Gods Sabbath

498

E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

Next, a responsible builder is selected who promises to con struct the building according to the plan given. His team of work ers commences operations with the clear understanding that the architect’s word is absolute law on the building site. Every detail of construction must be carried out according to his plans, and no modifications can be effected without his authorization. To en sure that the system works, the head builder is paid progressive ly as each stage is completed to the architect’s satisfaction. This system appears to work very well. The builder with his crew is careful to build in strict accordance to the plan given. But then, only a short time later, the workers call for a change in the order of things. Assembling a general meeting, they dis card the architect’s plans, and appoint a committee to form new ones for the remainder of the structure. All members of the com mittee have seen the sick people around them waiting for help and are moved with compassion. They decide to follow what seems to them a quicker course calling for a change of the meth ods to be used and the materials which are to be built into the structure. Let us imagine that either the head builder is far away at this time with no idea of what is going on, or else that the workers exert such pressure on him that he gives way and promises to submit to their demands. Whatever the case might be, they succeed and begin to carry out their own plans. All those chosen for the committee are only builders, not trained architects. Therefore, none of them has the qualifica tions to be the plan maker for the project. And even if they were competent, their efforts would be a wasteful duplication, for a perfectly satisfactory set of drawings already exists. Despite the continual dissension that divides the workers, they resolutely persist with their scheme. Eventually, because of the faulty design and cheap materials, the building partially col lapses, killing some of the workers and injuring others. After such obvious evidence that their plan has failed, the architects at last become aware of what is going on. They make it quite clear that they can never accept this behavior and as the court case begins, the architects explain that such procedures can nev er hasten the work but only delay it considerably. The hospital will never serve its purpose if it is not built according to the well formed plans of the two experienced architects.