About two years ago a Good Health School was held in the Y. M. C. A. building in Leicester. The school was organized under the auspices and with the active co-operation of the Leicester Food Reform Society, and a membership of over one hundred was secured. Demonstrations in cookery, physical culture, simple remedies, and healthful dress were given in the afternoon, from three to five, and a lecture at eight o’clock each evening. Some of the leading citizens of Leicester attended, and used their influence in behalf of this enterprise; among these was a business man by the name of Mr. J. W. Goddard. He became heartily interested in the principles of healthful living as taught in the school, and made many inquiries about our health and sanitarium work. To be brief, the outcome of this was that the gentleman made an offer to turn over a well-furnished double-fronted house, and to build and equip necessary bath-rooms, for the starting of a sanitarium in Leicester. He offered the use of this property, without rent, for ten years, on the condition that a sanitarium similar in principle to the one at Battle Creek, Mich., should be started in Leicester.
ON THE LAWN OF THE LEICESTER SANITARIUM
A few weeks later this offer was presented to the General Conference Committee, then in session at Battle Creek, and it was unanimously accepted, and the committee further voted to furnish fifteen hundred dollars to aid in the establishment of the institution.
Work was started upon the bath-rooms the following July, and the institution was ready for dedication in February, 1904. The institution is well equipped with substantial and excellent furniture. No expense was spared to make the bath-rooms attractive and efficient for their purpose, and the total expenditure amounted to several thousand dollars.
The institution was dedicated the same month, and Mrs. Eufalia Sisley Richards, M. D., became resident physician and matron, and the following July she was joined by her husband, Dr. Franklin Richards, who has since been the superintendent of the sanitarium. They have spent a great deal of time in conducting Good Health Schools in the north of England, and in giving health lectures. This field educational work has been the means of making the institution known to the people, and so of bringing an increased patronage.
The institution is not large, and can accommodate only eight or ten resident patients. Of course a very much larger number can be treated in the bath-room, and there is ample scope for growth and extension of the out-patients’ department. After taking into consideration the expense involved in securing necessary medical apparatus, and in paying traveling expenses, and various other expenses incurred before the institution was ready for occupation, the sanitarium has practically been self-supporting from the day of opening, and has even shown a small gain. This is very gratifying, and through the liberal action of the conference it will be possible to establish the institution without incurring any debt.
Space forbids our giving particulars concerning the many interesting cases treated at the sanitarium. Many who have gone there have been restored to health, and have also received spiritual blessings as well. We believe that there is an encouraging future for the institution, and that it can not fail to become more and more successful. It is needless to say that the founder of the institution, Mr. Goddard, has taken a hearty interest in the place from the beginning. He has been the means of sending patients, and has made the institution known among friends and acquaintances.
The health and sanitarium work is prospering in this country, and we have many evidences of God’s blessing upon the work.
The Caterham Sanitarium has a large patronage, averaging from twenty-five to thirty patients all the time. Last autumn we rented two adjoining villas, and now we are using both of them. We feel very thankful to God for the success he is giving us.
The Good Health enjoys a splendid circulation, and is becoming self-supporting financially.
