While attending the General Conference
of 1905, at Washington, D. C., I received a letter from J. A.
Burden describing a property he had found about four miles from
Redlands. As I read his letter I was impressed that this was
one of the places I had seen in vision, and I immediately telegraphed
him to secure the property without delay. Later, when I visited
the property, I recognized it as one of the places I had seen
nearly two years before in vision. How thankful I am to the Lord
our God for this place!
One of the chief advantages of Loma Linda
is the pleasing variety of charming scenery on every side. The
extensive view of valley and mountain is magnificent. But more
important than magnificent scenery and beautiful buildings and
spacious grounds is the close proximity of this institution to
a densely populated district and the opportunity thus afforded
of communicating to many, many people a knowledge of the third
angel's message. We are to have clear spiritual discernment,
else we shall fail of discerning the opening providences of God
that are preparing the way for us to enlighten the world.
With the possession of this place comes
the weighty responsibility of making the work of the institution
educational in character. Loma Linda is to be not only a sanitarium,
but an educational center. A school is to be established here
for the training of gospel medical missionary evangelists. Much
is involved in this work, and it is very essential that a right
beginning be made. The Lord has
a special work to be done in this field. He instructed me to
call on Elder and Mrs. Haskell to help us in getting properly
started a work similar to that which they had carried on at Avondale.
Laborers of experience have consented to unite with the forces
at Loma Linda to develop the school that must be carried on there.
As they go forward in faith, the Lord will go before them, preparing
the way.
In regard to the school I would say: Make
it especially strong in the education of nurses and physicians.
In medical missionary schools many workers are to be qualified
with the ability of physicians to labor as medical missionary
evangelists. This training, the Lord has specified, is in harmony
with the principles underlying true higher education. We hear
a great deal about the higher education. The highest education
is to follow in the footsteps of Christ, patterning after the
example He gave when He was in the world. We cannot gain an education
higher than this, for this class of training will make men laborers
together with God.
To have the higher education is to have
a living connection with Christ. The Saviour took the unlearned
fishermen from their boats and their fishing nets and connected
them with Himself as He traveled from place to place, teaching
the people and ministering to their needs. Sitting down on a
rock or on some elevated place, He would gather His disciples
about Him and give them instruction, and, before long, hundreds
of people would be listening to His words. There are many men
and women who suppose that they know all that is worth knowing,
when they greatly need to sit humbly at the feet of Jesus and
learn of Him who gave His life that He might redeem a fallen
world. We all need Christ--the One who left the royal courts,
laying off His kingly robe and
crown and His majesty in the heavens, and clothing Himself with
humanity. The Son of God came as a little babe, that He might
understand the experiences of humanity and know how to deal with
them. He knows the wants of the children. In the days of His
earthly ministry He would not allow them to be forbidden to come
to Him. Send them not away, He said to His disciples, "for
of such is the kingdom of heaven."
In the work of the school maintain simplicity.
No argument is so powerful as is success founded on simplicity.
You may attain success in the education of students as medical
missionaries without a medical school that can qualify physicians
to compete with the physicians of the world. Let the students
be given a practical education. The less dependent you are upon
worldly methods of education, the better it will be for the students.
Special instruction should be given in the art of treating the
sick without the use of poisonous drugs and in harmony with the
light that God has given. In the treatment of the sick, poisonous
drugs need not be used. Students should come forth from the school
without having sacrificed the principles of health reform or
their love for God and righteousness.
The education that meets the world's standard
is to be less and less valued by those who are seeking for efficiency
in carrying the medical missionary work in connection with the
work of the third angel's message. They are to be educated from
the standpoint of conscience, and, as they conscientiously and
faithfully follow right methods in their treatment of the sick,
these methods will come to be recognized as preferable to the
methods to which many have become accustomed, which demand the
use of poisonous drugs.
We should not at this time seek to compete
with worldly medical schools. Should
we do this, our chances of success would be small. We are not
now prepared to carry out successfully the work of establishing
large medical institutions of learning. Moreover, should we follow
the world's methods of medical practice, exacting the large fees
that worldly physicians demand for their services, we would work
away from Christ's plan for our ministry to the sick.
There should be at our sanitariums intelligent
men and women who can instruct in Christ's methods of ministry.
Under the instruction of competent, consecrated teachers the
youth may become partakers of the divine nature and learn how
to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. I
have been instructed that we should have many more women who
can deal especially with the diseases of women, many more lady
nurses who will treat the sick in a simple way without the use
of drugs.
It is not in harmony with the instruction
given at Sinai that gentlemen physicians should do the work of
midwives. The Bible speaks of women at childbirth being attended
by women, and thus it ought always to be. Women should be educated
and trained to act skillfully as midwives and physicians to their
sex. This is the Lord's plan. Let us educate ladies to become
intelligent in the work of treating the diseases of their sex.
We ought to have a school where women can be educated by women
physicians to do the best possible work in treating the diseases
of women. Among us as a people the medical work should stand
at its highest.
In Loma Linda we have an advantageous center
for the carrying on of various missionary enterprises. We can
see that it was in the providence of God that this
sanitarium was placed in the possession of
our people. We should appreciate Loma Linda as a place which
the Lord foresaw we should need and which He gave us. There is
a very precious work to be done in connection with the interests
of the sanitarium and the school at Loma Linda, and this will
be done, when we all work to that end, moving unitedly in God's
order.
At Loma Linda many can be educated to work
as missionaries in the cause of health and temperance. Teachers
are to be prepared for many lines of work. Schools are to be
established in places where as yet no efforts have been made.
Missionaries are to go to other states where little work has
been done. The work of promulgating the principles of health
reform must be accomplished. God help us as a people to be wise.
I feel a deep interest that careful study
shall be given to the needs of our institutions at Loma Linda
and that right moves shall be made. In the carrying forward of
the work at this place, men of talent and decided spirituality
are needed. The best teachers are to be employed in the educational
work, men and women who will walk circumspectly, depending wholly
upon the Lord. If the teachers in medical lines will stand in
their place in the fear of God, we shall see a good work done.
With Christ as our educator we may reach a high standard in the
knowledge of the true science of healing.
That which is of the most importance is
that the students be taught how to represent aright the principles
of health reform. Teach them to pursue this line of study faithfully,
combined with other essential lines of education. The grace of
Jesus Christ will give wisdom to all who follow the Lord's plan
of true education. Let the students follow closely the example
of the One who purchased the human
race with the costly price of His own life. Let them appeal to
the Saviour and depend upon Him as the One who heals all manner
of diseases. The Lord would have the workers make special efforts
to point the sick and suffering to the Great Physician who made
the human body.
It is well that our training schools for
Christian workers should be established near to our health institutions,
that the students may be educated in the principles of healthful
living. Institutions that send forth workers who are able to
give a reason for their faith, and who have a faith which works
by love and purifies the soul, are of great value. I have clear
instruction that, wherever it is possible, schools should be
established near to our sanitariums, that each institution may
be a help and strength to the other. He who created man has an
interest in those who suffer. He has directed in the establishment
of our sanitariums and in the building up of our schools close
to our sanitariums, that they may become efficient mediums in
training men and women for the work of ministering to suffering
humanity.
Let Seventh-day Adventist medical workers
remember that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Christ was the
greatest physician that ever trod this sin-cursed earth. The
Lord would have His people come to Him for their power of healing.
He will baptize them with His Holy Spirit and fit them for a
service that will make them a blessing in restoring the spiritual
and physical health of those who need healing.