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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
mention. As early as 1850 this brother became a Sabbathkeeper, and
from that date he contributed liberally to the several enterprises that
have been undertaken to advance the cause, till he became reduced in
property. Yet when the urgent, unqualified call came for the Institute,
he took stock to the amount of one hundred dollars. At the meeting
at-----he introduced the case of his wife, who is very feeble, and who
can be helped, but must be helped soon, if ever. He also stated his
circumstances, and said that if he could command the one hundred
dollars then in the Institute, he could send his wife there to be treated;
but as it was, he could not. We replied that he should never have
invested a dollar in the Institute, that there was a wrong in the matter
which we could not help, and there the matter dropped. I do not
hesitate to say that this sister should be treated, a few weeks at least,
at the Institute free of charge. Her husband is able to do but little more
than to pay her fare to and from Battle Creek.
The friends of humanity, of truth and holiness, should act in ref-
erence to the Institute on the plan of sacrifice and liberality. I have
five hundred dollars in stock in the Institute, which I wish to donate,
and if my husband succeeds with his anticipated book, he will give
five hundred dollars more. Will those who approve this plan please
address us at Greenville, Montcalm County, Michigan, and state the
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sums they wish to donate, or to invest in stock to be held as the stock
in the Publishing Association is held. When this is done, then let the
donations come in as needed; let the sums, small and large, come in.
Let means be expended judiciously. Let charges for patients be as
reasonable as possible. Let brethren donate to partly pay the expenses
at the Institute of the suffering, worthy poor among them. Let the
feeble ones be led out, as they can bear it, to cultivate the beautifully
situated acres owned by the Institute. Let them not do this with the
narrow idea of pay, but with the liberal idea that the expense of the
purchase of them was a matter of benevolence for their good. Let their
labor be a part of their prescription, as much as the taking of baths.
Let benevolence, charity, humanity, sacrifice for others’ good, be the
ruling idea with physicians, managers, helpers, patients, and with all
the friends of Jesus, far and near, instead of wages, good investment, a
paying thing, stock that will pay. Let the love of Christ, love for souls,
sympathy for suffering humanity, govern all we say and do relative to
the Health Institute.