Another Medical Missionary Council by W. A. B.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 8, 1908

Another Medical Missionary Council

By W. A. B.

FEW of us realize the importance of the medical work in preparing the way for the entrance of the third angel's message, or perhaps I should say as an advance guard in presenting this closing message to the world. Many times have we been told that medical missionary work, including the sanitarium effort, is the right arm of the gospel message for this time. It has been urged upon us repeatedly to establish centers for health work in every city in the United States, and to push more vigorously than ever before this branch of work in other lands. We realize the difficulty there is in reaching all grades of society, especially the more fortunate classes, with the message. The advantages of sanitarium work in accomplishing this have been urged upon us again and again.

In every large city we should have companies of trained workers,—nurses' exchanges, if you please,—from which consecrated young people could go to homes, and by ministry to the sick obtain opportunity to present the message for this time. In the time of the Waldenses, men and women adopted the plan of selling different wares from house to house, in order to secure access to the people, that they might tell them of Jesus. A plan of work with far greater possibilities has been opened up before us, which will bring us into touch with all classes. The need for such work is also a crying one; for despite the fact that physicians are increasing in number every year, and medical knowledge is also increasing, disease is making greater ravages than ever before. This condition of affairs is destined to go on until This is the fulfilment of the prophecy takes place: “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand.” Who can fail to see in this coincidence an overruling Providence, bringing people of all classes where they are glad to accept anything that will promise them better health, at the same time developing a people trained in principles underlying health, who have, with it all, the saving message for this time?

But what has all this to do with a medical missionary council? Just this: Wisdom is needed in conducting such a stupendous work as lies before us, and “in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” The appalling question comes to every one who has any realization of the importance of this movement: “Who is sufficient for these things?” Surely not the officers of the Medical Missionary Department; not the General Conference Committee; not the combined efforts of our sanitariums and other medical institutions, but the people of this denomination. Every true Seventh-day Adventist must repeat the work of the great Medical Missionary. Wherever he goes, he must be prepared to heal the sick, as well as to say, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

We are in need of a medical missionary council of men and women from all parts of the world, that we may plan the best methods for making of the medical work what God wants it to be in this closing campaign. Surely it is time to cease making merchandise out of God's heritage. We must no longer sell our birthright for a mess of pottage. God calls to us to arouse and arise to the great work before us. Thousands dying in sin about us every day offer a fertile field for our unselfish labor, the like of which has never before been open to any people. Shall we take up this work as we should? Shall we come together with one desire, and that to finish this work at the earliest possible moment by uniting as one man to give all our energy to it? Shall we have a council that will unite us in this supreme effort?

The plan has been adopted by the General Conference Committee to hold a medical missionary council at Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., in connection with the next General Conference in May, 1909. The writer has corresponded with all the local and union conference presidents throughout the world regarding this council, and over forty have responded, heartily promising their support in helping to make this the best council we have ever held. Delegates to the conference will be appointed from our medical men throughout the world to take an active part in the proceedings of the conference, and all our representative men will take part in the proceedings of the medical council. Could there be any better way of strengthening the union between the medical work and the general work than this? It is necessary that a common interest in the medical work and the other work of the conference be shared by every worker, and, in fact, by every Seventh-day Adventist.

The following are a few of the expressions used in these letters referring to the above:—

“I am in favor of something definite for the furtherance of the medical work among our people and before the world. The Central Union Conference will be willing to co-operate with the Medical Department of the General Conference in having that branch of the work well represented at the coming General Conference by representatives from our territory.”—President Central Union Conference.

“I firmly believe that there should be a reform in this denomination along the line of health reform, and I am with you heart and hand in this work. I will remember your request, and do my very best to secure a representative of our medical work.”—President Southern Illinois Conference.

“It seems to me that the plan of holding a large medical convention at the next General Conference is a good one; for there is no time when so many of our medical and evangelical men can come together as at that time. I see no reason why, if plans are laid far enough ahead, very much might not be done toward lifting this work at that time, and placing it on the plane that it should occupy.”—President Pacific Union Conference.

“I think it would be a good plan to hold a medical council in connection with the General Conference. If that shall be the plan, I shall encourage the selection of one or more physicians in our union conference as delegates in the next General Conference.”—President Northern Union Conference.

“In my judgment medical people ought to be selected as delegates along with ministers to attend the General Conference in Washington. It will be a splendid opportunity to get the medical men together for council, and to lay plans for the furtherance of the work in that line of missionary endeavor. I am heartily in favor of the plan you outline.”—President Lake Union Conference.

“I would think it well to have a goodly number of our medical men attend the next conference as delegates, and take a hearty part in the doings of the conference, and also to hold a medical council as you have suggested. There is certainly great need of a coming up on the question of health reform and healthful living among our people; and if a forward movement is started at the General Conference session, it will penetrate the whole body.”—President Canadian Union Conference.

More than forty such testimonies might be given here, but these suffice to show the hearty response to a suggestion to advance the medical missionary work in any way possible. We hope to receive such suggestions from any who are interested in this movement as will cause this gathering to give a powerful impetus to the medical missionary effort as a part of the third angel's message.

It might be mentioned here that the next annual meeting of the American Medical Association will be held at Atlantic City, N. J., at about the same time as the General Conference. This will enable our physicians and others to secure reduced railroad fare to this part of the country, at that time. It is desirable that progressive physicians attend these meetings of the Medical Association as far as possible. The two meetings occurring near together, as they do, will make it possible for physicians to attend both at a comparatively small cost. Let as many Seventh-day Adventist physicians as possible plan to attend the General Conference and the medical missionary council. W. A. B.