A Sanitarium for Great Britain
By Arthur G. Daniells
In this number of the Review we place before our brethren and sisters in America information regarding the purchase of a medical sanitarium for Great Britain. We believe this information will be of great interest to our people. For many years our brethren in the British field have been endeavoring to place the medical work on a broad gospel basis. From the first, and all along, the people generally have manifested a lively interest in the principles of healthful living. Public addresses and schools of health have been well attended, and health literature has met with a ready and extensive sale. The Good Health for England has a circulation of about thirty-five thousand copies monthly. For more than two years Dr. A. B. Olsen has been located in that field, making the preparation required to practice as a physician and surgeon in the kingdom of Great Britain. The blessing of God has attended his efforts. Besides finishing the necessary work in this line, he has done much to extend a knowledge of this phase of our message. As might naturally be expected, the work that has been done has raised and kept before our people the question of establishing and operating a sanitarium in England. During the visit of the American brethren to Europe last year, this question received careful consideration. At a meeting of the European General Conference attended by the American delegates, the following recommendations were passed:— “Whereas, Our brethren in Great Britain feel assured that a sanitarium should be established in that field; and,— “Whereas, They are not financially able to do this without assistance from others; therefore,— “We Recommend, That the following plan be adopted for securing the funds with which to establish a sanitarium in the British field:— “1. That our brethren in Great Britain be recommended to raise in donations $10,000. “2. That the Mission Board be requested to raise by special contributions $20,000, or two dollars for each dollar raised by the British brethren, and that the money raised in America be advanced as fast as the British brethren raise their proportion. “3. That the efforts required to raise this money be begun at once, so that there shall be as little delay as possible in getting the institution started. “4. That no property be purchased until it can be done without contracting a debt, and that the investment shall not exceed the amount raised.” These recommendations were presented to the brethren in England a few weeks later, at a meeting of the British Conference held at Leeds, and were adopted by the conference as their request to the Mission Board. At the council of the General Conference Committee held in Battle Creek, November, 1902, these recommendations were duly considered, and, in response, the committee passed the following resolutions:— “Voted, That an earnest and persevering effort be put forth by the General Conference Committee to raise— “1. Two thousand dollars remaining on the appropriation voted one year ago, for the London and Belfast treatment rooms. “2. Twenty thousand dollars recommended by the Friedensau council for the establishment of a sanitarium in England, this sum to be expended under the direction of the British Union Conference Committee.” Since taking this action, the General Conference Committee has received word from our brethren in England, telling of an excellent property they have found for a sanitarium. This property has been inspected by a committee appointed by the British Union Conference Committee. We have not received minutes of the committee’s report, but Brother Sisley, Dr. Waggoner, and Dr. Olsen have written us very favorably regarding the place. Dr. Olsen writes as follows:— “We have found a hydropathic institution in Surrey, which apparently meets our needs. At the last meeting of the British Union Council a committee of the members went to see the place, and brought back a unanimously favorable report, stating that in their opinion steps should be taken at once to raise the necessary money for securing the property. Others have been there at different times, and the general opinion is that this hydropathic institution would serve the purpose of a sanitarium very well indeed. Surrey is one of the most beautiful of the counties in England. The climate is mild and pleasant. It is rolling country, with many hills, and beautiful valleys and brooks, also small lakes scattered here and there. This institution is located in a suburb of Caterham, a town of 9,128 inhabitants, and is situated seventeen miles from Westminster Bridge, London; so that while it is outside the smoke and fog of the city, it is near enough to the metropolis to have the advantage of free delivery of groceries, dry-goods, and other things from London. As you can see, this will be a great advantage. “I am inclosing with this an illustration of the house, which will give you a general idea of its size and appearance. In the basement, which is level with the garden behind, are the baths, which consist of two Turkish bath-rooms, shampoo and massage room containing two marble slabs, two porcelain tubs, hot and cold spray, sitz baths, etc. The rooms are about ten feet high, the floor is inlaid with stonework, and the walls are of glazed brick, making it very neat in appearance, and insuring thorough sanitation. There is a small brick addition which is built out from the wall, and contains the boiler, which is heated by coke, and run night and day at little expense. The bath-rooms are all well lighted, and cheerful in appearance. There are five or six dressing-rooms, with a large hall containing seven first-class couches with linen covers, which are washable. The bath-room equipment is in perfect condition, and was established only about four years ago, finished in natural wood, and would cost to duplicate it several hundred pounds. The kitchen is also in the basement, as well as a large scullery, a servant’s hall, pantries, and cold storage department; also another large room which was at one time used for sulphur baths, but is now empty. As one enters the front door, he finds himself in a large hall, 8x20 feet. To the left of the hall is a drawing-room, which extends through the house; this room is well furnished, and contains a splendid piano. On the right is an office 13x13 feet. Then there is a reading-room 13x17 feet, well furnished; a pantry 7x11 feet, with a gas-stove, and a dining-room 27x42 feet. Besides these, there is a large billiard room 18x28 feet. On the second floor is a private bathroom, and nine bedrooms, which average about fifteen feet square in size. There is also a large house-maid’s pantry, and linen closets. On the third, or top, floor are twelve bedrooms, varying in size from 10x16 to 16x18 feet. “There is also a villa connected with the main building [shown on the right in the picture on the first page]. It contains eight rooms, besides the kitchen, bath-room, scullery, closets, and pantries, but has no furniture. It is in direct communication with the main building, and can be used to splendid advantage in connection with it. The house stands on an acre and a half of freehold property, and faces east and west. A meadow consisting of about twenty-two acres, and adjoining the grounds,7goes with the property. This is a leasehold, fifteen pounds a year, and has still seventeen years to run. It can be rented for forty or fifty pounds a year just for grazing land. It would be possible to fence off three or four acres of this ground for a garden in connection with the premises. “I secured the services of a practical architect and builder here in London to examine the place, and he reports that the sanitation is perfect, and that the building is in a good state of repair. He estimates that the building and the freehold property are worth £4,000 ($20,000). It could not possibly be duplicated for that amount. He also examined the furniture, which he says is worth £900 ($4,500), and could not be duplicated for less than twelve or fourteen hundred pounds. Property in Caterham is steadily increasing in value. It is a pleasant and ideal summer resort, and has a large number of visitors, especially in summer. “We can get this property freehold, with the good will of the institution, bath-rooms fully equipped, completely furnished throughout, as indicated in the inventory, which I inclose, for the sum of £2,800 ($14,000). What an advantage to step into such an institution without any additional expense, and throw open the doors for a sanitarium and medical missionary work!” Since Dr. Olsen’s letter came to hand, we have received word from England, stating that if they take this property, they must do so by the last of February. After careful counsel, we have advised our brethren that we will send them ten thousand dollars by the end of February, with the understanding that our people in England will raise their share, which would be five thousand dollars. In order to raise this money, we have decided to call for a Sabbath offering to be taken in all our churches in America, Sabbath, February 7. It is most earnestly hoped that this offering will bring to the treasury the amount required. This is only about half the sum which the conference committee voted to raise. We are exceedingly grateful that God has placed within our reach an institution so admirably adapted to our work at a cost so reasonable. More will appear in the future regarding this good providence of our God. Brethren and sisters, shall we not all take hold of this work and speedily and cheerfully raise this money, and thus aid our brethren in Great Britain in securing a good sanitarium free from debt?