A Response to an Urgent Testimony
By Doctor Charles Stewart
11
Erection of Buildings In Chicago
In the early part of 1899 you sent Dr. K. a testimony in which you stated that Dr. K. had taken money from the Battle Creek Sanitarium to erect buildings in Chicago.
Testimony to Sanitarium Board, Jan. 31, 1899:
"I am directed by the Lord to call upon you to do something for us, and to do it now."
"Some division of your funds must be made for this purpose."
An Appeal for the Work in Australia," 1899, p. 36:
"… the profits of the sanitarium should be largely used in helping similar institutions in needy circumstances."...
Testimony, Geelong, Victoria, March 10, 1900:
"It galls my soul to think that though I have presented our necessities to the managers of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, the money that should have been used to provide this field with facilities has been absorbed in other enterprises. The Lord instructed me that I had a right as his steward to call for means from the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Australia. Such an institution is greatly needed in this country and would accomplish far more than an institution of the same kind would accomplish in America. Light has been given me that the money which should have been used to establish this institution has been used in the work in Chicago. This was not a right disposition of the money. Dr. K. has established institutions and carried on a work which has consumed so much of the available means in one spot of the Lord's vineyard while other portions of the vineyard have been left without enough to make a beginning. This is a misconception of the mind and will of God, so much money should not have been absorbed in erecting buildings in one locality, but should have been used in carrying forward aggressive work in other parts of the field."
It was a considerable time after the sending out of the first testimony relative to this matter before any explanation was given by you as to what was really meant, other than the plain statement of the testimony. It is evident that during this time you were under the impression that the buildings had been erected, because upon your return from Australia, when looking over the work in Chicago, you asked Dr. Paulson where the buildings were that had been erected.
In further proof of this statement, we quote from a talk by you in June, 1902, as follows:
"During the general meetings held here in June, 1902, I attended three meetings in the Sanitarium Chapel. I had a decided message to bear to the people. A heavy burden rested upon me to make a clear statement of the principles that should be followed in our medical missionary work. I was very thankful that Judge Arthur was present to hear the message that the Lord had given me. I asked the Lord for help, and was assured of His presence." . . .
"Shortly after the meetings closed, Judge Arthur and his wife spent part of a day at my home. We had much pleasant and profitable conversation. Among other things discussed was the matter of the representation that had been given me of an expensive building in the city of Chicago, used for various lines of medical missionary work. I related how that when I was in Australia, I was shown a large building in Chicago, which, in its erection and equipment, cost a large amount of money. And I was shown the error of investing means in any such buildings in our cities." "I saw the expensive building above referred to, fall, with many others."
"As I related some of these matters, and described the building that had been shown me, Judge Arthur said: 'I can tell you something in regard to that building. A plan was drawn up for the erection of just such a building in Chicago. It would have cost considerable money. Brother William Loughborough, of Battle Creek, drew up the plans, and several men occupying responsible positions in the medical work met together to consider the matter. Various locations were considered. One of the plans discussed was very similar to what you have described."'
"Sometime after this [note date above, June, 1902] I was shown that the vision [given nearly three years ago] of buildings in Chicago and the draft upon the means of our people to erect them, and their destruction, was an object-lesson for our people, warning them not to invest largely of their means in property in Chicago, or any other city, unless the providence of God should positively open the way and plainly point out duty to build or to buy as necessary, in giving the note of warning."
(Note. The contemplated medical college building was to be erected by funds secured from the sale of 28 Thirty-Third Place which already belonged to the College—neither the Sanitarium nor the people were asked to contribute to this.)
Why did you quote judge Arthur in June, 1902, when he specifically told both you and W. C. White that he did not remember the facts, but that he would send them to W. C. White in a letter as soon as he returned home and got access to the records containing them? This letter was sent to W. C. White Aug. 27, 1902, but your statement was made June, 1902.
Believing that wrong use was being made of the information given W. C. White and yourself in that only a few of the facts and some errors were being related, I asked the judge to give me the facts, which he has done in the letters quoted below, a perusal of which, together with the minutes of the meeting of the College Board, will quite fully explain:
April 18, 1907.
According to promise I have looked up and enclose herewith the copy of my letter to Elder W. C. White, dated Aug. 27, 1902, relating to the Medical Missionary College building which it was at one time proposed to erect in Chicago. The circumstances which brought about this letter are as follows:
While I was in California with Mrs. Arthur (I think it was the month of June, 1902), staying at St. Helena Sanitarium, one evening Elder W. C. White called upon me at the Sanitarium and remained in consultation with me until late at night with reference to various denominational matters that were at the time unsettled, and which it was proposed to lay before Sister White for her decision. In the course of this conversation I incidentally mentioned the fact of our having proposed at one time to erect this building. Elder White inquired more particularly into the circumstances connected with the matter, and then stated that what I had said had somewhat explained to him a mystery connected with a testimony coming from Sister White referring to the erection of certain buildings in Chicago for medical missionary work. He asked me if I would give him a detailed statement of everything that occurred. I told him that I could not do that as very many of the facts and circumstances connected with the transaction had passed out of my memory, but that upon my return home I would look them up and write him the result of my investigation.
The next day while out driving with Sister White and my wife, Elder White, who was with us, mentioned to Sister White the conversation on this subject that he had had with me the evening previous, and something more was said with reference to it, just what, I do not remember, except that I stated also to Sister White that I would write the facts in a letter to Elder White as soon as I returned home and got access to the records containing them.
- Youre very truly,
- JESSE ARTHUR.