Sanitarium Relief Campaign by L. A. Hansen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 28, 1910

Sanitarium Relief Campaign

By L. A. Hansen

Recent Action of General Conference Committee

At the General Conference Committee Council just held at Takoma Park, D. C., the following recommendations were passed:—

“Resolved, That we urge upon our local conferences all possible promptness in advancing the sanitarium relief campaign, and recommend to them the following plan:—

“(a) That where it is practicable, institutes be held at an early date, for the instruction of workers, who shall, in turn, visit the various churches to instruct the members concerning the campaign and how to engage in it.”

“(b) That time be given at the coming camp-meetings for proper consideration of the campaign and its purposes.”

“(c) That conference presidents place before their constituency, through conference papers, by correspondence and otherwise, the campaign work, and that they urge its advancement.”

“(d) That union and local conference field agents be asked to consider the campaign work as a part of their responsibility, and do what they can for its furtherance.”

“(e) That local church elders be asked to keep the work of the campaign before their churches until all have done their part.”

“(f) That each conference provide a way whereby the books and journals can be secured by those who are unable to pay cash for them.”

Foreign Edition

Provision was also made for supplying the book “Ministry of Healing” in the German, Danish, and Swedish languages. This will meet a much felt need of a large number of our brethren and sisters who desire to engage in the work of this campaign. The books are printed in Europe, and it will be a little while before they will be available for use here. Due notice will be given as to when and where they may be obtained.

Vote of Thanks

The following action of appreciation was adopted:—

“Voted, That we express to our brethren and sisters of the Northern and Southwestern union conferences our thankful appreciation of the great assistance they have rendered in helping to meet the needs of one of our institutions in the East, by dedicating a definite portion of the proceeds of their sanitarium relief campaign to the General Conference for the Philadelphia Sanitarium.”

Thus is this campaign becoming a matter of earnest consideration with our leading brethren, and is calling for the sincere co-operation of all.

Magnitude

While the part of the individual in this campaign work may not seem large, the aggregate results of the campaign mount up to proportions the largest of any one financial proposition we have ever had before us. It is a very good illustration of what may be done by the combined efforts of all, even in a little thing.

The sale of two copies of “Ministry of Healing” and five copies of Life and Health by each member for each of the next three years means an income to our sanitariums of nearly half a million dollars.

This large amount of money may be had without ourselves being any the poorer. A vote in favor of this proposition does not mean hands down,—into our pockets. The provisions of the campaign permit us to secure this money elsewhere.

Figures can not express the results that will be gained aside from the financial returns. With the placing of three hundred sixty thousand copies of that beautiful book, “Ministry of Healing,” in the homes of the people, will come blessings beyond measure. And who can tell the material benefit and help that will result from the sale of three hundred thousand copies of the timely and excellent journal Life and Health?

The increased interest in our health work that will come from this general effort, and the patronage brought to our sanitariums by our people’s visiting friends and neighbors and presenting the advantages and facilities of the institutions, may result in more material gain than even the direct financial returns of the sale of the publications. This will be a most effective manner of bringing relief to our sanitariums.

Last, but not least, there will be the rich blessing that will come to those engaged in the work. As calls are made, and the way is opened to present selections from the book or journal, or to do personal work that may give just the needed help to suffering ones, there will be a return of blessing that will be beyond measure. Eternity may be required to show the full results of such work.

L. A. HANSEN.