The First $5,000 Payment

However, the officers of the Southern California Conference felt that more than one church should be heard from before the conference could be brought into it. June 20 was set for a delegated meeting of the conference as a time for the decision. In the meantime June 14 would come with its payment of $4,000 due. It took considerable faith and courage just then to meet the payment to complete the first installment on the $40,000. The farmer down the coast had provided $2,400. Elder Burden talked with another church member, Belle Baker. She could see no reason to hesitate and said she would put up $1,000.”You may lose it,” Burden suggested.”I'll risk it,” she replied (Ibid., 356).WV 469.7

Then Burden conferred with his friend, R. S. Owen.”I don't have the money,” Owen declared, “but I'll mortgage my house for it.” He was able to get an unsecured loan for the needed amount, and the June payment was made on schedule.WV 470.1

Five days later, on June 20, the constituency of the Southern California Conference met. They were faced with the matter of whether Loma Linda should be purchased, and, if so, whether it would be operated “by private corporation or by the conference assuming the financial responsibility of the enterprise” (Pacific Union Recorder, July 13, 1905). Ellen White was on hand for the meeting. She spoke for more than an hour on the work that should be done in southern California and urged that the Loma Linda property be secured, as it fully met the descriptions of the properties shown to her in vision. She declared, “This is the very property that we ought to have” (Ibid.).WV 470.2

Still the leading officers of the Southern California Conference hesitated. How, with the heavy debt on the conference, could they become further involved in securing properties and starting sanitariums? Conference officers cautioned the delegates to move guardedly.WV 470.3

Then G. A. Irwin, the newly elected General Conference vice president, rose to speak. He was on a mission to California, and while passing through Los Angeles had been urged to visit Loma Linda. He had just that morning come from there, and now spoke in favor of securing that institution. He rehearsed a number of incidents in which, when Mrs. White's counsel was followed and workers and church members responded to the guiding messages, God signally blessed and success came to the work.WV 470.4

The audience listened attentively as Elder Irwin spoke with measured words: “Although the conference is heavily in debt, I believe it to be to the glory of God that the conference should assume this responsibility” (Ibid.).WV 470.5

Elder Irwin's speech, exuding confidence in the Spirit of Prophecy counsels and urging action, turned the tide. The constituency voted unanimously in favor of securing the Loma Linda property and opening a third sanitarium in southern California. Cash and pledges totaling $1,100 were offered in support of the action.WV 470.6