_Dedication of the Rural Sanitarium at Madison, Tenn._
By Josephine Gotzian
JUNE 24 I left California in company with Mrs. E. C. Gray, of Armona, Cal., and Prof. E. A. Sutherland, of Madison, Tenn., for the purpose of visiting the South, and especially the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute, and the Rural Sanitarium, with which I had been invited to connect. Since the founding of the Madison Agricultural Institute in 1904 I have watched its growth with more than usual interest. Its published reports had all been carefully read by me; and I had thought that if the time ever came that I could unite with the institute, I would gladly do so. This last spring the Lord opened the way for me to leave my interests on the Pacific Coast, and come to the South, which appeals to me in many ways. I must confess that I was agreeably surprised at the beauty of the country around Nashville. I had prepared myself to see a country with many disagreeable features; but when our train brought us into Kentucky, and then into Tennessee, I found myself thinking, “How much this country reminds me of my old home in Illinois.” It is a very pretty drive from Madison to the school farm, about two and one-half miles. The road is narrow, but macadamized, lined on both sides with trees of many kinds, of which the most striking are the many beautiful, well-formed cedars. The school buildings can not be seen until one is almost upon them. I was again pleasantly surprised when I saw the Rural Sanitarium and the buildings of the school. The farm upon which the institute is located is an old plantation, with several stone fences, an old plantation house, and other buildings that remind one of long ago. The farm slopes from the main road to the river a mile away, and the buildings are situated about one half of the distance between the road and the river, on several hills two hundred fifty feet above the river. The grounds about the buildings are covered with large trees and many clumps of red cedar. Where the farm is not cultivated, there is an abundance of blue grass and white clover. It seems to me that this is an ideal location for a school and a sanitarium. The school is composed of a number of cottages for teachers and students, and two halls for recitation purposes. I like this cottage plan very much for the school. While I have never known of a sanitarium built on the cottage plan, yet I can see that it has many advantages over the old idea of large buildings. Here every room is an outside one; patients are not compelled to have their rooms open into halls, where there is more or less danger of contamination. The buildings are all of one story, removing the danger of fire that exists in large buildings. There are no elevators, no stairs to climb. It is practically outdoor life, with all the advantages of neat, comfortable rooms. I can see that this idea of the cottage plan for a school and sanitarium would require much less capital to start an institution than the old plan, where practically the whole plant had to be erected and furnished before business could be started. On the cottage plan, with ample grounds, it is possible to start with few facilities, and develop without being compelled to destroy the original buildings as the institution is enlarged. The principal idea of the promoters is to bring people back to God’s natural ways of living. They feel that the patients should not only be taught to make reforms in diet, dress, medical treatments, and exercise, but that they should be led by precept and example back to God’s idea of a proper home and its location. To come back to nature’s home we must have a little farm or garden away from the city. I believe this idea must have been in the minds of the early health reformers. Our sanitariums have done a grand and noble work in teaching people to abandon unwholesome foods, to avoid complex and injurious methods of preparing foods; thousands also have abandoned foolish and hurtful ways of dressing. Why not take a step farther, and get away from the standard of city life, that tends continually to break down correct habits of eating, dressing, and living? To carry out the whole idea of health reform I see great advantages in having patients in an institution where they are compelled to a large extent to live in small cottages in the country. There is no attempt made here to attract the idle rich, who require much waiting upon, and who do not come especially for the recovery of their health. One novel feature of this institution is that patients will be given physical exercise that will lead them to do useful things, such as cultivating flowers and vegetables, raking and keeping the lawn, sawing wood, working with tools, etc. The patients come in contact with teachers and students who love manual labor. Many come to the sanitarium because they have not correct ideas of taking exercise. I find that the young people here do not care for ordinary outdoor sports. They are very busy doing useful things; they are just as anxious to learn how to do these useful things as other young people whom I have known are to play lawn tennis and other games. I believe that the patients will gain a great deal from coming in contact with this spirit of cheerful manual and intellectual labor. It has been over four years since the founders began to build this institution. They have brought the work to the place where it is felt by all who are connected with it that it should be dedicated; so on October 22 the institution will be dedicated by appropriate exercises. This will take place during the conference of self-supporting missionaries. Elder S. N. Haskell has just written: “You can say that I will be there, and that I expect Sister White will be present.” A number of other leading ministers are planning to attend, and will be present at the dedication. I have been permitted to visit several small enterprises conducted by self-supporting missionaries since coming here. I am deeply impressed with the value of this kind of work, and feel that it is the beginning of a new movement, which will put thousands of our people at active missionary work, and which will, at the same time, enable them to make their own way. I look forward with much pleasure to this conference. Those who have been out trusting the Lord while doing self-supporting missionary work surely have very live experiences to relate. I feel sure, from what I have seen that we shall hear some good things, and learn much about putting God’s work on a more simple and economical basis. The Nashville Sanitarium will be dedicated October 20. I have visited this institution twice since coming South. They are in a position to do excellent work. Dr. W. A. George, the superintendent, seems to be working hard to build up the work of this institution. I believe it will not be long before it will enjoy a very good patronage. I hope also soon to see the food factory which is being started at Edgefield, two and one-half miles from Madison, in a position where it can manufacture foods for this great Southern country. Brother M. Hare, who so successfully conducted the food plant at Avondale, Australia, is in charge of the factory at Edgefield. Sister Emma Gray and myself are so deeply interested in this Southern work that we have both consented to connect with the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute and Rural Sanitarium. Sister Gray will act as business manager of the institution. I feel very thankful to God that he has permitted me to be connected with the20work in this Southern field. I am willing to throw myself fully into this work, in order that the field that the Lord has spoken of so many times may be quickly worked. If the rank and file of the people would enter self-supporting missionary work, it would only be a little while before we would all be in the kingdom. For the benefit of inquiring friends I wish to state that I have never enjoyed better health than since coming South. The climate so far has been delightful. I am impressed that Satan is anxious to make you believe that you can not stand the climate in this Southern field. If God is calling you here, you will find that your health will be better, if you obey his call, than if you stay in a country with the most desirable climatic conditions. JOSEPHINE GOTZIAN.