As already stated, the training of nurses was a subject of considerable study and discussion at our medical conventions. We give here a few more statements from some of the speakers:—
Prof. J. L. Shaw spoke of the postgraduate course for nurses given at the Washington Missionary College. The course emphasizes the evangelical training of nurses, the need of which he had seen manifest in mission fields, where medical workers coming from this country would often be found so lacking in evangelical training that they could not sit down and give an inquirer an intelligent idea of what they believed. In this course special study is given to Bible subjects, with practical experience in doing Bible work under the direction of a Bible worker who has had long experience. She takes the students into the field, and demonstrates in homes how to give Bible readings. Each student is expected to give two readings a week. Thus students not only receive, but learn how to impart.
Besides the training in Bible work, these students receive such instruction in history and English as they may need. Advanced work in physiology, temperance, and hygiene is also given. They spend some time at the Washington Sanitarium Dispensary-Hospital, which offers special advantages in obstetrics and various lines of hospital and dispensary work and training as visiting nurses. Professor Shaw spoke of the importance of having nurses in mission fields understand obstetrics. He had seen nurses return from India to England to take a course in obstetrics. The opportunity for getting such instruction and training in connection with the work of our postgraduate course is especially good.
Elder Meade MacGuire deplored the fact that so many of our young people are lost to the work, and suggested that a very definite work be outlined for them in the Bible course, thus enabling them to begin the giving of Bible readings while still in school.
Dr. W. A. Ruble gave a brief statement of the reasons offered for eliminating some of the training schools now in existence. With so many schools bidding for students, and entrance requirements so low, it is difficult to get a sufficient number of students for a good class without accepting those who are too young or are poorly prepared.
Dr. John Reith pleaded for a careful consideration of a raised standard for our nurses’ course, then a careful watch on the finished product, that they be directed into the work and not lost to it.
Dr. B. B. Bolton suggested that the question of raising standards might be settled by State authorities, who are carefully examining schools and demanding a high standard, which would eventually eliminate some schools.
Dr. D. H. Kress saw light in the idea of having nurses well trained in Bible work. This would make them of great help in tent work. He said: “I should never have a Bible worker connect with my work unless she were a trained nurse, who could go into the homes of converts and teach them how to live.”
Dr. W. E. Bliss said we should use greater care in selecting student nurses. Sanitariums are not reform schools. If students with proper Christian experience are selected, and this experience is kept active, the nurses will turn out right. We cannot close our eyes to the fact that many nurses who have been graduated are not now in the work. Conferences cannot be blamed; for they do not know how to use nurses who do not have the proper training.
Dr. H. W. Miller spoke of the importance of having nurses who can be a real help in giving the truth to patients. If possible, students should have Bible work before taking the nurses’ course. On coming to the sanitarium, they should regard it as a missionary field, and be prepared to do their part in working it. It requires mature minds to deal with the sick, and young girls should not be asked to manage some of the trying cases met with. Nurses with proper qualifications would give character to the work.
Elder W. T. Knox believed that some sanitariums were conducting training schools at a disadvantage to themselves as well as to the nurses. Some institutions do not have sufficient work to give the nurses ample experience in all the lines required to qualify them properly. If we should send out inefficient nurses as properly trained graduates, we should be dishonest with the public. Neither would it be honest to give the nurses a training that does not properly qualify them. We should determine what is the right thing to do, and do it.
Dr. H. A. Green, in speaking of the time given to training men nurses, said that he believed men should receive as thorough training as women; that the basis of training should be the same in all sanitariums. A man should not be21put in a responsible position—in charge of the bath rooms, for example—unless he has had a full training.
Dr. J. D. Shively felt anxious as to what should be done to give men nurses employment after they have been graduated. He knew of several very able men nurses who were finding it difficult to secure employment. Most people, he said, prefer women nurses, and men nurses are coming to be less and less in demand.
Elder A. T. Robinson suggested that if the number of training schools were reduced, some sanitariums would have to use graduate help. He asked the relative cost.
It was stated in reply that two or three sanitariums have tried the plan of using graduate help, and have found it less expensive than to conduct training schools.
Dr. H. W. Miller: “We must train nurses for the purpose of working in this cause, and not for the purpose of receiving twenty-five dollars a week. Then our sanitariums can employ them at proper wages. It is worth something to get a preparation that fits one to work in this cause. While we hear of many being lost to the cause, we find many who have taken the nurses’ course who are now in other lines of responsible work. We should encourage our men nurses to believe there is a place for them.”
Dr. E. D. Haysmer said he believed we need not hold out as an inducement to young men that they can find employment as nurses after graduation, but we can let them know that the training is an asset to them in evangelical work.
Dr. Green: “Theoretically it may seem an easy thing to run a training school, to take promiscuously about fifty young people and train them for the work. I believe it is the hardest kind of work. I find it easier to handle graduate nurses. There is need of our working out a uniform system of training for our schools.”
Dr. L. A. Sutter spoke of the few nurses prepared to teach others or carry responsibilities. Nurses should be efficient in domestic lines in order to be fully qualified; they should be familiar with contagious diseases, obstetrics, care of children, fever cases, etc.
The following recommendations, dealing with training school work, were adopted:—
“Whereas, The larger number of the members of a sanitarium training school are young women, and inasmuch as the objective field of the graduate nurse is in connection with Bible work or other lines of evangelical effort, therefore,—
“Resolved, That we petition our local and union conferences to regard the sanitarium as a part of their legitimate field; and, where the institution is large enough to justify it, provide a suitable lady worker to give workers instruction and practical training in Bible work, and to hold Bible readings with patients.
“Resolved, That, as a convention, we favor the recommendations adopted at the last General Conference, relating to the standards and course of instruction to be given in our nurses’ training schools, and recommend their adoption by our sanitariums in this field.
“Resolved, That we suggest to the North American Division Conference an increase in the entrance requirements for the nurses’ training course, from nine to ten grades.
“Resolved, That we favor the recommendations adopted at the fall council of 1914, relative to the limiting of the number of nurses’ training schools, and the affiliation of the other training schools operated by the organized work with these designated schools.
“Resolved, That we favor the most careful training of nurses in domestic work. It is our belief that no woman can be a well-trained nurse unless she has been well drilled in the principles of cooking, laundry work, and care of the house; and we believe that all our sanitarium training schools should have a uniform standard for domestic training, making the advancement of nurses depend on their proficiency in domestic service.
“Resolved, That the matron be a member of the training school faculty, and that she teach domestic science; that the matron be under the supervision, in this teaching, of the superintendent of the training school; and that so far as possible, the matron be a graduate nurse.
“Resolved, That we recommend that those graduate nurses who desire to take further training in medical missionary work, be advised to attend the school at Loma Linda or the nurses’ training school at Washington.
“Resolved, That we have a superintendent for each training school who shall be a registered nurse.
“Resolved, That we advise all institutions conducting a training school to establish a dispensary or other facilities in a city where nurses can be trained in obstetrics, emergency work, children’s and contagious diseases, as well as in evangelical field work; and we recommend that such work be under the direct charge of a physician.”
L. A. HANSEN.
Reporting Camp Meetings
By Earle A. Rowell
In 1907 and 1908 I was employed by the Western Washington Conference to report the camp meetings to the newspapers. In 1909 we had our camp meeting in Tacoma, Wash. Several days of the meeting had passed, with good interest on the part of those not of our faith, and the papers were taking a generous interest in our reports,—seeming glad indeed to get them,—when I read in the “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, pages 36, 37, these words:—
“We must take every justifiable means of bringing the light before the people. Let the press be utilized, and let every advertising agency be employed that will call attention to the work. This should not be regarded as non-essential. On every street corner you may see placards and notices calling attention to various things that are going on, some of them of the most objectionable character; and shall those who have the light of life be satisfied with feeble efforts to call the attention of the masses to the truth? . . . As far as practicable, let the important discourses given at our camp meetings be published in the newspapers. Thus the truth which was placed before a limited number may find access to many minds; and where the truth has been misrepresented, the people will have an opportunity of knowing just what the minister said.”
The more I read this passage, the more important seemed the call to have the message presented more fully in the newspapers. The spirit of prophecy said it could be done. But how? I had handed in only a few notes at two camp meetings. This constituted my sole experience in the newspaper work. Our denomination had not previously looked to the newspapers for publicity. There was no precedent to guide.
However, the impression that a whole page could be secured free in a daily would not leave me; so I showed the above passage from the Testimonies to Elder S. W. Nellis (recently deceased), president of the conference, and he immediately consented to aid in every possible manner to secure a page of the paper.
I went to the editor of the Tacoma Ledger and said to him: “You know that we have a city of tents within your larger city. Also we have visitors not only from all over the State but several from various parts of the United States, and even from far-off India and China and other parts of the distant world. We purpose to give a full-page account, well illustrated, of this camp meeting, and interviews with these visitors, to one of Tacoma’s daily papers. We are giving you the first opportunity to secure it.”
The eagerness with which this paper seized the opportunity was a surprise to us. We ordered and paid for 1,200 copies of the Sunday edition in which the page was to appear. We planned to sell them to our people to use among friends who would not read our tracts, but who would be likely to read the truth if printed in a newspaper.
Then came the task of writing up what we wanted to have printed. Several were delegated to help, and finally an article of about four thousand words, covering every important doctrine, was presented.
It was all printed without the change of a word, and the editor told me that he found it marvelously interesting. Five o’clock, Sunday morning, the last day of camp meeting, the 1,200 papers were on the ground. They cost us two and one-half cents each, and we sold them for an average of three and one-half cents. The whole 1,200 were sold in the one day, with a profit to the conference of about twelve dollars. Thus it was found possible to get a full-page account of our truth in the daily papers at an actual profit to us. It can readily be understood that it means a great deal to our cause in any locality to secure a full-page write-up in the daily paper of the belief and work of Seventh-day Adventists. EARLE A. ROWELL.
Medical Missionary Department
W. A. RUBLE, M. D. · — General Secretary
L. A. HARREN · — Assistant Secretary
H. W. MILLER, M. D. · N. Am. Div. Secretary
NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS
Camp Meetings
ATLANTIC UNION CONFERENCE
Southern New England, Danielson, Conn. ..... June 24 to July 4
Northern New England, Woodsville, N. H. ..... Aug. 19-29
Maine, Dover and Foxcroft ..... Aug. 26 to Sept. 5
CENTRAL UNION CONFERENCE
Colorado, Boulder ..... June 17-27
West Colorado, Grand Junction ..... June 28 to July 5
Missouri, Columbia ..... Aug. 5-15
Nebraska, Hastings ..... Aug. 19-29
Kansas ..... Sept. 2-12
COLUMBIA UNION CONFERENCE
West Pennsylvania, Homestead Park, Pittsburgh ..... June 10-20
Eastern Pennsylvania, Emmanuel Grove, Allentown ..... June 17-27
Chesapeake, Hamilton Avenue Grove, Baltimore, Md. ..... June 24 to July 4
New Jersey, Burlington ..... June 24 to July 4
Virginia, Charlottesville ..... Aug. 5-15
Ohio, Mount Vernon ..... Aug. 12-22
West Virginia ..... Aug. 26 to Sept. 5
Virginia, Newport News (colored) ..... Sept. 9-19
EASTERN CANADIAN UNION
Quebec ..... June 17-24
LAKE UNION CONFERENCE
Wisconsin, Stevens Point ..... June 10-20
North Michigan, Gladstone ..... June 17-27
East Michigan, Holly ..... June 24 to July 4
West Michigan, Charlotte ..... Aug. 12-22
Indiana ..... Aug. 19-29
North Michigan, Mount Pleasant ..... Aug. 26 to Sept. 5
Northern Illinois, Joliet ..... Aug. 26 to Sept. 5
Southern Illinois, Springfield ..... Sept. 2-12
NORTHERN UNION CONFERENCE
South Dakota, Watertown ..... June 10-20
North Dakota, Jamestown ..... June 17-27
NORTH PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE
Upper Columbia, Spokane, Wash. ..... June 10-20
Western Washington, Tacoma ..... June 17-27
Montana, Great Falls ..... June 17-27
PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE
Northwestern California, Santa Rosa ..... June 17-27
Northern California ..... July 1-11
California, Richmond ..... July 15-25
Southern California ..... Aug. 5-15
Southeastern California, Huntington Beach ..... Aug. 26 to Sept. 5
Arizona ..... Oct. 7-17
SOUTHEASTERN UNION CONFERENCE
Cumberland, Cleveland, Tenn. ..... July 15-25
South Carolina, Spartanburg, July 29 to Aug. 8
North Carolina, High Point ..... Aug. 12-22
Georgia ..... Aug. 26 to Sept. 5
SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE
South Texas, Elgin (local) ..... June 10-20
West Texas (local) ..... June 24 to July 4
North Texas, Sacul (local) ..... July 8-18
North Texas, Grand Prairie ..... July 22 to Aug. 1
Arkansas, Hot Springs ..... Aug. 5-15
North Texas, Linden (local) ..... Aug. 12-22
Oklahoma ..... Aug. 19-29
New Mexico ..... Sept. 2-12
South Texas, Corpus Christi (local) ..... Sept. 16-26
SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE
Tennessee River, Hazel, Ky., July 22 to Aug. 2
Kentucky ..... Aug. 13-22
Alabama, Birmingham (white) ..... Aug. 20-29
Mississippi, Laurel ..... Aug. 27 to Sept. 5
WESTERN CANADIAN UNION CONFERENCE
Manitoba, Brandon ..... June 18-27
Saskatchewan, Saskatoon ..... June 24 to July 4
Texas Conference Association Meeting
By J. I. TAYLOR; C. E. SMITH
THE annual meeting of the Texas Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists will be held at Dalworth Park, Tex., in connection with the North Texas Conference and camp meeting, July 22 to Aug. 1, 1915. The first meeting of the association will be called at 10 A. M., Tuesday, July 27. Officers for the coming year will be elected, and such other business transacted as may properly come before the meeting. Accredited delegates to the conference are also delegates to the association.
J. I. TAYLOR, President;
C. E. SMITH, Secretary.
North Texas Conference
By J. I. TAYLOR; A. M. WOODALL
THE thirty-eighth annual session of the North Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held July 22 to Aug. 1, 1915, in connection with the annual camp meeting at Dalworth Park, Tex., for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing year, and of transacting such other business as may properly come before such a meeting. The first meeting of the session will convene at 9 A. M., Friday, July 23. A full attendance of delegates is urgently requested at the opening meeting of the conference. Each church is entitled to one delegate for the church organization and to one additional delegate for each fifteen members or major part thereof. The officers and executive committee, ordained ministers, and heads of recognized departments are delegates at large.
J. I. TAYLOR, President;
A. M. WOODALL, Secretary.
Obituaries
PAULSON.—Lillie Paulson was born in Bates Township, Michigan, July 30, 1898, and died at her home in St. Petersburg, Fla., March 28, 1915. She was a conscientious Christian, and was awaiting baptism at the time of her death. W. H. HECKMAN.
HARRIS.—Darrel Wilmot Harris was born in Wisconsin, June 16, 1885, and died at College Place, Wash., May 18, 1915, at the age of thirty years. Our brother fell asleep in Jesus with a bright hope of eternal life. We laid him to rest in the cemetery at Milton, Oregon. W. W. STEWARD.
QUICK.—Hannah J. Quick died at Niagara Falls, N. Y., April 26, 1915, aged 84 years and 23 days. About twenty years ago she embraced present truth and united with the church at Austin, Pa. The funeral service was held at Keating Summit, Pa., where we laid her away to await the coming of the Life-giver. B. F. KNEELAND.
HUMPHRY.—My dear sister, Mary Frances Humphry, died at the home of her daughter in Obert, Nebr., April 22, 1915, aged 73 years, 4 months, and 4 days. She had been a widow for four years. From childhood sister was an earnest Christian, keeping all the commandments of God, and she fell asleep in the bright hope of a joyful awakening when the Life-giver shall appear to gather his jewels. H. A. ST. JOHN.
RHODES.—Richard L. Rhodes was born in Ghent, Columbia Co., N. Y., May 20, 1833, and died at Kankakee, Ill., May 9, 1915. He accepted present truth in Hillsdale, Mich., over sixty years ago, under the labors of Elders Joseph Bates and M. E. Cornell. Faithful to the last, he now peacefully sleeps in Jesus, awaiting the resurrection morning. He is mourned by his companion and four children. ADOLPH JOHNSON.
MELENDY.—Bryant Hutchinson Melendy was born at Amherst, N. H., Feb. 24, 1836, and died at Academia, Ohio, May 23, 1915. When a young man he accepted present truth under the labors of Elder S. N. Haskell, and was a member of the Mount Vernon Seventh-day Adventist Church at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife and four sons and their families, who are comforted by the Christian's hope in this hour of trial. E. K. SLADE.
COOK.—William Henry Cook was born at South Branch, New Brunswick, Sept. 2, 1853, and died May 16, 1915, at his home in St. John, New Brunswick. Eighteen years ago he accepted the truths of the third angel's message, and from that time until his death was faithful to the cause he loved. He served on the Maritime Conference committee, and also as a member of the Williamsdale school board for several years. We feel the loss of a faithful, tried worker; but though he rests, his works will follow him. G. H. SKINNER.
EDWARDS.—Anna Stone Edwards, wife of Elder C. H. Edwards, died in Providence, R. I., May 11, 1915, as the result of a serious surgical operation. Her age was forty-seven years. She became a member of the Greenwood, R. I., Seventh-day Adventist Church at eighteen, and remained a faithful, devoted servant of her Master until called by death. On May 11, 1887, she was married to Elder C. H. Edwards. Her husband, one son and his family, together with her aged parents and four sisters, mourn their loss. K. C. RUSSELL.
MURPHY.—Eunice A. Albertson was born July 2, 1838, and was married to John Bird in 1856. Two of their three children are living. Mr. Bird died in 1862, and three years later the deceased was married to Riley A. Murphy. Three children were born to this union. Sister Murphy was again left a widow in 1899. She made her home with a son in Wabash, Ind., where she died May 8, 1915. She accepted present truth in 1890. W. A. YOUNG.
JONES.—Walter P. Jones died at Evart, Mich., April 3, 1915. He was born in Genesee County, New York, May 29, 1837. The family moved to Michigan when he was six years of age. My brother was a firm believer in the truths taught by Seventh-day Adventists, and observed the Sabbath for about six months before his death. He is survived by a wife and two children who feel deeply this separation, but have the hope of meeting him again in the resurrection day. MRS. D. W. MAYNARD.
KENNEDY.—Sally Celinda Chandler was born March 10, 1839, in or near Chandler Valley, N. Y. When she was about seven years of age her father's family moved from New York to Sherwood Township, Branch County, Mich., making the journey by wagon in the winter. Later she lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota. In the latter State she was married to Oscar F. Kennedy, Dec. 17, 1861. About five years later they moved to the southwestern part of Missouri, and in 1874 to Battle Creek, Mich. Here she learned the truths of the third angel's message, and was baptized and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1878. Her home for many years past has been with her daughter, Mrs. Lucy Welch. She was a true mother to all in the family. She loved the Sabbath, and attended Sabbath school and church service regularly to the very last Sabbath of her life, having missed only two or three services in the past two years and eight months. After a few hours' illness, on May 19, 1915, she fell asleep without a struggle. A younger sister, Mrs. Louisa Stilson, of Bethel, Wis., is now the only survivor of their father's family, nearly all of whom died at an advanced age. Mrs. Lucy Welch, of Takoma Park, D. C., was her only child. Her grandchildren are Windon C. Welch, of Takoma Park, D. C., and Mrs. Earl Wilcox, of Saranae Lake, N. Y. Besides these she leaves a score of nieces and nephews and many friends to mourn their loss.
Alberta Conference Association
By H. H. HUMANN; F. L. HOMMEL
NOTICE is hereby given that a meeting of the Alberta Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists will be held at 10 A. M., July 14, 1915, on the camp grounds at Lacombe, Alberta, for the transaction of such business as should properly come before the association. It is desired that all the churches be represented at this first meeting.
H. H. HUMANN, President;
F. L. HOMMEL, Secretary.
Saskatchewan Conference
By A. C. Gilbert; U. Wissner
THE fourth annual session of the Saskatchewan Conference will be held on the camp ground at Saskatoon, June 24 to July 4, 1915. The first business meeting will be held at 10:30 A. M., Monday, June 28. Officers will be elected, and such other business as may properly come before the conference will be transacted.
A. C. GILBERT, President;
U. WISSNER, Secretary.
Tennessee River Conference Association
By W. R. Elliott; F. C. Bruce
The annual session of the Tennessee River Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists will be held in Hazel, Ky., in connection with the State conference and camp meeting, to elect a board of trustees and to transact such other business as the constituency may elect. All accredited delegates to the Tennessee River Conference are delegates to the association. The first meeting will be held Monday morning, July 26, 1915, at nine o'clock.
W. R. ELLIOTT, President;
F. C. BRUCE, Secretary.
Quebec Conference
By A. V. Olson; F. E. Dufty
The thirty-sixth annual session of the Quebec Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held June 17-24, 1915, in connection with the camp meeting at South Stukely, Quebec, for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing year and the transacting of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Delegates’ credentials should be sent immediately to the conference secretary, F. E. Dufty, 18 Calumet St., Montreal. Each church is entitled to one delegate for its organization and an additional one for each ten of its membership. The first session of the conference will be held at 9 A. M., Friday, June 18. All delegates should be present for the first session.
A. V. OLSON, President;
F. E. DUFTY, Secretary.
North Dakota Conference Association
By S. E. JACKSON; J. J. REISWIG
THE annual session of the North Dakota Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists (incorporated) is called to convene in Jamestown, N. Dak., Friday morning, June 25, at ten o'clock. The meeting will be held in connection with the annual camp meeting, and is called for the purpose of electing its trustees for the ensuing year, and such other business as may properly come before this meeting. All accredited delegates to the North Dakota Conference are delegates to this association. The camp meeting will be held June 17-27, on the fairgrounds, which include a beautiful park in the southern part of the city.
S. E. JACKSON, President;
J. J. REISWIG, Secretary.
Publications Wanted
J. F. McIntyre, Inland, Nebr.
Edward Quinn, Jr., 6 Hickory Ave., Takoma Park, D. C. Signs, weekly and monthly, and Watchman.
