The Nashville Sanitarium by George I. Butler

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 6, 1907

The Nashville Sanitarium

By George I. Butler

Its Present Condition and Needs

THIS institution has occupied the most prominent position among the institutions that have been receiving funds from the gifts of our people in the Southern Union Conference. Of the $50,000 appropriated from the $150,000 fund for the Southern field, it was to receive $25,000, or about one half of all coming to this field. Nearly all that sum has been advanced by the General Conference, and has been expended on the building and premises. Doubtless our people who have been bestowing their means would like to have a full, frank statement of its present conditions and prospects. The writer will endeavor to give this faithfully, in as limited a space as consistent with the facts.

As is generally well known in the South, the premises are situated about three miles from the State-house, which is in the heart of the city of Nashville, on the Murfreesborough Pike, one of the most important roads leading out of the city. There is not a more pleasant site in the city or outside of it. The building stands on some of the most elevated land outside of the city. It was the residence of one of the leading professors of Vanderbilt University, built with excellent taste, and surrounded with beautiful shrubbery. He died in January, 1906. As his estate had to be settled, it came into market, and was sold to us at a greatly reduced price.

The cost of the premises, including ten acres of beautiful land, the fine residence, shrubbery, etc., was $12,732. There has been expended on the building, on the addition and improvements, the sum of $20,145. The addition is a wing thirty-four by seventy feet, three stories high above the basement. The institution is now approaching completion. The basement of the addition is high, with plenty of light, and has been made mainly into nice bath-rooms for both sexes. These are all finished, with perhaps the exception of a little paint. The two lower stories of the addition, consisting of rooms for the patients, are finished in neat, plain style, ready for occupancy. The upper story is ready for the inside finishing. The roof of the residence building was raised up to correspond with the height of the addition, furnishing a fine dining-room, kitchen, etc., on the upper story. In the wing will be the operating room, and other rooms for patients. The elevator is already in working order.

The wing has wide verandas, most suitable for airings, and comfortable in pleasant weather. From these verandas, beautiful views are obtained over the city and surrounding country. Already patients are coming in and occupying the furnished rooms. It is expected that the building will accommodate thirty or thirty-five patients. The work done on this institution is of good quality, but not showy or extravagant.

There have been various hindrances which have delayed the work, and as usual the building has cost more than it was expected it would.

There was a fire in March which destroyed the barn and a cheap building being used for laundry and bakery. These buildings being insured, the loss on them was small; but costly finishing lumber recently purchased was being temporarily housed in them. This lumber was not insured, which caused a loss of about twelve hundred dollars. The origin of the fire was a great mystery. It probably arose from a defective chimney.

Nashville is the headquarters of this great Southern field. It is one of the most influential and important of the Southern cities. It is an educational center where many large and wealthy institutions are located, and we can not consider that an expenditure of twenty-five thousand dollars is extravagant for an institution which is to represent so important a branch of our work. Its capacity at the most is thirty-five or forty patients, and is that extravagant? The writer can not see that it is.

There seems to be very hopeful prospects before this institution. The physicians of the city manifest a friendly feeling toward it, and promise to send patients. Many patients already have either written to the physician or told him personally that they intend to come as soon as possible after it is finished. Large numbers of the Nashville people have been in the habit of visiting such institutions in Battle Creek and other places. Our meager facilities here in the city have been very reasonably patronized, and we hope for a profitable patronage in the future. It will certainly be a very pleasant, restful place,

out of the smoke and the dust of the city, with very beautiful surroundings.

But, say those of critical mind, “Are you not in debt?”—Yes, we are to some extent. We hope in time to be able to pay these debts by the earning capacity of the institution, and hope then to be no longer burdensome upon the charity of our people. Our people and denomination stand back of this institution in precisely the same way that they do back of all our institutions of the same nature. The brethren of the General Conference have shown a very kindly and helpful interest in the institution, and we hope that we shall never do anything to destroy their interest in us.

We wish to borrow money from some of our people to help us to pay some debts, and assist us in furnishing the institution, so that it can proceed to do its noble work for humanity and the cause of God. It is now just about prepared to enter upon its work of usefulness. There is wealth among our people; and will not some of these good Seventh-day Adventists loan us money without interest, or at a low rate of interest, and thus help in the good and noble work before us? This institution has to enter upon its work and earn its reputation. We ask for it the confidence and assistance that it needs. It is in every way loyal to this cause, and is thoroughly grounded in the faith of this people. Dear friends, stewards of the Lord’s money, “lend us a hand” and help us with loans to carry on this work successfully.

GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres. Southern Union Conference.