Dedication of the Caterham Sanitarium
By David Paulson
I left New York, May 19, on the “Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse,” to attend the dedication of our new sanitarium in England, and also to attend the European general meetings. The sanitarium is located at Caterham, among the Surrey Hills, near London. It would be difficult to find anywhere more charming scenery than greets the eye in every direction. While the sanitarium is less than five minutes’ walk from the station, yet it is entirely on the outskirts of the town, and controls about twenty-eight acres of land. The building itself had already been used as a water-cure institution, and had been under thoroughly respectable management, so was most admirably adapted for our work. The bath rooms were liberally supplied with marble slabs, elegant bath tubs, and many of the necessary appliances for our work. Other apparatus has been provided for. Almost every room in the institution contained ample furniture, most of which was of a far better quality than we could have hoped to purchase. The building contains about sixty well-lighted and airy rooms. Prior to the dedication, and before they were really ready to care for any one, patients were seeking admittance; and although it has been only ten days since the institution was formally opened, they already have nearly a dozen patients in the house, and applications enough have been received to fill every available room. The weather of the day set for the dedication was all that could be desired, so seats were placed under the shade of the trees on the lawn, and there this institution was set apart for the service of suffering humanity. The magistrate of Caterham, Mr. D. Morgan Thomas, J. P., presided, and gave this work and movement a hearty welcome to the community. Among other things, he said:— “It is very remarkable how subtle links run all through our history. It is very remarkable how it often affects all the future. Who would ever have thought that there would be a connecting link between the Surrey Hills Hydropathic Institution and the great Sanitarium at Battle Creek, Mich.? The gentleman who first opened this institution was one of the most honorable men I ever had the privilege of knowing. His views upon the question of morality and general health were much akin to the views of those who now take charge of it, and it was at great sacrifice to himself that he opened this institution. He passed away without seeing the success which we hope now awaits it. This institution will be allied with about sixty similar institutions in different parts of the world, their main object being to do good to humanity. They are no dividend-earning concerns, nor quack institutions—no place where you can go to the doctor and he will give you a pill which is a sure cure for everything—not a place where it is claimed that a few baths will transform an old man into a young man. “Half a century ago a philanthropic organizer—Elder White—and others connected with him, conceived the idea that the human body is a sacred thing, that closely connected with it is our moral and spiritual organization, and that, in order to do the best and most effectual work for God and humanity, we must keep this temple of ours in a proper condition. “Another idea connected with this work is the instruction in reference to the laws of life. There is a prevailing idea among good people that ‘there is a happy, happy land, far, far away.’ As I understand, these people are very glad to think of that, as we all are, but they want to make a happy, happy land very, very near, and they want to prevent people from disobeying the laws of life and morality, the transgression of which causes a great portion of the prevailing human suffering. Therefore, my friends, I count it a grand honor to welcome such people, such an institution, into our neighborhood, and to assure them that we not only give them a hearty welcome, but that we wish them to promulgate these views, and hope that they will be thoroughly successful in England.” In the dedicatory remarks, which I had the privilege of making, I sought to present to the audience facts regarding the wide-spread and rapidly increasing disease and degeneracy of the race, and the necessity for just such a soul- and body-saving movement as our institution and work represent. Brief, but earnest and stirring remarks were then made by Dr. Waggoner, Professor Salisbury, and the secretary of one of the London vegetarian societies. There were present several editors and representatives of the press, who not only wrote up for their papers an almost complete report of the occasion, but did it in a most friendly manner. We quote the following from an editorial in one of these papers:— “Let those who have favored the notion that the Surrey Hills Hydropathic Institution at Caterham is being exploited by cranks disabuse their minds. The report of the proceedings on Thursday afternoon, which appears in another column, is conclusive proof of the establishment there of a new treatment, but only new as regards this country. The address was greatly enjoyed by the large company present, and the heartiest success must be wished those whose aims are so high. The Americans present, and a more sociable company of ladies and gentlemen is rarely met, are enthusiastic in this movement, and some of that enthusiasm was caught by the Britishers, who, if conservative, can appreciate the efforts of those who aim at the betterment of others, and above all, the prevention of much that is evil. Prevention is better than cure.” After the service, simple refreshments were served to all present. Everybody seemed to catch the spirit of the occasion. The chairman, before leaving, told Dr. Olsen that this was the most enjoyable afternoon that he had spent since he had been in Caterham. We all felt that the Spirit of the Lord was present, and that this institution had the smile of Heaven upon it. Dr. Olsen, who is the medical superintendent, was for several years one of the leading teachers in our medical school. He afterward took advanced studies in England, and received the English degree. His wife is a graduate of the medical department of the University of Indiana. They take hold of this work with courage. There is already gathering around them a corps of earnest workers, and we predict for this institution a glorious success. At the British Union Conference, held at Portsmouth, the Good Health Association was organized for the purpose of promoting and taking the general supervision of the medical work in the British field. The constituency of this association is made up of Conference officers, heads of leading institutions, and an equal number of representatives elected annually by the medical missionary institutions, and various departments connected therewith. This constituency elects a Board of fifteen to look after the work between the annual meetings. The organization of this work met with the unanimous approval of all present, and the brethren in the English field are taking hold enthusiastically to develop the medical missionary work. Already, the Lord in his providence has in a most remarkable manner opened the way for another institution in Leicester. About a year ago a food reform society in this city invited Dr. Olsen to give a lecture on health. This lecture awakened much interest, and last January a Good Health school was conducted by Dr. and Mrs. Olsen. It was attended by the leading citizens of the place, among whom was a wealthy gentleman who owns the Midlands County Sanitorium, which has been in operation several years. It is quite a substantial building, four stories with the basement, containing about twenty rooms, even more elegantly furnished than the Caterham Sanitarium. The gentleman who owns this became so interested in our principles and work that he was led to offer the free use of this institution to Dr. Olsen, for the purpose of opening up a branch of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, the only conditions being that the nurses all be Battle Creek Sanitarium trained nurses, and that the methods employed in the treatment of the sick shall be the same as those used in that institution. And he also agreed, if everything was satisfactory, to make further extension of time on the same conditions at the expiration of five years. The providential indications were so conclusive that our brethren did not hesitate to accept his offer. Dr. Olsen attended the medical missionary conference recently held in Battle Creek, and while there, he presented the matter before the Mission Board, who voted to pay the traveling expenses of two nurses to this institution, and also to assist in defraying the small expense that would be needed properly to adapt it for this purpose. The English Good Health Association have already appointed a local Board, and it is hoped that in a few weeks this institution will be opened to the public.19 A sanitarium effort is already in operation in Belfast (Ireland), with Dr. Bell in charge. It was the liberal donations of our brethren all over the field that made it possible for our friends here in England to take advantage of the providence which presented itself in reference to this institution in the vicinity of London; and believing that they would all be interested to know something in detail with reference to the present medical missionary situation, I have been led to write thus. I hope to visit our other medical missionary institutions before returning to America. I appreciate as I never have before what an army of consecrated men and women will be required not only to present the gospel of health to the large cities of America, but to still larger cities in the old world. May the Spirit of the Lord arouse our young people to the necessity of giving themselves, soul, body, and spirit, to the cause of God and of humanity. This is no time to let the bewitching influence of the devil soothe us to sleep.