The Melrose Sanitarium
By E. W. FARNSWORTH
The sixth annual meeting of the New England Sanitarium and Benevolent Association was held at the sanitarium in Melrose, April 16. This was a meeting of the constituency. We believe they were all present but two. The members present were A. E. Place, C. C. Nicola, J. H. Kellogg, Prof. F. Griggs, K. C. Russell, H. B. Tucker, W. A. Wilcox, H. W. Cottrell, W. F. Payne, Miss E. D. Van Renselaer, and D. M. Hull. G. E. Langdon was absent, and Dr. Elmer Otis did not arrive till the meeting was over. The report of the treasurer was first read, showing that during the year ending Dec. 31, 1905, the earnings of the institution amounted to about eight hundred dollars more than its expenses. Under all the circumstances, we think this was doing well. The question of the sanitarium's relation to the conference, or to the denomination, was then considered. It was felt that the institution should be in such a relation that no ambiguity or uncertainty would remain in the minds of any. The following resolution was then presented by Elder Cottrell, and freely discussed by all who cared to discuss it:— “Resolved, That it is the sense of this body corporate that immediate steps be taken by this body, in counsel with our Boston lawyer and other attorneys if necessary, to close out the present legal corporation, and to form a new one whose constituency shall be unquestionably a Seventh-day Adventist body, and that it shall be composed of the executive committees of the Atlantic Union Conference, Central New England Conference, Southern New England Conference, Maine Conference, and the Vermont Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; and that we be represented in this effort by a committee of three; namely, W. M. Lee, C. C. Nicola, and W. J. Fitzgerald.”
This resolution was passed, none voting against it, though all were not in favor of it. Immediate steps were taken to obtain the counsel of the attorney in reference to the formation of a new corporation. He recommended that the matter be placed in the hands of the court of equity, to be sure that this institution is legally free from any connection with the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association of Battle Creek, now dissolved. We understand the matter is now in the hands of the court. The attorney thought the court would act upon it within thirty days, and that the incorporation could be completed within ten days after that. When this is done, the committees of the conferences named become the constituency, and they will elect a managing board of trustees. We hope the arrangements thus made will be satisfactory to all the people concerned. It is certain that none need then misunderstand to whom the sanitarium will legally belong. It will then be in the keeping of these conferences as fully as the law of the State can make it. As far as any forms of law can accomplish such a thing, it will be a Seventh-day Adventist sanitarium. In their hearts and sympathies it has always been so; but now these conferences must not only carry it upon their heart, they must carry it upon their shoulders as well. We bespeak for the sanitarium the sincere sympathy and earnest co-operation of all our brethren and sisters in these conferences. We know that up to this time we have had this, but we need it still. The physicians and helpers in the sanitarium are working very hard to build it up and make it a success. You can do much by advertising it and persuading sick people to come to it. Let there be one united effort to make it a success.