General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

THE WORK IN THE SOUTH

Talks by J. E. White and Mrs. E. G. White, April 23, 9 A. M.

J. E. White: In talking with mother, it seemed as if we could not have this Conference break up without a few more words in regard to the work in the South. She said that she had some things to present, and desired me to introduce her remarks by calling attention to the status of things in that field. GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.2

[Each building mentioned in these remarks was illustrated by large colored drawings on cloth.] GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.3

Seven years ago now, the steamer “Morning Star” was built at Allegan, Mich. At that time the boat was seventy-two feet long, and had only the lower cabin. Since that time, to meet the necessities of the work, it had been lengthened to one hundred and five feet, and an upper deck has been put on the boat, with a pilot-house above that. For some time the chapel of the “Morning Star” was located on the upper deck. Two thirds of all the meetings which were held by the Southern Missionary Society were held in that chapel. GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.4

As to the advantages of having such a boat. I will say that it would have been absolutely impossible to enter some of the fields which we have, and where there are now persons rejoicing in the truth, if it had not been for this boat. It afforded us a place for holding meetings, and a home in which to live. In the work in which we were engaged, homes elsewhere would have been refused us. GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.5

The front part of the steamer is a boiler-room. Running back from the boiler room is the place we have arranged for the new chapel, 16 by 34 feet. It will accommodate a congregation of at least one hundred and fifty people. This boat will begin its journey from Vickskurg to Paducah tomorrow, I expect. In Paducah it will be placed in a dry-dock for some needed repairs, and then proceed to Nashville to be used in the work at that place. We are looking for a place where we can open an industrial school near Nashville, and hope to secure the location on the river above that city, so that the boat can be the communicating medium to carry produce back and forth. The advisability of having a woodyard has been considered very carefully. Wood sells in Nashville at four dollars a cord. We can buy it up the river at one dollar a cord. This would make it profitable as work for the students. GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.6

You may ask how we built that boat. When we undertook the work, neither Brother Palmer nor I had more than five dollars to our name; yet when the boat was finished, it was all paid for with the exception of a small debt, which was soon paid. This was done from the sale of the “Gospel Primer.” GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.7

Our first work in Mississippi was at Vicksburg. We worked for a long time in churches and halls, but found we were being turned out of them just about as fast as we could get in. So we built a cheap edifice, which cost only one hundred and fifty dollars, with everything complete. The building was 20 by 40 feet. Very soon we began a night school in it. The attendance increased to one hundred and fifty in a short time, all crowded into this house, 20 by 40 feet, with eleven teachers. The scholars would fill one row of seats, and another row would sit in their laps, and the teachers would stand at the end of the bench and teach them. We soon erected a cheap addition, but the whole was on leased ground. We did not think we would ever be able to buy a lot in Vicksburg, because property was held at so high a price. But by and by the work grew, and we nearly lost our leased lot two or three times on account of others offering higher rental, so we did not see how we could advance much further without owning property. We finally secured a lot which had all along been held at fifteen hundred dollars, but which, on account of circumstances over which the Lord seemed to have special control, cost us only six hundred and eighty-five dollars. The lot is seventy-three feet in front, and one hundred and forty-seven feet deep. We had opportunity to dispose of our former meeting-house for nearly as much as the lumber originally cost, and for more than it was worth to us at the time. GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.8

About this time the colored people who were opposed to our work, taunted the believers, saying, “What a pity it is that those white people have come in and taken you from other churches, and now have sold your church. What are you going to do now?” But our friends would answer them with a happy smile, telling them that we had purchased a large lot, and were just commencing to build a church. That is what our people have met all along down there. They said that we had come on a boat, and by and by, after getting people disturbed and out of other churches, we would leave on the boat, and that would be the last they would see of us. Our people now have learned to recognize the whistle of our boat, and every time they hear it in the distance, they rejoice, saying, “The ‘Morning Star’ is coming! Our boat is coming.” GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.9

Our lot slopes back from the street. About sixty feet from the front street we have erected our church. It is 30 by 44 feet, and divided into two apartments,—the church auditorium proper 30 by 30 feet, and an adjoining room separated by folding doors, making a vestry 14 by 30 feet, which can be used during the Sabbath-school and other services. Below is a commodious school-room, all above ground. The room is ten feet high, nicely lighted and finished. This edifice has no unnecessary ornamentation, with the possible exception of a pretty front window, which can be seen from the road. I bore the expense of it myself aside from my other donations to the building fund, and I am not sorry I did so: for it cost less than ten dollars more than an ordinary window would have cost. GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.10

On the left-hand side of the lot, right in front of the road, is the mission house. This is composed of two flats, each being arranged for a family to live independently of the other. Brother F. R. Rogers, who is superintendent of instruction for the State of Mississippi for the Southern Missionary Society, occupies the upper flat. Sister M. M. Osborn occupied the lower flat before she left for Atlanta. Brother Crawford will occupy this lower floor some time this fall, opening up industrial work in connection with our school. He is a contractor and builder, and has worked for us now nearly two years on a missionary basis, which would startle some of the good salary-drawing people of Battle Creek. He has worked for two dollars a week and his board; and once when I undertook to settle with him, he did not want it. He said: “The work needs the money.” I said: “This is little enough. Take it, and if you see any place where you want to help the work, help it. I have nothing to say about that.” As I stated, he will open up a shop to teach carpenter and mason work to the students in this school. We hope soon to start a broom-shop and also a bakery. GCB April 25, 1901, page 479.11

In the space in front of the church, and to the right of the mission house as you face the church, is room for trees, flowers, and shrubs, with a good lawn. This improves the appearance of the property. In the rear of the lot we have a four-room cottage, which is being occupied by colored people at the present time. GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.1

The entire property would have cost in the North about five thousand dollars. It has cost us, including the insurance for three years, a little less than twenty-five hundred. We are learning the science of building at a reasonable expense down in that country, and yet have everything as neat as can be. GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.2

Up the Yazoo River, 110 miles from Vicksburg by water and 40 by road, is Yazoo City, where considerable work has been done. In the suburb of Lintonia we have a movable chapel and schoolhouse, built in sections. It is 22 by 48 feet. There is where school work was begun, Brother F. R. Rogers coming from the Pacific Coast to carry on the school, his wife assisting. He made a good impression, the school grew, and in a little while the enrollment was from 200 to 240. They came from all parts of the city and vicinity. More than thirty grown people came from nine to fifteen and sixteen miles. Some came thirty and thirty-five miles. One old grandmother came over thirty-five miles, so that she could learn to read God’s word. Mothers and grandmothers would come from their home, and sit down with their children in the A B C class. We did not teach them by the ordinary methods. You would have been astonished to see how rapidly they learned to read. Sometimes in one term they would be able to pass through the “Gospel Primer,” and yet they had not been able to read a word when they began. I believe God helped them. I believe when people of that kind take advantage of an opportunity to learn to read God’s word, God himself seconds the efforts of both teacher and pupil, and they learn more rapidly than usual. I wish you could have witnessed the work in these schools. I wish you could have seen the class which my wife always chose in connection with the work,—the old ladies’ class. There would always be a class of from six to eight old ladies who did not know a letter from a figure. She commenced to teach them, and as they began to use their eyes, they found they were not accustomed to such close work. They had perhaps been washing all day, or had been out in the field working hard; and when they came to the school, they would say, “I was so tired I could hardly get home from work to-night, but I couldn’t miss the school.” GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.3

After studying a while, the tears would run down their faces, because their eyes were not used to it. Then my wife would change the exercise from a little simple reading to equally simple spelling. After spelling for a short time, they would perhaps make figures on the blackboard. This blackboard work was of interest to them, and by perseverance they would learn how to add two figures together, and thus work out simple examples. Our school was crowded, it is true. Public school-teachers came to get a better training, and two of them accepted the truth, one of whom is a teacher in this school at the present time. GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.4

I do not believe we are to wait to educate everybody for this work. I believe that those who are already trained, will soon accept the truth, and be ready to carry this message to the needy of that field. Those who attended the meeting at Vicksburg were intelligent and bright, as others who were there will testify. After awhile we had to build an addition to this building, which is built of upright boards, with boards for a roof. By and by I expect we will have to put a building there. We paid one hundred and fifty dollars for this lot, and it is worth three hundred dollars to-day. In Yazoo City we have a lot for which we paid two hundred dollars, and could now sell it for four hundred. We are not ready to sell it yet, until we know what the Lord will have done with it. GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.5

Across the river is another suburb called Willsonia. We have two lots there, and are waiting to see what the Lord wants us to do with those. We want the people to have full opportunity to know what they want, and if the Lord speaks, we shall be satisfied to have a school at that place. GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.6

At Columbus, Miss, we have established another school. We bought there a lot of half an acre, on which is now a schoolhouse. We are now planning to have a building for the school-teachers to occupy. I have figured up attendance in three of our leading colleges and seminaries, and we have greater school membership in these three schools than in the three colleges and leading institutions referred to. The effect is getting to be wonderful. The only readers we use in our schools are the “Gospel Primer,” the “Gospel Reader,” “Christ, Our Saviour,” “Patriarchs and Prophets,” and the Bible. Our first book on history is “Christ, our Saviour.” The children first learn the history of Jesus Christ and his work on earth. Then we take “Patriarchs and Prophets,” and study the lessons in these books from God’s standpoint. Then when called to study the world’s history, they will not be led astray. The outcome is that when people from beyond want to find our school, they come into Yazoo City, and ask: “Where is that holy school?” GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.7

“What do you mean by that?” GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.8

“Why, that school where they teach the Bible.” May God help that our schools may ever be up to that standard. GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.9

Another branch of work is among the whites in the mountainous regions of Tennessee, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, etc. Brother Shireman has entered the work there. From the first we have been trying to help Brother Shireman in his work. I have been thankful that the Southern Missionary Society has been able to tide over the affairs in his work, and he said that if it had not been for this assistance rendered him, his school would have had to close. If there is anything I am thankful for, it is that we have been able to do something to help this first institution for these white people. In many large settlements they are found to have nothing to read but a copy of a Testament, or perhaps a Bible and one or two old school books. Other people are beginning to send colporteur wagons all through that country engaging in work, and we are behind them, just as we have been in many other lines of work. GCB April 25, 1901, page 480.10

Tons of Bibles and religious books are going in there. We must get in there with the Present Truth. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.1

Brother Shireman entered Hildebran alone and has built up a very important school work. He has a commodious school house, a students’ home of sixteen rooms, and a building for manual training. Sister Nicholas has built a neat teachers’ home with her own money. Seventy acres of land have been recently purchased, giving a farm of about one-hundred acres. The whole is nearly free from debt. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.2

Regarding the work started at Nashville, will say that it is not advisable to print our publications in the North, and use them in the South, but they must be published on the ground. So we have established the Herald Publishing Company. We have a fine cylinder press, two new job presses, a paper-cutter, a wire stitcher, and a good ten-horse power gasoline engine—nearly free from debt. In looking for a location for our printing work, we thought the best place would be to go into the country, and so we went there to look for property. We found a place which looked inviting, and we said that was the place. The river ran right back of the property, and we were sure that was the place to which the Lord had led us. We made a deposit on the property, and was about to go to make out the deed; but we wanted the Lord to help us through, so we called the brethren together, and had a season of prayer that God would open the way. When we went down to sign the deed, the man said that his wife would not sign with him. “What shall I do? I have taken your deposit. I am responsible.” We said at once that that was not the place. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.3

Later we found another place within two miles of Nashville where we could get ten acres of land. We said, “Oh, that must be the place.” We were about to secure the place when the company who owned the land had a misunderstanding, and we were unable to get this property. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.4

Then we found the property we now occupy in the city. Street-cars run by the door. It is a corner lot, and we have a substantial two story brick building, thirty-six feet front and forty-eight feet deep. There are two stoves below, and business offices and a meeting hall above. The property cost about $4,300 originally, but we bought it for $1,900. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.5

The Lord has helped in locating where we have so many business advantages. On the lower floor we have our printing office, bindery, and bakery. In starting our bakery, the only kind of bread we made was salt-rising bread. But now we do not dare to ask for any more customers in the city, and can not start making any other kind of bread, until we can get more room and more bakers to do the work. There is such a call for bakery goods in Nashville that we can not supply the demand. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.6

On this corner lot we must have some more buildings. The plan is to erect a building thirty-six feet wide and fifty-two feet deep, three stories high, and extend the third story over our present building. The third floor will be used for living rooms for the workers. There is nothing in Nashville so healthful as living on the third story. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.7

We can erect this building for about $3,000. The interest on this sum at 6 per cent would be $15 a month. We shall save $32 a month in rent on the third story alone. The plan is to make the first story of the new building our publishing house and the second, a church. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.8

In Nashville we are endeavoring to establish a Sanitarium for the colored people. This is the first institution of the kind in the world. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.9

Nashville is an educational center for the colored people of the South. There are several large educational institutions located there; I might name the Fiske University, the Roger Williams University, and the medical and dental colleges. There are other large schools located there. The colored people want just as good things as anybody. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.10

Near the building we have secured are located the colored professional men of Nashville. It is a very desirable location for a work of this kind. We must buy it. This property, once worth $8,000, can now be bought for $3,000 or $4,000. I think we could secure it by making a payment of $700 or $800 down. If we can make the first cash payment. I do not know but I would be personally responsible for paying the rest. We are now fitting up treatment rooms. We have a full corps of colored operatives, of nurses, bath hands, treatment hands, all ready to go in there. On one side there is a space of about sixteen feet, where we could put up a little store, with bakery and health goods to sell. We could also open a restaurant, so that the doctors, lawyers, and business men of the city might come in and have a practical illustration of what healthful living is. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.11

I want to give due credit to those noble hearted workers who have been by my side all the way through. If they barely received their board and room, they were satisfied, and would lift with their might, in order to help carry forward the work. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.12

Is it too much to ask our people to take hold and make it possible to have a few of the things down there of which you have such an abundance in the North? Is it right that these people should work within an inch of their lives, with practically no salary at all, when the salaries are being paid as they are in these place? I appeal to you as judges, as people that can judge of these things, is that thing right or necessary? There is money enough in our denomination. The Lord has said that four times as much should now be done for that field as for any other field. Isn’t it right that we should have a medical center started in Nashville for the colored people, that we can control? Our lease is out in October. Can we afford to put $300 or $400 in to fit that up for work, and then have to leave it in October? The Lord has spoken. You know the field, you know the need as it is, and now I leave it with you. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.13

Mrs. E. G. White: I feel an intense desire that those who claim to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, shall take advance steps as reformers, as a people who have the most sacred truth ever committed to mortals. I greatly desire that they shall do honor to the truth which as a mighty cleaver has separated them from the world and put them in God’s workshop, to be prepared to shine as living stones in the temple of the Lord. They are to stand before the world in uprightness and sincerity, showing what the truth has done for them. When they do this, they will not only profess to have advanced light in regard to the perils that are coming upon the world; they will bear a living testimony by their consistent lives to the power of saving grace. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.14

God desires his people to practice self-denial and self-sacrifice. He desires them to remember that at immense cost to heaven Christ clothed his divinity with humanity, and came to this earth to live the life of obedience God requires us to live. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.15

I know not how to describe the way in which the Southern field has been presented to me. In this field thousands and thousands of people are living in wickedness and corruption, and they are right within the shadow of our doors. That field bears testimony to the neglect of a people who should have been wide awake to work for the Master, but who have done scarcely anything in this field. A little work has been done there, we have touched the field with the tip ends of our fingers, but not one-thousandth part of the work has been done that should be done. God calls upon his people to stand in a right position before him, to heed the light given ten or fifteen years ago—that the abused, down-trodden people of the South were to be labored for and helped. We have tried to lay this burden upon our people. But they need not carry it all themselves. There are many not of our faith who will willingly help a work for the uplifting of humanity. GCB April 25, 1901, page 481.16

The time is coming when the Southern field will be closed, locked up. But this is not yet the case. One place where the work was commenced was closed against the workers; and because of this the word went forth, The Southern field is closed. No more money will be needed for that work. But is this the way in which the Saviour worked. When one city was closed against him, did he say that his work on earth was done? Had he done this, what would have become of us? When he was driven from one place, he went to another, and he has left us the direction, “When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.” When your life is in danger, go to another city, and when they persecute you there, go to yet another place; “For verily I say unto you. Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.” Shall we not take this advice. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.1

I thank the Lord that he has given us the power of discernment. We must educate the heart, the mind, and every capability which God has given us. We need not be afraid of rising too high. It is but little we can do at the best, but we can improve the talents God has given us. We will never have too much ingenuity, too much power, to use in the work of God. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.2

That God who heard the cries of the children of Israel in their distress, and came to their help, will come to the help of his children to-day. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.3

In the providence of God I came round through the Southern field on my way here from California. I could not describe what I saw, which must have been very limited, but what little I did see filled my heart with pain and distress. I thought of how much might have been done if some of the money that has been invested in Battle Creek had been invested in the Southern field. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.4

When I came to Vicksburg, I went on board my son’s boat, “The Morning Star.” From the reports I had heard, I thought to find that boat fitted up very extravagantly. I found nothing of the kind. I want all to understand this. My son and his workers have lived on this boat, because they could not get a house suitable to dwell in. The rooms on this boat are fitted up in the very simplest way. Look at your own homes, and ask yourselves what they cost. No one can work in the Southern field without some facilities with which to work. Those who take hold earnestly in the hardest fields should be provided for above those who have all conveniences. These destitute fields need help. Because one child is weak and sick, will you turn your face away and give all your attention to the healthy members of the family. That is not the way to do. The very hardest fields must be worked. The gospel is to be preached to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.5

On Sabbath I went to the little church at Vicksburg, which has been represented to you. There I saw the buildings which have been erected, neat and clean, without any extravagance,—nothing but what should be where the work is established in new places. I saw the mission house, a two story building, neat and pleasant, where two families live. Then there is another small dwelling house for the colored workers. The meeting house is just as nice a building as I could wish to see in a new place. It reminded me of our church in Cooranbong. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.6

When we talked of building a meeting-house in Cooranbong, the brethren said that all we would be able to do would be to erect a very small, rough building, and that they did not think we could even do that much for a while. But in the night season the word of the Lord came to me. “Arise and build. Make of the building of this meeting-house an object-lesson.” When I told this to the brethren, unbelief came in, and they said, “We can not do it, we can not do it.” I said. “We can do it,” and we did. Soon after that we received in a letter from Africa a gift of one thousand dollars to help in the building of our meeting-house. This gave our brethren hope and courage. The workmen labored at half price, and in a very short time our meeting-house was erected. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.7

This experience rose up before me when I looked at the church in Vicksburg; for the two buildings are somewhat alike. The church at Vicksburg is a neat, commodious building, and the audience who gathered to hear me speak on the Sabbath morning was composed of neatly dressed men and women, with bright, intelligent faces. I was glad to hear them sing; for I knew that the angels of God were joining with them. O, it was good singing. It filled my heart with grateful praise. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.8

From Vicksburg I went to Nashville, where I saw the different interests which have been started in that city. I wish to say there is great need for a sanitarium in Nashville, where the sick and suffering can be relieved. Such an institution would exert a far-reaching influence. The people would see that we have something they have not. As men and women are brought into connection with those who walk and talk with God, do you not think they will be deeply impressed? GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.9

Are there not those here who will help the work in the South? While I was in Australia, I helped this work all I could, besides doing all in my power to answer the calls that came from the needy field in which I was laboring. I thought that if those in this country, in sight of the Southern field, could only feel the burden that rested on me night and day for that field, they would certainly have done something to prevent the work dragging as it has done. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.10

Think of New Orleans, Memphis, and many other large cities in the South, in which little or no work has been done to give the people the light of present truth. What excuse will those who have crowded into Battle Creek give to God for their silence and activity, when he asks them why they did not, by their strength, ability, and means help the people who so greatly needed help? The colored people of the South are diseased, soul and body, but still they are God’s children. There are among them those to whom he has intrusted talents, and he calls upon us to awaken to the responsibility resting upon us to bring them to a knowledge of the truth. GCB April 25, 1901, page 482.11

If it were possible, I would invest means in the Southern field, but I have no money to invest. I have put all I have into the work in various parts of the field. If I had money, I can assure you that it would be at once invested in the work in the South. In the name of the Lord I ask those who have means to do what they can to advance this work. In all the large cities in the South there ought to be places where the sick can be cared for, where the people can be taught to care for themselves. The people need sympathy and tenderness. In clear, simple lines the truth must be presented to them. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.1

And those who go to the South to labor must go determined to stay. Too many have gone there, who, not finding the field pleasant, have come back. God help us to remember that Christ came to this world, even though it was all seared and marred with the curse, and here lived a man among men, working out for those who accept him a perfect character. He gave his life that we might have life. What are we giving for him? He says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.2

God help us to wipe out the terrible stain that is upon our work because of the neglect of the Southern field. Ten years ago the money that should have been sent to that field was withheld from it. What account will those give to God who have closed their eyes that they should not see and their ears that they should not hear. Our brethren should repent of that sin before God. We should enter the large cities in our country. Move out from Battle Creek, and make plants in other places. Lift up God’s memorial,—the Sabbath of the Lord, in every city in this country. God will help you to do this. Then you will hear from his lips the words. “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The angelic hosts will help you in the work; as you impart to others, they will impart to you. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.3

I do not know what more I can say, what greater appeal I can make. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock:” Christ says, “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” There are places which should be entered. What will you do? May God move upon heart and mind, leading you to carry out the work he desires to have done for the most needy fields upon this earth. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.4

We need schools in the South. They must be established away from the city, in the country. There must be industrial and educational schools, where the colored people can teach colored people and schools where the white people can teach the white people. Missions must be established. Are there not those in this house who can go and take hold of the work where nothing has been done, and build it up, as Brother Shireman has done? You have just as good a field before you as he had. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.5

God grant that instead of preaching, preaching, we may see some doing. May the Lord help us, may he help this people to work with the Spirit of self-denial. May he give them clear perception and intelligence, that they may obey the call of God. I beg of all for Christ’s sake to work while the day lasts. Will you work? I believe that you will. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.6

J. E. White: I want to say just a few words more. First, I would ask you to count up the cost of your homes, the land and the buildings. Find out how much an eleven-roomed house would cost you. Our steamer has eleven rooms, and it has not cost any more than your house would cost with the same amount of room, and we have our church on board. An industrial school must be started near Nashville. We have been asking for $1,500 to buy land. I hope we will get that. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.7

We have heard of the wonderful work in Australia. There are twice as many colored people in the South as the whole population of Australia put together. Think of that. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.8

Another point. This publishing house and sanitarium are not individual enterprises. The publishing house will be incorporated just as the Review and Herald and the Pacific Press offices are. And the sanitarium will be incorporated, so that both of these will be denominational institutions just as the Sanitarium and publishing house here. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.9

We must buy that sanitarium, and we must have the money to make the first payment before we can get control over this place. I appeal for that. What is it going to take? It will take $700 or $800, but we want $1,500. That will make the first payment, and give us something with which to fit it up. Is that a big amount with which to start a sanitarium? Look at your sanitariums at College View, at Iowa, all over the country. What have they cost you? GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.10

Another point. We want donations for that if we can get it. If not, there are two of us who will be financially responsible. We will hire the money and pay the interest ourselves. So if you have money to lend we would like to talk with you. We have our headquarters over here. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.11

Then there is the Gospel Herald. It has been voted that this shall be a weekly paper, the pioneer paper of the South. More than that, you know before this time, it has represented the South to the North. We do not want to circulate that throughout the South so much, it is not needed there. What are we going to do? In this paper we are going to put supplements, just as in the papers you saw yesterday. The subscription price is only fifty cents. Would it be difficult to get a thousand subscriptions here at fifty cents? We want to make an investment of that paper. How many will take that paper before you go away from here? [Many hands raised.] Subscribe yourself, and then subscribe for some of your friends. GCB April 25, 1901, page 483.12