General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL MISSIONARY AND BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION

First Meeting, April 9, 3 P. M.

Dr. J. H. Kellogg in the chair. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.8

Prayer by I. N. Williams. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.9

The Chair: It has been so long since a large meeting of this kind was held in Battle Creek, that it may be worth while to say a word with reference to the organization of the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association. Some eight years ago a committee was appointed by the General Conference to prepare plans for an association to take charge of the medical and philanthropic work of the association. This committee, after some days of consultation, brought forward plans for the organization of the International Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association as it exists to-day. The objects then stated are precisely the objects which are held before the association to-day. They were published at that time, and have not been changed. The association at that time had very little work on its hands. The Haskell Home had been proposed, also the James White Memorial Home, and it was thought necessary for an incorporation to take charge of these enterprises. While this work was being incorporated, it was thought best to make it large enough to include other enterprises of like character which might be organized in other parts of the world, and to embrace the Sanitarium work. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.10

Before speaking further with reference to the work of the association, it will be well for us to organize our meeting by asking the delegates to come forward and occupy the front seats. There are two classes of delegates to this association. First the ex-officio members, and second the delegate members. The ex-officio members are composed of presidents of Conferences, including the foreign Conferences, the members of the General Conference Committee, also twelve men selected biennially by the General Conference, and all persons who have paid a thousand dollars or more into the funds of the association. In addition, since the last annual meeting there has been a change made in the By-Laws, providing for still another class of members,—delegate members. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.11

Fourteen different organizations have been incorporated, representing different lines of the work. A number of sanitariums have been organized. We have about twenty-four sanitariums more than half of which are incorporated. We have the Haskell Home, the James White Memorial Home, and other institutions that are regularly incorporated. So it seems but just that these associations should be represented by delegates in the annual meetings of this association. The law under which this organization is incorporated provides that the board itself have the power to amend its constitution. So that it may admit delegate members, and so such have been invited to come here. The number of delegates has been fixed as being equal in number to the ex-officio members. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.12

Having made this statement, I will ask that all the presidents of Conferences, members of the General Conference, members of the committee of twelve, persons who have paid one thousand dollars into the funds of this association, and those who have credentials as delegates will come forward and occupy these seats. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.13

The members took their seats at this period of the meeting, and the roll was called. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.14

The Chair: This Association has charge of the medical and benevolent work of the entire denomination, and it has the power of the entire denomination in it; for it has all the presidents in it, and the whole General Conference in it, and it has something more in it besides. And so you see it is competent to deal with any question that needs to be brought forward in relation to medical missionary work. There is no question that this Association can consider that it needs to refer to the General Conference Committee or the General Conference, because it is the General Conference, and the Medical Missionary Association. We have, therefore, a responsibility on our shoulders to do the right thing, and to know what we ought to do. We will listen now to the report of the Treasurer, Dr. H. F. Rand. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.15

The report of the Treasurer was then read by Dr. Rand, as follows:—
31 Treatment Rooms about half established since last report.
11 sanitariums established in last two years, making 27 sanitariums.
Total number of institutions, 57.
Persons employed, 1,212.
Physicians employed in institutions, 70.
Graduate nurses employed, 212.
Nurses in training, first year, 208, second year, 196, total, 404.
Number of nurses in field, 236. Number of patients treated (about) 24,348. Charity patients, 10,610. Surgical operations, 1,491. Surgical operations free, 649. Amount invested in real estate, $582,-370.90. Amount invested in equipment, $212,-103,38. Received in donations, $8,571.42. Expended in charity, $93,499.14. Total Indebtedness, $445,076.51. The foregoing includes only 20 sanitariums and treatment rooms. Many of the latter are so recently established that they have not reported. GCB April 10, 1901, page 172.16