Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 20 (1905)

Lt 253, 1905

Kress, Brother and Sister [D. H.]

Loma Linda, California

August 29, 1905

Portions of this letter are published in PC 244-247. +^Note

Dear Brother and Sister Kress,—

I have just enjoyed the pleasure of reading your good letters. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 1

I am just recovering from quite a severe illness. On Sabbath I spoke at Los Angeles in the large tent to fully two thousand people and was poisoned with the impure air. The following night I suffered with severe pains. It seemed as though my heart were in a vice. We fought the difficulty the best we knew how; and though I was sick for several days afterward, I have not since suffered as I did then. My voice was quite weak, but I am recovering now. For several days my dietary has consisted of grapefruit, eggs, and lemons. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 2

Last Sabbath I was expected to speak at Redlands, but was unable to go. Some of our ministers were present, and I hear that they had a good meeting. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 3

Brother H. W. Kellogg from Battle Creek spent Sabbath and Sunday with us here at Loma Linda. He was astonished that such beautiful premises and such complete equipment could be purchased at so low a price as that for which we have secured this property. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 4

We regard this place as one especially provided for us by the Lord. Some of the brethren had spoken to me of Loma Linda as a popular health resort, conducted as a hotel, but it was not considered possible that we would be able to pay so much as it was supposed they would ask. I had supposed we would be obliged to erect buildings for sanitarium work in the vicinity of the beautiful cities of Redlands and Riverside. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 5

Last Spring I asked Brother Burden to look carefully for any opening to secure property suitable for a sanitarium in this vicinity. While I was in Washington he wrote to me describing the beauty of Loma Linda and stated that everything connected with the place was offered to us for forty thousand dollars. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 6

When I read the description of the property as written by Brother Burden, I recognized it as answering fully to an ideal sanitarium property such as had been presented to me. I received the letter on Friday afternoon, and I told W. C. White to telegraph Brother Burden immediately that he should secure the place. One of our brethren sent another telegram contrary to this. Some of the men connected with the conference thought that such a large place would be like an elephant on their hands. I was so burdened that for several nights I could not sleep. I feared lest the enemy might, through unbelief, keep this property out of our hands. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 7

In the meanwhile Brother Burden had been obliged to tell the men that we would be unable to purchase the property. But when he received from me a letter of good cheer and hope, and an assurance that this was the place for which I had long been looking to correspond with places such as the Lord had shown me would be offered to us at a small part of their original cost, Brother Burden, in fear and trembling, returned to the agent and told him we would purchase the place. Had he been an hour later, the opportunity might have been lost; for they were sending men to offer the property to other parties. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 8

The main building contains four stories. In its entrance is a most beautiful sun parlor. There is also a large parlor carpeted with the very best body Brussels. The furniture in the house is of first-class quality—not fancy, but durable and very handsome. We could not have furnished the building as expensively as it has been furnished by others. In this main building the furniture cost twelve thousand dollars and has been in use less than two years. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 9

The long halls are carpeted with fine Brussels carpet, and there are carpets and rugs for the various rooms throughout the building. There is a large roll of rubber carpet that can be used wherever it is thought best. The mattresses on the beds look like new ones. There are two feather pillows, sheets, blankets, quilts, and spreads for every bed. Every room contains chairs, substantial, but very comfortable. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 10

Besides the main building, in which there are about sixty rooms that can be used by patients, there are four four-roomed cottages sitting back on higher ground. Some of these are so arranged that each room is connected with a private veranda where, in warm weather, a bed can be rolled from the room through the large windows. Besides the four cottages with four rooms each, there is a two-story cottage with nine beautiful rooms, splendidly furnished. This of itself is quite a large building. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 11

Between the cottages and the main building is what they called the amusements building. This has been used for a bowling alley and a billiard hall. The billiard table will be sold, and with a few alterations the building may be made into a good meetinghouse. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 12

There are seventy-six acres of land in this property. Quite a portion of it is set out in orchard. They raised oranges, lemons, grapefruit, peaches, apples, plums, pears, etc. I am having strawberries from the second crop, and they are very nice. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 13

Five horses, three cows, about a hundred hens, and a few turkeys were purchased with the place. There were also a number of hogs, which have since been sold. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 14

About a hundred and fifty thousand dollars has been expended in making the property what it is at present, and forty thousand dollars seems very reasonable for such a completed equipment as we find here. It would be a heavy tax if we had to pay interest on such an amount, but we believe that our brethren will raise this money, and that we shall soon be free from debt. Every dollar is to be expended with great care. Something must be done to furnish treatment rooms, but this need not incur great expense. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 15

The city of Redlands is five miles from the institution. This city is one of the most beautiful cities in America. When President Roosevelt visited Redlands about two years ago, he expressed the thought that it was as near like heaven as any place he had ever seen. The purchase of Loma Linda will help to give us an influence with the people of this city. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 16

The more we realize of the advantages of this location, the more certain we feel that we are in the line of duty. We shall now endeavor to secure the very best help possible to conduct the work of this institution. Some of the outside stairways need to be painted, and other work must be done before we are ready to open the institution. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 17

For a time we had to work against fearfulness and unbelief in the minds of some of our brethren. There are some who will always be found holding back when any advance move is to be made. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 18

Last June a meeting was called at Los Angeles to consider the question of purchasing Loma Linda. I was very glad that Elder Irwin was present. When some expressed themselves as thinking it unwise for the conference to incur further indebtedness by such a heavy investment, Elder Irwin spoke right to the point, urging them to follow the manifest leadings of God. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 19

I also bore my testimony that the Lord would bless us if we would act in faith. There are some who seem to consider it a virtue to talk unbelief and to hold back when there should be an advance. We are hoping that there may be connected with the work in Southern California men who will act in faith. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 20

Only a few were present at this meeting, but they expressed themselves as favoring the purchase of the property, and they pledged eleven hundred dollars as a gift to start the enterprise. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 21

Last Sunday afternoon quite a number of our brethren from neighboring churches met on the lawn under the trees just back of the main building, and Brother Burden says they had an excellent meeting. One man said he had gone to the camp-meeting in Los Angeles as an unbeliever, but had been convicted of the Sabbath truth. He seemed very happy and made a donation of one hundred dollars to Loma Linda. We shall now endeavor to secure the necessary means, so we shall not have to carry a heavy burden of interest on borrowed money. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 22

Let us praise the Lord that He is making it possible for us to obtain such advantages, where we can help the sick to take their minds away from themselves and delight in the beauty of God’s handiwork. 20LtMs, Lt 253, 1905, par. 23