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Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jul 4, 1878

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 4, No. 25.

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Battle Creek.

By James White

WE give the following from the Detroit Tribune and Post, as a candid statement of what the Seventh-day Adventists are doing at Battle Creek, Michigan, Oakland, California, in Europe and in most of the United States. The readers of the SIGNS will be interested to know the facts relative to what our people are doing:—

"THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.

"A most potent factor in the development of Battle Creek's prosperity was the location there of a large number of 'Seventh-day Adventists,' which has grown until that city is now the world's headquarters of the sect.
"They date their origin from the great Advent movement of 1840-44; the disappointment of many when the world's business was not wound up at the time appointed lead them to look into the matter more closely, and to the conclusion that no prophetic period of the Bible is given to reach to Christ's second advent. These disappointed and thoughtful ones founded the sect of Seventh-day Adventists. For the rest we submit herewith a sketch of their work in Battle Creek, prepared mainly by Mr. Ed. W. Freeman, of that city, to whom we are also indebted for aid in compiling material for other parts of this article.
"The authorized head of the denomination is Elder James White. He established the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald at Paris, Me., in 1849, and after several removals set it up in Battle Creek in November, 1855. That city thus became the center of the Advent movement greatly to its advantage morally and materially. The wants of the cause demanding an enlargement of operations and the employment of more capital in the publishing business, an act of the Legislature of Michigan, for the incorporation of associations for publishing purposes, was secured and approved in March, 1861. Under that act a legally incorporated association, under the name of 'The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association,' was organized in this city in the same year. They immediately erected a two-story brick building in the form of a Greek cross. In 1871 a second building of the same size and form was erected to meet the necessities of the increasing business. In 1873 a third building of the same kind was built for the same reason. These all stand side by side, opposite the city park, on the corner of Main and Washington streets. Another building, to be used for publication purposes, is now under contemplation, and will no doubt be erected this year. In the last named building is located the bindery, furnished with improved modern machinery for the manufacture of blank books and all branches and varieties of book-binding.
"The different periodicals issued by the association have an aggregate monthly circulation of 40,000, and are as follows: The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, weekly; Youth's Instructor, monthly; Health Reformer, monthly; Advent Tidende, Danish monthly; Advent Harold, Swedish monthly; College Record, quarterly.
"Books on the Prophecies and other Biblical subjects have been largely issued from the beginning and have reached an aggregate of 200,000,000. One hundred hands are regularly employed in the work, and the capital invested is $130,000. It is by all odds the most complete and largest publishing house in Michigan. A large amount of all kinds of job work is turned out which will compare favorably with any printing that is done in the country. Seven large power presses have been brought into requisition to do their printing. Electrotyping and Stereotyping have lately been added, and in fact there is no kind of work that is done in a publishing house but what can be done by this association.
"The organization of this sect is plain and simple. A body of believers associate together, taking the name of Seventh-day Adventists, and attaching their names to a covenant simply to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. The Bible is their only creed, they have a creed nevertheless, as all churches do. Their distinctive principles are: That the seventh day (Saturday) is the Sabbath, to be kept holy; that at death we pass into a state of silence, inactivity and entire unconsciousness, from which we are called, at last, by the trumpet of the archangel; the righteous rise first and reign with Christ a thousand years, when the wicked are called to life again and annihilated, becoming as if they had never been. They also believe that the second coming of Christ is to precede the millennium and that His second advent is near at hand, although they do not pretend to fix the date of His coming.
"The number of members of this branch of God's church is estimated at about 30,000, with 500 churches and over 100 ordained ministers. None of the churches have pastors stationed with them. They maintain their worship without the aid of a preacher, only as one may occasionally visit them, leaving the ministers free to devote almost their whole time to carrying these views to those who have never heard them. During the summer months they carry forward their work by means of large tents.
"Seventh-day Adventists can now be found in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, California and Oregon. This sect thoroughly believes in health reform, as a person's moral and spiritual nature is largely affected by his physical condition. Their system, as at present advocated, banishes the use of tobacco in any and all its forms, none addicted to its use being received into the churches, except upon the promise and expectation of its immediate abandonment. The result is that, as a denomination, the sight and scent of tobacco are not found among them. They also exclude from their diet pork, tea and coffee. Rich and highly-seasoned food is discarded. Grease and spice take a back seat in the culinary department. Meat of any kind is but rarely used. Two meals a day are considered preferable by most of them, those meals to consist of grains, fruits and vegetables. Their health reform embraces not only their methods of living, but the right means of recovering from sickness. Being impressed with a sense of the evils of the drug medication, the friends of this movement felt so great an interest in this matter that steps were taken in 1866 for the establishment of an institution to which persons might resort, not only to learn the principles of healthful living, but also for the recovery of health. A high and beautiful site of eight acres a short distance from the publishing buildings was purchased, buildings were added to those already on the ground, and the 'Health Reform Institute,' was opened for the reception of patients and boarders in September 1867, and a short time thereafter an act of the Michigan Legislature was procured, and a legally incorporated association was formed. Increasing patronage demanded more facilities, so that in 1877 the MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SANITARIUM BUILDINGS were commenced and completed only a short time ago. This fine building constitutes the largest and most perfectly constructed edifice of its kind in America. The sanitarium building is on a mammoth scale. The dimensions of the main building, are 150x50 feet, including the verandas. The rear extension, containing the bath-rooms, is 60x60 feet. The entire depth of the building through the middle is 137 feet. The building is of brick, four stories high, besides the basement. The fourth is in the mansard roof. The style of architecture has a simplicity and massiveness quite rare in these days of ornate designs. Altogether, the building presents an imposing appearance. Verandas seven feet wide extend around the three stories of the entire building. The bakery and kitchen is located in the basement. The cooking is done by steam, and a dummy waiter elevates the prepared food to the dining-rooms above. The perfection of neatness, excellence and dispatch is attained in the management and execution of business in the culinary quarters. Bread and crackers are made by machinery and baked in one of the most improved rotary ovens.
"On the first floor of the building are the parlors, library, dining-rooms, gymnasium, physician's office and business office. The bath-rooms are 25x60 feet, and all of the appliances for over 50 different kinds of baths, are brought into requisition.
"The system of ventilation adopted in the institution is of the newest and best yet known. The building is heated by steam, which is generated by the boiler in the basement and distributed by means of pipes. The building has also all the modern improvements in regard to water supply. Every room is supplied with hot and cold water, and is thoroughly ventilated, so that patients can have the benefit of pure, fresh air.
"Nothing has been overlooked in the construction of this Sanitarium. All of the rooms are handsomely provided. The building, with its systems of heating and ventilation, was planned by Dr. J. H. Kellogg, after a careful observation and study of all the principal establishments of the kind in the United States. The entire cost of the building, including the ornamentation of grounds, will reach fully $100,000. The institution is managed by a board of seven directors, of which Elder James White is President.
"The corps of physicians are J. H. Kellogg, M. D., physician-in-chief; W. J. Fairfield, M. D., W. B. Sprague, M. D., Miss Kate Lindsday, M. D., and Miss Dr. P. M. Lamson, as assistants. The number of persons employed in the Sanitarium is from 70 to 80. No special method of treatment is either advocated or practiced. The institution is neither a 'water-cure' a 'mineral spring' establishment, nor anything of that sort. Its physicians follow the rational method of treatment, employing all remedial agencies which have been proven to be of real value in the treatment of disease. The building will accommodate from 350 to 400 persons. Patients from all parts of the country have been treated here with beneficial results. The total number of invalids that have been treated in this institution since its formation has been 4,000, of which 500 have been treated during the past six months.
"The Sanitarium grounds occupy 15 acres, a part of which is in vegetable gardens, vineyard and orchard. Seven beautiful cottages situated on the property are in the immediate vicinity of the main building. All of these are for the occupation of guests.
"A great deal of pains has been taken to beautify the grounds about the Sanitarium. Beautiful gardens of flowers and ornamental shrubbery and evergreens can be seen. A fountain plays in front of the building. A natural grove of fruit trees extends along the whole street front of the Sanitarium grounds.
"The institution is not only an honor to Battle Creek; but to the State.
"The Health Reformer, which is published in the interest of the institution, has attained the largest circulation of any health journal in America.
"The views taught by the Adventists have gone beyond the shores of their own land, as missionaries are now at work in various portions of Europe.
"The free catalogue of the publications issued at their publishing house embraces 13 different works in French, 21 in Danish, 15 in Swedish, 13 in German and one in the Holland and 200 in the English language.
"The next largest headquarters of this religious sect is at Oakland, California, where they have a large publishing house.
"Perhaps the most effective and eloquent minister in this denomination is Mrs. E. G. White, wife of the Elder. She has a voice of great power, and is said to be one of the most eloquent, clear, forcible female speakers in the United States.
"Elder Uriah Smith, who is the editor of the Advent Review and Herald, is also a preacher of considerable note.
"The Adventists have a college here, also, the building being located just across the way from the Sanitarium. The first movement towards founding it was made early in 1873, and it was incorporated May 16, 1874. The building of brick, three stories high, 37x71, with two hall wings 17x37, was opened for use January 4, 1875, and can accommodate over four hundred students. About three hundred students are now in attendance. The faculty consists of Elder James White, president; S. Brownsberger, principal; with six professors and six instructors. Instruction is given in the Hebrew, Swedish, and Danish languages, in addition to those ordinarily taught in colleges.
"The Adventists began to have meetings here in 1854, in a small frame house—16x24—on Cass street. In 1857 they built a larger one—28x42. Their present church is a neat wooden building, corner of West Main and Washington streets; will seat 700 persons; worth, perhaps, $2,500. They design building a new brick on their present site, this season, at a cost of $25,000. They have 375 church members; Elder James White is pastor.
"To their other enterprises they are about to add the manufacture of school furniture, and are putting up large buildings for this purpose. They are, indeed, a moral, healthy, thrifty people, and, of course, a great blessing to the section in which they choose to make their abiding place. Their location in the western part of the city is all that could be desired, and their homes show every evidence of the possession of taste by their owners."
The praise and glory of this work should not be given to any one man, as it is very evident that it is the Lord's marvelous doings to prepare a people for his coming. J. W.