The Building of Mammoth Institutions
It is that thirsting souls may be led to the living water that we plead for sanitariums, not extensive, mammoth sanitariums, but homelike institutions in pleasant places. (SpTB06 55.1)
Never, never build mammoth institutions. Let these institutions be small, and let there be more of them, that the work of winning souls to Christ may be accomplished.... The sick are to be reached, not by massive buildings, but by the establishment of small sanitariums, which are to be as lights shining in a dark place. Those who are engaged in this work are to reflect the sunlight of Christ’s face. They are to be as salt that has not lost its savor. By sanitarium work properly conducted, the influence of true, pure religion will be extended to many souls. (SpTB06 55.2)
I have been instructed to tell our people that they are not to erect such large buildings for sanitariums. The medical institution in Battle Creek would better have been divided into at least seven different plants, so that other places would have had proper facilities for the care of the sick. There are many places in Europe and in America where medical missionary work should be begun; but these openings have been neglected in order to build up a great institution in Battle Creek, while nothing is as yet established in London and other places in Europe; nothing in many cities in our own country. The centering of so much in Battle Creek leads many of our people to drift in there, and this congested condition often destroys their piety and unfits them for the Master’s service. (SpTB06 55.3)