A LITTLE later than the appointed hour of 9 o’clock, Dr. J. H. Kellogg called a meeting of the Health Reform Institute Association. He stated that it was impossible to hold a legal meeting out of the State of Michigan, and that it was impossible to hold even an informal advisory meeting of the stock-holders, since but a small minority of the stock was represented. He proposed, therefore, to spend the time speaking of the rise and progress of the Health Institute, now known as the Sanitarium, at Battle Creek, Michigan.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 11.1

The Association was organized in 1866, and incorporated in 1867. It was begun as a private enterprise, and the first year a dividend of ten per cent was declared. This dividend was never drawn by the stock-holders, however, but was left to build up the institution. Before the time for the next dividend, the share-holders had all assigned their stock, and the charter was so changed that no person can receive any of the profits, but all must go to increase the efficiency of the institution. The three principal items which the charter covers are that the institution shall be a place where the sick may be treated according to the most rational principles, that health principles shall be promulgated, and that the sick poor may be treated. Thus the institution is in a large sense a charitable one, and the profits are not hoarded up.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 11.2

The institution prospered, and the small building first purchased was soon filled to overflowing, and cottages were secured. In 1877 a four-story building 136 feet long, having a rear extension of 100 feet, was built, but there has never been a time when it was able to hold all the Sanitarium family, and within two years from the time it was built, the managers had to hire buildings. Sometimes one hundred rooms have been hired.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 11.3

Four years ago it became apparent that better accommodations must be provided. Not an employee lodged in the main building; many people came who wanted still better accommodations than they had, and room was needed for the carrying out of the charitable work of the institution. So another large building was added, but it was not six months before that was filled, and now they are more crowded than ever. In order to carry on this charitable work of the institution, another large building is being erected, and this will be specially devoted to the free treatment of worthy poor.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 11.4

Last year the profits of the institution were $40,000. This year the profits have been nearly as much. The net worth of the institution is over $200,000, and the amount of charitable work done amounts to more than twice the amount of the original capital. Besides this the most improved facilities for caring for and treating the sick have been added, until now there is nothing more in this line to be desired. Dr. Kellogg said that he did not know of anything in the world that would be of any value to them that they did not already have.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 11.5

Interesting remarks by Mrs. E. G. White followed, touching the necessity of broader plans for judicious charity work. The care of the widows and fatherless is one of the great essentials to true religion. She, as did also Elder Loughborough, spoke of the Rural Health Retreat, at St Helena, California. This, though much smaller than the Sanitarium at Battle Creek, has the same object. There is an investment there of $60,000, but the institution is still burdened with debt which must be lifted, so that charity work may be done them.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 11.6

After a vote that the Chair appoint a Committee on Resolutions, consisting of three members, the meeting adjourned.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 11.7

AFTERNOON

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At 3 o’clock the fifth annual meeting of the Conference convened. After singing “The Shining Shore,” Elder P. H. Cady offered prayer. The minutes of the last meeting were read, and the President called for additional reports from missionary fields.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 11.8

Elder Samuel Fulton spoke for Florida, stating that it is a good field. The cities and towns are largely settled by Northern people. There is a liberal spirit, and the people are quite unprejudiced. People who have left home and old associations are more ready to receive new ideas. Some people from New York City, who were visiting in Florida, attended the meetings, and began to keep the Sabbath. One of the ladies told him that she would never have attended if the tent had been pitched in New York; she would never have heard and accepted the truth. The frosts of the last two years have injured the orange crops, and there is a falling off in the number of visitors from the North, and this, with the yellow fever, has proved a discouragement to the work. Between sixty and seventy, however, have begun to keep the Sabbath there this summer. The tent was pitched at Tampa, with the expectation that the series of meetings would be closed up with a general meeting, and the organization of a Conference, but the yellow fever stopped the work.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 11.9

The President stated that Brother C. W. Olds, of Wisconsin, who went to the South to canvass, according to the recommendation of the last General Conference, has sold about $1,500 worth of denominational books in the vicinity of Birmingham, Alabama.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.1

The committee then presented the following:-GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.2

WHEREAS, There has been during the past year steady and tangible progress in all departments of our work, notwithstanding increased obstacles thrown in its way, and more active opposition than heretofore, on the part of those who desire to hinder its progress; therefore,GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.3

1. Resolved, That we recognize in this prosperity an evident token of God’s willingness to respond to the prayers and efforts of his people, and a prophecy that his counsel will guide and his hand defend and sustain this his work in the future. And,GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.4

WHEREAS, The increasing demands for our publications have rendered it necessary that both the Central and Pacific Publishing Associations should increase their facilities by enlarging the offices of publication at Battle Creek and Oakland, to nearly double their former capacity,GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.5

2. Resolved, That we commend the prompt action of the managers of both the Associations in taking their provision to meet the demand for our books and periodicals; and we regard this great increase in the circulation of our literature as a cheering evidence that this message is soon to arrest the attention of this generation.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.6

3. Resolved, That we had with pleasure the addition to our other periodicals of a paper in the Holland language, and we are peculiarly grateful to God for the success which has so far attended its publication, and for the marked progress of his work among that people.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.7

WHEREAS, The great religious, political crisis, in which will be involved the last conflict between truth and error, is even now overshadowing our land; and,GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.8

WHEREAS, In these troublous times the Lord by the prophet (Daniel 12:1) has assured protection to those only whose names are written in the book of life and whose robes are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb; and,GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.9

WHEREAS, The success of the cause of truth depends not upon human efforts but solely upon the power of God, which power can be secured only by bringing ourselves into such harmony with his will that we may become partakers of the divine nature, therefore,GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.10

4. Resolved, That we will, by the help of God, strive as never before to heed the injunction of the Scriptures, “Be ye holy, for I am holy,” and so separate ourselves from all sin and impurity of heart and life that the divine counsel may guide, and the divine power attend all our efforts.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.11

WHEREAS, The General Conference Association is a legally incorporated organization, capable of holding property and transacting business in any part of the world, and is therefore the proper body to look after the financial interest of our missions and other pioneer enterprises; and,GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.12

WHEREAS, This Association, in order to do the important work it is designed to accomplish, must have funds; therefore,GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.13

5. Resolved, That we recommend to those who have means to donate for the general advancement of the cause, or money which they can loan temporarily without interest, to deposit such means with this Association, rather than with any institution which is more local in its operations.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.14

WHEREAS, The opening of missions in foreign lands involves much expense, and is attended with many difficulties, therefore,GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.15

6. Resolved, That we hail with much gratitude the progress of the work in the different countries of Europe, as seen in the organization of four Conferences, the establishment of three offices of publication, and the large interest that has been awakened all over Europe.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.16

7. Resolved, That we approve of the efforts made, especially in Central Europe and Scandinavia, in holding mission schools for the purpose of educating canvassers and colporters; and we hereby express our gratitude at the success of the canvassing work in those countries as a potent means of bringing the truth before the masses.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.17

8. Resolved, That we approve of the removal of the office of publication in England from Great Grimsby to London, and the opening of a depot for our publications in Pater Noster Row; and we bid the mission workers there Godspeed in their efforts to establish the cause on a firm basis in the very heart of the English-speaking world.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.18

9. Resolved, That a standing committee of five be appointed by the Chairman, to confer with other committees which should be appointed in the various Conferences, in reference to the defense of those who may suffer persecution under oppressive Sunday laws, and also to direct in efforts that may be needed in various States to oppose the passage of such Sunday laws.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.19

S. H. Lane moved to adopt these resolutions after considering them separately. The second one was spoken to briefly and approvingly by J. N. Loughborough, C. H. Jones, S. H. Lane, D. H. Lamson, and A. R. Henry. Brethren Jones and Henry, as business managers of the Pacific Press and Central Publishing Houses, respectively, gave a brief statement of the improvements that have been made. Elder Lane spoke of the great growth of the publishing work within the past thirty years. Elder Lamson stated that the first press he ever saw was in 1849, when he saw the small hand press in a room in the third story of a house in Rochester, New York, the only press in use by the denomination. At that time a General Conference was held in the small kitchen of the house where the few office employees boarded. There were not then in the United States one-half as many Sabbath-keepers as were before him in the central portion of the room. Brother Henry stated that at one time during this summer it had been necessary to employ 180 hands at the publishing house in Battle Creek, Mich., in order to fill the demand for denominational literature.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.20

The third resolution was discussed by L. C. Chadwick, H. W. Miller, J. H. Morrison, and W. C. White. Brother Chadwick stated that one lady in Southern New York had taken many orders for the Bible Reader, as the Holland paper is called, and that she had taken about as many orders for the Signs of the Times as for it since the people were educating their children in English. Brother White thought that some canvassers who had made a success with the paper in this country, ought to be sent to Holland.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 12.21

The fourth resolution called forth earnest remarks from Elders E. W. Farnsworth, A. T. Jones, D. H. Lamson, and others.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 13.1

By request of A. T. Jones, action upon the fifth resolution was deferred until the next meeting.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 13.2

On the sixth, Elder Olsen said that last winter he visited a church in the north of Sweden, where there were thirty members. The church was raised up thus: A brother in Kansas had sent some Swedish papers into that town five or six years ago, but hearing nothing from them he thought his work was lost. Finally he received a letter from a man who stated that he was keeping the Sabbath, that another man was just about to do so, and that the whole community was stirred. He asked for a minister. The Kansas brother wrote to Sweden to have a minister sent, and in three weeks a church of nineteen members was organized. And this was in a country where it usually takes from six months to a year to mature the work. The result was due to the papers, which had prepared the way.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 13.3

Elder White thought that the seventh resolution ought to recognize the canvassing work in England, since more had been done there than in both the other countries. Accordingly it was voted to refer that resolution back to the committee for revision.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 13.4

The eighth resolution called forth remarks from Elders Loughborough, Lane, and White concerning the benefits to be derived by establishing the work in London instead of the comparatively unknown town of Great Grimsby.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 13.5

The Committee on Resolutions then reported the seventh resolution again, having struck out the word “especially,” and added the words, “Great Britain,” just before Scandinavia. No objections being received, the ninth resolution was read, but before it was considered, the meeting, on motion of A. T. Jones, adjourned to the call of the Chair.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 13.6

At 6:30 o’clock Dr. Kellogg gave a talk on hygiene, and at 7 o’clock a Bible-reading was conducted by A. T. Robinson.GCDB November 17, 1887, page 13.7

VOLUME 1. - OAKLAND, CAL., - NUMBER 3

VOLUME 1. - OAKLAND, CAL., - NUMBER 5