p. 24 | The Life Boat Mission by John Harvey Kellogg

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1902

The Life Boat Mission

By John Harvey Kellogg

NINE years ago a providential circumstance led to the establishment of the Life Boat Mission in Chicago. The daughter of a wealthy Chicago banker on her death bed required of her father the promise that he would employ a Sanitarium nurse to work in the neglected districts of Chicago. This nurse was furnished, and the salary paid week by week was used to support not only the nurse, but another nurse, and thus the Chicago mission work began. A little basement was secured at Custom House Place in 1893. Here Drs. Rand and Kress, who were then medical students, spent their summer vacation, and did a noble work for the Lord. There are men now engaged in active work for the advancement of the gospel of truth who were rescued from the lowest depths of degradation through the work done by these faithful missionaries.

The work has gone on steadily developing from that time to the present; and although little has been said about the work for several years past, it has steadily prospered and extended its usefulness, and a mighty soul-saving work has been accomplished. The Life Boat monthly, the organ of the mission, has from the first steadily grown until its circulation now reaches from forty thousand to fifty thousand, and thousands of men and women have testified of the saving influence of the gospel received through its pages. Every night in the year an interesting meeting is held in the Life Boat Mission, in one of the most conspicuous and needy places in Chicago. Not less than twenty thousand men and women hear the gospel, many for the first time in their lives, at this mission every year. It costs but little to support it. The rent is one hundred and fifty dollars a month. Those in charge of the work receive little compensation. Just now the mission is much in need of help. A steady income of one hundred dollars a month is needed to keep it going during the next year. Are there not one hundred persons who would like to have a part in this good work, the influence of which is extended around the world? Dr. Paulson, Brother Van Dorn, and others have devoted much time and energy to the carrying forward of this work during the last few years, and have made many sacrifices in its behalf. Those who desire to help may send their pledge to the Life Boat Mission, 436 State St., Chicago, Ill.

J. H. KELLOGG.