A New Sanitarium at Nashville, Tennessee
By George I. Butler
THE readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD who are interested in the medical missionary work will be glad to learn that we have planned to have a new sanitarium in Nashville, Tenn. At the recent council meeting at Nashville—a meeting of great importance to the cause in the South—among the matters of special interest that were under consideration was the medical missionary work. Every true Seventh-day Adventist will greatly desire to see this important branch of the cause prosper. Nearly two years ago the servant of the Lord strongly advised that small sanitariums be established at proper points all through the Southern field. At that time there was not a single sanitarium in existence among our people south of the Ohio River. Already since these words were spoken, three of these have been in progress of establishment,—one at Graysville, Tenn., one at Hildebran, N. C., and another at Atlanta, Ga. It will be but a brief time when all of these will be receiving patients. Indeed, the Graysville institution is already receiving them. Nashville is the center of our Southern work. Here the Southern Publishing19Association is located. In some respects this city is perhaps the leading educational center in the South. Here are large institutions of learning for both white and colored. The Vanderbilt University for whites, and the Fiske University for the colored, are well known in various parts of the world. Many other important schools are also located here. Nashville is an important political center in the South. It is the home State of Andrew Jackson, a famous man in his time. Many of the old first families of the South reside here. Our people have received a very kindly welcome in this city. The leading men have acted a very friendly part toward us and our work. There are many people interested in health and temperance here. The work of Brother L. A. Hansen for the last six or seven years here in Nashville has been a great help to the medical missionary work. His consistent life, strict integrity, sacrificing spirit, and intense interest in behalf of suffering humanity have given him hosts of friends. He has struggled along under great financial difficulties. At the recent council the union conference felt it to be their duty and privilege to help to lighten these burdens, and officially indorse his noble work. Dr. O. M. Hayward, who has been the longest in the South of any of our medical men, and who is well and favorably known as an excellent physician and earnest Christian, is now associated with Brother Hansen in the work. A nucleus for a sanitarium is already in existence, and about twelve cases a day are receiving more or less treatment. The council felt that the hour had struck to carry out the instruction several times repeated by the servant of the Lord that a sanitarium should be provided in the vicinity of Nashville. Hence a board was appointed by the union conference, which was organized as follows: President, O. M. Hayward; Secretary and business manager, L. A. Hansen; Treasurer, Ben. E. Spire; the other members are S. N. Haskell, N. W. Allee, I. A. Ford, and Geo. I. Butler. This board is appointed to bring into existence as soon as practicable a sanitarium suitable for our work in this important center. Nashville greatly needs just such an institution. Our work in the South absolutely requires it. The city is centrally located. Our publishing house is almost fully equipped to do a most important part in preparing the truth for the people. We shall make a strong effort in Nashville the present season, with a large tent and a large company of workers, to bring many souls into the truth. Elder S. N. Haskell and the writer will do most of the public speaking. We expect the Lord will help us, and that souls will be converted. Sister White has said that the establishment of a new sanitarium in Nashville would be a great source of strength to the medical missionary work in the South, and a help to the other institutions of a similar character. As the cause is poor in the South, we greatly need the help of all the friends of the medical missionary work throughout the United States. The progress of this branch is being hindered greatly for lack of funds already. Dr. Hayward is in great need of medical instruments. A microscope seems absolutely essential. Various useful articles are greatly needed, which could be bought with a few hundred dollars. We are pressing forward the work in the South in every department with the greatest energy at our command. We ask our people to help us by subscribing for the new Nashville Sanitarium. Help us, dear brethren, in this time of need. God will regard such assistance, and you will be laboring for the conversion of souls for whom Christ died.