Sanitarium Relief Campaign by L. A. Hansen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 7, 1910

Sanitarium Relief Campaign

By L. A. Hansen

Details of the Campaign

For the benefit of those who may not have seen the outline of the sanitarium relief campaign, and of those who would refresh their minds on the same, we give the action of the General Conference Committee Council at College View, Neb., last October, as printed in the REVIEW of Nov. 18, 1909:—

“1. That a missionary relief campaign for the sale of our health and temperance literature be inaugurated.

“2. That this campaign be organized in each union conference, as its executive committee, in counsel with the General Conference Committee, may decide.

“3. That we encourage the sale of an equivalent of two copies of Ministry of Healing a member, annually, for each union conference.

“4. That we also encourage the sale for this purpose of five or more copies of Life and Health a member each year.

“5. That the proceeds of such sales of Ministry of Healing and Life and Health be devoted to the relief of our sanitariums as each union conference may decide.

“6. That this campaign continue for three years.

“7. That we invite all our medical missionary workers to engage in vigorous personal efforts in the prosecution of this campaign.

“8. That a field secretary be appointed by the General Conference Committee to connect with the general offices of the Medical Department, who shall devote his entire time to the promotion of this work.

“9. That the field secretary’s salary and expenses, and the expense of the general printed matter required in the campaign, be contributed quarterly by union conferences on the basis of membership.”

These recommendations have formed the basis for recommendations that have been adopted by various union conferences at their biennial sessions this year. In the main, they have followed the general plan, suiting it to meet local conditions.

It will be seen that it is planned that each member is to sell at least two copies of Ministry of Healing and five single copies of Life and Health each year for the next three years.

This will seem to most people as not a very large task,—selling two books and five magazines in one year. While it is not a large undertaking to the individual, it is a proposition of some magnitude when considered as a whole. Some work is required to get a general movement of this kind fully started among this people. The effort must receive its due attention throughout this whole organization, from the General Conference down to the individual member, in order to make a success of it. Union and local conferences must take it up as a part of their legitimate work. Conference officials must give it a place in their program of things to look after. Laborers must lay hold of it as a part of their appointed work. Church elders and officers must plan for it, and all members consider it as a thing demanding attention from each one. While the burden of advancing the campaign falls upon officers, yet none can feel free of responsibility in this matter.

Another point,—each member is to sell at least two books and five magazines a year, which means that while one may have done his part in setting others to work, he has not done all his part until he has also sold the required number of books and magazines.

No one needs to feel any hesitancy in planning to sell more than the specified number. Some are planning to sell many more. Good reports are already coming in of work that is being done.

L. A. HANSEN, Field Secretary.