The Christchurch (New Zealand) Sanitarium
By G. A. Brandstater
THE work of this institution has now been carried on for about thirteen years, with many and varied experiences financially and otherwise. There have been times in its history when to all human appearance it would seem impossible for the work to continue any longer, but at each crucial stage the way was opened so that the work did not have to stop. And so it has continued till the present time, witnessing for the principles that gave it birth in relieving the suffering to which flesh is heir and in testifying for the truth for this time. There are many in this dominion who have cause to thank the Lord for having had the opportunity of coming to the sanitarium, not only for the physical benefits received, but also for the spiritual. This institution has been instrumental, as others have been, in reaching some who otherwise probably would never have heard the truth. I will cite an instance or two:— A young commercial traveler, whom I had met on previous occasions, arrived in this city suffering with an acute and dangerous trouble, and came to be nursed and treated. The Lord wonderfully blessed the means used for his recovery. During this time I had an opportunity to read to him the truths contained in our books. He listened very attentively, remarking that those were the very things he was wanting to know and understand. As the days passed by and he began to improve, he said to me: "Now I know why I have been sick. The Lord has brought me here to make a Seventh-day Adventist of me." After he left us, he gave the institution a useful present for furnishing purposes, and has since united with our people. He was too busy at other times to give attention to God's claims on him, so no doubt the Lord used those means for bringing him to see his duty to his Creator. I hope to see him become an active worker for the Lord one of these days. We had a young woman as a patient who had fully made up her mind that she had no cause for considering the Sabbath and other truths held by us as a people; but after spending a few weeks here, she was led to consider the question. She is now an active worker in the cause of present truth. There are also others who are watching us. While visiting in a distant town, I called on a woman who had been a patient, and who in the course of our conversation wanted to know how we managed to get such a number of workers together in one place who work so harmoniously. "I never saw the like," she said, "not an unpleasant word did I hear all the time I was there." To my mind, such experiences emphasize the fact that we are indeed spectacles to angels and to men. I then had an opportunity to explain to her more fully the22motive actuating our workers, which I think gave her food for further thought. I am glad to state that financially we have been able to keep on the right side of the ledger for several years, when summed up as a whole.