Sanitarium Relief Campaign by L. A. Hansen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 31, 1910

Sanitarium Relief Campaign

By L. A. Hansen

Campaign Work at Union Conference Meetings

In the consideration of the “Ministry of Healing” campaign at the last three union conference meetings there was manifested a most excellent disposition on the part of the strong to help the more needy.

Southwestern Union Conference

This union has no conference sanitarium. It has no sanitarium debts. The brethren are not in favor of creating a debt in order to secure a sanitarium. When the relief campaign was presented to them, they very naturally asked why they should help pay debts which they had no part in making.

The matter was given careful attention by the committee on plans in a two-hour session. The committee brought in a recommendation to the effect that the campaign be pushed in the union conference, and that one third of the proceeds be devoted to the General Conference to help the Philadelphia Sanitarium, the disposition of the remaining two thirds to be left to a later time.

A free discussion was entered upon by the body assembled. Pertinent questions were asked. Ample time was given for the consideration of the measure in all its phases, resulting in a unanimous vote in its favor. Opportunity was also given for the entire congregation to express itself, which it did by rising as one man in answer to the call for the affirmative vote.

Lake Union Conference

Here, too, was found a good example of the principle that when one member suffers, the whole body suffers. There are four conferences in this union that have neither sanitariums nor sanitarium debts. Some of them have other interests that are pressing. At Berrien Springs, Mich., is a big demand for the establishment of a sanitarium in connection with the school. The brethren there have lived in hopes of seeing a long-standing promise fulfilled that such an institution would be started. They had some feeling that it might be right to use proceeds from the sale of “Ministry of Healing” to set on foot this much-needed enterprise.

In the very full consideration that was given the recommendations by the conference it was brought out quite clearly that the object of the movement is to give relief and not to create a building fund. The author of the book has given it to relieve existing indebtedness. Elder A. G. Daniells gave a very good illustration of the situation. He said: “Suppose there is a shipwreck, and there comes a call for help. As the life-boat crew puts out to sea, what is the one object before it?” Here, some one replied, speaking ironically, “Build a new ship.” “No, it is not to build new institutions, but to help those that are now in need.”

When the vote was taken on the proposition, there was not one voice heard against it.

Northern Union Conference

This union has but one conference sanitarium, located at Nevada, Iowa. It has some indebtedness. The union conference president, Elder R. A. Underwood, had already presented through the union conference paper, his position with reference to the relief campaign. He proposed that the union conference should take up the matter, and that a good proportion of the proceeds be given to the General Conference to help the Philadelphia Sanitarium, inasmuch as that sanitarium is in a position to require assistance outside of its own territory.

About three hours of the time of the committee on plans was given to the question, and recommendations were drafted to suit the local needs, devoting two thirds of the proceeds of the campaign to the General Conference. The subject came before the conference at the afternoon session, and overtime was used in its presentation. The question was put, resulting in a unanimous affirmative.

The next morning there were expressions to the effect that the measure had been put through without giving ample time for full discussion. When the morning session opened, a statement was made regarding this feature, and it was voted to reconsider the recommendations. It was explained that fullest freedom of discussion was desirable, there being nothing to be kept back about the whole proposition. An hour and a half was given to further consideration, and at the close of the discussion the former action was reaffirmed.

It is certainly a good indication when men who are already heavily burdened will shoulder other burdens in order to help those who may not be so well situated as they. It takes real Christian spirit to do this. We may well be glad that this spirit exists with us. Only good can come from it.

L. A. HANSEN.