The Question Settled

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 25, 1902

The Question Settled

In a letter to the public written under date of March 21, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, in behalf of the Sanitarium Board of Directors, announced that it had been definitely decided to rebuild the Sanitarium in Battle Creek. After expressing the hearty thanks of the managers for the warm sympathy shown by all the people of Battle Creek in the hour of their misfortune, and for the earnest efforts put forth by leading citizens to raise a substantial amount to assist in the rebuilding of the institution, and for the generous response to this call on the part of the citizens, Dr. Kellogg says:—

I am sure I am expressing the sentiment of every member of the board when I say that while the generous gift of money, amounting in all to about $30,000, is appreciated as an exceedingly valuable aid in this time of loss and disaster, we appreciate and esteem still more highly the expressions of kindly sympathy and confidence which have been made in public and private by citizens of every rank. . . . The warm sentiments expressed have deeply touched us, and have made us understand and feel that the citizens of Battle Creek are not behind those of any other community in appreciation or in sense of justice, and have convinced us that the interests of the world-wide work which centers in the Battle Creek Sanitarium may be trusted to the residents of this city as well as to those of any other place on the face of the globe. Under these circumstances the management feel that there remains no just reason for removing the institution, or any part of it, from the city, and that they must sturdily take hold of the work of clearing away the ashes of the old building and erecting upon this spot, rendered dear and sacred by more than a third of a century’s experiences and memories, the noblest temple of health and healing that the sun ever shone upon, and which shall be constructed of such material as to be indestructible by the natural elements, and which shall be equipped with every modern method and appliance for the conservation of health and the healing of the sick.

It may be proper to state that in addition to the amount subscribed by the other citizens of Battle Creek, and as one factor in the settlement of the place of rebuilding, the members of the Battle Creek church and other residents of the West End have subscribed $42,000. It will thus be seen that in addition to the insurance, $154,000, the Sanitarium managers are assured of over $72,000 with which to meet the expense of rebuilding.

On Saturday evening, March 22, a public meeting of the contributors was held, at which plans for the new building submitted by the different architects were exhibited, and a consensus of opinion asked for upon their merits. The work of rebuilding will begin at once, and will be pushed with all the dispatch which is consistent with thorough work.