God's providence in directing the medical missionary work in the cities of Davenport, Rock Island, and Moline forms a very interesting chain of circumstances, the recital of which never fails to inspire us.
Only about two years ago the work was begun in this part of the Mississippi Valley by the sale of our health books. During a slack season at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, over thirty of their nurses came to this place, and spent a few months in missionary canvassing. Without expense to either the Illinois or the Iowa Conference, over twenty thousand dollars' worth of our health books was sold, and most of the homes in the four counties adjoining were visited by devoted, intelligent nurses. Three health schools have been held. These, together with the visits of our canvassers, have sown liberally, and the harvest is already being reaped.
Without friends or donations, the Moline Sanitarium was opened in an eight-room, rented house, and was gradually equipped and furnished from its earnings. From this building we were crowded out by the patronage of appreciative patients. Loyal friends of temperance and reform were raised up, and an excellent property has been purchased, and donated to the Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association, in which to carry on a larger and more representative work.
The building, shown very imperfectly in the accompanying illustration, together with its beautiful, terraced lawn, cost its builder twenty-eight thousand dollars. Completed only five years ago, it is in good condition, simply needing to be painted on the exterior. The house has eighteen rooms, and a large, unfinished third floor, which is now occupied by the nurses. Its interior is finished in beautiful hard wood of the finest grade, which makes elaborate furnishings unnecessary. As we see how perfectly adapted to our needs it is, with a few alterations in the plumbing, it really seems as if the Lord had directed in the planning and building of it for its present use.
THE SANITARIUM AT MOLINE, ILL.
It is only four blocks from the heart of the city, on the car line, and is removed from the noise and dust of the street by its elevation. All the rooms are light, and most of them are furnished with a good grade of furniture. We are now taxed to our limit in caring for patients, and the debt against this sanitarium is less than one thousand dollars. As soon as a larger connection with the city water main is finished, we shall be able to give thirty treatments each day, to care for ten house patients, and to serve meals to thirty-two boarders. All this has been accomplished in the short space of two and one-half years, and we think it is but the beginning of good things.
Only one death has occurred in our house, and the work is in good repute.
Many things are still lacking which a sanitarium ought to have. We need a first-class operating room. So far all the surgical operations have been performed in the bath room or in my office, yet their success has added to the reputation of the sanitarium. Citizens are ready to assist us in making the necessary improvements, and have already pledged eighteen hundred dollars toward the erection of an addition, and the work of adapting the building to convenient and attractive sanitarium work.
We need a convenient approach from the street to the building, which is situated on a bluff, with level ground stretching away to the west and south. By purchasing a small piece of land on the south, we can have an entrance on nearly level ground. We have a very reasonable option on this property for six months.
If the friends of the cause in Illinois wish to help this enterprise, there are other ways than the giving of large sums of money toward building the addition. We would greatly appreciate the gift of a good cow, a limited amount of bedding, new comfortables, pillows, mattress pads, blankets, sheets (both old and new). A small gift from many would lighten the heavy expense of getting started. We know there are many friends in Illinois who would gladly assist, and who would be greatly blessed in so doing. We shall be glad to hear from them.
