Rural Health Retreat by J. D. Rice

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 27, 1882

Rural Health Retreat.

By J. D. Rice

At a preliminary meeting, a committee consisting of J. D. Rice, W. A. Pratt, and Sanford P. Rogers, was appointed to draft resolutions concerning this institution. At a meeting held Sunday afternoon, April 23d, this committee reported as follows:—

WHEREAS, There has been felt by us as a people the need of a Medical Institution, where the sick among us and elsewhere could be treated on correct principles and under Christian influences, and

WHEREAS, the owners of the Rural Health Retreat at St. Helena, are anxious that this be accomplished and wish that said institution be managed like our Battle Creek Sanitarium, upon a benevolent basis; and to favor this have offered to donate very liberally of the capital they have invested in the Retreat provided the enterprise be taken in hand by our people, therefore

Resolved, That we recommend the acceptance of their proposition as soon as a re-incorporation upon a benevolent basis can be accomplished, and that we will lend our influence and means to the establishment and support of the same.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to arrange for the permanent opening of the Institution immediately after the fall camp-meeting, by securing proper physicians, and making such improvements as may be necessary for a successful opening as a Health Retreat, and that brethren W. C. White, Sanford P. Rogers, and W. A. Pratt, be that committee.

Each resolution was considered separately and adopted unanimously. Sister White spoke at some length, stating that we wanted just such an Institution on this coast, where suffering humanity could be treated by heaven's own remedies, and not be poisoned to death by drugs. She said that many of our best men have been prematurely cut down because they knew not how, or lacked opportunity to be treated on the true principles of health, and have trusted to drug medication. She would not speak to condemn the drug doctors, for the world's people would have them, and they are probably better than none. What we want is to do away with poisonous drugs just as fast as we can. But we must not move rashly. The people must be educated up to these things, and led to see the superior advantages of this system of treatment over that of drugs. She had seen years ago that it was necessary that we should have such an institution on this coast. A place where people could get well, and learn to preserve their health.

Additional remarks were made to the point by W. C. White, John Morrison, and others, all speaking heartily in favor of the resolutions.

Pledge papers were circulated and in a few minutes 100 shares of stock, amounting to $1,000 were subscribed, besides additional donations of stock to the amount of $800, making 720 shares that are now donated and subscribed to the Retreat. If our brethren elsewhere deal as liberally, and act as promptly, we will soon have a flourishing institution such as we need.

Some means have been loaned at a low rate of interest, so as to begin improvements at once. We need more means, and shall add improvements as fast as it may be obtained. In the meantime the Retreat will be opened as a summer resort, and provision will be made to care for the sick who may come. J. D. RICE, Sec.