The week of prayer was a blessed occasion to the little church here in Guadalajara. It was a season of refreshing to many. The spirit of courage and consecration has come in. There are some of our brethren scattered through the republic, and already six of these have united with the church here. Last Sabbath five persons were baptized in the Baptist chapel. All were Mexicans. Seven will unite with the church next Sabbath, making a total of thirteen added to the church during the last two months.
Nearly every Sabbath some one attends the meeting as the result of the mission work here. Every day I go from one department to another, reading the Bible, and speaking to the people about the Lord. Some are eager to hear; others do not care to hear anything not sanctioned by the Church. Of course all profess to be Catholics. One poor man has renounced Catholicism, and is walking in the light as far as he has seen it.
Yesterday Dr. Erkenbeck and I had a little time to devote to selling papers. We took forty-eight and some handbills of the mission, and in one hour all the papers were sold. We are sure something can be done if we take up this work by faith. We need some one to devote his whole time to this work. May the Lord raise up laborers in His vineyard. There are calls coming in from outside towns, but as yet we cannot answer them. The field is white. I hope the one thousand laborers will present themselves soon. They are needed.
We are of good courage, but it seems that the priests have recently made a determined effort against us. One of the priests told the doctor's girl, who was formerly a Catholic, that all persons who walked on the sidewalk in front of our house were accursed. And now many people go into the middle of the street when going by our place, and return to the walk as soon as they pass the house. As he left her, seeing she was firm in her faith, he said, “Go on; you are a brute with the rest of them.”
We need a variety of books in Spanish, many of them in cheap form for the poorer classes.
J. A. LELAND.
CHICAGO
THE Hygeia Dining Rooms, located conveniently near the University of Chicago for the benefit of the students and members of the faculty of this educational center, are enjoying fair success; and the patrons, as they come and go, speak words of appreciation and praise for the good meals, which are in every way up to the standard of what a wholesome and hygienic meal should be, and for the attractive manner in which they are served. To supply the frequent demands for health foods, a small stock of these has recently been added, and it is believed that they will meet with a ready sale.
The Chicago Life Boat Rest for Girls, located on South Clark Street, has proved a blessing to many a friendless girl who has become weary of her life of sin and misery. It requires great patience and faith in God successfully to carry on a work so fraught with discouragements and hardships as is rescue work in a large city, yet here and there are some encouraging results, which testify to the fact that the efforts of these workers are not in vain. During a short time last year, eight girls were brought into the Life Boat Rest, as a place of refuge; and out of that number, all but two are to-day living upright Christian lives.
The Chicago Sunday morning jail services, which are carried on by some of the students of the American Medical Missionary College, and other gospel workers of the Chicago Medical Mission, are showing some encouraging results, several converts being reported every Sunday. As these cases are followed up, as well as they can be consistently, it is a satisfaction to know that at least some of the seed sown has fallen on “good ground.”
INDIANA
By I. J. Hankins
GREENFIELD.—Nearly all the employees of the Conference and many others were present at the general meeting in Greenfield, February 6-9. Professor Prescott was with us, and gave messages of instruction from the Word, and encouragement specially appropriate as we are about to enter upon the work the Lord has assigned us, the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” It was gratifying to note the unity of feeling and the readiness to co-operate in this grand work. It was made very clear that this is the Lord’s plan,—a heaven-born idea,—and that a willful neglect to carry it into effect would be evidence of disloyalty to God. The State has been laid out in districts, leaders have been appointed, and it is hoped that this organized plan will enlist the hearty co-operation of every loyal Seventh-day Adventist in Indiana. The Lord specially blessed us as we considered the possibilities of the Christian life and work, and some were led to believe for a better experience from henceforth.
On Sunday morning the new meeting-house, a neat and commodious structure, was dedicated, Professor Prescott delivering a very appropriate address. The indebtedness on the building was covered by collections and pledges, but the lot is not yet fully paid for.
Elder Lane was also with us during these services and spoke especially to those who were present at the evening meetings. His presence and counsel were much appreciated.
The church at Greenfield, though new in the faith, showed large hospitality in caring for all who attended the meetings. I trust this church may be a light in the city, and that not only the building, but the worshipers, may be temples for the abiding presence of the Holy One, whose presence makes His people holy. The love and unity which prevailed in the meetings brought hope and courage to the hearts of the people, which I trust will bear fruit to the glory of God and the salvation of men.
I. J. HANKINS.
ONTARIO
By Wm. Ward Simpson
SCOTLAND.—We have an excellent interest in this place. Last night our hall was literally packed, and over one hundred were unable to enter. The Lord gave liberty in presenting the change of the Sabbath. We could use to advantage many tracts and papers dealing with present truth. If any of our brethren wish to assist us in this way, they may address the writer at Scotland, Ontario.
WM. WARD SIMPSON.
Sabbath Keepers Result from Taftsville Meetings
From Taftsville, Vt., Brother J. W. Watt reports that five persons are keeping the Sabbath as the result of meetings which he is conducting there. A good interest has been shown, which is the result of faithful missionary effort put forth for a number of years past.
MEETING OF THE PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION.
By Uriah Smith
(Continued from last week.)
THURSDAY, February 13, at 7 P. M., the stockholders met for their final meeting. After the opening exercises, business was resumed. The Committee on Nominations reported, suggesting four names for trustees, two to take the place of two whose term of office had just expired, and two to fill vacancies occasioned by the resignation of two since the last meeting. These two were G. A. Irwin, removed to Australia, and C. M. Christiansen, removed to Berrien Springs, Mich.
The following names were presented by the Committee: A. G. Daniells to succeed S. H. Lane, term expired; C. D. Rhodes to succeed himself, term expired; W. W. Prescott to fill remainder of G. A. Irwin’s unexpired term, one year; S. H. Lane to fill vacancy of C. M. Christiansen’s unexpired term, two years. These persons were elected.
The whole Board now stands as follows: A. G. Daniells, for three years; C. D. Rhodes, three years; I. H. Evans, two years; S. H. Lane, two years; U. Smith, one year; G. W. Amadon, one year; W. W. Prescott, one year. A. G. Daniells received 2,969 votes; C. D. Rhodes, 2,825 votes; W. W. Prescott, 2,880 votes; S. H. Lane, 2,437 votes.
The Chairman at the opening meeting reported, in answer to questions, the standing of our various papers. There has been a loss on all the papers in foreign languages, as follows: Sendebud, loss $1,466.95; Väktare, loss $1,275.76; Hausfreund, loss $350.81. The Youth’s Instructor made a slight gain, to the amount of $31.04. The REVIEW showed a gain of $3,762.55. While the financial statement shows a net gain of $18,758.49, the total profit during the year to the cause (including its donations) from the S. D. A. Publishing Association amounts to about $32,000. During the past year the indebtedness of the institution has been reduced. The salesroom shows that during the past year, books, pamphlets, and tracts have been sold to the amount of $167,144.04.
The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows:—
“1. That it be the policy of the Board of Directors to foster a missionary spirit in the general management of the institution, and that special attention be given to the training of workers who shall be thus prepared to connect with similar institutions in other places.
“2. That the Board of Directors be advised to establish small printing plants in some of the mission fields, as may seem advisable in consultation with the Mission Board.
“W. W. Prescott,
“S. H. Lane,
“E. R. Palmer.”
These being duly considered, were unanimously adopted; and the forty-second annual meeting adjourned sine die.
U. S.
DOING AND PROSPERING.
By E. A. Sutherland
ELDER COVERT, President of the Wisconsin Conference, is taking an active part in the “Christ’s Object Lessons” campaign in his State. He is spending a large part of his time going from church to church, inspiring the members to do their part of the work. He fully expects to see Wisconsin’s quota disposed of before the time set to finish the work.
The Conference has been divided into districts, and over each district has been placed a superintendent who is responsible for all the churches in his district. These districts are subdivided so that each laborer has a definite task before him. An earnest effort is being made by all the people, as they expect to sing the song of jubilee before many days.
The church at Milwaukee, Wis., believes that it is able to sell six hundred books. The church has a membership of one hundred and fifty. The officers of the church met the evening after the Sabbath, arranged for six hundred books, and divided the city into districts. The church was divided into companies with a competent leader over each, and has gone to work.
One of the elders of the church began his work by giving a short canvass after a cottage meeting, and succeeded in selling seven books to his readers. Saturday evening the same elder spent one hour and a half after half-past eight, and sold five books. The same day, after holding a meeting with some people not of our faith, he gave a short description of the book, and sold three copies.
In the same church a German sister who has never had any experience in canvassing, and who, being timid, hesitated to undertake the work, finally made up her mind that she would do what the Lord had told her to do. In one afternoon she secured fifteen orders. Those who have had experience in canvassing for this book say that they believe that the angels of the Lord go before them to prepare the people. We know that this is true. If the canvasser has the Spirit of Christ, it will be as easy to sell “Christ’s Object Lessons” as it was to cross the Red Sea or walk around the walls of Jericho.
The one hundred and forty-four thousand will be the most wonderful people that have ever lived. Their greatness will consist in implicit faith in God’s promises. Naturally they will be the weakest people that have ever lived, but trust in God, and confidence in His word will enable this company to pass through experiences that will make it possible for them to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.
The one hundred and forty-four thousand will not be disheartened nor afraid when the sun scorches men with great heat. They will stand upon the Lord’s promises when the fearful earthquakes shall cause the islands to flee away and the mountains to sink out of sight. The sun will shine at midnight; all nature will be turned out of its course, and great hailstones will fall, and yet the one hundred and forty-four thousand will stand calmly trusting in God while the great men, the rich men, the chief captains and the mighty men, and every bondman and every freeman will hide themselves in the dens and rocks of the mountains.
The one hundred and forty-four thousand will be a marvelous people. They will not fear to do anything that God asks them to do. Like Israel of old, they will be willing to cross the Red Sea. They will pass over the Jordan, and walk around the walls of Jericho if God so commands.
David was successful in overthrowing Goliath because he had formed the habit of obeying God when the lion and the bear were destroying the sheep of his father’s flock. If we hope to be among the one hundred and forty-four thousand, we must now accustom ourselves to obedience, doing successfully the things that God calls upon us to do to-day.
The Lord is calling upon our workers and upon every church-member, and even upon the children, to sell “Christ’s Object Lessons,” in order that we may sing the song of jubilee. To do this it will be necessary for each member to sell four or five books—a very small task if each had the courage of Caleb and Joshua. Those who cannot do this will find it very hard to do the next task that God places before them; for we are rapidly nearing the end, and each move will require more courage and faith than the previous one. The individual who is weak and fearful now is certainly preparing himself for defeat in the future, while those who trust in God and move forward will have grand success. They will find that the Lord will do the work for them, and that which seemed hard will be done easily and quickly by the angels of God. And too, when God offers the opportunity to do a work, we should be doing it at that time. The children of Israel marched around the walls of Jericho on the very days that He told them to do it. If they had not marched at that time, but had taken their own time, they might have marched a long while without the co-operation of the angels of God.
The spirit of selling “Christ’s Object Lessons” is abroad in the land. Everybody who is having a close connection with God is catching the spirit. Ministers, teachers, lay members, and children feel the presence of the Spirit of God telling them to arouse and sell the book. Even those not of our faith have interested themselves in this book, and have taken copies to sell. Now is the time to do this work. We can do easily to-day what may be a very hard task later.
“And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly. . . . And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.”
E. A. SUTHERLAND.
ARE YOU GATHERING?
By S. H. Lane
WHEN the children of Israel reached the wilderness in their journey from Egypt to Canaan, they found the country a barren one. They were in want of bread, and notwithstanding their murmurings,—and in their murmurings they wished they had died in Egypt rather than face death by starvation in the wilderness,—Moses cried mightily to the Lord, and the Lord said, “I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain portion every day.” Mark what the Lord and the people did,—He rained, and they gathered. Are we not in a similar condition at the present time? Not that we as a people face starvation, but we are facing financial obligations which require that we discharge the debts upon our schools.
A few intimately connected with our schools and educational work, and all the leading brethren, have felt deeply over the situation of our school debts, and some have cried unto the Lord, and He has heard, and has given the plan of the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” The book could not be produced without means, so the idea of raising a fund called “The Material Fund” was suggested and adopted. Nearly forty thousand dollars has been raised with which to buy paper, ink, binding material, and all that is necessary for the getting out of the book. The Review and Herald and Pacific Press offices have given the labor and work of printing these books, and the books have been produced by the thousands, and thus the manna—the books—has fallen before our eyes copiously. With these books we can gather in the money with which to liquidate our school debts and aid in building up schools where none now exist. Now that the books are ready, shall we not take them, and go out and gather the money, a certain portion every day?
We have a few days left in this month, also the month of March, before the busy season will come on. If we let this opportunity slip, there will not be much done until next fall; so shall we not devote the month of March everywhere throughout the country to placing these books in the hands of the people? Some of our Conferences are waking up to this matter. The great States of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin are now at work on the book. Thousands have been taken, and are now being sold. The Review and Herald office employees have agreed to take a thousand. The Battle Creek church has taken several thousand, and money is already beginning to come in through their sale. A large company of canvassers start out this week. Some are already in the field. The nurses of the Sanitarium are taking hold of this nobly, and throughout the States that I have named many are selling the book. Other States are becoming enthusiastic in this work. The New York Conference has set apart the month of March in which to aid this work. All New England is at work. Oklahoma is pressing forward. With a membership of thirteen hundred, in two weeks they sold twenty-three hundred books. Iowa and Nebraska are doing nobly, and other States are at work.
Now, if you live in a State in which nothing, or but very little, is being done, will you not individually take hold of the work? We trust all our Conference laborers and officers will seize the opportunity of working up the matter. Now is the golden moment, and we must not let it pass unimproved.
A sad calamity has befallen the Sanitarium, but all are of good courage, and now, instead of faltering because adversity has come, it should only inspire us to declare in the fear of God that the work shall go forth as never before. The principles of truth live and reign even though institutions may vanish with the fiery flame. The principles are as eternal as is the throne of God.
Reader, have you sold any of these “Object Lessons”? If not, will you not order of your tract society immediately, and begin a good work? Can you not go out and sell this book? You have intimate friends who would buy the book of you, who, perhaps, would be unwilling to buy of any other person. Who will say, “I am ready; Lord, send me”?
S. H. LANE.
THE BEGINNING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
By M. Bessie Degraw
Students and teachers in Emmanuel Missionary College were thrilled with a desire to enter the campaign for the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” If others were ready to answer, “Here am I,” when the Spirit of God was searching out workers, why should not we come forward for our orders?
The school was divided into fifteen companies, some member of the faculty taking charge of each division. These companies numbered from five to nine individuals. Wednesday, February 5, was the day selected to begin the canvass. Wednesday morning found the companies in readiness, but it was bitterly cold, and the snow was drifting so that the trains could not run. A few students walked into the country, sold their books, and returned the same day. The majority, however, were obliged to wait until the next day. Thursday brought another snowstorm, and an irregular train service, so several companies drove to their territory. It was a busy day. Over a hundred were visiting from house to house in Buchanan, Niles, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Dowagiac, and the smaller towns in the vicinity of Berrien Springs. The whole territory was quite well covered.
Many returned Thursday evening with glowing reports, but it was not until Sabbath evening that the students met to relate their experiences. If you doubt the value of such experiences, you should have heard the testimonies. As I listened, I thought of the men who accompanied Saul when he was first made king of Israel; it was “a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.”
Elder Brunson had charge of the meeting, and as he had just returned from his first canvassing tour, he spoke with authority. As he himself said, “We believe, therefore we speak.” He read that familiar text, Rom. 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God,” and added, “If we believe that verse, then we must say, Good-by, discouragement. No matter what occurs, our Father has measured the portion, and it is for our good. I look upon the canvassing work in a different light than I did three days ago. I consider it the grandest work we can do. Selling books is but a small part of the work. The real thing is to represent Christ. You have heard of the cobbler who said his work was to tell people of Jesus, and he cobbled shoes to keep up expenses. The canvasser should represent Christ, and sell books to make expenses. The canvasser can reach many homes and touch many hearts from which a minister is debarred. You ask how many books I sold?—Not one. But I shall go again, and I shall sell, or not sell, as God sees best. What I needed was to see the value of the canvassing work.”
This was one experience to which all listened with interest: for it was the heart experience of one whom God has chosen for the ministry, one who has said, “I will go where you want me to go.” It meant much to us.
Professor Sutherland spoke briefly of his experience in meeting the people, but felt most deeply impressed by the fact that one hundred and twenty-five people had been so united in doing a work which to the natural man is often distasteful, and that it had been done with hearty good will, on two of the most stormy days of the season. The harmony was akin to that of the disciples as they gathered in the upper chamber, and was due to the Spirit of God. When a school as a school can rise en masse to do this work, it is a sign that great things are ahead of us. It is one of the signs of the times.
I wish I could give all the rich experiences. The following are statements which were repeated in substance by many students:—
“I propose to keep at this work. I shall visit my territory again.”
“I canvassed twenty people before I took an order, but I needed the lesson. I did not think I could feel reconciled to canvass, but I do. I love it, and am ready to go again.”125
“I never had such courage. I went out with a determination to preach the gospel, and I look for souls to be saved as the result of this day’s work.”
“The first night our company of boys met for prayer. We are all ready to go again.”
“A Sunday-school teacher said the book was just what she wanted for her class. A returned missionary stated that she had many commentaries on the Bible, but ‘Christ’s Object Lessons’ was so well adapted to young people that she wanted it.”
“I had an opportunity to hold a Bible study with a discouraged woman, and it cheered her.”
“I was greatly blessed,” said one of the ministers, “and I believe every one should be a missionary canvasser.”
“I had said I could not canvass, but God says ‘Canvass,’ and I will. I am thankful for the experience. It was just what I needed.”
The actual number of books purchased by leaders and their companies was four hundred and forty-nine. Not all of these have yet been placed in the hands of the people, but they have been paid for, and each leader will see that the books are disposed of in the next few weeks. This report is for students only. A good many more books have been disposed of by persons in the church.
The campaign has begun. Fifteen thousand persons canvassing in four States will arouse the people. It cannot be otherwise. It is the greatest movement ever begun by our people. Who can falter to-day? M. BESSIE DEGRAW.
News and Notes
— Secretary of the Navy Long has announced his intention of resigning from President Roosevelt’s cabinet.
— Secretary of State Hay has sent notice to Russia and China that any agreement giving any corporation exclusive right in the development of Manchuria will be considered a breach of the treaties between China and the United States.
— President Roosevelt has given his decision on the Schley-Sampson controversy, and expresses the hope that it will now be ended. He finds that Schley was not in command at the battle of Santiago, and condemns the “loop” made by the “Brooklyn” at the beginning of the fight.
— A coroner’s jury, which made a thorough inquiry into the causes of the gas explosion in Chicago, February 5, by which several buildings were wrecked and eleven lives lost, holds the People’s Gas Light and Coke Company of Chicago responsible for the disaster.
— Smallpox continues to spread over Iowa and Illinois.
— Serious railway wrecks occurred on Sunday, February 16, at Gifford, Iowa, and Shop Creek Siding, Ill., resulting in the loss of six lives.
— One thousand dollars is offered by a wine company for the privilege of serving a particular brand of champagne at the banquet to be given Prince Henry in Chicago.
— President Angell, of Michigan University, has prohibited “smokers” among the undergraduates at that institution. Organized orgies, he declares, cannot be permitted there.
— Another actress gone insane, is the report that comes from Theresa Vaughan, who is now in the Worcester, Mass., insane asylum. A stage life rarely has a happy ending.
— Details which have been received regarding a recent great earthquake at Shamaka, in Transcaucasia, show that 2,000 persons, mostly women and children, perished in the disaster, and that 4,000 houses were destroyed.
— Inhabitants of Chilpancingo, Mexico, are in great alarm because of several openings in the earth near by, of recent origin, from which smoke is issuing. An earthquake in the night of February 16, which was severe enough to wake the entire city from slumber, seems to give good ground for their fears.
— New York City was the scene of another terrible disaster Saturday morning, the Park Avenue hotel and Seventy-first Regiment armory being destroyed by fire. A panic occurred in the hotel, and many persons were injured by jumping from windows. Thirteen are reported dead, and the list of injured totals about one hundred.
— A new locomotive headlight has recently been tested on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, the purpose of the invention being to insure the safety of trains by means of a very powerful electric illuminator, capable of lighting up from eight to ten miles of straight track, or of being projected on the sky where the track is curved. It promises to be a success.
— “Short-circuiting a nerve,” is a phrase now used to describe the theory of a new discovery in surgery, based on the theory of Marconi’s wireless telegraphy. By means of electrical vibrations set up between the branches of a nerve, producing an electric current which has certain points of similarity to the nerve current, the latter is shut off from reaching the brain, and there is no sensation of pain. It is thought this theory may provide a substitute for anaesthetics.
— The Boers are again heard from in South Africa. February 12, near Johannesburg, a British force of 150 mounted infantry was led into an ambuscade and attacked on several sides at once, losing heavily before they could retire to a safe position. A British constabulary force was defeated with severe loss near Witevale River, February 10. On February 18 a British force under General Hamilton was defeated at Klippan, a detachment of the same being surrounded and captured.
— A general strike of the trades unions of Spain is reported, and that country seems to be almost on the brink of civil war. The young boy king of Spain is about to succeed to the throne, and an uprising has been looked for on the part of those opposed to the royal family. Rioting has occurred in many places, the most serious being at Barcelona, where the rioters were attacked by the troops, and forty persons were killed. Martial law was proclaimed in the provinces of Saragossa and Tarragona. General Weyler is in command of the military forces, and the most rigorous measures have been taken to prevent any attempt at revolution.
— Insurance rates are to be advanced. The statement comes from New York City that “as a result of the enormous losses sustained by them in 1901 and in the opening months of the present year, a decision has been reached by the leading fire insurance companies to advance rates in all territory east of the Rocky Mountains, except in and near this city. The advance, which it is planned to put into effect immediately, will amount to at least twenty-five per cent on mercantile stocks in all buildings except such as are occupied as dwellings above the grade floor, and on frame store buildings; also on all manufacturing risks and other special hazards which have not been rated under revised and approved schedules within one year.” The further statement comes that “since Jan. 1, 1901, thirty well-known fire insurance companies have either retired from business or have greatly curtailed the field of their operations.”
THE BATTLE CREEK SANITARIUM FIRE.
By John Harvey Kellogg
The whole country has learned of the destruction of two of the main buildings of the Battle Creek Sanitarium by fire on the morning of February 18. The writer was at the time on the way home from California, and met the news in Chicago on alighting from the train at ten o’clock on the evening of the same day. Half an hour later he was aboard the train for Battle Creek, and an hour later, after dictating replies to a bundle of urgent letters, began making plans for a new and better structure to take the place of the old one.
This institution was planted in Battle Creek nearly thirty-six years ago by a wise Providence, whose fostering care has prospered and developed it from its small beginning to the proportions of a work of world-wide magnitude, which fire cannot consume.
The newspaper announcements have given the impression that the entire establishment has been consumed, and that the work of the institution is suspended. This is by no means true. Fortunately, there was left one large building, the Nurses’ Dormitory, which has accommodated about two hundred of the three hundred and fifty nurses employed in the institution. In addition to this, the Sanitarium managers have leased the three large buildings just across the way from the Sanitarium, which have been occupied by the Battle Creek College. The Sanitarium also has about fifteen other good-sized cottages and other dormitory buildings which have helped to house the eight hundred employees and one hundred and fifty doctors and student physicians connected with the institution. The doctors, nurses, students, and other members of the Sanitarium family have surrendered their quarters to patients, thus making it possible to accommodate in the four large buildings nearly as many patients as before the fire.
The only lack is bath and treatment appliances. Several of the buildings are already well supplied with bath facilities. Electric light baths and other appliances were on hand, having just been completed, while others are in progress of construction for branch establishments which are being equipped in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and other parts of the country. By utilizing these, and fitting up bath rooms and private treatment rooms in the several buildings mentioned, the institution will in ten days be able to care for four hundred patients as efficiently and comfortably as before the fire.
The medical work was not seriously interrupted for more than one day as the result of the fire. Since the first day, every patient has received regular treatment.
Plans are being rapidly prepared for a large, modern, fire-proof building, which will be erected at an expense of about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The work will be pushed with all possible dispatch, and it is hoped that it may be completed within six months.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars will be required to erect this new structure. The buildings were insured for one hundred and fifty-one thousand dollars. One hundred thousand dollars more must be raised to put the institution on a proper footing by the erection of a fire-proof building. The old Sanitarium building was constructed under difficult circumstances by the aid of borrowed capital, and it was necessary to build as large as possible to accommodate the sick people who were waiting to be received. The buildings have never been large enough to hold the whole Sanitarium family. During the past summer the two main buildings, which are now in ashes, accommodated only about one half of the patients who sought the institution for relief. At the time of the fire, the buildings, which were full from top to bottom, accommodated about two thirds of the patients who were here under treatment. It certainly would not be wise to erect buildings of less capacity than those which have been destroyed.
Plans are being arranged for the raising of the one hundred thousand dollars necessary for the construction of the building. Old friends of the Sanitarium, chiefly wealthy patients and business men who have become interested in the work of the institution, are already offering money in considerable sums, and it is believed that it will not be difficult to raise the amount required to erect a new building without incurring debt. If such a building can be constructed and set in operation without incumbrance, it will be a great encouragement to the work everywhere; and such an edifice, standing as a temple of truth, the headquarters for a world-wide movement, represented by hundreds of physicians and nurses, and many thousands of interested friends in all parts of the world, will be a fitting tribute to the cause of truth and reform from the multitudes who have been helped and blessed by the beneficent influence which has gone out from this work, and the glorious principles for which it stands.
The managers, doctors, and nurses, who are placed by this catastrophe in somewhat trying circumstances, appreciate most heartily the kindly sympathy and appreciation shown them by the citizens of Battle Creek, and by the friends of the institution everywhere, as manifested by a perfect avalanche of telegrams and letters of sympathy and encouragement which have poured in upon us since the publication of the notice of the fire, and by multitudes of kindly acts too numerous to mention in detail.
Although two of the largest buildings have burned, the four buildings remaining still constitute, with the equipment for treatment which will be completed within a few days, the largest and most thoroughly equipped Sanitarium in the world. The several hundreds of patients who remain in the institution, are receiving and will continue to receive thorough-going treatment. New hospital quarters have been provided, and all patients who may come will be cared for, and can be as successfully treated as heretofore. The doctors, nurses, and other employees are all alive and well, and full of energy, courage, and enthusiasm. Buildings may burn, but principles survive. The Battle Creek Sanitarium is going on with its work, temporarily crippled a little; but with the blessing of a kind Providence on the efforts being put forth, it will soon be better prepared than at any previous time in its history for the great work which has been placed in its hands.
An account of the fire will be published in some form, with numerous thrilling and interesting incidents connected with it. J. H. KELLOGG.
