Filling an Institution by William A. Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 10, 1910

Filling an Institution

By William A. Spicer

HERE is an Iowa experience that we pass on to our people, for there is a good lesson in it. That conference recently transferred its sanitarium headquarters to a country location, and erected a new institution. The problem then was to fill it. All the believers were urged to engage in a publicity campaign. In the last Iowa Workers’ Bulletin, Elder M. N. Campbell, the president, says:—

These are busy days at the sanitarium. The efforts of our people are already bearing fruit, and patients are coming from all quarters who have had their attention drawn to the institution by Adventist neighbors. This week a supply of the new announcements is being mailed to all our churches, so each of the members can have a few for handing out to sick friends or acquaintances, or for mailing. Quite a number have sent in lists of sick persons to whom letters will be addressed, calling their attention to the facilities afforded at the sanitarium for helping them. A general effort on the part of all our people will fill the building to its utmost capacity.

This is the kind of publicity work that all can engage in; and without a doubt such efforts in the territory of all our institutions would greatly increase their influence for good and bring blessing and prosperity to them. In early days, when our health work was beginning, I notice by an old REVIEW that all our laborers were notified that every minister and worker was expected to act as a special agent for the health journal and the sanitarium. And that early publicity work, face to face with people who needed physical help, established the patronage of the one sanitarium that we had. Now each one of our many institutions should have a special agent in every believer, who shall watch for opportunities to turn the attention of the sick toward the institutions where they may find help. W. A. S.