Blessed in Giving by M. E. Olsen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 12, 1903

Blessed in Giving

By M. E. Olsen

THE hearts of the brethren and sisters in this country were deeply touched by the generous action of our American brethren in raising ten thousand dollars toward the Caterham Sanitarium, and it was with a hearty good will that they started out to raise the remaining five thousand dollars, or one thousand pounds.

Some of our smallest and poorest companies were enabled in a remarkable manner to do their full share. To raise this sum of money means much more in this country than in America. The writer, together with Brother Nethery, of Wyoming, had the privilege of meeting with the little company at Catford on the day when the sanitarium offerings were taken up. The members of this company are working men. They live in very plain quarters, and work hard to make a living for their families. It was good to hear them relate the various providences that had made it possible for them to give so liberally toward this enterprise. But they were yet to do more. When the collection had been taken, they wished to know how much it amounted to. The money was counted, and it was found that about four pounds would be required to make up the full quota of a pound for each adult member. The Spirit of the Lord came in in a marked manner as one after another gave or pledged an additional gift till the entire sum was reached. We could not but feel that some of these dear brethren were really giving more than they were able, but they acted entirely voluntarily, and their faces beamed with joy. It was a most excellent meeting.

The company at Westbourne Park, numbering twelve, just one less than at Catford (these names, it should perhaps be said, represent simply certain districts or suburbs of the city of London) had what was in some respects a still more remarkable experience. Its members are mostly sisters whose husbands are not in the truth. Some of them are very poor. Nevertheless, when the matter was presented, the leader took his stand at once, and said, in the words of Joshua, "We be able." The members pledged themselves to do their utmost. Strange to say, one sister, who it was expected would have the greatest difficulty, brought in her pound first, her face beaming with joy. Others took in extra washings, or did other work. The children gave all they had, and some earned their offering by selling the Good Health. Friends and neighbors, learning that this little company had a work of so much moment on hand, and were straining every nerve to accomplish it, gave as their hearts prompted them. Finally when the day for the offerings to be handed in had arrived, each brought a gift, not knowing how much others had; but when the gifts were all counted, there was exactly twelve pounds, one pound for each member. Then they began relating their experiences, and how, in some cases, they had in a remarkable manner received just a little more that very morning. Of course it was now very apparent why these additional sums came in; they were needed to make up the twelve pounds which they had faith to believe the Lord would enable them to raise.

The experience has been a most blessed one to the whole company. They have learned in a very practical way to trust in God, and expect with his help to be able to do great things. During the few weeks while they were having this special experience, two persons began to keep the Sabbath, and a work of revival began among the young people and children, which is bearing fruit for the kingdom. Hence it is the unanimous verdict of the members that they have derived more benefit from the effort than the sanitarium itself has.

In the North London church, some of the boys and young men in the office, and some of the students in the school, went without their breakfasts for some time in order to be able to save money to make a gift toward the sanitarium. Others denied themselves in other ways. This was all done so quietly that only incidentally did some of the particulars become known.

Naturally self-denial and self-sacrifice in securing the money to purchase the place, has helped to make the institution sacred in the eyes of those who labor in connection with it. At the organization of the Caterham Sabbath-school two weeks ago, the few helpers who are already on the ground getting things in readiness for the patients, related some of the things that had come to their knowledge with reference to the efforts made by different ones to donate toward the enterprise, and all felt that everything about the place should be used with the greatest care, and earnest efforts should be made to economize in every consistent way, in order that the best possible use might be made of the money given at the cost of loving sacrifice. Thus the institution takes on a sacred character from the very start, and this is as it should be.

No doubt similar sacrifices have been made by those who have given toward this enterprise in America. These dear friends may be sure that their gifts are appreciated, and that no pains will be spared to conduct the work in such a way that it will be a means of winning souls for the Master.

There is great need of sanitariums in this country. The multitudes are grossly ignorant concerning the simplest health laws, and disease is on the increase. Drink is dragging thousands down into drunkards' graves every year. Sad to say, the habit is increasing most rapidly among the women, so that at the present time more women than men are arrested in London for being drunk and disorderly. We earnestly hope that this sanitarium at Caterham is but the beginning of a great work. M. E. OLSEN.