Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium Association

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 24, 1909

Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium Association

A MEETING of the constituency of the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium Association was called, according to appointment, June 4, 1909, at 10:30 A. M. G. A. Irwin in the chair. A quorum was present.

It was voted that the reading of the minutes of previous meetings be waived.

The chairman stated that this was the first biennial meeting of the association. The association was organized in 1904. Work was opened in the rented building at Iowa Circle before the property was purchased at Takoma Park. He described the improvements which had been made upon the property at Takoma, the institution here being dedicated June 13, 1907. The institution had been operating for nearly two years. By arrangements with the town of Takoma Park, a bridge had been thrown across the gorge of the Sligo Creek, by which the institution had become easily accessible for all vehicles.

The chairman called upon Dr. Ruble, the medical superintendent of the Iowa Circle Sanitarium, who said:—

“The Washington Branch Sanitarium is an institution accommodating about fifteen house patients. During the year we have had a fairly good patronage, though the completion of the institution out here on the Sligo has, during the past year, taken some of our patients. However, the patronage from the city has been gradually increasing until this year almost twice as many have availed themselves of the privileges of the sanitarium as heretofore. Our patronage comes almost entirely from the best class of people in Washington. We have among our patients several senators and representatives, two or three supreme judges, and one assistant of a supreme judge. We have also had a number of representatives from foreign countries.

“The interest of our helpers has been very manifest, especially in religious matters. During the year we had some very interesting meetings with our helpers and patients. We have universal testimony as to the high spiritual interest that our helpers take in the patients. In our social meetings almost all the helpers connected with the institution have taken part.”

The chairman next called upon Dr. Kress, medical superintendent of the Washington Sanitarium at Takoma Park, who read a paper, from which we can take only the following items:—

The speaker quoted from Testimonies urging that the Sanitarium at the national capital should have every advantage, in order that the right impression might be given at the center of the nation. They urged that means should flow in to achieve this purpose, and that such means should be economically handled.

Dr. Kress: We do not expect a child to walk and earn its own food on the day of its birth, neither can we expect new institutions to be self-supporting during the first few months of their existence. I am glad to report that the Washington Sanitarium has reached this point much earlier than we had hoped for. We have spent considerable in advertising, letting the people know we are here. During the year 1909 the institution has been able to finance itself, and the prospects for the future are very promising. The growth in patronage has been healthy. I know of no institution that gives greater promise of doing a great work than the Washington Sanitarium. As a people we have reason to thank God, and take courage. We took a large class of young people into training,—it seemed more than we actually needed for our sanitarium work. By combining missionary work in the city with this training, we were able to take more than we needed. In this way we hoped to provide for the future, and at the same time give our workers an all-round training. The work grew, and we soon discovered that we had none too many for our sanitarium work, and the mission work in the city had to be abandoned for a time.

At first we housed our nurses in the main building. As the patronage increased, we were forced to secure private outside rooms. This made it difficult to maintain the order and discipline among the workers so necessary in order to do the best work. The board felt it necessary to erect a separate home for the workers. The building was occupied in January, and has been a great blessing to the work. Both buildings have been practically full most of the time during the past two or three months. At present we have fifty patients, and about forty workers in training. We get a superior class of patients at this institution. Representatives from all parts of the United States and foreign lands come to Washington. Some of these have been under treatment during the past year.

The doctor read extracts from letters written by former patients, expressing appreciation of care received, and of the spiritual atmosphere of the institution. Patients had found not only physical help, but some had been won to a Christian experience who had not had such experience before coming to the institution. Some charitable work had been done. The Sanitarium, however, has not had the means to do all that it would gladly do in this direction. He expressed the hope that by some means churches or conferences might help the unfortunate poor of their membership who could be benefited by attention to be received at a sanitarium.

The report of the treasurer was next called for, and presented by S. E. McNeill, assistant.

Upon motion of G. B. Thompson, seconded by E. T. Russell, the treasurer’s report was accepted.

G. B. Thompson, chairman of the committee on nominations, appointed at a former meeting, rendered the committee’s report, submitting the following names for board of trustees of the association: G. A. Irwin, A. G. Daniells, I. H. Evans, D. H. Kress, F. M. Wilcox,

W. A. Ruble, and the business manager of the Sanitarium.

On motion of G. B. Thompson, duly seconded, the report of the committee was adopted.

It was moved and seconded that the meeting adjourn.