Mrs. Ellen G. White was so disturbed by the controversy that she could not sleep for several nights. In the meantime, John Burden contacted Loma Linda’s owners and declined the purchase. On May 14, 1905, however, White wrote an impassioned letter: “Dear Brother Burden: Your letter has just been read. I had no sooner finished reading it than I said, I will consult no one: for I have no question at all about the matter. . . . Secure the property by all means, so that it can be held, and then obtain all the money you can and make sufficient payments to hold the place. Do not delay; for it is just what is needed.”
Having this straightforward direction and being aware that others had become interested in buying the recently depreciated property, Burden contacted the Loma Linda Association. He arranged to purchase the land and buildings. Had he been an hour later, the opportunity might have been lost. Agents were about to offer the property to other parties. He little realized how much controversy he was about to cause. His decisions, however, would soon strengthen not only his own faith but also that of his fellow believers. The effects would be felt for many decades to come.
The Loma Linda Association wanted to recover as much of their investment as possible, and as soon as promptly. The purchase was to be completed within three years and eight months. A $5,000 down payment would be followed by three monthly payments of $5,000. The remaining half of the price ($20,000) would be due at the end of three years. One thousand dollars would secure an option that would hold the property for a few days.
Burden contacted a few church members whom he thought might be generous, only to learn that they had already supported the purchase of the Paradise Valley and Glendale Sanitariums. Tensions mounted. Members of the Southern California Conference Committee felt that Mrs. White should have consulted with church leaders before directing Burden to purchase Loma Linda. They sent a telegram to their colleagues in Washington, DC. The conference people replied that they would take no responsibility. Mrs. White, however, “hung in there,” continually pressing Burden to act. And bless the good pastor. He did it!
Loma Linda’s owners agreed with Burden to hold the property for $1,000 until June 15, when the remainder of the $5,000 down payment would be due. Burden didn’t even have the first thousand dollars. But he did know that Ellen White had said that money “would come from unexpected sources.” Letters continued to come from Mrs. White “urging us to move forward, stating that if we would move forward as it was our privilege, the Lord would open the way before us.”
One of John Burden’s friends, Roderick S. Owen of San Fernando, remembered hearing a man say that he would donate to a good cause, if he could sell some of his property. On Thursday afternoon, May 25, 1905, Burden and Owen went by rail to the man’s farm. He lived south of Los Angeles, near the coast. Nobody at home. The two walked a mile and a half back to the rail crossing. There they failed to flag down the electric car. Now they had to wait for two hours for a return car.
Burden always believed that they were providentially impressed to return to the farmer’s home. They arrived at dusk to find the farmer and his family already eating supper. Burden and Owen introduced themselves.
Upon hearing of Mrs. White’s telegram and letters, Mr. Larson suddenly exclaimed:
“Praise the Lord. I have been praying for months for the Lord to send me a buyer for my place, that I might get out of the city and devote my means to advance His cause. A few days ago a man came and purchased my place, and the money is now lying in the bank. …I am sure the Lord wants it to secure this property.”
Burden later wrote, “Without hesitation he turned over to us $2,400. It was such a surprise it fairly took our breath. We finally recovered our poise and said: ‘We have no receipt, brother.’ He said that was all right, as the Lord was in this thing. This experience, simple though it was, strengthened our faith that God was in the move, and ever afterward held us steady as perplexities arose. . . .”
The next day, Friday afternoon, May 26, 1905, participants came to Loma Linda to sign the contract of sale. Because it was nearing sunset and the Sabbath, Burden and the few church members with him postponed the signing of the papers until the following Monday. On the intervening Sunday, May 28, Burden’s supervisor, G. W. Reaser, the new president of the Southern California Conference, who was at General Conference headquarters near Washington, DC, sent Burden a telegram: “Developments here warrant advising do not make deposit on sanitarium.”
So what should Burden do? Mrs. White had directed him to proceed with the Loma Linda purchase. Burden’s immediate supervisor (the conference president), however, had told him to cancel the deal. It seemed certain that there would be no funds to make the total deposit, much less the subsequent payments.
Still, at Mrs. White's urging, and with her assurance that the Lord would provide, on Monday, May 29, 1905, Burden paid $1,000 (from the $2,400 he had just received from Mr. Larson) to secure an option to buy Loma Linda. By taking personal responsibility, he did not commit insubordination. Loma Linda was his. But, he risked forfeiting the money as well as the property if the total down payment or any of the subsequent payments could not be made.
To be continued…