The Sale of the Battle Creek College Property
By I. H. EVANS
THE friends of the old Battle Creek College can but be interested in the arrangements for the future of that property. It will be recalled by the readers of the REVIEW, that sometime last winter, the General Conference Corporation, at Washington, D. C., took the title to this property, and became responsible for the obligations of the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association. This was entirely in the interest of the creditors, as the General Conference believed that they should be protected in the money they had loaned to the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association, and to the old Seventh-day Adventist Educational Society. As these associations were not in a position to carry these obligations, the General Conference Corporation felt that they were warranted in assuming the payment of the liabilities, and therefore had the title to the property transferred to them. The General Conference Committee, however, took the matter under consideration, and believed that the property should be sold. It was advised that the American Medical Missionary College be offered the privilege of purchasing this property for the sum of $45,225.42, and that if they did not see fit to purchase it, the same should be put upon the market, and sold on the very best possible terms. It is understood by all that the property is worth much more than the sum asked the American Medical Missionary College. This price was named as the sum which would be sufficient to cover the outstanding obligations against the college property, after the Review and Herald Publishing Association had canceled an obligation of fifteen thousand dollars against it. A committee was appointed, consisting of Elders Daniells, Prescott, Cottrell, and Evans, to negotiate with the American Medical Missionary College in regard to the purchase of this property. The American Medical Missionary College agreed to purchase it, paying the sum asked, on the following conditions: that the General Conference Corporation should execute to the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association a quitclaim deed of all its interest in the property, and that the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association should execute to the American Medical Missionary College a title to it, the American Medical Missionary College paying all taxes and other obligations against the property, outside of the notes owing by the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association. The American Medical Missionary19College agreed to pay the sum of $3,200, plus any accrued interest, within sixty days; $3,500 on the first day of March, 1906, and $3,500 on the first day of September, 1906, at which time they will secure a deed to the property, and cover the General Conference Corporation for the remainder due with a mortgage upon the college buildings and the college campus, not including the South Hall and the three cottages. The rest of the money is to be paid in five annual instalments of seven thousand dollars each, with interest at five per cent on deferred payments, the General Conference Corporation assuming the responsibility of paying all the outstanding obligations of the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association, which it assumed at the time it received the property from that association. Thus it will be seen by all our brethren that the Battle Creek College property has passed into the hands of the American Medical Missionary College. The General Conference Committee believed that these arrangements would be as satisfactory as any that could now be made. Those who had obligations against the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association will not be in the least affected by this, as the General Conference remains surety for the payment of such obligations as were assumed by it at the time it took the college property from the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association. We make this statement, as some are inquiring in regard to the money owed to them by the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association, having already heard that another change was being made in regard to this property. We trust that all will be satisfied with the arrangements that have been made by the General Conference Committee concerning this property, and wish to assure the creditors that their interests will be protected as far as any responsibility of the General Conference is concerned.