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TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HEALTH REFORM INSTITUTE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 17, 1878

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 52, No. 16.

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TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HEALTH REFORM INSTITUTE.

By James White; S. Brownsberger

In answer to a call made through the Review and Herald, in accordance with the by-laws of that association, the stockholders of the Health Reform Institute held their annual meeting on the Battle Creek fair-ground, in connection with the National Camp-meeting of S. D. Adventists.
The object of this meeting was the election of a new board of directors, the hearing of the reports of the financial workings of the Sanitarium during the past year, and the transacting of such other business relating to the interests of the Sanitarium as might be brought before this association. Eld. James White was chairman of the meeting. After singing by the choir, Eld. J. N. Andrews offered prayer.
The roll call showed 442 shares of stock represented in person, and 657 by proxy, in all amounting to 1,099, which made about 250 shares more than half of the whole stock taken.
The minutes of the annual session of 1877, also those of the special session of March, 1878, were then read.
By vote, the chairman was authorized to appoint a nominating committee of three to report at the next meeting. Elds. J. N. Andrews, D. M. Canright, and E. R. Jones were appointed as this committee.
The meeting then adjourned to Saturday evening at 7 o’clock.
Stockholders of the Health Reform Institute held their second meeting Oct. 7. Eld. James White in the chair. S. N. Haskell offered prayer.
The treasurer’s report was then read, as follows:—
CASH RECEIPTS.
Amount
From patients, $18,839.99
Incidental sales, 5,241.06
Loans on notes, 66,887.01
Bonds sold, 20,200.00
Deposits and old notes, 20,546.79
$131,714.85
Cash on hand Sept. 26, 1877, 3,508.52
$135,223.37
DISBURSEMENTS.
Amount
For supplies and expenses, $20,395.31
For interest since July 1, 1878, 1,165.26
For labor, 6,826.12
For new building and other improvements, 85,565.99
For notes and accounts, 21,040.00
$134,992.68
Balance cash on hand, 730.69
$135,223.37
RESOURCES.
Amount
Real estate, $109,939.00
Household goods, 16,687.67
Provisions, 3,087.00
Fuel, 1,044.00
Live stock, farming tools, etc., 1,200.00
Instruments and apparatus, 1,525.00
Books, 125.00
Good notes, 3,201.93
Good accounts, 4,241.25
$141,000.85
LIABILITIES.
Amount
Health Reform Institute bonds, $20,200.00
Notes, bills payable, 49,797.01
Other accounts payable, 8,412.28
$78,409.29
Assets above all liabilities, $67,591.56
Less “ ” “ ” from last year, 45,879.31
Increase during year, $21,712.25
Gross earnings for the year, $31,867.55
Of this amount there was earned on charity, 4,341.77
Net earnings, $27,525.78
Having examined the books and accounts of the Health Reform Institute, I certify that the above report is correct according to my best knowledge and judgment. Geo. C. Tenney, Auditor.
The following report of the workings of the Sanitarium during the past year was presented by Dr. J. H. Kellogg:—
There are several points in this report to which we would call especial attention, by way of further explanation.
1. The amount expended for supplies and incidentals, about $20,000, includes much more than the ordinary expenses of the institution. During this year, as all are aware, great changes have been made. When the new building was completed, necessity compelled its immediate occupancy. Indeed, it was occupied by piece-meal, even while building, as fast as the carpenters erected a room, patients or boarders were moved in. For several months, from one-quarter to two-thirds of the building was occupied, while the work of building was still going on. This course involved many disadvantages, requiring the employment of much extra help and much extra outlay in addition to the enormous expense necessarily incurred by the cleaning and general fitting up of so large a building. Another cause of increased expenditure has been the constant exigencies arising in connection with building during more than a year, while having a large family of patients to care for continually, being overcrowded during two-thirds of the time, and obliged to make constant changes in order to get along at all. These disadvantages have required the employment of at least one-third more helpers than would ordinarily be needed. Much of the expense is of a character that must be incurred but once, and should by right appear in the inventory, but does not, as it cannot be well represented in exact figures.
2. It should also be noticed that the item mentioned as “Improvements” includes besides the building itself all other improvements, upon the old main building and the cottages, grounds, etc.
3. In order to properly represent the charitable feature of the institution, the report presents, as a distinct item, the amount of treatment which has been given gratuitously, that is, the remittance of fees for medical attendance, board, and treatment, which has been made to worthy persons on account of poverty. And this has been done, notwithstanding the heavy debt which rests upon the institution in consequence of improvements.
Further attention is invited to the following comparison of the workings of the institution for the last three years:—
SUMMARY.
1876 1877 1878
Number of Patients 225 493 615
No. of patients from abroad 182 282 235
No. of patients from Battle Creek & neighboring cities 43 261 375
Gross Earnings $14,500 $24,500 $32,000
Donations to Poor $475 $2,000 $4,341
Actual Gain $4,500 $9,500 $15,000
The figures given for 1878 represent the actual gain from the earnings of the institution. The difference between these and the figures given in the previous statement is owing to further increase from stock and other sources, not included in the earnings.
The Committee on Nominations recommended the following persons to act as a Board of Directors for 1879: James White, W. C. White, Dr. W. B. Sprague, W. C. Sisley, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, H. W. Kellogg, J. Fargo, all of whom were duly elected.
The report of the committee appointed a year ago to revise the Constitution and By-laws of the Health Reform Institute was called for. The work not being completed, the committee was continued.
Meeting adjourned to call of chair.
The third meeting was held Oct. 8, at 11:30 a. m., Eld. James White in the chair. Eld. J. H. Waggoner opened the meeting by prayer.
Dr. Kellogg stated that the ways and means of placing the finances of the Sanitarium upon a more permanent basis should be considered. The bonds which had been issued were nearly all disposed of. He thought that it was desirable that another loan should be secured, and for such a time as will enable the Sanitarium to pay as fast as the bills become due, without embarrassment.
Dr. Kellogg presented the following resolution:—
Whereas, The Sanitarium requires funds for meeting obligations incurred in the completing of the new building and making other improvements, Resolved, That the board of directors be hereby empowered to take the necessary steps for the issuing of another series of bonds to the amount of $20,000 in addition to that already issued, which shall be secured by a second mortgage on the real estate owned by the institution.
The resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote.
Adjourned sine die.
JAMES WHITE, Pres. S. BROWNSBERGER, Sec.