Washington (D. C.) Medical and Sanitarium Interests
By Arthur G. Daniells
As announced in a recent REVIEW, steps are now being taken to carry out the instruction that has been given with reference to carrying on denominational medical missionary work in Washington, D. C. In order that all our people may be fully acquainted with this instruction, the following statements from the Testimonies are herewith presented:— “If there is any place in the world that should have the full rays of present truth, it is Washington, the city that is the very heart of the nation. . . . God has looked with displeasure on the neglect that has been shown to this city.” “Since medical missionary work, when carried on as God has appointed, is indeed the helping hand of the third angel’s message, we should without delay take advantage of the favorable openings for beginning this work in the vicinity of Washington. If there is one place above another where a sanitarium should be established, and where gospel work should be done, it is in this city. We can not estimate how great an influence would have gone forth from Washington in favor of the truth had a sanitarium been established there twenty years ago. . . . Above all other places, the capital of our nation should now have an opportunity to hear the message for this time.”—Testimony, “Our Work at the Nation’s Capital,” dated July 17, 1903. “May God help us to develop plans so that our youth can become genuine medical missionaries. . . . We have before us the work of establishing a medical institution near Washington at once. No time is to be lost. Call for the best talent, and make arrangements for conducting a nurses’ training-school. All that can be done, should be done to make a deep impression in favor of the truth for this time. Place at the head of this institution one who can be trusted. Obtain facilities for giving treatment, and secure God-fearing youth as your helpers.”—Letter of instruction, dated Aug. 27, 1903. “The plans laid for the carrying forward of this work should be such as will bear the indorsement of heaven. In no case is this line of work to be made secondary. It is to be prominent in bringing the truth to the minds of the people. With great wisdom, establish a sanitarium in Washington. Establish the work upon a solid foundation. Let the building be neat and tasty, but not expensive. We can not afford to erect an expensive building. The Lord desires this building to be a representation of what he designs all his sanitariums to be. The Lord will work with his people, if they will work humbly with him.”—Testimony, “To the Leaders in Our Work,” dated Oct. 15, 1903. These quotations cover, I think, all the features of the instruction that has come to us regarding this particular branch of work. In Volume VII a great deal is said with reference to locating our sanitariums in rural places outside of the cities. With these facts before them, the committee appointed to find a suitable location for our headquarters in the East, selected a block of nearly fifty acres in Takoma Park, six miles north7of the Capitol building. This ground is one mile from the Takoma Park post-office, the Baltimore and Ohio Railway station, and the terminus of the Washington and Takoma Park electric streetcar line. It was purchased for six thousand dollars. This selection was made by the following-named brethren: W. W. Prescott, H. W. Cottrell, W. C. White, I. H. Evans, O. O. Farnsworth, C. H. Jones, R. A. Underwood, S. N. Curtiss, J. S. Washburn, Lewis C. Sheafe, Dr. J. H. Neall, Dr. J. H. Howard, A. Kalstrom, W. M. Lewis, and A. G. Daniells. There was not an opposing vote when the final decision was made. As is usually the case with such large committees, some took more conservative views than others. During the Washington Council last October, the entire delegation visited Takoma Park, and gave the place we selected a careful inspection. The advantages and disadvantages were canvassed as fully as deemed consistent. The plans for the sanitarium and school were explained as fully as they had been grasped by those who had given them the closest study. Criticisms, suggestions, and counsel were solicited. After thorough discussion, the council heartily voted that one hundred thousand dollars should be raised for the purpose of opening a sanitarium, a school, and General Conference offices at Takoma Park, D. C.; that a corporation should be created to hold and manage the sanitarium, and that this corporation should be a non-dividend paying and a non-stock company. A constituency was also recommended, including the General and Atlantic Union Conference Committees, and the executive committees of various surrounding conferences, together with the board of management of local district work. Our brethren who attended that council will probably never know the full value of their hearty, broad, courageous attitude and addresses on this important question, when it came before the council. I do not remember ever having seen a more excellent manifestation of large-heartedness in my official connection with this work. While the presidents of local conferences were fully aware that a large measure of the responsibility of raising the money for this enterprise would fall upon the conferences they represented, they deliberately and courageously urged the raising of one hundred thousand dollars in order to reach the standard placed before us by the Testimonies. Instead of trimming and shaving the estimates down to the lowest possible notch, they placed them much higher than I had dared to hope for, but not higher than necessary. This brought gratitude and courage to my heart, and it means success in our efforts to raise the money. Further statements will be made next week. A. G. DANIELLS.