The Story of our Health Message

An Occasion of Rejoicing

These brethren had left their homes and business at a busy season, had traveled at their own expense, and had made such arrangements for the future of the institution as to lead Elder White to express his belief “that the interests of the institute will be well cared for by them, and that we look upon its future prosperity as a matter of certainty.” He urged others to unite with him in prayer that it might enjoy God’s favor, “and yet become what it was originally designed to be, a place where the sick may receive physical and spiritual benefit, and a means of spreading the true light in regard to the laws of our being, and so aid in the great work of purifying a people to overcome, and stand strong in God amid the perils of the last days.”—Ibid. SHM 186.1

A year later a pleasing program was given on the institution’s grounds. Extensive additions had been made to the main building, the cottages had been renovated, and in grateful recognition of the renewed prosperity it was decided to hold a service of rededication. Printed notices and invitations were mailed to leading residents of the city and vicinity, and on July 21, 1871, about 800 guests arrived. On one side of the grove, in front of the main building, were 5 tables, “each 128 feet in length, the total length being 640 feet.” On the other side was a large platform erected with seats arranged in front. Small banners conspicuously displayed bore various mottoes, such as “Nature the Best Physician,” “Nature’s Laws Are God’s Laws.” SHM 186.2

Addresses were given, interspersed with appropriate music rendered by the Battle Creek church choir, both in the forenoon and the afternoon. From a friendly article, written by the editor of the local newspaper, we copy the menu for the dinner, together with his comments: SHM 186.3

“Vegetables “New ripe potatoes, green beans, green corn, beets, squash, green peas, baked beans. SHM 186.4

“Bread, Cake, Etc. “Gems, raised bread, hard biscuit, buns, fruit cake (graham), sponge cake (graham), apple pie (graham), oatmeal pudding, manioca pudding with fruit, rice pudding with fruit. SHM 187.1

“Fruit “Peaches, prunes (dried), figs (dried), dates (dried), apples, whortleberries, blackberries. SHM 187.2

“It is to be noticed that butter, grease of all kinds, tea, coffee, spice, pepper, ginger, and nutmeg were wholly discarded in the cookery, and were not in use upon the tables. Salt was provided for those who desired it. After the invocation of the divine blessing, the dinner was served in a most capital manner, and was “Relished and Universally Commended “by the vast company of guests, most of whom for the first time sat at a public dinner got up on the hygienic plan.”—Battle Creek Daily Journal. Quoted in The Review and Herald, August 22, 1871. SHM 187.3