Earlier text: Sacrifice, and What It MeansThe Best Diet for Endurance
By Alfred R. Roos
Mistaken Notions Concerning Meat Eating—Extensive Experiments Lead to Unavoidable Conclusions
For centuries, men have partaken of flesh foods, to a large degree with the thought in mind that their strength and power to perform exhausting labor depended upon this. Until very recent years, this idea reigned practically supreme; but here, as along other lines, under the close scrutiny of scientific investigation, many surprising things have been discovered. Although many different phases of the question concerning flesh foods as a necessary part of man’s diet have been carefully considered, but little attention has been directed toward the relation of endurance to this form of diet. Within the last few years, however, several investigators—Chittenden, Mendel, Fisher, Folin, Caspari, Metchnikoff, and others—have discovered, by their experiments, some very interesting facts. A summary of a few of them will make clear the point in question. SURPRISING ENDURANCE TESTS
Prof. Irving Fisher, of Yale University, conducted a series of simple endurance tests on some athletes and nurses and physicians. He divided them into three groups, according to diet and occupation: first, flesh eaters, athletes, most of whom used meat two or three times a day—a distinctly high protein dietary; second, flesh abstaining athletes; and third, flesh abstainers, not athletes, but men of sedentary habits. Having no exact mechanical method of measuring endurance, Professor Fisher selected three simple tests: first, holding the arms horizontally as long as possible; second, deep knee bending; and third, leg raising with subject lying on his back. In order that there might be no doubt whatsoever as to the superiority of the winning side, every possible advantage was given to the flesh eaters. In exercise, time for rest and leisure, physique, fresh air, and other matters that might have some bearing on the results, he found the flesh eating athletes to be the more favored. The results seem, therefore, to be based on difference in diet alone. ARM HOLDING |
Number of Persons |
Average Record |
|---|
| Flesh eaters, athletes |
15 |
10 minutes |
| Flesh abstainers, athletes |
19 |
39 minutes |
| Flesh abstainers, sedentary |
13 |
64 minutes |
DEEP KNEE BENDING |
Number of Persons |
Average Record |
|---|
| Flesh eaters, athletes |
9 |
383 times |
| Flesh abstainers, athletes |
16 |
927 times |
| Flesh abstainers, sedentary |
5 |
535 times |
LEG RAISING |
Number of Persons |
Average Record |
|---|
| Flesh eaters, athletes |
6 |
279 times |
| Flesh abstainers, athletes |
6 |
288 times |
| Flesh abstainers, sedentary |
1 |
74 times |
From this general comparison, we see that the flesh abstainers had far greater endurance than the flesh eaters, all of whom were athletes. Concerning the individual comparisons, Professor Fisher says: “Even the maximum record of the flesh eaters was barely more than half the average for the flesh abstainers. Only two of the fifteen flesh eaters succeeded in holding their arms out over a quarter of an hour, whereas twenty-two of the thirty-two abstainers surpassed that limit. None of the flesh eaters reached half an hour, but fifteen of the thirty-two abstainers exceeded that limit. Of these, nine exceeded an hour, four exceeded two hours, and one exceeded three hours.” “In respect to deep knee bending, if we take the number 325 for reference, we find that of the nine flesh eaters, only three surpassed this figure, while of the twenty-one abstainers, seventeen surpassed it. Only one of the nine flesh eaters reached one thousand, as against six of the twenty-one abstainers. None of the former surpassed two thousand, as against two of the latter.” “In respect to leg raising, the records show little difference. None of the contestants reached their absolute limits.” Another evidence of the superiority of the flesh abstainers is found in their quick recovery from the after effects. Although the tests were painful to all, none of the abstainers were incapacitated by them, but some of the flesh eaters were very much incapacitated for several days, and one or two for two weeks or more. LESS MEAT AND MORE ENDURANCE
In another experiment, on nine Yale students, they reduced their consumption of flesh foods to one sixth the amount formerly used, guided only by their taste. By thorough mastication, they lost their taste for flesh foods. At the end of five months, although their strength was about the same as formerly, their endurance had increased on the average by over ninety per cent, according to gymnasium tests. At the University of Brussels, Belgium, careful tests and comparisons have been made of the endurance of vegetarians and flesh eaters. A few excerpts from their published accounts will suffice to show the results: “So far as strength is concerned, very little difference was discovered between vegetarians and carnivores. In endurance, on the other hand, a very remarkable difference was found, the vegetarians surpassing the carnivores from fifty to two hundred per cent, according to the method of measurement.” “The vegetarians recuperated from fatigue far more quickly than the meat eaters.” “Comparing the two sets of subjects on the basis of mechanical work, it is found that the vegetarians surpassed the carnivores, on the average, by fifty-three per cent.” “Comparing the two groups on the basis of the length of time the ergograph could be continuously operated, it was found that the vegetarian could work on the ergograph two or three times as long as the meat eaters before reaching the exhaustion point.” SUPERIOR ATHLETES AND VEGETARIANISM
In the world of sports also these facts are noticed. Dr. David Paulson, of Hinsdale, Illinois, said not long ago: “Several years ago, I attended a banquet in Chicago. The man who sat at my side was the sporting editor of one of the leading Chicago dailies. As he observed that I did not eat meat, the conversation naturally turned on the merits of vegetarianism, and he said to me, ‘Strangely enough, the long distance bicycle man, the long distance walker, the long distance swimmer, the champion tennis player, are all vegetarians.’” Horace Fletcher’s surprising endurance, as shown by his beating the records of Yale’s best athletes in their gymnasium and other training exercises, is probably now well known to the people of the country. Concerning these taxing exercises and the results, Dr. Anderson, director of the Yale gymnasium, says: “Mr. Fletcher has taken these movements with an ease that is unlooked for. He gives evidence of no soreness or lameness, and the large groups of muscles respond the second day without evidence of distress after or during the endurance test, that is, the long run. The heart is fast, but regular. It comes back to its normal beat quicker than the hearts of other men of his weight and age.” “The case is unusual, and I am surprised that Mr. Fletcher can do the work of trained athletes and not give marked evidences of overexertion. My conclusion, given in condensed form, is this: Mr. Fletcher performs this work with greater ease and with fewer noticeable bad results than any man of his age and condition I have ever worked with.” Mr. Fletcher did this on a simple diet of breakfast food, milk, and maple sugar. That he was not a “somatic freak of abnormal muscle development” is shown from the fact that some other men who lived on a simple diet and Fletcherized, thus practicing his system, took the same tests, and surpassed Mr. Fletcher’s record “in just so far as they had a natural advantage over him in youth or physical training.” MUSCULAR STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE
Professor Chittenden’s experiments with a detachment of twenty soldiers, with eight university athletes, and with certain other individuals, and on himself, have corroborated the evidence just presented, and show that with the decrease of flesh foods, and changing from high protein to low protein basis, there comes a surprising increase of muscular strength and endurance. In the Life Boat of May, 1914, Dr. David Paulson, in speaking of diet and what has been learned concerning the effects of it, mentions some of Dr. Hindhede’s work in this direction. Dr. Hindhede, who is now director of the Danish government laboratory for nutrition researches, began investigating the fleshless diet by experimenting on himself. For one month, he lived on bread, butter, potatoes, sugar, and fruit almost entirely—a diet that is “notably deficient in protein.” Instead of becoming weakened, or infirm in any way, he experienced excellent health. He now began experimenting in earnest along these new lines, and the results are very interesting. Hindhede reports the case of a young man named Madsen, who not only was a vegetarian, but also left out coffee, tea, liquor, and tobacco. Finally he was drafted into the military service. He ate nothing of the regular menu that did not meet his approval. I quote the following from the surgeon-major’s report of his case: “His diet was almost incredibly simple, consisting of bread, water, cacao butter, potatoes, and rarely a little milk. He was a particularly useful man, an arduous worker, and possessed of greater powers of endurance than most people. He thrived amazingly. During the whole eighteen months, he was never on the sick list, and never sought medical assistance.” LIKE THE ALCOHOL ILLUSION
The experiments of these investigators and others—Combe, of Lausanne, Metchnikoff and Lissier, of Paris, Herter and others in the United States—all seem to prove, as Professor Fisher states it, “that the fancied strength from meat is, like the fancied strength from alcohol, an illusion. The beef and ale of England are largely sources of weakness, not strength.” This statement corroborates the one made in the book Ministry of Healing, under the discussion of flesh as food: “It is a mistake to suppose that muscular strength depends on the use of animal food. The needs of the system can be better supplied, and more605 vigorous health can be enjoyed, without its use. The grains, with fruits, nuts, and vegetables, contain all the nutritive properties necessary to make good blood. These elements are not so well or so fully supplied by a flesh diet. Had the use of flesh been essential to health and strength, animal food would have been included in the diet appointed man in the beginning.” Every year, the truthfulness of these statements is demonstrated more fully. Thousands of persons who have made such a change in diet as suggested, have proved to their own satisfaction what science has demonstrated by the experiments I have mentioned. An old saying declares that we are getting wiser but weaker. It is our privilege to become wiser and stronger—a very necessary matter for us “upon whom the ends of the world are come.” The Work of the Missionary in a World at War
By W. H. Spicer
NOTE.— Except where otherwise implied, the following items are from incomplete reports dated between May 1 and August 15, 1915. A worker in India writes: “The Spirit of the Lord is moving on the minds of the masses as it never has in the past. Inquiry seems to be in the atmosphere everywhere. On the trains, in the crowded city streets, in the bazaars, and even in the homes of those living in remote villages, there seems to be a marked anxiety concerning the future. They are perplexed about the very things our message of truth makes clear.” Reports of this kind come from all over the world, and from workers of all denominations. The war has led men to think with seriousness about eternal things. They who have the Bread of life to dispense to the people, now have more anxious audiences because of the deep feeling which the war has brought to all lands, regarding the uncertainty of this present world. Each people seeks to its god. And many, seeking, are in a better position than ever to be led to the one God who is their Father. BETTER ORGANIZATION IN ASIA
The reorganization of the colporteur work of eastern Asia along Western lines was one of the things determined upon in the Shanghai general meeting in May. Foreign superintendents and native assistants are to be assigned, to give their entire time to the work. Inexpensive publications, suited to the buying powers and tastes of the people, will be prepared, and an effort will be made to adapt for the Orient the methods which in this country result in distributing over a million dollars worth of religious and health and temperance literature annually. It is believed that this will be helpful in many ways. First is the good done to the readers. “Almost every advance which is made into unoccupied territory is pioneered through the printed page.” Then there is the opportunity for self-supporting missionary work which may be afforded to church members, and possible gains to the publishing house, in case the work becomes entirely self-sustaining, which can be applied to the expenses of the mission in general. The Chinese Signs of the Times continues to be popular, a monthly issue of 100,000 having been attained at times. A large number of copies of this paper, together with other literature, were recently sent from our mission in Szechuan into Tibet, by the hands of returning travelers; and hopes of some good results from this are entertained. Twenty-four candidates were baptized at the Shanghai meeting, including four children of missionaries. Following a tent meeting near Seoul, Korea, twenty were baptized, and Pastor Riley Russell baptized twenty-four during a tour he made through the country. Not only the colporteur work, but the medical and educational work in the East, is to be specialized as far as possible. Pioneers have to do a little of all, but division of labor is more economical when it can be secured. In China, it is hoped to establish a mission school of six grades wherever there are six children of believers to form a nucleus. Two intermediate schools are in operation, and land and buildings for another have been secured in Hankau, central China. The providing of textbooks for these schools will give further employment to our presses, and the sale of literature will doubtless be the means whereby many young persons will be able to pay at least a part of their tuition. EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS AT SINGAPORE
The school at Singapore, Straits Settlements, reports the attendance increased by half, and a most encouraging outlook for the future, since government recognition has been secured. In the eleven Sabbath schools of the Straits Settlements, the lessons are taught in the English, Teo-chiu, Hakka, and Malay languages. The second quarter of this year was the best for the number of baptisms in our work in India, exceeding every previous record. The accessions for the first six months—sixty-one—nearly equalled those of any preceding year. Nineteen baptized and many others in preparation were reported in the early part of July. The war extra of the Oriental Watchman reached a circulation of some 40,000. In Burma, after some difficulty, land was secured recently for a station among the Karens, and the work of building was begun. Five acres of improved land that had been bought were increased, by a government grant of unimproved land adjoining, to thirteen acres. Previous to this, the work of preparing literature in the Karen language had been begun. Two persons of that nationality had already been baptized near Rangoon, and many others in the vicinity of the prospective station are now interested. The work for the Burmese proper is going forward meanwhile. A worker writes, “There seems to be a reaching out among the Burmans for this truth, as never before.” The industrial school at Meikilla is flourishing, and the more so for having now received government registration. Here, as elsewhere in this field, there has been some interference on account of sickness. A hill retreat among the pines at Kalaw, for workers needing a respite from the enervating low-land climate, is contemplated. (Continued on page 14)606 THE LATIN COUNTRIES OF EUROPE
The work in the Latin countries of Europe is naturally somewhat crippled on account of the war; yet some progress has been made. Incomplete reports mention eleven baptized in Spain, five in Italy, over eight in Portugal, about forty in Switzerland, and twenty-three in France, since the beginning of the war. Meetings in tents or in halls are in progress in nearly all these countries, and the interest on the part of the public in many cases seems increased rather than diminished by the presence of the war in all minds. Ability to contribute to the cause has naturally been diminished greatly by war conditions; but notwithstanding this, 1,475 members in these countries gave about $4,200 for gospel work, during the first quarter of 1915. The Jamaica headquarters of the West Indian work report nineteen baptized on that island this summer. Twelve have recently begun keeping the Sabbath on Eleuthera, of the Bahamas. In Villa Riva, republic of Santo Domingo, two women have had to face considerable opposition in accepting the message, but have stood firm. An edition of over 100,000 tracts issued by the Watchman press of Jamaica early in the year is already exhausted. Recent reports note five baptisms in Taquari, Brazil, with others about ready; and eleven among the Indians of Peru, with forty more in preparation to go forward. Our first workers for Colombia left the Canal Zone for the field early in June; and three new recruits for the work in the Andean highland sailed from New Orleans July 10. LARGE GATHERING IN SOUTH AFRICA
The largest gathering of Seventh-day Adventists ever held in South Africa was the meeting of the South African Union Conference held as a camp meeting, in Durban, Natal, last April. 56,000 copies of a special edition of the South African Sentinel, as well as 15,000 copies of a Dutch translation of the same, were distributed lately; and the subscription list was increased from 275 to over 4,000, largely as a result of the increased interest awakened in the study of prophecy by the occurrence of the war. The work in the interior is, however, greatly hindered by the war, and some points have had to be abandoned temporarily. IN THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC
The Fijian monthly, Rarama, now has a circulation of 2,000 copies. A number of books and tracts also published in Fijian are having wide circulation in the islands. These islands, as is well known, are civilized, and with the exception of Hindu immigrants, nominally Christian. Seven baptisms are reported in the Cakaudrove district of this island, including that of a local chief. These are among the natives. Work is also carried on for the heathen Indians, but is found much more difficult. Speaking of some of the native believers who can still recall the “devil days” of the Fiji of a half century ago, a worker writes: “Their faith in the Son of God is fixed for eternity, and they stand in this message freed by its power from those defilements which are fast making civilized Fiji something worse and more unimpressionable than a heathen mission field. No better testimony can be found, and certainly no greater is needed, of the power of the truth to free men, and keep them free from every defiling thing.” “The Buresala school is accomplishing a good work in saving young men and women from the uselessness of village life, and training them for service in the cause of God. The school farm comprises 270 acres.” School on the island of Haapai, in the Tonga group, opened with an attendance of nearly forty, and many had to be turned away for lack of seating capacity. Eleven persons were recently baptized into the church of Adelaide, South Australia; others are in preparation; and in addition to these, sixteen in the vicinity are newly keeping the Sabbath. In Brisbane, twenty-four, including seven young persons, were baptized the last of May. From other points in this province, thirty baptisms are reported. Our first German church in Australia was organized recently, with seven charter members. Attendance at Sabbath school was the means of winning three young Welshmen of Victoria. In a little town of West Australia, a business man was so interested in a lecture on Daniel 2, by one of our workers, that he begged a repetition, and filled the hall the next Sunday night, by personal solicitation among his acquaintances. About a dozen new Sabbath keepers are reported from different points in this province. Eighty-four of the church young people of Australia accepted baptism during the first quarter of the year. In Tasmania, six persons have lately accepted the message. From Napier, New Zealand, comes the report of the winning of thirteen adults and a number of intelligent children. LIFE SKETCHES OF ELLEN G. WHITE
BEING A NARRATIVE OF HER EXPERIENCES TO 1881, AS WRITTEN BY HERSELF; WITH A SKETCH OF HER SUBSEQUENT LABORS AND OF HER LAST SICKNESS, COMPILED FROM ORIGINAL SOURCES. As an indication of the manner in which Seventh-day Adventists have been encouraged to engage in world-wide work, note the following instance, which occurred in 1874, and is given in full in chapter 34 of “Life Sketches”: “I dreamed that several of the brethren in California were in council, considering the best plan for labor during the coming season. Some thought it wise to shun the large cities, and work in smaller places. . . . Then a young man whom I had frequently seen in my dreams, came into the council. He listened with deep interest to the words that were spoken, and then, speaking with deliberation and authoritative confidence, said: “The cities and villages constitute a part of the Lord’s vineyard. They must bear the messages of warning. The enemy of truth is making desperate efforts to turn the people from the truth of God to falsehood. . . . You are to sow beside all waters.” “The messenger continued: ‘You are entertaining too limited ideas of the work for this time. You are trying to plan the work so that you can embrace it in your arms. You must take broader views. Your light must not be put under a bushel or under a bed, but on a candlestick, that it may give light to all that are in the house. Your house is the world.’” “The verity and truth of the binding claims of the fourth commandment must be presented in clear lines before the people. ‘Ye are My witnesses.’ The message will go in power to all parts of the world, to Oregon, to Europe, to Australia, to the islands of the sea, to all nations, tongues, and peoples. Preserve the dignity of the truth. It will grow to large proportions. Go forward. God will work with great power if you will walk in all humility of mind before Him. It is not faith to talk of impossibilities. Nothing is impossible with God. The light of the binding claims of the law of God is to test and prove the world.” “In my last vision I was shown that we should have a part to act in California in extending and confirming the work already commenced. I was shown that missionary labor must be put forth in California, Australia, Oregon, and other territories far more extensively than our people have imagined, or ever contemplated and planned.” “I saw that there would be a paper published upon the Pacific coast. There would be a health institute established there, and a publishing house created.” The fulfillment of this instruction and these predictions is seen in a membership of more than ten thousand in California at the present time. That this membership is constantly increasing is shown by the fact that 366 new members were baptized during the first quarter of this year, and that the tithes and donations paid during that three months were $66,115. In addition to the Pacific Press, with its annual distribution of a half million dollars worth of gospel literature, there are four large sanitariums, one college, one medical college, and two academies in this state at the present time. “Life Sketches” is filled with these accounts of the beginning of things, and this is one of the reasons why nearly four thousand copies have already been called for. Cloth ................................. $1.00 Limp leather .......................... 1.50 ORDER OF YOUR TRACT SOCIETY
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