Loma Linda Messages

Loma Linda

The annual meeting of the College of Medical Evangelists was held at Loma Linda, August 21 and 22. LLM 582.6

The reports of the year's work ending June 30, 1911, were very encouraging. Nearly seven hundred patients had been cared for at the Sanitarium, and also a great number of transient guests. During January a large number of patients who made application (963) were turned away because there was no place for them in either the main building or the cottages. LLM 582.7

The new ladies' dormitory, a well-planned, concrete building, with a large parlor and sixty individual rooms, provides accommodations for about one hundred helpers and students. And two new cottages will house the families of two of the physicians recently added to the College Faculty. LLM 583.1

But the natural growth of the work of the college, including the sanitarium, is very rapid at this stage of its experience, and unless the men's dormitory can be built during the next three months, the students will again be overcrowded, and patients will be turned away for lack of room. Surely this ought not be. LLM 583.2

Thus far the institution has greatly exceeded our highest expectations in the matter of financial success. During the two years ending June, 1907, when as a sanitarium it was just getting organized and ready for work, there was a loss of $2,498.57. During the two years following there was a gain of $3,178.24. The next year's work showed a gain of $4,006.95. During the year closing June, 1910, the Medical Faculty had been greatly strengthened, a medical college incorporated, and eleven students had taken their first year of studies in the five-year medical course. On the Faculty for that year there were four physicians, three Bible teachers, and several other teachers of the sciences and languages, LLM 583.3

At the meeting held May 6-12, the institution was reorganized, and both college and sanitarium work were included in the College of Medical Evangelists of Loma Linda, and the supervision (964) of the institution passed from a limited number of Pacific Coast brethren to a body of representative men of the General Conference and six of the stronger Union Conferences. At this time plans were laid for greatly strengthening the Faculty of the college, and for the erection of the most necessary buildings. LLM 583.4

It was estimated that the next year's work in the Collegiate Department would cost five thousand dollars for its income. The necessarily large expense of bringing the new teachers to Loma Linda, and the salaries of a strong Faculty for the teaching of a small band of students, indicated this. Therefore to provide for this, and for the purchase of necessary laboratory equipment for the year, eight thousand dollars were asked for from the General, the Union, and the local conferences. LLM 583.5

But God so blessed the Collegiate Department, that its losses for the year were only $3,190.50. At the same time the Sanitarium Department was so abundantly favored that it earned enough to cover this loss, and to give in addition, a clear gain of $5,795.41. Consequently, all the money raised during the year in donations for Loma Linda has been used to pay for equipment and buildings, and is added to the actual worth of the Institution LLM 583.6

Future Prospects.

The question will arise, Can we hope for similar prosperity in future years? Not unless we provide for the natural growth of work. LLM 584.1

At whatever cost is necessary, the work of this college must be thorough, broad, and first class in every way. During the (965) last year, the Faculty was a strong one. Its thirteen members included eight physicians, two ministers giving Bible and pastoral training, two persons teaching science and language, and one teaching sanitarium methods. This year three physicians have been added and the Faculty will number sixteen. Next year and the year following, additions must be made to the Faculty as classes are added. LLM 584.2

To offset the increased expense of 1912, there must be an increase in tuitions of about $4,000. Can this be secured? Undoubtedly it can, if provision is quickly made to accommodate the new students who are ready to come. This will mean making provision for about thirty new students in the Medical course, and thirty more in the Nurses' training course, the special Missionary course, and the Cook's and Baker's course. LLM 584.3

Some students have families; therefore we shall need additional room for as many as seventy or eighty persons on the student's account. But this is not all. We must provide room for more patients. LLM 584.4

The natural development of the sanitarium department calls for additional rooms for at least forty patients. Loma Linda is growing in popularity, and patients will come in larger numbers each year, if our Medical Faculty is strong, if our nurses are faithful, and if we provide suitable accommodations. LLM 584.5

There are five well-planned patients cottages on the hill, that are now occupied by students and teachers. If these could be vacated and made ready for patients in December, the pressure for room, felt so keenly last January, would be somewhat (966) relieved, and the earnings of the institution greatly augmented. LLM 584.6

Thus, you see, if the men's dormitory is built immediately the new students can be accommodated there, and rooms now occupied in the cottages will be released for patients, whose patronage is needed to help in paying the increasing expenses of the Collegiate Department. LLM 584.7

Regarding the progress of the laboratory, and the need of the men's dormitory, Dr. Ruble writes:— LLM 584.8

“The laboratory building, when completed, will provide room for all the scientific work of the medical courses for all time. There will be five rooms 23 x 56 ft., for chemistry class work, clinical chemistry, pathology, histology and physiology. Besides these, there will be two offices, a library, a class room two store rooms, and a room for hydrotherapy demonstration 44 ft. square. The building will consist of three stories and basement. It is 56 x 66 feet in dimensions, and is built of reinforced concrete. Probably the building will be ready for use at the opening of school. LLM 584.9

“It now looks as though means would be forthcoming for the laboratory, but what shall be done for the men's dormitory? Cottages that should be used for patients are occupied by students. Last year as many as twenty-five patients were turned away at one time for lack of room. LLM 585.1

“With a new class in the medical course, and a new class in the nurses' course, we may have fifty to sixty more students, and more rooms in the cottages must be used by students unless the men's dormitory is built. We cannot build without means. Where will it come from?” LLM 585.2

(967)

If that is the real condition of things, some will say, why do they not proceed at once to build the new dormitory? Here are the reasons for hesitation. LLM 585.3

The building and furnishing of the woman's dormitory last winter and the building and furnishing of the large laboratory this summer have drawn so heavily upon the funds of the institution that it does not seem advisable to begin another building until an appeal can be made to the friends and supporters of this work for financial assistance. LLM 585.4

We believe that a presentation of the facts regarding the marvelous development of the work at Loma Linda and a study of the future possibilities of this Medical College, will lead our people to say that the healthy development of the College of Medical Evangelists must not be checked at this critical point in its experience by any failure on our part to provide means for the necessary buildings. LLM 585.5

Inquiry was made as to what it meant to the medical students in a financial way that the college had orchards, gardens, a bakery, a printing office, a dairy, a farm, and other departments in which students could labor. In answer to this it was stated the growing work of the institution invited the labor of students, and that during eight months, from October 1 to June 3, $2,700.00 had been paid to thirty of the thirty-three medical students in the college. LLM 585.6

Four had each earned over	$150.00	Four others had earned over	$120.00
Five others had earned over	80.00	Eight others had earned over	40.00
Five others had earned over	20.00	Four others had earned over	5.00

(968)

Thus the average earnings of thirty students during eight months was eighty dollars each. But of more value than money was the experience gained, and the benefits to health derived from the labor. LLM 585.7

While the financial problem was being discussed, Eld. Burden stated that the Sanitarium family have donated to the work at Loma Linda: LLM 585.8

For treatment rooms	$3,000.00
School Building and Chapel	8,030.00
Dormitory and Laboratory	3,550.00
Miscellaneous	2,085.00
	$16,665.00

The gifts of our people in other parts of the Southern California Conference have been very liberal, amounting to more than $16,000. LLM 586.1

The gifts from our people outside of California, have amounted to nearly $7,200. LLM 586.2

It was also reported that the amount of income received annually from patients at the Loma Linda Sanitarium for the fiscal years beginning with 1906 and ending with June 30, 1911, was as follows: LLM 586.3

1906	1907	1908	1909	1910	1911
$21,844.91	$30,447.76	$39,786.99	$45,961.06	$65,522.66	$72,998.63

The tuition received from the College students has been as follows: LLM 586.4

136.75

1,085.50

2,851.02

4,114.41

4,224.97

7,670.45

The donations received were as follows: LLM 586.5

2,238.13

8,847.46

2,346.43

1,787.78

8,384.03

17,320.59

The loss or gains in operating expenses including settlements of all bills, interest and depreciations: LLM 586.6

1,077.91	1,410.68	1,479.44	1,707.80	4,006.95	5,795.41
(Loss)	(Loss)	(Gain)	(Gain)	(Gain)	(Gain)

(969)

The Present Worth each year, exclusive of annuities, was: LLM 586.7

1,160.22

7,236.78

11,262.65

14,759.23

27,650.21

61,892.34

From the foregoing it is plainly to be seen that God is favoring the work at Loma Linda in an especial manner, and these blessings bestowed call upon us for hearty cooperation, that they may be effective in behalf of large numbers of patients and students. LLM 586.8

To this end you are invited to use your influence to secure gifts for the Building Fund, and long time loans without interest. Also to encourage worthy young people to avail themselves of its education advantages. LLM 586.9

Yours truly,
W. C. White.

*****

(970)