Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Lt 73, 1898

To Our Churches in America

“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, New South Wales

August 5, 1898

Previously unpublished.

To Our Churches in America:

I appeal to our churches in America for help. We greatly need a sanitarium or hospital erected on the school grounds. We have no place where we can take the sick, except to our own house, and every room of that is fully occupied. We have one small parlor in which to receive our callers, and that is all the spare room we have. From nigh and afar off Miss Sara McEnterfer is called upon to prescribe for the sick. She has had great success in this work. We have done all that we could to relieve suffering humanity, and yet there is so much to be done, and we have no place where we can treat the sick. 13LtMs, Lt 73, 1898, par. 1

I have now come to the point where I ask our churches in America to make a Christmas or New Year’s offering by each member giving from one dime to two shillings. Will you help us? Unless some such means shall be devised, we see no way to build our sanitarium. 13LtMs, Lt 73, 1898, par. 2

The children can all act a part in this work. Self-denial may be practiced by our young people, and this will be a blessing to them. In making this request I have consulted no one. I ask you, Will you do this for Christ’s sake? 13LtMs, Lt 73, 1898, par. 3

There is no physician in Cooranbong. Newcastle is twenty-five miles from here, and there the poor people, who can scarcely obtain bread for their families, are obliged to take their sick, or else call a physician from that city. For this, they have to pay a guinea and his expenses. And when the physician comes, he merely looks at the sick person, and very frequently does nothing for him, but tells them to take him to the Sydney or Newcastle hospital. We have done all in our power to relieve the sick, the lame, the desponding, the bruised of suffering humanity, but there is still much that needs to be done. We charge nothing, but we must have a place right on these school grounds where the sick can be treated. 13LtMs, Lt 73, 1898, par. 4

Will you do what you can? We will give you a fitting memorial of your sanitarium. We want to build at the very earliest date. Will you let this petition be circulated in all our conferences, for the presidents to bring before the churches? We know that in doing this you will be doing a good work, a work which the Lord will approve, and for which He will bless you. 13LtMs, Lt 73, 1898, par. 5

This is a work of necessity. We cannot see that it is best to wait any longer working at such inconvenience and disadvantage. We will need to erect a larger building than we thought at first, but we can make this building just such a one as it will please you to look upon—plain and substantial. We will have it convenient, the rooms so situated as to get plenty of sun. 13LtMs, Lt 73, 1898, par. 6

I would say to the children in our churches, Deny yourselves, and let the Christmas and New Year’s gifts, that are made to friends and relatives just because it is the fashion, flow into the Lord’s treasury and come forth in a building that will forward the cause of God. Then as you look upon it, if you have that privilege, you can say, That is the sanitarium my offerings helped to build. We will have the artist take the picture of the building, and send it to you. 13LtMs, Lt 73, 1898, par. 7

I feel sure that you will do what you can. We would be highly gratified to dedicate this building as a gift from America. But please make no delay. Our necessity is great, and I want you to do this work in establishing a building in Cooranbong. I want it to be your own American building, built by your gifts and offerings. Those who feel their hearts moved by the Spirit of the Lord to help us by giving larger sums for furnishing this building will do a missionary work that will be a great blessing to this missionary field. As the money is sent, let statements be made as to how the means shall be applied—whether for furnishing or for building. Devise and plan in such a manner that this matter shall not fall unnoticed to the ground, and we will thank you in behalf of our people in this missionary field. 13LtMs, Lt 73, 1898, par. 8