Health Institutes by the Hinsdale Sanitarium by DAVID PAULSON, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 23, 1913

Health Institutes by the Hinsdale Sanitarium

By DAVID PAULSON, M. D.

We have always felt it not only a duty but a privilege to share with others, from time to time, some of the good things the Lord has entrusted to us. Health lectures and other kinds of aggressive field work have always been a part of our program.

Recently we have conducted a gospel of health campaign in the adjoining towns of Downers Grove and Wheaton, spending a week at each place. For the benefit of others who are interested in similar efforts, I shall relate our experiences in some detail.

I first called upon the superintendent of public schools in Downers Grove, whose wife is president of the Woman’s Club. They were both deeply interested, and promised active cooperation. I next met the pastors of the Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, and Evangelical Churches. They most kindly and courteously arranged for a union service on the following Sunday night, to be held in the Evangelical church.

The Methodist pastor consented to the use of his church for the afternoon sessions, and he also suggested the serving of a twentieth-century dinner under the auspices of the Ladies’ Aid Society on Wednesday evening.

Neat programs were printed, and Hinsdale workers took them to the homes of the people, and explained in detail the opportunity that this health week would afford to the citizens of the town. Our young people were gratefully surprised to find that everybody, without exception, received them kindly and seemed deeply interested.

At the union meeting the church was crowded by an earnest, serious audience. The afternoon sessions were attended by fully three hundred persons, who gave the closest attention to the principles that were taught and illustrated by various demonstrations. Nearly four hundred tickets were sold for the hygienic dinner.

At the conclusion of our meetings one of the pastors explained to the people that we had come to their town to carry on this work for the public free of charge, and suggested a vote of thanks. To this suggestion they most heartily responded. I told the people that we deserved no thanks; that it was just as much the duty of the Christian physician to hold health revivals as it was for the Christian minister to hold spiritual revivals. They expect their ministers from time to time to conduct stirring revivals, and they do not especially thank them for it, as they feel it a part of the minister’s duty; so we had only done our Christian duty in having held this health revival.

To give the people an opportunity still further to study the gospel of health in their own homes, our workers afterward called on them and took orders for the book “Ministry of Healing.”

The Wheaton Health Revival

The wife of County Judge Slusser, who resides in Wheaton, learned about the Downers Grove health week, and she sent word to us that she earnestly desired to have an institute in Wheaton. She is prominently connected with the Parent-Teachers’ Association of that town, and gave me many valuable suggestions, among others that I call upon the city health officer, and enlist his interest. This I did, and found him most heartily in favor of some such health educational work for the people.

I then visited the pastors and various other leading citizens, and arrangements were made to hold a union meeting in the Gary Memorial Church. It was also arranged to hold the afternoon sessions in the Baptist church.

Printed programs were taken by our workers to the homes of the people. They did not merely slip them under the doors, but personally explained the work in detail. We endeavored to have these nurses feel that they were engaged in a work for Christ, and that they must approach the people in such a spirit of consecration that they could unconsciously carry the peace of God to the homes they visit. They engaged in this work most enthusiastically, and were much encouraged by the more than kind reception they received.

Sunday night was very cold, but there were between eight hundred and nine hundred persons present. I had earnestly prayed that the Lord would help me to present the gospel of health in such a manner that it would not only be instructive to the people, but also a spiritual uplift. I have every reason to believe that God answered my earnest prayer.

At some of the afternoon sessions the Baptist church was full, and there was always a splendid audience. Taking into consideration that it was just before

Christmas, when the people are busy shopping and otherwise engaged, it was certainly gratifying to us to find present at these meetings the superintendent of public schools, physicians, pastors, and the most influential people of the town. We opened our services with prayer, and sought to present our instruction in such a way that it would render glory to God.

Some Instructive Lessons

In this field campaign several texts of Scripture have been impressed upon us in a new and illuminating manner: First, in whatsoever city or town we enter to conduct a health week, we should first of all inquire ‘who in it is worthy’ (Matt. 10:11), then call upon such ones personally, explain our object, and if possible secure their active cooperation. If that is not possible, we can at least prevent prejudice by presenting our mission in its true light before the enemy has had a chance to work.

Second, to keep our eyes wide open for some special ones whom the Lord is impressing to give us “two loaves of bread,” 1 Sam. 10:4. I am inclined to think that in every enterprise undertaken by the direction of God’s Spirit, he has some one ready to give special encouragement to those who are carrying it on.

Third, we are not prepared to meet the people and do them any permanent good until we have been up on the house-top praying, as Peter did. Acts 10:9.

Fourth, in an effort of this kind we can not send some one else with our staff (2 Kings 4:29-35). Elisha told Gehazi to take his staff and go and lay it on the face of the dead child. Later the servant returned with the staff, and admitted that nothing had happened; so Elisha went personally and stretched himself on the child until it was warm, and then life returned. To organize a health effort we can not send some one else; we must go ourselves. Never try to farm out the missionary work the Lord wants you to do, to somebody else. “Somebody else” can not succeed, or God would have laid the burden on him in the first place, instead of on you.

DAVID PAULSON, M. D.