Earlier text: The Health Institute.

For the sake of this one man, who would make a right use of the blessing of health, Jesus healed the whole ten. The nine passed on without appreciating the work done, and rendered no grateful thanks to Jesus for doing the work.

Thus will the physicians of the Health Institute have their labor and efforts treated. But if, in their labor to help suffering humanity, one out of twenty makes a right use of the benefits received; and appreciates the efforts in his behalf, the physicians should feel satisfied and grateful. If one life is saved40 in ten, and one soul saved in the kingdom of God in one hundred, all connected with the Institute will be amply repaid for all their efforts. All their anxiety and care are not wholly lost. If the King of glory, the Majesty of Heaven, worked for suffering humanity, and so few appreciated his divine aid, the physicians and helpers at the Institute should blush to complain if their feeble efforts are not appreciated by all, and seem to be thrown away on some.

I was shown that the nine who did not return to give God glory, correctly represent some Sabbath-keepers, who come as patients to the Health Institute. They receive much attention, and should realize the anxiety and discouragements of the physicians, and should be the last to cause them unnecessary care and burdens. Yet I regret to say that, frequently, the most difficult patients to manage at the Health Institute are those of our faith. They are the ones who are more free to make complaints than any other class. Worldlings, and professed Christians of other denominations, appreciate the efforts made for their recovery more than many Sabbath-keepers do. And when they return to their homes, they exert an influence more in favor of the Health Institute than Sabbath-keepers. And some of these cases who are so free to question, and complain of the management at41 the Health Institute, are those who have been treated at reduced prices. This has been very discouraging to physicians and helpers, but they should remember Christ, their great Pattern, and should not become weary in well doing. If one among a large number is grateful and exerts a right influence, they should thank God and take courage. That one may be a stranger, and the inquiry may arise, Where are the nine? Why do not all Sabbath-keepers give their interest and support in favor of the Health Institute. Some Sabbath-keepers, while receiving attention at the Health Institute, for which the Institute receives no pay, have so little interest that they will speak disparagingly to patients of the means employed for the recovery of the sick. I wish such to consider their course. The Lord regards them as the nine lepers who returned not to give God glory. Strangers do their duty, and appreciate the efforts made for the recovery of health; while they cast an influence against those who have tried to do them good.

Dr. Ginley needs to cultivate courteousness, and kindness, lest he shall injure the feelings of patients unnecessarily. He is frank and open-hearted, conscientious, sincere and ardent. He has a good understanding of disease, but he should have a more thorough knowledge of how to treat the sick than he already has.42 With this knowledge he needs self-culture, refinement of manners, and to be more select in his words and illustrations in his parlor talks.

Bro. Ginley is highly sensitive, and naturally of a quick, impulsive temper. He moves too much upon the spur of the moment. He has made efforts to correct his hasty spirit, and overcome his deficiencies, but he has a still greater effort to make. If he sees things moving wrong, he is in too great haste to tell the ones in error what he thinks, and he does not always use the most appropriate words for the occasion. He offends patients sometimes, so that they hate him, and they leave the Institute with hard feelings, to the detriment both to themselves and to the Institute. It seldom does any good to talk in a censuring manner to patients who are diseased in body and mind. But few who have moved in the society of the world, and view things from a worldling’s standpoint, are prepared even to have a statement of facts in regard to themselves presented before them. The truth even is not to be spoken at all times. There is a fit time and opportunity to speak, when words will not offend. The physicians should not be overworked, and their nervous systems prostrated, for this condition of body will not be favorable to calm minds, and steady nerves, and a cheerful, happy spirit. Dr.43 Ginley has been confined too steadily to the Institute. He should have had change. He should go out of Battle Creek occasionally and rest, and visit, not always making professional visits, but visits where he can be free, and where his mind will not be anxious about the sick.

This privilege of getting away from the Health Institute should occasionally be accorded to all the physicians, especially those who take care, burdens, and responsibilities, upon them. If there is a scarcity of help, that this cannot be done, more help should be secured. It is a thing to be dreaded, to have physicians overworked, and disqualified for their profession. Its influence is against the interests of the Health Institute. This should be prevented if possible. The physicians should keep well. They must not get sick by overlabor, or by any imprudence on their part.

I was shown that Dr. Ginley is too easily discouraged. There will ever be things arising to annoy, perplex, and try the patience of physicians and helpers. They must be prepared for this, and not become excited or unbalanced. They must be calm and kind, whatever may occur. They are exerting an influence which will be reflected by the patients in other States, and which will be reflected back again upon the Health Institute for good or for evil. They should44 ever consider that they are dealing with men and women of diseased minds, who frequently view things in a perverted light, and yet are confident that they understand matters perfectly. Physicians should understand that a soft answer turneth away wrath. Policy must be used in an institution where the sick are treated, in order to successfully control diseased minds, and benefit the sick. If physicians can remain calm amid a tempest of inconsiderate, passionate words; if they can rule their own spirits when provoked and abused; they are indeed conquerors. “He that ruleth his own spirit, is greater than he that taketh a city.” To subdue self, and bring the passions under the control of the will, is the greatest conquest men and women can gain.

Dr. Ginley is not blind to his peculiar temperament. He sees his failings, and when he feels the pressure upon him, he is disposed to beat a retreat, and turn his back upon the battle-field. But he will gain nothing by pursuing this course. He is situated where his surroundings, and the pressure of circumstances, is developing the strong points in his character, which need the rough edges removed, and he to be refined and elevated. For him to flee from the contest, will not remove the defects in his character. If Dr. Ginley should run away from the Health Institute, he does45 not, in so doing, remove or overcome the defects in his character. He has a work before him, to overcome the defects in his character, if he would be among the number before the throne of God, without fault, who have come up through great tribulation, having washed their robes of character, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The provisions have been made for us to wash. The fountain has been prepared by infinite expense, and the burden of washing rests upon us who are imperfect before God. The Lord does not propose to remove these spots of defilement without our doing anything on our part. We must wash our robes in the blood of the Lamb. We may lay hold of the merits of the blood of Christ by faith, and through his grace and power we may have strength to overcome our errors, our sins, our imperfections of character, and come off victorious, having washed our robes in the blood of the Lamb.

Dr. Ginley should seek to add daily to his stock of knowledge, and cultivate courteousness and refinement of manners. He is too apt to come down to a low level in his parlor talks, which do not have an influence to elevate. He should bear in mind that he is with those of all classes of minds, and the impressions he gives will be extended to other States, and will be reflected back upon the Institute. To deal with men46 and women, whose minds are diseased as well as their bodies, is a nice work. Great wisdom is needed by physicians at the Health Institute, in order to cure the body through the mind. The power that the mind has over the body, but few realize. A great deal of the sickness which afflicts humanity has its origin in the mind, and can only be cured by restoring the mind to health. There are very many more mentally sick than we imagine. Heart sickness makes many dyspeptics, for mental trouble has a paralyzing influence upon the digestive organs.

In order to reach this class of patients, the physician must have discernment, patience, kindness, and love. A sore, sick heart, a discouraged mind, needs mild treatment, and it is through tender sympathy that this class of minds can be healed. The physicians should first gain their confidence, and then point them to the all-healing Physician. If their minds can be directed to the Burden-bearer, and they can have faith that he will have an interest in them, the cure of these diseased bodies and minds will be sure.

Bro. Salisbury has had a genuine interest in the Health Institute. He has neglected his own interest in his mercantile business to give his time for the benefit of the Institute. This has been at a loss on his part,47 which he should not be permitted to sustain. The Health Institute is able to remunerate him for his services. He should not while engaged in his mercantile business be depended on or called upon by the Institute. He has enough upon his hands without having an increase of care and responsibility. He should be released from responsibilities in connection with the Institute. While he has so large a business, he cannot with success manage the business at the Institute. Bro. S. has not all that discernment and foresight that is required in management at the Institute. With his mercantile business pressing him, he is in danger of doing things that might be left undone, and neglecting to do things at the right time, which greatly need to be done.

Bro. Salisbury should move cautiously, that he may not become embarrassed in business. His brother, W. S., has a lesson to learn in economy. He and his wife have unitedly a reformation to make in this direction. The lesson Christ gave to his disciples they should take home and practice: “Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost.” They might have saved much by economy, that has been wasted by prodigality. They must learn that they will have to render an account for every dollar wasted; for it is the Lord’s money.

Bro. and sister Palmer do not imitate48 the self-denying, self-sacrificing Redeemer. Their influence, while at the Institute, was not as good as it should have been. They are too much bound up in selfishness, and they are both far from loving their neighbors as themselves. Bro. Palmer has greater interest in, and love for, the truth than sister Palmer. But he has had his mind molded very much by his wife. Selfishness has girded her about as with iron bands. Her spirit is not in accordance with the spirit and life of Christ. They do not love their neighbor as Christ loves. Sister Palmer has not, during her religious experience, given evidence that she has that love that can bear any comparison with that of her Saviour. Love one another, says Christ, as I have loved you. This command does not merely reach to the members of our own families. It reaches to our brethren, sisters, and even unbelievers. The supreme love which sister Palmer has ever had for herself has stood directly in the way of her spiritual advancement, and if continued, will surely prevent her perfecting a Christian character. Sister Palmer is deceived in herself. She thinks she is in a favorable condition before God, when the message to the Laodicean church applies to her. “I know thy works [it is not the profession that God regards, but works], that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or49 hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

The spirit that sister Palmer manifested at the Health Institute was not the spirit of Christ. Her influence was not good. The influence of Bro. Palmer was generally good. But in some things he showed a narrow mind, and a selfish spirit, which displeased God, who has intrusted to him means, and the good things of this life, to use to his glory. Little acts of kindness make up the sum of life-happiness, and the selfish withholding of them makes up the sum of life's miseries.

The blessing of God will be given us in just that measure that we delight to bless others. In blessing our fellow-mortals, as Christ has given us example, we shall be blessed. As we withhold, we shall be destitute of the dew of grace and showers of blessings which God delights to give the benevolent heart. This cold, unsympathizing, ungenerous atmosphere, which surrounds Bro., and more especially sister, Palmer, clouds the discernment of both. This influence clouds the spiritual eyesight of Bro. Palmer, disqualifying him50 very much to decide correctly, and his mind be as the mind of God, in counsels where important decisions are to be made in reference to the Health Institute and Publishing Association. God seeth not as man seeth. His ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts.

When Bro. Palmer gives a sum to the cause of God, he is inclined to think his duty done. But there is a work which will come closer to Bro. and sister Palmer than this. It is to cultivate courteousness, and liberality of thought and feeling in the little transactions of life. It is in their deal to have others’ interest in view as well as their own. It is to be liberal daily, and study to make others happy, instead of living for themselves. Practical, daily self-denial, and cross-bearing, must be practiced if we follow Christ. Both Bro. and sister Palmer have lessons to learn in this direction before they can be true followers of Christ. Love one another, as I have loved you, is the command of Christ. Sister Palmer has no experience in this direction. She has a cold, unsympathizing nature, which must be transformed, before she can be worthy to be numbered with that throng who have come up through great tribulation, and who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Bro. and sister Palmer, you have the work of washing51 to do, to remove the defects from your robes of character. No one can do this for you, and you cannot stand with the spotless throng, unless you do this work. These infirmities are natural to sister Palmer. Her selfishness has grown with her growth, and strengthened with her strength, until it is interwoven with every fibre of her being. Nothing but the blood of Christ can remove this deep-rooted evil. Bro. Palmer has been more or less affected by his wife, and molded by her spirit. He has seen her failures to some extent, but he has thought that it was no use to labor with her in regard to these things, and finally has become affected in the same way.

God now requires unselfish, valiant men and women. As Bro. and sister Palmer now are, it would not improve matters for them to move to Battle Creek. If they were transformed by the renewing of the mind; if they loved themselves less, and their neighbor as themselves, they would be just the ones to help keep the fort at Battle Creek. But the influence of sister Palmer in Battle Creek, in her love for dress, and in her love of self, and her lack of sympathy, benevolence, and love for others, would make her a body of darkness and burden to the cause.

We are nearing the close of time. We may close our eyes to our imperfections of52 character, and finally be among the number of whom Christ shall say, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.”

Other health institutions are looking with a jealous eye upon the Health Institute at Battle Creek. They work from a worldling’s standpoint, while the managers of the Health Institute work from a religious standpoint, acknowledging God as their proprietor. They do not labor selfishly for means alone; but for humanity’s sake, and for Christ’s sake. The managers of our Health Institute are seeking to benefit suffering humanity, to heal the diseased mind, as well as the suffering body, by directing invalids to Christ, the sinners’ friend. They do not leave religion out of the question, but make God their trust and dependence. The sick are directed to Jesus. After the physicians have done what they can in behalf of the sick, they ask God to work with their efforts, and restore the suffering invalids to health. This he has done in some cases in answer to the prayer of faith. And this he will continue to do, if they are faithful, and put their trust in him. The Health Institute will be a success; for God sustains it. And if his blessing attends the Institute it will prosper and be53 the means of doing a great amount of good. Other institutions are aware that a high standard of moral and religious influence exists at our Institute. And they see that its conductors are not actuated by selfish, worldly principles, and they are jealous in regard to its commanding and leading influence. ELLEN G. WHITE.