p. 17 | Sanitarium Relief Campaign by L. A. Hansen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 26, 1910

Sanitarium Relief Campaign

By L. A. Hansen

The Reason for the Campaign

As may be known at once, the direct call for the sanitarium relief campaign is to give financial assistance to our sanitariums. There may be those who do not understand why this is necessary, so a few words of explanation may be in place.

Our sanitarium holdings represent the larger part of our investment in institutional property, the valuation of sanitarium properties being more than that of all our educational and publishing institutions combined. The last published statistical report gives $2,766,346.50 as the total investment in sanitariums.

The assets of these institutions are reckoned upon the basis that is usually followed in making inventories, allowing for depreciation in values from year to year; placing real-estate values on the basis of original cost, with the cost of improvements added, and not increasing them in ratio with advanced prices of surrounding property, or inflating them because of local real-estate booms. So our sanitariums stand listed at what they cost us, and what they are actually worth to us. They are valuable holdings and good assets.

Possible Danger

As things are now, we can feel a large degree of satisfaction in the possession of these institutions, and we do not need to view with alarm the call that is being made for help. It does not mean that our sanitarium work is in critical danger, or that the situation is one necessarily to cause apprehension. While we think our institutions are generally upon a good financial basis, yet it is only acting the part of wisdom and discretion in the time of prosperity to use every effort available to strengthen their financial condition, in order that they may stand any severe shock coming from a possible general financial depression. To accomplish this has been the main object of this campaign of relief.

It has been with a great deal of satisfaction that we have up to the present time been able to say to our people that in placing their means in our denominational institutions they were making a perfectly safe investment. We are confident, however, that this satisfaction would be greatly enhanced with the people in general if they knew that this security existed, because, through the aid of the people, the financial condition of each institution had been so strengthened that each for itself would be able to operate successfully, and withstand any crisis that might come.

Some Burdened Ones

While our sanitarium work as a whole may be considered in a position of strength, some of these institutions are meeting with perplexity and embarrassment because of their financial burdens. Their situation may be explained upon grounds that are very evident. Some of the causes of sanitarium indebtedness will be presented later.

As it is, a number of these institutions have carried an indebtedness from the time they were started. This has been in the form of loans or other interest-bearing accounts. This item of interest has had to be met from year to year, and in many cases must still be met. At the present time our sanitariums are paying out in interest every year a sum that in almost every instance is more than sufficient to cover whatever deficit there may be in the operating earnings of the institution. In other words, our sanitariums would, almost without exception, be fully self-supporting were it not for the interest they have to meet.

Working at Odds

Such a burden as this is one that must be felt in the whole work of the institution. Lack of means necessitates working under cramped conditions. Essential facilities can not be secured. Necessary improvements can not be made. Much-needed repairs must be neglected, so that what is done as a matter of economy really becomes a costly waste, on the principle that “a stitch in time saves nine.”

Under such conditions the work of the institution is made harder. The opportunities for giving satisfactory service are lessened. The workers labor at a disadvantage, and suffer because of it. Those bearing responsibilities become discouraged.

Not only is this situation felt in the institution itself but outside of it as well. A number of brethren already bearing heavy responsibilities must, as members of the sanitarium board, wrestle with problems that arise. Valuable time and means must be spent in meeting together to deal with some condition arising because of financial matters. Frequently

the best thing they know to do is to make an appeal to the brethren and sisters throughout the conference. Thus the matter becomes one of general burden.

Progress

Some of our sanitariums have, after a number of years, managed to pay off their indebtedness. Others have done considerable in that direction. Still others have had experiences that have hindered them in meeting their obligations, and they have been able to conduct their work only under great difficulty. Prospects are good for believing that in the course of time all might succeed in getting clear of debt, but headway in this direction is made rather slowly, and at great cost. The time and energy so spent could be well used in other ways. The possibilities of making our sanitarium work accomplish much more in the advancement of the cause, can be greatly increased, and we should do more to develop these possibilities.

The Help Needed

As a denomination we have not given this branch of the work much help in the way of direct donations. Timely loans have been made, and these have been appreciated and have proved very material help. We have very properly given aid to publishing institutions and to schools, but for some reason our sanitarium work has not received that assistance that has been needed to place them on vantage-ground, where they would have opportunity of succeeding in every way. This is the help that is now needed.

The magnitude of this branch of the work, the amount of money invested in it, the number of institutions that we have, the number of workers engaged, the volume of work being done,—all present the strongest kind of reason for us to render such help as may be necessary, and is possible, to place this work where it can operate to the very best advantage. Denominational interests and the welfare of a most worthy branch of our work demand it.

The Opportunity

See how timely, how practicable, and how feasible, is this present campaign for meeting the requirements of this call. It comes at a time when our sanitarium work has fully adjusted its bearings and relations to the cause. We now practically know what we have, and where we are, in this respect. The development and growth of this work is greater than ever before. We are well assured of its place in our denominational interests.

Then, too, we have about completed our general effort in behalf of the educational work, and have finished, for the time being, the raising of funds for other home institutions. Now—just now—would seem the proper time to engage in earnest work for our sanitariums, and give them the help they have long needed.

The plan of relief enables us to help without giving of our own means, and thus depriving other lines of work. By the sale of health publications we are working in logical lines, the whole effort tending to strengthen our health work. The placing of this literature in the hands of the public will prove a great blessing to those who receive it; and there will come directly to our sanitariums the financial aid of nearly half a million dollars. The interest awakened and developed in these institutions will bring further material help in the way of increased patronage.

Surely the results to be gained from this campaign are worthy of the co-operation of every member to the extent of selling at least two copies of Ministry of Healing and five copies of Life and Health each year for the next three years. This is not a big thing to do, but its aggregate results will be tremendous.

L. A. HANSEN.