The Kimberley (S. A.) Baths by J. V. WILLSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 21, 1908

The Kimberley (S. A.) Baths

By J. V. WILLSON

J. V. WILLSON

It is about one year since the work at the Baths has been reported for the REVIEW. This has been a prosperous year for the institution, although the last half of the year was marked by serious financial reverses in Kimberley. The principal business in the town is the diamond industry. Up to the middle of 1907, this business has been one of the most flourishing and remunerative in the world. There are five main diamond mines, employing many thousand people, and supporting nearly the whole population of Kimberley.

About the middle of the year, owing to competition from the famous Premier diamond mine near Pretoria, Transvaal, and also owing to the great financial depression in the United States, where about two thirds of the diamond output has been purchased, the diamond industry suffered a severe depression, which has caused the discharge of a large portion of the men employed, thus seriously affecting all branches of business in Kimberley. This caused a falling off in the receipts at the Baths; but notwithstanding this drawback, the institution showed a financial gain of $1,194.61 for the year. The outlook for the coming year is not so encouraging, financially.

The development of our medical work has been encouraging. The leading physicians of the city have continued to send us patients suffering from various maladies, and the results of the treatments given have been satisfactory. The influence of the Baths has gone out for hundreds of miles, and patients have been sent here by physicians over six hundred miles distant. We are confident that the medical missionary work is a great help in reaching the people with the truth.

There has been a large sale of health foods. They keep well in this climate, and are well liked by the people. The people seem ready to read our literature. We distribute a large amount from our reading rack in our waiting-room. We need more help here. The city and country ought to be canvassed for our health magazine and other health publications. This literature would enlighten the people in regard to the right methods of treating disease, and then there would be a greater call for our treatments.

I feel a great interest in the medical missionary work in this country. The people are in great need. Thousands are destroyed every year by alcoholic drinks and the use of tobacco and other soul-and-body-destroying vices. Who is there to go out into the different cities and towns to carry our literature, and labor for the people, and teach them how to glorify God in their bodies as well as in their spirits? The gospel of health is needed to go hand in hand with the other truths of the third angel's message.

We are of good courage in the work, and hope to press the battle to the gates, and be found in active service when the Lord comes.