Remarks of the Chairman at the Dedication of the Washington Sanitarium
By G. A. Irwin
A LITTLE over one year ago ground was broken, and active operations were begun, for the erection of the building in which we are now assembled for the purpose of formally dedicating it to the object and purpose for which it was erected. At the time the Lord performed the miracle of the parting of the river Jordan to allow the Israelites to pass over into the promised land after their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, Joshua, by direction of the Lord, chose twelve men, out of every tribe a man, and commanded them to take from the midst of the Jordan where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, each man a stone, and carry them to the place where they should encamp for the night: “and those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God forever.” Joshua 4: 20-24. In answer to the query that may be in the minds of some who are present here to-day, or any others who may visit this place later, “What mean these stones?” or, “What is the object of this building?” no better reply can be given than the one the Lord himself gave in explanation of the meaning of the stones that were set up in Gilgal. This building, like the monument of stones, was not erected by, nor does it stand as a monument to, the men who under God were instrumental in bringing it to its present state of completion. The building committee, the architect and superintendent of construction, and the faithful workmen have all been simply instruments used by the Lord in the accomplishment of his purpose. Nor is it designed to glorify or make a name for the physician or physicians who may be in charge. It represents a movement and a principle back of which and a part of which are a united people who have cheerfully contributed of their means for its erection. Men may come, and men may go; but the movement and the principles of Bible truth upon which it is founded will remain the same. It stands as a memorial for God. It is to glorify his name. It is designed to represent to the world the character of God as revealed to Moses in answer to his request to be permitted to see his glory. “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” It stands as the exponent of Christian temperance in its fullest sense, and the principles of Bible hygiene, which are essential to the restoration of the moral image of God in the human soul. It stands for those principles of righteousness that are exemplified in just weights and measures, and that recognize the right of the poor and him that is in need. In short, it stands for “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report,” and whatever else that is essential to fit men and women for translation to heaven at the revelation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. But this building, with all its equipment and appliances, perfect though it may be, can not of itself represent the thing it means and for which it stands. This must be done by the godly lives of the individuals connected with the institution, in whose hearts Christ abides by his representative, the Holy Spirit. With such persons in charge, this institution will become an honor and blessing to Takoma Park and the city of Washington, and its influence through consecrated missionary nurses, trained and sent out from this place, will be felt to the ends of the earth. It will be a fulfilment of Ezekiel's vision of the mighty river whose “waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: . . . and by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” Such a river of life and healing, by his power working through it, we believe God designs this institution to be. However, for the instruction and guidance of the physicians and helpers to be connected with this institution, I will read the conditions upon which God accepted the temple that Solomon built, and promised his continued blessing; for the same God still lives, and the same principles still obtain. “And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: and at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and to this house? And they shall answer, Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshiped them, and served them: therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil.” 1 Kings 9: 3-9. As we have now come to the point to dedicate this institution in the name of the Lord to its intended use by the solemn service of prayer, I have the assurance that God will hear the prayer, and accept of the offering, and bestow his blessing.