Relation of Private Sanitariums to the Denomination by W. A. George; D. H. Kress; G. H. Heald; S. P. S. Edwards; W. A. Ruble

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 22, 1907

Relation of Private Sanitariums to the Denomination

By W. A. George; D. H. Kress; G. H. Heald; S. P. S. Edwards; W. A. Ruble

One of the matters considered at the recent medical council held at Takoma Park was the need of a distinctive name for sanitariums of the Seventh-day Adventists. The fact that so many other sanitariums are in existence, many of which are merely popular resorts, while others are for the treatment of tuberculosis, tends to confuse those who are desirous of going to a Seventh-day Adventist sanitarium where right principles are taught and practised.

Seventh-day Adventist sanitariums stand for the principles committed to them, and they should, therefore, all teach the same thing, and should have a name that would distinguish them from all other sanitariums. It was finally decided that they be known as Seventh-day Adventist Sanitariums.

During the discussion it was brought out that there are some private sanitariums conducted by Seventh-day Adventists which are not worthy of the name. A committee of five was appointed to report on the standing of sanitariums, and to ascertain which should be entitled to the name of Seventh-day Adventist sanitariums. At a meeting of this committee held June 13, after careful consideration it was moved, seconded, and carried unanimously, “that the register of Seventh-day Adventist sanitariums consist for the present of only those institutions under denominational supervision.”

The object of having a distinctive name for such sanitariums is to enable all to differentiate our denominational sanitariums from sanitariums which are not supervised by the denomination, so that our people may know, when they give their influence, support, and means, whether they are putting their means into the denomination or into the hands of a private individual or concern, to use this means in any way that may be deemed best. Private sanitariums usually receive the support of the people of the denomination, and yet the denomination itself exercises no correcting voice if matters go wrong, or in saying what shall be done with the money which is earned by the institution. All this is under the control often of one man. This is not safe, for should this man disconnect from the denomination, which is certainly possible, the means which has been sacrificed in building it up may be employed by him to antagonize the denominational work.

The committee does not wish in any way to discourage the work of private sanitariums or of doctors who are engaged in private practise, many of whom are doing a good work. Seventh-day Adventist doctors should feel the same liberty to engage in private practise that the Seventh-day Adventist farmer feels in engaging in private farming instead of denominational farming. They should have the same liberty to establish and operate private sanitariums, and if rightly conducted, God will bless such institutions. Seventh-day Adventists should also feel free to put their means into private sanitariums, and encourage their young people to connect with them, and make sacrifices in order to make such institutions a success, if they choose to do so. But it should be known by all Seventh-day Adventists which are Seventh-day Adventist institutions under the supervision of, and safe-guarded by, the denomination, and which are private sanitariums, over which the denomination exercises no correcting voice should matters go wrong, and which are not safe-guarded by the denomination. They should know that in the one case they are putting their money into, and encouraging their young people to sacrifice in building up, the denomination. In the other case they are placing their means in the hands of a private concern or individual, and these may or may not remain loyal to the work. In the past, some of our people have given their means and influence to build up independent sanitariums, supposing that in so doing they were placing their means into the denominational work. Afterward their means and influence were diverted into wrong channels, and used to pull down the work they were desirous of building up. The object of having a distinctive name for denominational sanitariums is to enable all in the future to know which institutions are safeguarded by the denomination and belong to the denomination, and which are not, and thus make it possible to avoid a repetition of these unpleasant experiences of the past.

Committee, W. A. George, D. H. Kress, G. H. Heald, S. P. S. Edwards, W. A. Ruble.