Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 19 (1904)

Ms 141, 1904

Diary, April 1904

April 1904

Portions of this manuscript are published in 5MR 119-120; 8MR 165; 5Bio 319-320.

April 1, 1904

St. Helena Sanitarium, Calif.

I have not slept much the past night. The thought of change and the long journey fills me at times with dread, but then I will remember the loving-kindness of the Lord. I will be of good courage and not look on the dark side but, looking unto Jesus, reflect His image and look in my Bible daily and read. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 1

April 8, 1904

St. Helena Sanitarium, Calif.

Thank the Lord this morning I have had better rest and sleep the past night, Thursday, than several nights past. I praise the Lord for His great goodness and mercy to me. I open to 1 Corinthians this morning. In this is a lesson for every household and every church. May the words of the apostle encourage us to meet and be thankful that it is our privilege to place ourselves in right relation to God. The letter written by the great apostle Paul comes down the line to our time. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 2

April 1904

St. Helena Sanitarium, Calif.

I thank my heavenly Father for His keeping care through another night. My heart is filled with gratitude and with thanksgiving. I lift up my heart and hands unto God and will offer thanksgiving and praise to His holy name who dwelleth in the heavens. He is opening many things before me of the ingenuity of Satan’s temptations of Christ in the wilderness. Had Christ failed on a single point the battle would have been lost, but Christ held the ground; and if Doctor K had heeded the light God had given him, he would have humbled his heart and denounced Satan and through repentance have turned unto the Lord. Then that victory which the Lord would have given him would have brought confession from his lips and repentance from his heart, that needeth not to be repented of. He would then have changed all his business management. He would have made the Lord God of heaven his superior. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 3

April 24, 1904

Washington, D. C.

We arrived at Washington. I am rested. We have occupied the tourist sleeper for one week. The conductor of the car was kind, courteous, and a man that evidenced he understood his business. I was so thoroughly worn out—brain weary—that I sat up but very little for the one week we were on the journey. All in the car was pleasant. We became acquainted with the people, and we seemed as one family. There was no smoking, no card playing, no drinking. One man brought a beer bottle into the car; and as he was placing it in the cupboard, the conductor said, “We have nothing of that kind in this car.” He insisted, and the one who brought it in had to take it out of the car. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 4

I never have taken a more pleasant journey, even in the Pullman car where, for the several years since my return from Australia, I have had a drawing room for my secretary and myself. On this occasion I insisted on having my own way and trying the tourist sleeper. I was opposed most heartily at first. My reason for doing this was that money was scarce; and if I could save quite a sum, I would feel better pleased on the journey. I secured the section, that the upper berth should not be closed down over me. This favor was granted me by paying the price of the two berths. I knew I should have to lie down most of the time. I did enjoy this rest. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 5

The cars moved very quietly most of the time. In San Francisco we had secured seats for our party in the center of the car. In the place of two windows there was one long window for convenience of tourists to view the country as they traveled, and their view would be far better than with the two windows. I have not traveled in tourist car before, since returning to America. The change in the improvement of the cars made it as convenient and to me more desirable than the Pullman car, unless I had the drawing-room convenience as I have had. But on returning to America I was pleased with the improvements made. I shall henceforth choose the tourist car. It is twelve years since I have traveled in a tourist car. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 6

We had opportunity to become acquainted with many on this journey, and we had only one copy of Christ’s Object Lessons and my last book on Christian Education. These were circulated around through the car family, and when we left we gave them to the conductor of the tourist sleeper. The colored porter was kind and nothing unpleasant occurred, not one word or action in the car was offensive. I have traveled thirty-six times across the continent from San Francisco to Battle Creek, Mich., and several times we patronized the tourist car, but we have generally traveled in Pullman sleeper. But this occasion was the most restful to me of any journey I have taken for years. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 7

Sunday a.m. about eleven o’clock, the cars arrived at the station. There were awaiting us Elders Daniells, Prescott, and several others to welcome us. They led us to a two-seated surrey. It was new in appearance, with soft, leather, spring cushions and canopy top. This was, I thought, an expensive rig. The horse was large and well proportioned, a fine-looking animal. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 8

After we were seated we were informed that this was the outfit purchased to be at my disposal while in Washington. I thought, This will never answer. I cannot myself accept of such an expensive outfit. Then the matter was explained. One of the gentlemen in the office at the capital was about to return to his home. He could not take this outfit with him, and he must sell the carriage that cost him four hundred dollars. He said to Elder Daniells, “I would be pleased to dispose of the whole outfit, a mounted harness and the horse.” Elder Daniells purchased this whole outfit for two hundred and fifty dollars. I was much surprised. I was told as long as I remained in Washington this convenient carriage was for my use. The large, proud-looking horse was perfectly manageable. We have used this superior conveyance freely, and it has been a great comfort to me. The same carriage will be all ready for the patients who are sick and will appreciate such a gallant horse and carriage. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 9

We were taken to have a hasty look at the church. Its appearance is good, with frontage of stone. Within is a pleasant auditorium for the people to assemble. The windows and front door are ornamented with stained glass, beautiful in appearance. Four chairs, such as are used in churches, are on the platform, which was well proportioned. The pulpit and high-backed chairs harmonized. Seats and arms are covered with red velvet of the material generally used. I did not spend much time taking in all the advantages of that church building, but I praise the Lord that every debt is paid. Much means has been invested, besides the sum for the building as it stood, to make it what it should be—complete in repairs. It is now all finished. There are several rooms. One opens from the auditorium and is seated with chairs for Sabbath school. If the house should need enlarging, the partitions could be removed and thus the extension easily made. This nice, convenient place for the gospel message to be proclaimed in Washington within a short distance of the Capital is a victory gained, and it comes to us in the order of the Lord who has looked upon the necessities that must be supplied. I wanted to praise God aloud for this nice building, all ready now to be rededicated to the Lord, in which His people shall serve Him. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 10

We were then conducted in the nice carriage drawn by a noble horse which may be said to resemble our much-prized horse, Charlie, which we used in Rochester where the Review and Herald was first published. It seemed wonderful to me. His name is Charlie, and he is quite as large and carries his head fully as high. It has seemed we have a second Charlie while we serve here in Washington. We rode out five or six miles from the city to settlements, and I was so very much pleased. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 11

We came to a large building, three stories high, standing upon an eminence surrounded with trees and ten acres of land. The building is in the center, and it is a very sightly place. We enjoyed our refreshments. Sister Daniells and Sister Tuxford had been preparing for our reception. We were glad to meet our sisters, and we enjoyed the meal of fruits and a variety of foods. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 12

Then we went out to view the land purchased for sanitarium and college site. The stream of pure water running through the whole length of our purchased land is clear as crystal and grateful to the taste. I am in no wise disappointed. I expected to see houses located near this selection of land and was somewhat disappointed; but in a day or two Sara and I called upon Sister Daniells, and she rode with us, and there we had a view of the town of Takoma Park. Excellent houses were built for the residence of those whose business was carried on in various lines in Washington city. Everything about the location of these houses seemed appropriate, cleanly, and beautified with selected trees and flowers. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 13

Here, then, was the favorable location for our buildings, near the settlements of people who have made their homes in the country; and there is an advanced movement that no liquor store shall be sustained in this location. There is a company formed who have pledged themselves to abstinence from all intoxicating drinks. No tobacco is to be used. No card playing. There is a light shining in a dark place and is close by our selection of land. We are so pleased with the outlook and thank the Lord. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 14

W. C. White has just been in my room to inquire for my health. He tells me several tents will now be pitched upon the land purchased, and work will begin in earnest. Thank the Lord for this showing. Much has been done already to secure the papers that make the property bona fide that of the Seventh-day Adventists, and now work will be done as fast as possible. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 15

The house we occupy sits alone with no other houses near. It is in the center of a ten-acre lot, and the surrounding country can be viewed from every side. It seems to be so much like our own home place in St. Helena that we could scarcely realize we were in Washington, taking a full week’s time to reach this place. Everything has moved pleasantly in business transactions. This place is owned by a Mr. Carroll. Here statesmen have been assembled. President McKinley has been a guest in this house and sat at the dining table in the dining room where we take our meals. We could not have a better and more beautiful place to begin our interesting work in Washington. Our council meetings are held on first floor, in a large room. There is a very large piazza on three sides of the house, which makes it very pleasant. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 16

April 30, 1904

Washington, D. C.

I thank the Lord for His great goodness and loving-kindness to me. The Lord has granted me the privilege of speaking with Brethren Paulson and Read and Sister Paulson and Sister Read. We had but a few words of conversation with the physicians. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 17

We rode from Takoma to Washington. I had appointment to speak Sabbath morning at eleven o’clock. My subject was 2 Peter 1. I had freedom in speaking. This house is to be dedicated to God anew, since the property came into the possession of Seventh-day Adventists. Every dollar that was due has been paid. It is a model house for neatness. It is an honor to the Lord and represents our faith properly to all who look upon it. I thank the Lord with heart and soul and voice for this church where it now stands. It has a right presentation. Nothing is done for display, but the appearance is pleasant and all should recognize the wisdom in its purchase. It is for me a very easy house to speak in. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 18

As the congregation was leaving I had the privilege of speaking to quite a large number. Among them was Brother Paulson. I had been informed he thought it his duty to return Sabbath evening to Chicago and there he stood with Brother Read, and I was pleased to see them—more glad than I can express. I have words to speak to these dear friends, but I am not able to write now but may the Lord help me by His Holy Spirit. I can again resume my pen. 19LtMs, Ms 141, 1904, par. 19