Medical Missionary Work in Nashville, Tennessee
By L. A. Hansen
FIVE years ago, under the direction of the International Medical Missionary Association, the work was begun here by holding a health food exhibit in connection with the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. This gave an excellent opportunity to form the acquaintance of the people of the city and State. At the close of the exposition the leading physicians of the city were visited in the interest of the health foods and to solicit work in the giving of massage at residences. A small house was rented in a nice part of the city, where, with one room devoted to a food depot, we were able to meet the demand in that line. A school of health was organized, with about one hundred and sixty-five members, who were of the very best class of people; such as, the wives of judges, lawyers, physicians, college professors, and others. The lecture room of the finest church in the city was given to us free of charge for a two weeks’ school. During the school a hygienic dinner, as was supposed, was served to a large company of interested persons. While enthusiasm was high, and the newspapers gave reports that were20favorable, there was a great mistake made in the attempt to provide so many new dishes, instead of demonstrating the proper cooking of ordinary things. The result was that many suffered an attack of indigestion from trying to sample everything. As indigestion was a new thing to some of these, the experience was not very encouraging to them. We have felt the influence of this mistake very much since. The house-to-house work of giving treatments, the introduction of our health literature, and the increasing demand for health foods were making apparent the need of a more public center when we secured a store building twenty-five by eighty-five feet, in the business part of the city, at thirty-five dollars a month for the first year or two, and at forty dollars after that. With the aid of the Medical Missionary Association, the room was fitted up for giving sanitarium treatments, such as electric and electric-light baths, sprays, massage, etc. The front part was divided into office, waiting room, and food store. A portion of the rear was used for living rooms. The financial success of this movement was not at all extraordinary. We did not find the people running after reform, but found it still necessary to educate them. The food store gave good opportunity for this, as the exhibit in our show window called in quite a number of persons who desired to know more, and gave us an opportunity to call their attention to the treatment department. The blessing of the Lord attended so wonderfully the results of the treatments that we soon secured the co-operation of many friends. About thirty physicians have either sent patients or taken treatment themselves. The work has felt the need of means. By very close economy the rent and other running expenses have been met when due. The blessing of trying experiences has come. The work was dedicated to God with the assurance that he would provide for it if we would do our part. Needless to say, the Lord has done his part every time. We have had the blessing of waiting for him sometimes to the last minute. At one time, when the last day of grace on our rent was expiring, and we were within an hour of the time for the bank to close, we found ourselves without the necessary means. We watched the people passing, with the hope that some one who owed us would pay his account. A little did come in this way, and at last we gathered up every cent we could find, and thought that it added up exactly to the required amount. On reaching the bank, it was found that there was ten cents lacking. Rushing back home, we got the dime, as a package of food had been sold in the meantime. There was just time to get inside of the bank door again when the bell rang for it to close. This is but one of many experiences. We are sorry to say that we have a few times been tempted to believe that it was better to give up than to struggle so to continue the work. Much money has never come to us, but the prospering hand of God has attended in making a little go far. We have been enabled to secure favorable terms in the purchase of furnishings and other supplies. We believe that it is as great a blessing for God to make fifty cents go as far as a dollar, as it is for him to give us the whole dollar. The growth of the work made it apparent that our store building was not adequate for the demands. There were those who wished to take meals with us. Others wished to room with us while taking treatment. A more private entrance for ladies was wanted. A better location in general was desired. But it would be rather expensive for us to move our plumbing and general equipment, and fit up another place, and we were not prepared to stand the expense. A few months ago we had an offer for our lease that would enable us to move without much, if any, loss, and at a time of the year that would be most convenient for us. We obligated ourselves to move by a certain time, and began looking for a new location. It was out of the regular rental season, and after some time of anxious search, it seemed that we should have to decide upon one of the only two available houses, neither of which was suitable. Just the evening before the day we should have decided upon a house, we learned of the sale of a residence that had often filled us with longings which we could not hope to have gratified. It is the very best house to be obtained in the city for our work, considering location, history, and general fitness. It is the last residence in the business district to yield to commercial advancement, and the change was commented upon considerably by the newspapers. It has been occupied by the family owning it for the last forty-five years, and has been prominent because of the social position of the family, and the famous guests who have been entertained there. It seemed too much for us to think of securing this place and fitting it up. But nothing is too good for God’s work, and he can bring about that which seems to us impossible. After considerable trial of our faith, the house was secured for nearly five years, although a number of others made better offers for it than we did. The house has eighteen rooms, besides halls and porches. It is on a prominent corner, on one of the principal business streets and thoroughfares. It is now newly painted on the outside and most of the interior, as well as being newly papered. God has blessed in making the needed improvements and in securing furnishings. We now have a place that is well prepared to carry on the treatment work, besides affording us good rooms for such patients as may stay with us. We also have good facilities for our vegetarian restaurant work and for the food store. We are encouraged to believe that the Lord will bless toward sustaining the work in its larger phase. So far the work has been self-supporting, not a dollar of conference means having been put into it. The workers connected with it have all labored for a very small salary, if for any at all. This has of course contributed much to the support of the work. Many interesting experiences could be given. We could tell of the interest of influential persons, of remarkable instances of healing, etc., but these are common in this work.