Nineteenth Meeting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 1, 1905

Nineteenth Meeting

The nineteenth meeting was called to order at 9:30 A. M., May 23; A. G. Daniells in the chair.

Prayer was offered by S. H. Lane. A few minutes were given to formal legal meetings of the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium Association and the General Conference Association.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read.

The chairman was called on to report the interview with President Roosevelt. It was a very pleasant and satisfactory interview. The President wished the deputation to express to the conference his appreciation of the address presented and of the sentiments expressed. More time was allowed in the interview than had been expected, and the reception was very cordial. The press has reprinted the address.

The committee on plans was asked to report further on the recommendations referred back at the last session.

The recommendations were reported as follows, and adopted as subsections 6 and 7, of recommendation 17:—

(6) That each conference institution be placed under the management of local boards elected by the conference, or by such arrangement as the conference may provide; that said local Boards be chosen with reference to securing the best possible attention to the current needs and direction of the work of the institution; and that said local Boards be responsible to the conference which they represent.

(7) That owing to the difference of the local corporate laws and existing conditions in various parts of the world, the question of holding the property be left to local conferences and fields.

The further report was taken up and adopted as follows:—

18. We further recommend:—

(a) Name: Medical Missionary Council of the General Conference.

(b) Territory: The field of the General Conference.

(d) Relationship: (1) To the General Conference, departmental and administrative; that is to say, the Medical Missionary departmental committee is responsible to the General Conference for doing the work of the conference in medical missionary lines; (2) to union and local medical departments, institutions, and enterprises—advisory and co-operative.

19. Whereas, There is great need on the part of our people, and the world as well, of fuller knowledge of the principles of healthful living; therefore,—

We recommend, That there be inaugurated a vigorous health and temperance educational campaign throughout the world:—

(a) By the circulation of an efficient and up-to-date health and temperance literature.

(b) By encouraging those conducting sanitariums, treatment rooms, hygienic restaurants, and food stores to continually endeavor to make their work educational gospel enterprises.

(c) By aiding in making all our sanitariums, treatment rooms, hygienic restaurants, and food stores centers for the circulation of our health and temperance literature.

(d) By encouraging our physicians and nurses who are doing independent, self-supporting missionary work to make their work evangelical, and to be active in the circulation of our health and temperance literature.

(e) By inviting all our ministers to heartily unite in this campaign by preaching more frequently on health and temperance subjects, and encouraging all our churches to engage in this work.

(f) By holding conventions for our physicians, nurses, and other medical missionary workers, where practical questions on all phases of medical missionary work may be considered, and plans of work laid.

(g) By conducting schools of health as opportunity may make it advisable.

20. We recommend, That our people be encouraged to utilize medical missionary and health publications as far as possible in their missionary work.

21. Resolved, That provision be made for systematic instruction in medical missionary lines, including simple treatments, general hygiene, physical culture, and dietetics, in our schools and our general gatherings as far as consistent.

Question was called on the report, and it was unanimously adopted.

Further medical missionary recommendations were reported from the committee on plans, and on motion to adopt, considered, as follows:—

22. We recommend, That a standing committee of seven on medical literature be appointed by the Medical Missionary Council, who shall encourage the preparation of manuscripts, examine and pass upon such manuscripts as are submitted, and make recommendations to the General Conference Publication Committee and the publishing houses.

23. We recommend, That the publishing houses be requested to give the same attention to the publication and circulation of health and temperance literature as is given to other lines of publications.

24. We recommend, That the literature committee be requested to make a careful study of the most pressing needs in these lines, and of the special qualifications of individuals to meet these needs, and that those whose experience and other qualifications are suitable be requested to prepare and submit manuscripts for the use of this department.

25. Whereas, The work of the nurses’ training-school is fundamental to good medical missionary work,—

Resolved, That we approve of the effort that is being made to bring our training-schools for nurses to the highest possible standard.

26. Resolved, That everything possible be done to increase the missionary spirit, zeal, and efficiency of our nurses’ training-schools.

On recommendations 25 and 26, remarks were made, of which the following is a brief report:—

W. A. George called attention to the fact that some States are now requiring State qualifications for nurses, as for physicians. It is essential to maintain a high standard.

W. C. White: Training-schools should train students so that, as treatment-room workers, for instance, one will not simply wait for patronage to come, but be able to go out ministering to the poor, doing Bible work, and by health-literature canvassing, etc., work up a patronage.

C. McReynolds urged the importance of a course of study in Bible doctrines, so as to be able to give the third angel’s message to the people while ministering to their physical needs.

Dr. J. E. Colloran: In the Iowa Sanitarium school, Bible teachers are appointed to give the nurses the same instruction as Bible workers, and nurses must pass examination on Bible doctrine, the same as on other topics.

Dr. S. P. S. Edwards believed the nurses were as familiar with doctrines as the average of our youth. He rejoiced that there was a movement throughout all the denomination to ground our youth in the fundamentals of the message, and that this movement has penetrated the nurses’ training-school also. He urged that each conference give special attention to helping its training institutions to get this instruction. The physician in charge may do his best, but often his attention is so taken up with pressing lines of work that he can not prepare studies as he might desire.

S. H. Lane: Usually the nurse enters training at eighteen or twenty, and before that time in the regular school work the youth should be grounded in the message.

Wm. Covert: At Madison (Wis.) the nurses come in very largely from other schools where there has been instruction in Bible truth, but they keep up this same instruction in the school.

C. L. Taylor: At St. Helena they endeavor to teach that nursing is not a business—it is only a means to the greater work, the salvation of the people. A large number who apply for training have the idea of making a living. But this should not be the idea. So they send out the nurse to do city mission work, Bible work, to canvass, and to get an all-round experience. The nurse in practical life can rarely nurse all the time, as it is so taxing to the strength. With this all-round training the worker may vary the employment, all the time working to the same end.

The time having arrived for the ministerial institute, it was voted to postpone the institute in order to continue the medical department work. After ten minutes’ recess the conference resumed session.

It was voted to defer further consideration of resolutions, in order to listen to papers and reports.

Dr. W. A. George was invited to take the chair for the program of reports. He called for the following paper on “The Christian Experience of a Physician” from Dr. W. R. Simmons, of the Portland Sanitarium, which, with additional experiences related, met with many warm “amens” from the conference:—

The Christian Experience of a Physician

As it was in the work of Christ as a physician, so it should be in the work of every true physician. The first requisite is that of a Christian character, daily becoming more Christlike, and trying to reach the same high standard of faith, that our power may be increased and our work be more effectual.

As physicians working in the cause of God, it is our duty to be Christians, medical missionaries, and then medical men. The very nature of our work is such that to be the latter alone we could do no more than the worldly physician, thus leaving out the real object we, as Christians, are seeking, that is, the salvation of souls. To our mind there is no excuse for a Seventh-day Adventist’s being a physician unless he can combine with his work as a medical man the pleasure of leading souls to Christ. In order to do this, he must be Christlike in character, striving to do that blessed work done by the Great Physician while on earth.

If the physician is a Christian, carrying on his work as such, he must necessarily be a medical missionary. So, then, there is that combination of effort: first, as a Christian, and as such a Seventh-day Adventist; second, a missionary, on the mission of seeking out and saving those who are in need of help, and restoring them to a faith that will enable them to be helped; third, a physician, because the knowledge necessary to be one assists in being the first two, and enables the man or woman to become a true Seventh-day Adventist medical missionary physician, prepared to carry out the work God may require.

The element of faith spoken of, enters into all the work of a Christian physician. Results come through efforts put forth in faith: first, there must be a confidence in the Source of all true wisdom and power; second, the methods used must be such as will inspire confidence not only in the heart of the physician, but in the mind of the patient as well. If the physician is dependent on wisdom given by God, added to knowledge gained by hard study and experience on his part, he will point his patients to the power and wisdom that are far above anything that he may possess as a mere physician. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” Ps. 103:3.

The experiences that come to one through pointing some poor soul to Christ, and seeing him gradually gain that renewed life, inspire the heart of a physician with a new hope, and encourage him to press forward, though the way may seem rough and rugged at times. With the clouds of sin, sickness, and death settling all about us, and the knowledge that in spite of all our human efforts, life is fast ebbing away, where is our hope if left to our poor weak selves? Then it is that we are led to exclaim, “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” “Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.” Ps. 104:24, 29.

Were it not for that hope in Christ, the possibility of leading the dying soul to Jesus, how drear would be the life of the physician, how worse than useless all our efforts.

If it please you, leave all else and follow us, for one brief day, on our round of duties, or, perchance, into the realms where hangs human and eternal life in the balance, where one thought brought to memory, one kind word spoken, one look of confidence, may change that balance and lead to recovery, or, if recovery be impossible, that word may save a life in God’s eternal kingdom, or, if left unuttered, may allow a soul to depart into everlasting darkness.

Before we start on our day’s journey, we pause to read again those promises that cheer us on our way, and to seek for that divine light and wisdom which alone can keep us from mistakes and guide us into the paths of right and truth. Our first visit leads us to a place where all is poverty and woe. We find lying on the only bed the house affords, a mother with her six days’ old babe, and beside the bed we find a three-year-old child, suffering with that dread disease, pneumonia, which carries away so many in our large cities. The room, for the place called home consists of but one room, is poorly lighted, no ventilation except what comes from a small window that opens into the narrow, densely populated street in a tenement district. Crowded in the space of twelve by fourteen feet are the friends of the sick woman and her child, some smoking opium, some using tobacco, others trying to assist in caring for the sick, all with a friendly feeling of sympathy. After taking in the situation, the first thing we do is to clear the room of the sympathizing friends, that our patients may have what chance there is for recovery. In vain we look about us for something with which to treat the child. At last, a neighbor discovers a large dish pan. Happy to find even this, we pull off our coat, roll up our sleeves, and proceed to treat the child as best we can. When through with this, we comfort the anxious parents with some of the precious promises in God’s Word, and seek his blessing on the treatment given, and hasten on our way.

From this hovel of poverty, we pass into a home of wealth and luxury. But we meet the same anxious, worried looks. After ministering to the physical wants, we use the same precious words of promise, pray to the same God of heaven, and comfort and cheer springs into the hearts of rich and poor alike. As we pass along, our thoughts are of him who is able “to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.”

When our office is reached, and, one by one, those who are sick or suffering come before us to tell of their troubles, how glad we are that while administering to their physical ailments, we can tell them of the Great Physician who can heal not only the body, but the soul as well. Nothing cheers the weary, sin-sick one like the words of love, sacrifice, and devotion of our Saviour. And O, how blessed it is to be able to tell others what Christ has done for us, and what he is anxious to do for them! We find that many of our patients have accepted that love, and that many others

are willing to receive it if the way is pointed out to them.

In visiting from room to room, we try to carry with us the influence of God’s love, that the sick may know that there is a power in such love. Although some are hardened, and so indifferent that no impression is made upon their minds, yet others can see that there is a power beyond what mortal man can do, and they accept of that which lifts them away from self to the One who suffered and died for them. What a blessed privilege it is when we see these poor souls yearning for something, they know not what, to be able to give them what they so much need—a hope of a life that is so much better than the one they now possess.

Not many months ago there came to the Sanitarium a man suffering with an incurable disease—cancer. He had separated from his family in a large Eastern city, and was without hope in God. As we looked upon him, knowing he had not long for this world, our heart went up to God that he would in some way help us to save this poor soul. As we ministered to his wants day by day, we told him of the great love that Jesus had for him. At first, hardened by sin as he was, he refused to hear, but after days of patiently telling him of his need of salvation, he yielded his heart to God, was united to his family, and passed away praising God.

One Sabbath morning an ex-governor of one of our Western States came into the Sanitarium. Noticing the quietness about the place, and that the people were gathered in the chapel for services, he said, “O, I see this is your Sunday!” Then he asked us why we kept Saturday for Sunday. This gave us an opportunity to tell him many things about our faith. He remained with us for some time, and although he did not accept the Sabbath, he went away a good health reformer, and said, on leaving, “I shall go home, sweep off from my table pepper, mustard, chilla sauce, tea, and coffee, and all bad things.”

Patients who are to undergo surgical operations are especially susceptible to the influence of the Spirit of God. Then, if ever, their thoughts are of a serious nature, and a word spoken in season often leads them to think of their eternal welfare. A man who had never considered this matter, was obliged to have a very serious operation. When told what God could do for him under any circumstance, he gave his heart to him, put away his tobacco, and just before the operation, when on the table, he called me to his side to say that it was all right which ever way it went, for he had given up all for God, and his trust was in him. I saw that man but a few weeks ago. He is still praising the Lord that he was not only relieved of his physical suffering, but that he found the Saviour. What a stimulus and help it is to us as physicians when we remember that God is present with us in the operating room. Our experience teaches us that this is true. When a patient comes into the operating room frightened and nervous, and after a few words of comfort pointing her to the One in whom she can put her trust, we see her calm and quiet; then it is we realize the power of God’s Spirit.

The physician’s life is full of opportunities. How thankful we should be that

while we go about our work, God sends his angels to stand by our side and minister unto those who are in need. Were it not for this fact, the scenes that we are often called upon to witness would be hard to bear, as, for instance, when we sit by the bedside of one who is about to depart from this life, with no hope of a hereafter,—one who has resisted all effort to bring to him the love of Jesus. Each moment drawing that soul to the time when it is too late, our last entreaty is answered by a shake of the head. Darkness settles over us, and then it is that our heart goes out to God for more of his love and power in our lives that we may point all sinners to him.

In contrast to this, we are by the side of one who has accepted of that love. In life he has been happy in him, in the moment of death he is still happy in the hope of seeing the smile of an approving God on the resurrection morn. In the place of darkness there is light, and the hope springs into our hearts that God will keep us, too, so that when death shall come, there need be no fear. Friends are comforted by the thought that though they are separated for a time, they will soon meet on the other shore.

Other experiences might be related did time permit. The life of the physician is full of opportunities to point souls to Christ. If there is any one who needs the prayers of God’s people, it is the physician as he stands by the bedside of the sick and dying. Our way is not easy, and we need all the help possible. Our prayer is that God will help us all to do faithfully the work he has left us to do in giving his gospel to the world.

Dr. G. A. Hare of the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium, was then asked to present a paper on “Education for Medical Missionary Work.” (This paper we hope to publish later.)

Dr. J. E. Froom, of Takoma Park, presented a paper on “Educational Effort in Creating a Constituency,” as follows:—

Educational Effort in Creating a Constituency

It seems hardly necessary to preface this paper with remarks on the logic of creating a constituency before investing in an institution, and the initial expenses which intervene between its establishment and the time when the institution becomes self-supporting.

The value of educational efforts in territory newly entered by health workers is clearly shown by the progress of our work in the British Islands; and also in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Moline, Ill., and many other places which might be mentioned.

Humble Efforts Blessed

More and more we are coming to recognize the missionary influence of workers who, without financial backing, have humbly entered communities where there was no health institution, and have done what they could to dispense truth, not omitting those features which run counter to fashion, appetite, and passion.

Blessing and prosperity have attended the enthusiastic efforts of workers who, though compelled to begin with meager appliances, yet with the real spirit of service, with unbounded faith in God and confidence in physiological methods of treating the sick, have entered new communities, and, undaunted by obstacles, have patiently won the esteem of the profession and laity,—not always because of the extended knowledge possessed by the workers, but because they know a few things well, and knew positively the world’s need of service which the Lord intends us to render. This is illustrated in an experience in one of our large cities, where a devoted brother located after spending some months in a sanitarium training class. The brother, not a graduate nurse, but a real missionary, began work by taking subscriptions for the health journal, and then organized a health school, which consisted of daily lessons and demonstrations on three topics; namely, simple remedies for home use, healthful cookery, and physical culture. The school planted seeds of truth, which the nurse watered by prayer and loving service, until he could count dozens of influential families which he had assisted through seasons of suffering and perplexity. His unselfish interest in spreading literature, and his modesty, won the hearts of the citizens until his standing was expressed in a remark made by the wife of one of the prominent merchants, who, in summing up their experience, said: “When my husband is sick, I send for the doctor; when he has a severe attack, I care for him; but when he is in a critical condition, we want your nurse, Brother C., to stay right with us.”

Educational Effort not Secondary to Other Duties

Where a good, healthy zeal pervades an entire family of sanitarium helpers, educational work is incidentally carried on in a way to give permanency to its influence. If during the initial experience, the physician must also act as business manager, the matron be obliged to act as head nurse, and perhaps supervise the culinary department, and the nurses’ duties extend to the lawn, or possibly to the boiler room, an appreciation

of the limited time in which they can influence their patients, leads to an unrestricted enthusiasm to advance reform. As the busy doctor answers questions, he finds it convenient to refer his patients to more detailed statements in periodicals. The matron, even though leading a strenuous life, enjoys the opportunity to give personal instruction on healthful dress, and often supplies the ladies with garments and literature on the subject. The nurse, animated by the same spirit, supplies her patient with printed matter and instruction, and thus enables her intelligently to introduce simple remedies into her own home.

The spirit is so prevalent that it captivates even the petulant dyspeptic, and with a desire to learn, he seeks an interview with the cook, who cheerfully explains the process by which food is prepared in a way to assist instead of hinder digestion. And then, in the most natural way, she exhibits her cookbook, makes a sale, and so is virtually a missionary canvasser, although so busy that purchasers apologizingly beg an interview with her.

I praise God that such workers are not few. Their influence in their respective communities enables us to appreciate the exhortation to “start small health institutions in many places,” and also the instruction that those who carry responsibilities in our sanitariums are to gain a fitness by thus bearing burdens in small institutions, and growing as these enterprises, under the blessing of God, grow to larger proportions.

This instruction need not be interpreted to warrant the promiscuous undertaking of expensive sanitarium enterprises, and then besieging conferences for funds to float or enlarge them. This work can, to a large extent, be self-supporting, and can develop by its own earnings and the gifts which it may receive.

Will Develop Prudent Workers

Experience in creating a constituency will help us to survive emergencies, and will develop a faith and individuality that, with neither parasitic dependence on influence nor cringing fear of opposition, can enter pioneer fields, and, like Isaac of old, dig a well of Rehoboth (that is, room).

To despise not the day of small things, and to be so fully master of pioneering as not only to win friends, but avoid unwise investments, will go a long way toward establishing a working basis for conferences and the medical workers. Thus contracts can be more free from the restrictions with which conferences have tried to protect themselves when engaging a worker whose professional qualifications were discounted by an experience only in a large institution with its able department leaders.

Develops Managing Ability

One of our nurses is just completing a four years’ course of medical study, and has at the same time, assisted by his wife, successfully started and conducted a small sanitarium. Think you that that nurse, medical student, and sanitarium director has not learned to discriminate between essentials and non-essentials? Such a self-supporting health enterprise, by the very nature of things, would engage its helpers with the understanding that they were willingly to render service in any possible capacity that would contribute to its success, even going out to

circulate the health journal or circulars in times of slack work.

Field Work as a Feature in the Training of Missionary Nurses

Regarding these reform ideas as being intimately related to Christian experience, it is consistent to plan definitely on having our apprentices learn to win friends to the cause by house-to-house effort. The nurse, who, in doing field work, succeeds in interesting an individual, will take an interest in receiving, impressing, and benefiting that patient which makes it next to impossible for that nurse to perform her duties in a listless, mechanical, or hireling sort of way. This feature of a nurses’ training is of so great value, and the neglect of this warm personal interest is so serious, that the veteran nurse can often afford to renew his first love by an effort to interest strangers in the health principles.

Organizing Classes in Health Studies

This may be accomplished in various ways. Sometimes the preparatory work is all done by a church or local club, which secures the attendance, and finances the enterprise. If the course is announced as a “Lecture Course,” and prominence is given to the speakers, we assume the obligation not only to teach, but to reward the interest with platform ability. Good lecturers and skilful demonstrators develop a most gratifying state of public sentiment. But even where the principles are advanced under the more modest title of parlor talks or cottage meetings, a constituency is created for our work which can be overthrown only by gross misconduct on the part of some of its promoters.

Classes can be organized on the plan of receiving a membership fee. This tends to secure a more steady attendance throughout the course, and also meets part, or all, of the expense of the effort; but some organizers fail to succeed in forming large classes of paid members.

Another plan is to have a community canvassed by discreet solicitors for health literature, giving membership tickets for the health school to all citizens who purchase the reading-matter of our agents. This most consistent form of premium is no burden to the solicitor, and it selects a class of members who are interested in advance. If the solicitors handle periodicals, it may be necessary to pay them a salary, as the commission is small, and as much effort is usually required to secure subscribers for a periodical as to sell a bound book. Where the solicitors handle our health books, they can do a remunerative work, for they not only handle very salable books, but an experienced organizer has gone in advance to the physicians, clergymen, and society leaders in that locality, and secured their indorsement of our educational campaign.

Perhaps the greatest difficulty for this plan in the past has been the opposition from prominent medical men to the advertising in the books and periodicals that have been used.

Errors of the Past

The errors of the past need not discourage us, but they should be instructive. Medical men of influence have taken issue with the direct and indirect advertising of certain brands of health foods, the use of which is sure to result

from the health schools and demonstrations as carried on in the past. Business men and trustees of churches have raised the same pertinent question, and were not satisfied with such explanations as could be truthfully made.

Moral: Keep health schools manifestly free from commercialism.

The sudden and radical change from a mixed diet to a vegetarian diet, which persons frequently make before they become intelligent as to combining foods so as to meet their individual requirements, recommends the plan of devoting more of our public courses of instruction to the ESSENTIAL RUDIMENTS of right living, and less time to the ultimate features of diet reform.

We have many records of advertised lectures by certain prominent speakers who failed to fill the appointment, and thus the workers who followed up the interest were afterward obliged to deal with a disappointed public. It is vastly better to promise less, and do more.

Field Workers to Be Had

In the past it has been more difficult to secure able organizers for our schools than to secure lecturers; but a number of organizers are already available, and lecturers are offering their services. If the plan is approved, it seems possible to place a corps of workers in the field at once. To shrink from the necessary expense will be like a farmer’s refusing to invest in the seed necessary to enable him to produce his own grain.

Summary

The plan helps to give individual workers an experience and a development which are imperative to the stability and well-working of institutions that are later to be manned by them.

While a power attends capable leaders who are devoted to the promulgation of truth, their usefulness is circumscribed if they fail to enlist their pupils in aggressive, educational effort.

Our health workers need the invigorating influence of field work, and greatest of all considerations, the world is entitled to these wonderful truths which are in harmony with natural law and the example of our Saviour.

A Letter to the Turkish Minister

The Religious Liberty Department presented the matter of an interview with the Turkish minister in Washington, in behalf of Brother Baharian and others in Turkey, who are suffering imprisonment. The point desired, as was stated by L. R. Conradi, was to bring the fact that we are Protestant Christians before the Turkish authorities, difficulty having been caused our workers by the refusal of the Protestant representatives to recognize us as Protestants.

It was voted that K. C. Russell, W. A. Colcord, and S. B. Horton be authorized to present the following letter to the Turkish minister:—

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS, WASHINGTON, D. C., U. S. A., May 23, 1905.

To His Excellency Chebib Bey, Turkish Ambassador, 2101 S St., N. W., Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: In behalf of the World’s Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, we respectfully present the following statement for the information of your Excellency:—

1. We believe in civil government, recognizing that “the powers that be are ordained

of God,” and that civil rulers are to be obeyed in all matters civil.

2. We are Protestants, taking the Bible as our only rule of faith and practise, and are generally acknowledged as such throughout the world, as is evidenced by the accompanying enclosures.

3. In view of the above, we respectfully request and petition your Excellency’s government that our people throughout the Turkish empire be recognized as Protestants, and granted the same privileges as are accorded to other Protestant bodies in his Majesty’s government.

Respectfully submitted, K. C. RUSSELL, W. A. COLCORD, S. B. HORTON, Committee.

The meeting adjourned.

A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman, W. A. SPICER, Secretary.