been made guardians of our institutions; but their course of action shows that they have no special interest in them nor burden for them. Their thoughts center upon themselves. If we were to judge them by their works we should decide that they consider their own energies too precious to be exercised for these instrumentalities of God, unless they can secure temporal advantages to themselves. These are neglecting to keep the fort, not because they cannot do it, but because they are self-caring, and are content to rock themselves to sleep in the cradle of carnal security. {4T 512.2}

Nogle som har været længe i Battle Creek og som burde være ansvarsbevidste, besidder betroede stillinger, kun af navn. De er blevet til vore institutioners vogtere; men deres handlemåde viser at de ikke har særlig interesse for dem, ej heller byrde for dem. Deres tanker kredser sig om dem selv. Skulle vi dømme dem efter deres gerninger, måtte vi slutte at de betragter deres egne kræfter for dyrebare til at bruges på disse Guds redskaber, medmindre de selv kan få timelige fordele. Disse passer ikke deres forretninger, ikke fordi de ikke kan, men fordi de passer sig selv og vil helst lulle sig selv i søvn i den kødelige sikre vugge.