Announced Plans for the “University” in Battle Creek

There would be “many courses of study offered by various schools carried on in connection with the Battle Creek Sanitarium”—“professional, scientific, literary, Biblical, technical.” Forty courses offered would lead to diplomas and degrees. In addition to the above, numerous trades would be taught, such as steamfitting, plumbing, blacksmithing, carpentry, painting, tinsmithing, steam and electrical engineering, shoemaking, and dressmaking.6BIO 63.3

All these were offered to Seventh-day Adventist youth who had no money. They could meet expenses by working at the Sanitarium (The Medical Missionary, October, 1905; AGD to EGW, October 11, 1905).6BIO 63.4

When young people in perplexity made inquiry of Battle Creek, they received letters from J. H. Kellogg, A. T. Jones, or Mrs. Foy. To a medical student who had been advised to get his medical training elsewhere than Battle Creek, A. T. Jones wrote: “It is impossible for me to escape the conviction that the minister who advised you to change your plans in this way advised you wrongly.”—A. T. Jones to Abner B. Dunn, September 20, 1905, attached to AGD to EGW, October 11, 1905.6BIO 63.5

Dr. J. H. Kellogg wrote to a nurse in training at a smaller SDA sanitarium, urging that it would be greatly to the advantage of nurses to graduate from the Battle Creek Sanitarium. He closed his letter with these words:6BIO 63.6

As regards Washington, their plans there have mostly collapsed. They were going to have a great sanitarium out at Takoma Park. Where is it? They were going to have a big sanitarium downtown. Where is it? Dr. Hare has resigned, and I guess they have gotten pretty near the end of their financial rope.... It is not at all likely they will be able to anywhere nearly pay their running expenses.—J. H. Kellogg letter attached to AGD to EGW, October 11, 1905.6BIO 64.1

Daniells saw all this as “a great dragnet with which to catch our young people“: it could cause the loss of “hundreds of the very flower of our young people” (AGD to EGW, October 11, 1905).6BIO 64.2

At Elmshaven the staff began collecting material for publication concerning the Battle Creek issues. They expected it might make a book (29 WCW, p. 402).6BIO 64.3

A week before Elder Daniells’ October 11 letter came to Ellen White, her son reported:6BIO 64.4

There was a great burden on her mind because of the influences going out from Battle Creek to mislead and confuse our people. She told me that what she has written to our physicians and sanitarium managers in the past must be printed, and she called my attention to a large number of manuscripts which she said contained information which our people ought to have. So your letter was not a surprise to Mother.— Ibid., 294, 295.6BIO 64.5

The counsel of church leaders was sought as to what should be published and how it should reach the field6BIO 64.6