The Fuller Memorial Sanitarium was established in June, 1937, as a result of a gift from the late George S. and Mary Fuller Estate to the Seventh-day Adventist Layman's Benevolent Association of New England. It is situated on highway number one, just north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in South Attleboro, Massachusetts. This beautifully situated country estate has completed its first ten years of service to the community.
The institution includes about twenty-one acres of laid and a large stucco building with red tile roof. The main building is about thirty years old, and at the time of its completion was the very latest in modern equipment and furnishings. When it was turned over to the Benevolent Association, Dr. Julian S. Gant, now of Madison College, Tennessee; and Irving S. Yelland, of Boston, who were instrumental in securing the Property, laid the foundation for our present work. These two men deserve the credit for the important organizational work which has secured for us one of the finest institutions of its kind in New England.
When the sanitarium was opened in 1937, there was a capacity of twelve beds under the direction of Mr. Opkyke, who, with his wife, a graduate nurse, admitted the first patients. Since this date the sanitarium has grown steadily until at the present time it has a capacity of thirty-seven beds, twenty-six full-time workers, and three part-time workers. During the past ten years we have admitted over twelve hundred patients who have been mostly neuropsychiatric, convalescent, and medical problems. During the past six years we have trained twenty-seven attendant nurses, giving them a course of fifteen months' training in the basic principles of nursing. Had it not been for these faithful attendant nurses, I am sure we would have had a much more difficult time in surviving the nursing shortage during the recent war.
In all our efforts to serve our patients we have stressed Seventh-day Adventist principles, a fact which has been appreciated by most of our patients. I am also happy to say that a number of patients have been baptized into our faith through the influence of the sanitarium.
Another feature of our work is the self-supporting basis on which this institution has operated. Since its beginning we have had no endowment whatsoever. The income from our patients has paid for the improvements that have been made in increasing numbers during the years. There have been, however, a number of gifts to the sanitarium which have been greatly appreciated. We have been richly blessed in our endeavor during the stressing years of the war.
At the present time we feel that our sanitarium is well equipped for the type of work we are doing. We have established a hydrotherapy department in the basement which includes an all-tile wet room, fully equipped and furnished for this type of work. We have also been able to equip a nurses' dormitory. This was made from a very large garage, and has six private rooms and three apartments. Because of the housing shortage we have utilized several other buildings already on the property as homes for our workers. This has been accomplished largely through the untiring efforts of our present business manager, Walter Spady.
In the past ten years this small but growing institution not only has supported itself and a large number of faithful workers but has contributed materially to the financial success of our local church. In dollars and cents we have passed the quarter of a million mark for tithes and offerings. Truly we can say, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."
The Fuller Memorial Sanitarium has not neglected the spiritual side of its program. Our chaplain, Frank Cummings, visits all patients shortly after admission, and becomes acquainted with them and their needs. Each patient is an appropriate gift booklet with the compliments of the Fuller Memorial Sanitarium. Steps to Christ is frequently used. Once a week a small booklet on a Bible message is left so that patients will have access to some of our message. There is also a Bible in each room. Denominational tracts and papers are given out frequently.
Devotional services and worship are conducted each morning in the sanitarium parlor. This is attended by the workers and many of the patients. Numerous patients have complimented us on these devotional periods. Many have expressed their appreciation for the spiritual strength which they have gained through them.
There are in addition to the worship periods one or two evening services each week where an opportunity is given to patients who request special prayer. At times these programs are conducted by our nurses or outside speakers. Choral groups from other churches have assisted in making these programs successful.
A patient's Sabbath school class is conducted Sabbath afternoons in the parlor, using our regular Sabbath school Quarterly, and a number of patients are studying their lessons each day. All patients are provided with a Quarterly.
Some who do not come to the class study in their room. Our oldest patient, aged ninety-three, studies her lesson each week. This class has given over $50 this year for the Sabbath school offering to missions.
Not only the chaplain but also the nurses make a practice of offering prayer at the bed-side of the patients who express their desire for it. The nurses and workers are encouraged to read to the patients from the Bible, or from books and magazines. Some patients have requested to visit our church in Pawtucket, and transportation is secured for them. A number of them have visited on various occasions. It is encouraging to notice that some of our patients have expressed their belief in the Sabbath and have a real desire to keep it. Others have expressed the desire to join our church, and we have already baptized a few as a direct influence of the sanitarium.
Many patients have spoken favorably of the spiritual atmosphpre which exists at the sanitarium. Our present aim is to continue to educate patients in the matter of good health and proper standards of living, and to discourage the bad habits which are so prevalent today.
We have sent out five hundred Life and Health subscriptions to former patients, friends, and physicians. We also aim to encourage more Bible studies, and to arouse an interest in our own distinctive doctrines. This is readily accomplished in the atmosphere which exists at the Fuller Memorial Sanitarium. We plan to use more books and denominational literature in our book rack during the coming year. Our immediate aim is to win at least one convert to Christ this year.
This type of program is consistent with our denominational principles, and its value cannot be denied by any of those who have visited our institution.