p. 24 | The Offering for Our Medical Hospital by I. H. EVANS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1916

The Offering for Our Medical Hospital

By I. H. EVANS

SABBATH, October 14, has been set apart by the Division Conference as a day when all our people are requested to make an offering for the erection of a hospital for our medical school at Loma Linda. This hospital is to be in Los Angeles. Already a block of ground has been purchased, in a splendid location, on which the buildings are to be erected. It is planned to build a dispensary, where the poor can be treated practically free, a home for our medical students, and a hospital. We do not have the dimensions of this hospital in full detail at the present time. It is planned that it shall contain at least fifty beds.

Sixty-one thousand dollars has been voted to this work on condition that we undertake to secure this by contributions. It is desired that on this occasion our brethren shall undertake to give at least one dollar per church member. The hospital is to be called The Ellen G. White Memorial Hospital. Many will remember that during her later years Sister White gave much attention to the medical school at Loma Linda. She was very anxious to see this school placed on a working basis, and supplied with such equipment as would make it a first-class medical school, where Seventh-day Adventists could secure a medical education without attending worldly schools. Sister White carried a great burden in behalf of our young people. She saw many who are attending worldly schools drifting from the message, and ultimately giving up the faith. She did what she could to arouse our people to realize the necessity of providing a medical training for our young people where they would be under the instruction and influence of our Seventh-day Adventist Christian teachers.

In trying to carry out this plan as outlined by Sister White, we have proceeded step by step in the equipping and maintaining of this school until now we have a real medical school. But this hospital is a necessity, and has to be provided in order to meet the requirements that are imposed upon medical schools by those who stand at the head of the medical work in this country. This hospital is to provide our students with opportunity for clinical work.

It is a real necessity, and we are anxious that the full sixty-one thousand dollars shall be supplied by our people at this time. If there should be an overflow, it is purposed that we erect a home for our medical students. Many feel that the home is almost as necessary as the hospital. We hope our people will take a deep interest in this medical school, and on the Sabbath named, October 14, undertake to contribute at least one dollar per church member for this enterprise.

We have an organization at work in the field, known as the Women's Auxiliary Department, that has been soliciting funds for about one year. Dr. P. T. Magan also has rendered invaluable assistance, and the Lord has greatly blessed his work in soliciting donations. But until the present, opportunity has not been given our people generally to join in this undertaking. It is believed that every Seventh-day Adventist will want to have some part in the erection of this hospital. Why should not every Seventh-day Adventist in the Division Conference have some money invested in this enterprise?

The brethren who are trying to manage and conduct a medical school are extremely anxious that the mind of the Lord be met in this work. They need our sympathy and prayers; but in addition, they must have facilities with which to equip the school, and one of the great needs at the present time is the hospital. We trust the full amount of the donation will be raised at the time of this offering, and if every church of Seventh-day Adventists will raise an amount equal to one dollar for each church member, this enterprise will be completed at an early date. Any funds that are received above the expense of the hospital, the dispensary, and the home, will be applied on the indebtedness of the institution. So all that is received in this donation can be used to advantage. I. H. EVANS.