Encouraging Outlook at Our Medical College
By G. A. Irwin
THE College of Medical Evangelists is now well under way in the fourth year of its existence. There are sixty-three students in attendance, divided as follows: Fourth-year class, seven; third-year class, twenty-one; second-year class, sixteen; first-year class, nineteen. Without question, the present year thus far has been more satisfactory to both faculty and students than any that has gone before. The members of the faculty are each year coming to understand better their several lines of work, and are learning better how to blend their work together as a whole, and, as a result, union and harmony prevail. The interest manifested by the faculty in their work, as evinced by their regular attendance and enthusiasm, has inspired confidence on the part of the students, and they, in turn, are settling down to good hard work. The uncertainty of the earlier years has now passed, and in its stead is a marked spirit of confidence, not only in the consecration and teaching ability of the faculty, but in the stability and permanency of the school. The buildings and appliances that have been provided from time to time have been of a stable and permanent character, and at the same time both convenient and practical. Taking into account the magnitude of such an undertaking, and the serious difficulties that have surrounded its development, it is marvelous how the Lord has guided thus far, and saved us from making serious mistakes. During the progress of a college board meeting that has just closed, Sister White spoke to the members of the board and faculty and the heads of departments. Her theme was the importance of having confidence in God, and being in a condition of faith and unity with him, so we can be led at all times by his counsel. Speaking of Loma Linda and the work that God would have done at that place, she used the following interesting and encouraging words:— “I was here at Loma Linda when this place was purchased. As I spoke to the people, the power of God came into our midst again and again. On the occasion of my first visit to look over the property, I knelt right down with our brethren and the representatives of the owners of the place who were here; I knelt right down in the midst of them, and prayed to God about the work that should be undertaken and carried forward in Loma Linda. When I got up, some of those who were not of our faith seemed to be deeply moved. From that time I have ever felt under bounden duty to God to make of this place just what it should be. I know that there are men here who have wrestled in the cause of God, and I know that they have passed through an experience that they never would have had if Satan had not had the power to oppress them.” “Let us all strive to make of Loma Linda just what God means it should be. This is the principal thing I have to say—make of this place what God would have you make of it. Every one of you is under bounden duty to God to labor in harmony, and to press the battle to the gate. If unbelievers come in and talk their doubts and fears, remember that Satan is not dead. He has agencies through whom he works; but shall we become discouraged because of this?—O, no! Christ, our Saviour, lives and reigns. Let us not look on the dark side. As soon as we yield to the temptation to do this, we shall have plenty of company. But there is nothing to be gained by looking on the dark side. What we want is courage in the Lord; and we want to follow on to know the Lord, that we may know that his going forth is prepared as the morning. This is not going back into darkness. You know how the morning is prepared. If you follow on to know the Lord every day, you will increase in brightness, in courage, in faith, and the Lord Jesus will be to you a present help in every time of need.” These words of encouragement were especially appreciated when we came to consider how we were to provide for a clinical hospital, which seems to be an imperative necessity. A hospital of our own is necessary, not only to give our school a proper rating and standing with the medical authorities, and to admit our students to the several State boards for examinations, but it is necessary also that our students may have the opportunity to make diagnoses under attending physicians, and to prescribe rational treatments and watch the results. While public hospitals in the community can be utilized in order to make up the requisite number of beds, and furnish the students a wider range of subjects and diseases, they can not, from the very nature of their work, give to the students the practical experience so essential to one learning to treat disease without the use of poisonous drugs. This being one of the fundamental features of our medical faith and practise, it goes without argument that the facilities with which to teach such principles, must be supplied. As well might we abandon our colleges and academies, and send our students to the theological schools of the world to fit them to preach the third angel’s message, as to expect to educate physicians to practise hydrotherapy and other natural methods of treating disease, without the appliances and opportunity to learn how to administer successfully such treatment. In addition to its being a necessity for the foregoing purposes, the hospital building will meet a long-felt want as a place where our own people of limited means can receive treatment. While our sanitariums are doing a liberal amount of charity work, there are still scores of our own people who are suffering with diseases of various kinds because they are unable to pay the rates that are charged people of means, and which must be received if these institutions meet running expenses. Such a hospital building as we need, and for which plans and specifications have already been drawn up and accepted by the board of directors, will supply seventy beds, and will cost about twenty thousand dollars when completed and ready for occupancy. The question as to how we can raise this means without interfering with, or in any way crippling, other lines of work, was the most serious one that confronted our board at its recent session. After a full and very clear presentation of advantages and the actual necessity of having a commodious and well-equipped hospital, we all engaged in a most earnest season of prayer that God would suggest to our minds a plan in which all could be united. There seemed to be a general conviction that the Lord would be pleased to have us ask those persons whom he has specially blessed with means to unite in creating a fund for this purpose. While, taken as a whole, we may be called a poor people, yet there are many persons among us varying in wealth all the way from ten to one hundred thousand dollars. There are single individuals who could build and equip this hospital, and still have an abundance of means left with which to support their families and materially assist in the general lines of our work. It is to brethren and sisters who have means that we are making this special appeal. A few thousand dollars invested now to provide facilities for the training of workers to go to the needy fields in regions beyond, will bring a rich harvest of souls when the Holy Spirit is poured out in the final loud cry of the third angel’s message. At the rapid rate prophecy is fulfilling, it can not be many years more until money will be of no avail. Now is the time to send your means on before, to lay up treasure in heaven. When reading this article, may the Spirit of God press the question home, Is this an appeal from God to me? Have I been prospered in my business for such a time as this? If I fail, will help come from another quarter, and I be passed by when the rewards are being meted out?
G. A. Irwin.