p. 2 | GOOD HEALTH by S. N. Haskell

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 18, 1879

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 54, No. 25

GOOD HEALTH.

By S. N. Haskell

The work of present truth embraces every moral reform connected with the cause of God. It does not make a specialty of any one specific point to the exclusion of others of equal importance, but it embraces all practical duties which tend to elevate the mind, purify the soul, and cleanse the person from all uncleanness. Hence the apostle prays that the church may be sanctified, spirit, soul, and body, and be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Again the same apostle exhorts us to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7:1. We are also taught that our body is the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in us; and as there is an intimate relation between the body and mind, he declares, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” Christian temperance from the Bible standpoint has ever been regarded as worthy of attention by S. D. Adventists; and as this work has progressed, the providence of God has most clearly manifested that the subject was one of great importance. So thoroughly have these principles become diffused among us, that the smell of tobacco is not found in all our camp. Intoxication from alcoholic drinks is not known, unless there is a departure from the principles taught.

SANITARIUM.

In God’s providence there has been established in our midst a Sanitarium, where the principles of health and temperance are demonstrated in the treatment of the sick. Good Health is published, making a specialty of these principles. It calls the attention of the people to that branch of our work which sustains the same relation to the cause of God that the right arm does to the body.

Good Health is gaining favor, as is shown by an increased circulation among those not of our faith, while among our people its circulation has not increased in proportion to the increase of numbers. The principles advocated by Good Health are those which relate to the sanctifying of the body. At the Sanitarium at Battle Creek, these principles are not only theoretically taught, but practically applied to those who are afflicted with every disease that the flesh is heir to. Hence the mission of Good Health is twofold. First, it teaches the people the Scriptural doctrine of how to live; and, secondly, it calls the attention of the people to a place where they can receive such treatment as will show the utility of these principles, and it thus becomes a stepping-stone to present truth.

Our people should be aroused on this subject. Two important steps should be immediately taken. They should be urged by every minister, tract officer, and tract member in the country.

1. Our people should become subscribers to Good Health, paying for it the full price, $1.00 per year.

2. They should send it to their friends, so that the January number should commence with at least 10,000 subscribers of those outside of our people.

HOW CAN THIS BE DONE?

Let every person interested in the cause of health and temperance send Good Health to his friends, for four months, on trial; for

the sum of twenty cents; $1.00 will thus send Good Health to five of your friends for four months.

This work should be carried forward during the coming year, until not less than one hundred thousand names are thus sent in. A large number of these will become permanent subscribers. Shall we not take hold of this work at once?

We appeal to our brethren and sisters who may read these lines: Are there any who cannot send Good Health to some of their friends? There are many who are now rejoicing in present truth, to whom the first knowledge of our people and work was made known through the medium of this journal. We have twenty Conferences, and over fourteen thousand members; and if these Conferences should each furnish five hundred names, we should then have ten thousand trial subscribers for this journal, to say nothing of our different missions. California and New England are far from being the largest Conferences in the country, so far as numbers are concerned; and yet we believe that they will furnish not less than one thousand names each for the January number of Good Health.

Let there be a general move among S. D. Adventists from Maine to California, and from Washington Territory on the north to the Gulf of Mexico on the south. Let each individual, upon reading these lines, feel a responsibility in this matter; take Good Health and visit your neighbors; ask them if they would like to read it for four months on trial, promising to send it if they would. This will secure a large number of names. In many instances names may occur to your mind of persons whom you will have reason to believe would be interested to read it; send the names of such without waiting to visit or correspond with them. We can only speak for New England and California; but we believe that every Conference in the country will take hold of this work, and act well its part.

Those living where there are tract societies organized should do their business through their society. Those living alone can send directly to the REVIEW Office. May God bless this branch of his work.

S. N. HASKELL.