The Story of our Health Message

Anxiety and Prayer

As the time for the appointed auction drew near, there was much anxiety and prayer. A few weeks prior to the time certain parties representing a syndicate of millionaires came to see the sanitarium, and examined the books, which was permissible according to law. They announced their purpose of bidding for it at auction and made flattering financial offers to Dr. Kellogg and his associates to retain their connection with it under the new ownership. Although they were told that they would be unable to hire such workers at any figure, the prospective purchasers felt assured that they would have their co-operation. However, before the day of the sale other opportunities for profitable investment turned their attention from their purpose to gain possession of the sanitarium. SHM 326.1

Steps had been taken to meet the critical situation of the reorganization of the institution in such a manner as to inspire the continuation of the work in harmony with its original purpose. A mass meeting of friends of the institution was called to meet in the gymnasium of the sanitarium July 8, 1897. Those present appointed a committee of twenty-seven persons to act in the organization of an association to take charge of and carry on the work formerly conducted by the Health Reform Institute. This committee recommended to the court the appointment of Dr. J. H. Kellogg as receiver of the old corporation, to carry out the instructions of the court regarding the disposition of all its available assets. The Gospel of Health, August, 1897. They also recommended the formation of a new corporation to purchase the assets of the old corporation. SHM 326.2

July 1, 1898, the public sale was held at the Court House in Marshall, Michigan. S. S. Hulbert, attorney for the association recommended by this committee of twenty-seven, submitted the only bid and bought the sanitarium for those duly appointed to form the nucleus of the new organization, known as the Michigan Sanitarium and Benevolent Association, which thus became the successor of the Health Reform Institute. SHM 327.1