On February 23, 1916, the Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists (CME) Board voted to appoint a committee of five to recommend to the Board a site to be purchased for the hospital in Los Angeles, to present plans for the hospital building, and to assist in the collection of funds for the hospital and outpatient dispensary. On March 23, 1916, the Board named the proposed facility the “Ellen G. White Memorial Hospital,” referred to in later years as “The White.” Readers may remember that during the denomination’s Autumn Council held in Loma Linda in 1915, one evening four non-delegate women proposed that the women of the church raise the funds for a clinical hospital in Los Angeles to be named after their sister who had just died shortly before.
On April 23, Dr. P. T. Magan reported results from the solicitation of donations for the hospital building. On April 24, the Board voted to “ask the North American Division Conference to dedicate October 21, 1916, as the day when our people in the Division shall be asked to donate for the Ellen G. White Memorial Hospital Fund, and to suggest to the North American Division Committee, that the amount asked for…shall be one dollar or more from each member.”
On May 16, 1916, the North American Division executive committee heard a petition from the CME Board. “Dear Brethren: Last fall it was arranged by the Division Conference Council held at Loma Linda, California, that a campaign should be inaugurated during the early part of 1916 to raise the sum of $61,000 for the erection of a hospital and [outpatient] dispensary for our medical school, the same to be erected in Los Angeles, California. “Some of our sisters volunteered to undertake the raising of this sum of money. The North American Division Council authorized these women to undertake the raising of the above sum of money, offering to them their fullest cooperation.… Later the North American Division Committee advised the appointment of a Women’s Committee in each Union and local conference to cooperate with the leaders of the Women’s Movement in their endeavor to secure the above funds….”
The report, signed by Dr. Magan, contained a partial list of pledges already totaling $31,382.50 including $10,000 from two wealthy women, $250 from Pastor and Mrs. John A. Burden, and $1,500 from medical students. “Dr. Leroy Otis’ little son” pledged $40. A list of conditional pledges totaled $13,250, and included $1,000 from the St. Helena Sanitarium.
The Autumn Council of the North American Division Conference published its recommendations regarding the fundraising effort in the denominational REVIEW AND HERALD. Mrs. S. N. Haskell was invited to organize the movement with representative women from each union and local conference. The endeavor would be promoted by articles in the REVIEW AND HERALD, the union conference papers, by correspondence, and by personal solicitation.
Some of Ellen White’s sisters in the church sewed and some made rugs and other articles. The Central California Conference appointed one woman from each congregation to coordinate the fund-raising enterprise. Because they lived in peach country some women picked peaches. One woman donated $3.50 as a result of her day’s work. Even children caught the spirit. One little boy donated $1.25.
On June 7, 1916, the Board voted to approve the preliminary steps taken by the hospital committee toward securing the Michigan and Boyle Avenues property in Los Angles, California, for $8,000.
On one of Magan’s first fundraising trips, he visited with his friend Dr. David Paulson, at the Hinsdale Sanitarium. Then he wrote to Mrs. White’s son, W. C. White, “I cannot but feel that in Los Angeles I have undertaken the biggest contract in my life, and I know that without special help from God it will shipwreck me, for I am not big enough, nor man enough, and I do not have sense enough to put that thing through. It is beset with difficulties from every side.” He had to buy the property and build the hospital. Magan’s diary illustrates his realization that he needed divine help. After a day of difficult meetings at Loma Linda, he wrote: “In the evening walked around the hill to my favorite seat and prayed for a long time. God strengthened me and many things began to clear up in my mind.
A sense of security in God came over me and I knew that He is my Helper.”
Dr. Magan acknowledged the contributions made by the women of the church, especially three who he regarded as crucial to the survival of CME. “Over and over again I have said, and have told many others,…the credit of bringing the medical school to its birth and of keeping it alive will belong to three women—Lida F. Scott [heiress to the Funk and Wagnals publishing fortune], May Covington, and Josephine Gotzian….”
On July 5, 1916, the Board voted to adopt and forward a copy of the following resolution to Mrs. Gotzian, one of the institution’s long-time supporters: “Resolved:- That we, the members of the Board of Trustees of the College of Medical Evangelists do consider it a sincere pleasure and privilege to express to Sister Josephine Gotzian our heartfelt gratitude for her loyal and selfsacrificing support and generous financial assistance to the Ellen G. White Memorial Hospital and we fully realize that this little expression of our thanks is but small compensation for all that she has done, but we trust it may be received as a token of the deepest sentiment of our hearts.” Mrs. Gotzian was one of the four women who proposed during the 1915 Autumn Council in Loma Linda, that the women of the denomination raise the money to build a clinical hospital in Los Angeles.
To be continued…
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