The Nebraska Sanitarium
By A. T. ROBINSON
SEVERAL years ago one of the three buildings belonging to Union College, College View, Neb., known as North Hall, was leased to the Nebraska Sanitarium for a term of twenty years, at an annual rental of $1,250. In later years the attendance at Union College has increased until there has been a pressing need of more room for the accommodation of students. The patronage at the sanitarium has also increased, making it impossible for any room to be spared in the building occupied by the sanitarium. At the annual meeting of the Union College board, last February, careful consideration was given to this matter. A proposal was submitted by the college board to the sanitarium management to sell to the sanitarium the property it had formerly held on lease. In view of the fact that the sanitarium is a sister institution, engaged in another line of the same missionary work, the consideration of sale submitted was such as would not have been justified from the standpoint of simply a business transaction. The sanitarium was asked to pay $5,000 down, another $5,000 within two years from date of transfer, and assume a fourth of the present college indebtedness, as such indebtedness shall fall due. This latter item means an obligation of $7,127.76, making a total amount to be paid by the sanitarium of $17,127.76. The sanitarium management felt somewhat reluctant to assume this obligation, and negotiations proceeded slowly for several months, but were finally consummated19by the formal signing of the legal papers on the evening of November 1. In this transfer the property was deeded by the Central Union Conference to the Nebraska Sanitarium Association. In addition to the proposal first submitted, the sanitarium in this transfer secures a lease, for an indefinite term of years, of the grove east of the sanitarium, adjoining its grounds. This grove is to be fitted up by the sanitarium and the college conjointly to be used as a park and an outdoor gymnasium, for the benefit of the patients of the sanitarium and the students and teachers of the college. At the time the transfer was made, the sanitarium found itself in a position to meet the first payment of $5,000, $3,000 of which had been saved from the earnings of the institution during the time negotiations had been pending. Another reason of the transfer was to place means at the disposal of Union College to provide necessary additional room for students. After a careful investigation of the main college building, it was decided to finish off rooms in the attic story. Nine well-lighted, well-ventilated rooms are now nearing completion, and eight other rooms could be finished if necessary. This provides needed room for students, at small expense, leaving most of the money realized from the sale of property to the sanitarium, to be applied on the indebtedness of Union College. This, in addition to $61,927.90 realized from the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” reduces the indebtedness of the college to a point where it can be handled without embarrassment. The utmost harmony and good feeling exists between these two institutions, which are now more closely united than ever they have been before. In a recent Testimony from Sister White concerning these two institutions, the following statements are made:— “The Nebraska Sanitarium is in a good location. It is away from the city with its temptations, and yet it is so situated that people will learn of it and the nature of its work. Its proximity to the college is a decided advantage; for these two institutions, working together, may be a help one to another. We must remember that our sanitariums are established to do the highest work that mortals can undertake. . . . The Lord would have his people in the Central Union Conference arouse, and put forth a united effort to make the sanitarium at College View a praise in the earth, and a continual blessing to many, that from it there may shine forth the light of truth.” About one year ago the Nebraska Sanitarium Association so changed its articles of incorporation as to sever its connection with the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association of Battle Creek. The constituency of the association was so changed as to make it a Nebraska institution closely allied with the evangelical work of the conference.