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The Washington Sanitarium

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 5, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 35.

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The Washington Sanitarium

By D. H. Kress

The Washington Sanitarium has now been open for not quite two months. During the first five weeks the bath-rooms were still in an unfinished state, and could not be occupied. Work was going on inside and outside of the building, which necessitated more or less noise and confusion. But in spite of these and other apparent obstacles, we have had a very good patronage from the beginning. At present, August 7, we have twenty-one patients and a few guests. With this number we are able to more than meet our actual expense. The indications, judging from the number of letters from prospective patients, are that we shall continue to have a good patronage. All this is most encouraging. I expected that at least during the first six months, we should run behind some. We feel thankful to God for this prosperity, and trust that our brethren throughout the field may never have any cause either here or hereafter to regret the investment made in erecting and equipping the Washington Sanitarium.
The following letter received from Dr. W. A. George, Chairman of the Medical Missionary Council, expressing the feelings of our medical brethren who were present at our recent medical missionary meeting held at Takoma Park, may be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW:—
“COLLEGE VIEW, NEB., June 30, 1907.
“DEAR FELLOW WORKERS: It was my privilege to be present at the dedication of the new Washington Seventh-day Adventist Sanitarium, located on a beautiful spot in the outskirts of Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. One could hardly imagine a more secluded spot, and yet so near to the great center of our nation. It will surely be a place where many men and women of influence will go for rest of body and mind, as well as for healing. Everything is quiet, with the exception of the constant murmur of the beautiful Sligo just in front, which reminds one of the never ending but always changing tones of the surf on the ocean beach.
“At first sight one might think that the building was too elaborate, with its massive porches and steps made of solid masonry and its wide halls, but a little further inspection of the building as a whole will lead any one who is familiar with sanitarium work, and at the same time considers the location and the class of patients who may be expected to patronize this institution, to change his mind. Washington is a southern city, and the style of the building is in keeping with the location. It is in a rather warm climate, where wide halls and verandas are imperative. The porches, while large and massive, are made of plain concrete, which is durable, and not very expensive compared with the fine appearance which it lends to the structure. The bath-rooms are finished with material which will last, and will not call for constant repairs—the thing which eats up so much of the earnings in most of our sanitariums which are built in a cheaper way. Then again these bath-rooms will always be nice and presentable for any class of patients, while the cheaper ones are never so.”
“The building is not large, and will not accommodate more than sixty patients without overcrowding. The patients’ rooms are not large. In fact, many of them are smaller than the average hotel room. They are neatly, but not expensively furnished. In fact, the impression becomes more and more fixed in one’s mind as he looks through the institution that while everything has been done that could be done with the money invested to make the institution homelike and cheerful, some parts might have been made even larger without any extravagance in the use of means. What I have said about the Sanitarium I believe can as truthfully be said about all the buildings which our people have erected at Takoma Park. While they are well constructed, and our brethren do not need to be ashamed to have the influential men of the nation inspect them, yet there is no attempt to make a display.
“I believe in these statements I voice the unanimous feeling of the representatives of our various sanitariums who were present at the meeting of the Medical Missionary Council held just before the dedication of the Sanitarium. This council passed a resolution pledging their approval of this new sister institution, and their support to the ones in charge of this good work.
“I must mention a little incident that occurred the morning after the dedication. As I was looking around the basement of the building, I stumbled into a group of workmen, who were gathered for worship before beginning the work of the day, for there was much more work to do to finish some parts of the building. They sang, and read from the Bible, and had prayer. It happened that this was a farewell meeting for some of them, and as the one in charge of the work talked of the experiences they had had together, the tears fell thick and fast from the eyes of a number of those strong men. I could but think how much more faithful must have been the work of those praying men, and how much better the work done, and how much more money saved to the cause, than if it had been done by men of the world.
“Let us uphold by our prayers, our influence, and our means,—yes, and by some of our best young men and women sent there as helpers,—those who are carrying the heavy burdens at the heart of our nation.
“Yours in the work,
“W. A. GEORGE, M. D.
Elder F. M. Wilcox, manager of the Boulder Sanitarium, has written as follows:—
“I have watched with deep interest the progress of our work during the last three or four years, particularly in the changes which have resulted from the removal of the headquarters of our denominational work from Battle Creek, Mich., to Washington, D. C.
“I have felt from the beginning, in view of what the Lord has revealed to our church through the spirit of prophecy, that this change was in his direct providence.
“It has been my privilege during the last three years to visit on two different occasions the work that has been established at the capital of the nation: first, at the time of our last General Conference, and second, during the recent medical convention.
“On the first visit I was very much gratified to see the excellent beginning which had been made in so short a time in the erection of three school buildings for the work. It seemed to me as I saw the plain but durable and convenient school buildings, that the Lord had guided our brethren; and this impression was still further deepened at the time of my recent visit, on the occasion of the dedication of the Sanitarium. The Review and Herald building and the General Conference offices in Takoma Park show, in my judgment, a wise expenditure of means. They are erected with a view to economy and convenience. I was particularly pleased with the sanitarium building. Having myself spent the best ten years of my life in sanitarium work, I naturally felt a deeper interest in this enterprise than in the school or the publishing house. I had heard a rumor before visiting Washington the last time that money had been extravagantly spent; but I am conscientious in saying that I looked in vain for any evidence of such extravagance. I do not know how our Washington brethren could have done better or more faithful work, or served the cause of truth more loyally, in the expenditure of the means which have been entrusted to their hands.
“The sanitarium building is a solid, substantial structure. Situated on the crest of a hill, on the banks of the Sligo, with its broad porches and verandas supported by massive pillars of solid cement, the building presents a very imposing appearance, and is calculated to give dignity and character to our work. But while substantially built, the building, as far as I can see, is without useless ornamentation. It is simply and modestly furnished. I am sure that not one of our brethren could visit this building and feel that anything less commodious would answer the demands and purposes of our work at the national capital. And I am pleased that I can earnestly and understandingly deny any wild rumor that money has been lavishly expended.
“I feel that God has directed the work in Washington, and that he has directed our brethren who have led out in these important enterprises; and I bespeak for them the earnest prayers and hearty co-operation of all our brethren and sisters. Great opportunities are afforded them, but these great opportunities are associated with great responsibilities and great dangers. Let us pray that God may enable them to avoid the dangers, to meet wisely and bravely the responsibilities, and to improve faithfully the opportunities presented to them, so that these institutions, as the spirit of prophecy has said, shall be the means in the hands of God of bringing the truth for these last days before many who occupy high positions.”
We are of excellent courage in the good work. D. H. KRESS.