The Story of our Health Message

Funds Subscribed

With this encouraging beginning, a meeting was called of the members of the church in Battle Creek, and opportunity was given to others to subscribe to the enterprise. Another $500 was pledged by Mrs. E. G. White, and $250 by J. M. Aldrich. Two other pledges for $100, two for $50, and eleven for $25 each brought a total of $1,825 raised at the denominational headquarters. SHM 150.3

Elder J. N. Andrews brought the matter before a monthly meeting of the church in Olcott, New York, and the members there pledged $800. Thus, with a start of $2,625 raised in the two churches, the campaign was launched. Circulars were prepared for mailing to each church and to prospective investors, soliciting the purchase of dividend-bearing shares of $25. Each church was requested to call a meeting at which the matter should be presented, with solicitation for cash and pledges. The subscription list was opened in the the Review and Herald for June 19, 1866, with the list of donors in the Battle Creek and Olcott churches, and the progress of the fund was reported weekly. SHM 151.1

Elders Loughborough and Andrews were named as leaders of the campaign in the West and East (of the United States) respectively, but it was taken for granted that “all our preaching brethren who were at the late conference here will be prepared to act as agents in this enterprise.”—The Review and Herald, June 19, 1866. SHM 151.2

Confidence in the success of the undertaking was expressed editorially, it being “so manifestly appropriate at the present time, and in the order of Providence,” that doubtless it would be “carried through triumphantly, even if it was necessary to be done by donations” rather than by “a safe investment of means.”—Ibid. SHM 151.3

Advice was sought of a firm of lawyers in Battle Creek, Michigan, regarding the legal procedure in forming a corporation to hold the property of the Western Health Reform Institute. The brethren were told that the only state law in Michigan under which they could incorporate was one that included mining and manufacturing enterprises, and which made provision for the payment of dividends to stockholders. This fact, together with the natural fear that the raising by donations alone of so large an amount of money as was needed would be difficult among the few Seventh-day Adventists, led to the plan of selling dividend-bearing shares. This arrangement, as we shall see, was soon changed, and the shares were donated outright, except in a few cases where the money was returned to the investors. SHM 151.4

A site of five acres was secured in the city of Battle Creek, upon which there stood a good residence building. A few weeks later an adjoining plot of two acres and another cottage were added. Of course it was necessary to reconstruct the buildings and to provide some additional facilities necessary for giving treatments. SHM 152.1

At first it was hoped to open the institution by the middle of August, but it was evident that this would be impossible, and the time was extended. The readers of the first copy of The Health Reformer were told that “in addition to the buildings already on the grounds purchased for this institution, we have been obliged to erect a building for a reservoir, bath, dressing, and pack rooms. This is rapidly going forward; and the institution will be open for patients by the fifth of September.”—The Health Reformer, August, 1866. SHM 152.2