Passion, Purpose & Power

VII. Health Institutions

40. Battle Creek Sanitarium

The name “The Western Health Reform Institute” was chosen for the new health institution that had been called for in the view given to Mrs. White at Rochester, New York, ¹⁴³ and related by her before the General Conference assembly. ¹⁴⁴ Of the initial steps taken to launch this new enterprise, Elder J. N. Loughborough later wrote: PPP 200.1

“The question arose, ‘How can we, in our condition of limited means, obtain and control a health institution?” Brother James White was at that time in a critical condition of health and could not take upon himself the management of the enterprise; so the matter seemed to fall upon the Michigan Conference Committee, of which I¹⁴⁵ was at that time president. The committee, with a few of the leading members in Battle Creek, counseled and prayed over the matter and said, ‘We will pledge to the enterprise, venturing out on what is said in the testimony, though it looks to us like a heavy load for us to hold up.’” —“Sketches of the Past,” No. 133, in Pacific Union Recorder, January 2, 1913. PPP 200.2

Drawing up a subscription paper, Elder Loughborough went first to J. P. Kellogg, ¹⁴⁶ reminding him of the testimony given by Mrs. White and of the decision to establish a health institution. Taking the paper, Brother Kellogg wrote his name in a bold hand, and opposite the figures $500. He assured Elder Loughborough that he would venture this much in the enterprise whether it should succeed or not. “Understand,” he said, “that five hundred dollars is a seed to start the institution, sink or swim.” —Medical Missionary, May 1899, Extra. PPP 200.3

With this encouraging beginning, a meeting was called of the members of the church in Battle Creek, and opportunity was given to others to subscribe to the enterprise. Another $500 was pledged by Mrs. E. G. White, and $250 by J. M. Aldrich. Two other pledges for $100, two for $50, and eleven for $25 each brought a total of $1,825 raised at denominational headquarters. PPP 201.1

Elder J. N. Andrews brought the matter before a monthly meeting of the church in Olcott, New York, and the members there pledged $800. Thus, with a start of $2,625 raised in the two churches, the campaign was launched. Circulars were prepared for mailing to each church and to prospective investors, soliciting the purchase of dividend-bearing shares of $25. Each church was requested to call a meeting at which the matter should be presented, with solicitation for cash and pledges. The subscription list was opened in the Review and Herald for June 19, 1866, . . . and the progress of the fund was reported weekly.—Dores E. Robinson, The Story of Our Health Message, 1965, pp. 149-151. PPP 201.2

At the time appointed the institution was opened for the reception of patients. Dr. [H. S.] Lay¹⁴⁷ and Dr. Phoebe Lamson¹⁴⁸ constituted the medical staff. So with “two doctors, two bath attendants, one nurse (untrained), three or four helpers, one patient, any amount of inconveniences, and a great deal of faith in the future of the institution and the principles on which it was founded” (Medical Missionary, January 1894) was begun an institution destined to become world famous, and whose cumulative influence cannot be estimated.—ibid., p. 153. PPP 201.3