THE NEW PRACTICE VS. THE OLD THEORY.
By WM. COTTRELL
It is contended by some that we as a people, will shorten our lives by living out the health reform. On last Sabbath, after entering the village of Bowersville to attend our meeting, a physician from a neighboring village who had been called there to visit a patient, saw us. He came across the street to where we were, saluted us with a shake of the hand, passed some compliments, and said that if he had time he should like to stay for our meeting. He then left us, but before leaving town he stated to others that if the Advents lived up to their system of health reform strictly, we should all die in five years. He stated that he would admit that we would have clear minds, minds that could take hold of almost anything, but we could not live long. He said that if any of us were afflicted constitutionally with anything like scrofula, &c., it would develop itself soon, and that we would die. He seemed to pity us that we should act so suicidal. When asked for his reasons for what he had said, he stated that the leaving off of all stimulants would bring about this sad result; that persons could not live long on purely vegetable diet after having been accustomed to the common mode of living. Now, for one, I must confess that I am skeptical as it regards the theory that was advanced by this M. D. I use no flesh-meat of any description whatever, no butter, nor grease, nor pepper, no condiments of any kind; and although I have been a great pork-eater nearly all my life, and am now over fifty years old, and have been quite feeble for many years, I am now, under the reformed diet, and on two meals per day, able to do more work in one day than I could do in a week under the old mode of living. I must confess that I can't see how it can be possible that persons who live out the laws of health perfectly, should have as a result such healthy, active minds, and at the same time become more and more feeble in body as a result of this mode of living. Think of it! Strong, active, healthy minds, but feeble, sickly bodies. We, here in this place, that have made a start in the health reform, feel so well in the practice of it that we are willing to run the risk of its killing us, to obey the laws of God, either physical, mental or moral. If to obey God in keeping his laws would shorten our lives, would it not be better than to live in disobedience a greater length of time? I leave others to answer.