Do We Need a Thoroughly Equipped Medical School?
By Mrs. S. N. Haskell
MORE than forty years ago the need of training schools was recognized by the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. It was plainly seen that if our young men were trained for the ministry, they must be educated in schools where the Bible was daily taught and must be surrounded by a spiritual atmosphere which would help them to be rooted and grounded in the truths of the message which makes us a separate people. Young men educated in the popular theological colleges of the world are not prepared to proclaim the truths of the third angel's message. When we opened the first church schools, many thought that any teacher who was thoroughly trained in the State normal schools of the land could teach in the church schools; but it was soon discovered that although they could teach the sciences, yet they lacked the one essential thing,—they could not teach the Bible in such a manner that its principles were woven into all the lessons of the day. Soon it was demonstrated that if we made our church schools what God designed they should be, we must have normal training schools of our own, where those who were expecting to teach might have a special training for that work. The Bible and the Testimonies recognize several classes of workers,—ministers, Bible workers, physicians, teachers, nurses, and colporteurs,—all of whom are necessary in proclaiming the last warning message to the world. For years we as a people have realized the importance of giving careful spiritual training to those engaging in all these lines of work, except the physician. We have failed to sense the importance of the work of the Christian physician. We quote from “Gospel Workers,” p. 360:20 “The Christian physician should regard his work as exalted as that of the ministry. He bears a double responsibility; for in him are combined the qualifications of both physician and gospel minister. His is a grand, a sacred, and a very necessary work.” In “Healthful Living,” p. 270, we find the following: “If you are a Christian and a competent physician, you are qualified to do tenfold more good as a missionary for God than if you were to go forth merely as a preacher of the word.” Why have we guarded so carefully the education of our young ministers, and left a class which, if properly trained, could do tenfold more efficient work, to receive their training in worldly schools? “Physicians whose professional abilities are above those of the ordinary doctor, should engage in the service of God in the large cities. They should seek to reach the higher classes. . . . Medical missionaries who labor in evangelistic lines are doing a work of as high an order as are their ministerial fellow laborers.”—“Gospel Workers,” p. 360. Where are these workers in our large cities? They are not to be found. There are many physicians scattered through the large cities, who were tenderly reared in godly Seventh-day Adventist homes. Many of them at first entered the ministry, but realizing the need of a medical training in order to do the work outlined by the servant of the Lord, they decided to take a medical course. If they could have entered a medical school in which the same spiritual influence prevailed that pervades our training schools for ministers, Bible workers, and church-school teachers, they would have come forth strong workers, capable of doing the work outlined in the quotations given above. But they were not given any such training. They were surrounded by evil influences until they first lost their burden for souls, and then their own hold on God, and today are out of the truth and lost to the cause of God. In view of these facts, can any one say we do not need a medical school of our own, where our youth can be trained for God while receiving a medical education? I fancy I hear some one say, “We cannot afford to equip a medical school.” The loss to the denomination in not having a medical school of our own is many times greater than the cost of equipping one. For years many of our young men have felt a burden to gain a medical education that they might have a part in the great work outlined by the Spirit of God; but they had no spiritual help while taking their training, and few came from the medical schools with a heart burdened for the work of God. We grieve over the fact that the work in our large cities moves so slowly, and that so few of the higher classes are reached. On page 361 of “Gospel Workers” we are told how to reach them; but where are the godly “physicians whose professional abilities are above those of the ordinary doctor,” that have such a burden for souls that they will do the work God has said should be done? “The medical school at Loma Linda is to be of the highest order, because we have a living connection with the wisest of all physicians, from whom there is communicated knowledge of a superior order. And whatever subjects are required as essential in the schools conducted by those not of our faith, we are to supply, so that our youth need not go to these worldly schools. Thus we shall close the door that the enemy would be pleased to have left open; and our young men and young women, whom the Lord would have us guard religiously, will not need to connect with worldly medical schools conducted by unbelievers.” By equipping a medical school of our own of “the highest order,” “we shall close the door that the enemy would be pleased to have left open.” Let us help by our influence and our means to close this open door through which so many of our youth have wandered away from the fold of Christ. Is it not time to come to the help of the Lord, and do this work? Parents who have children should surely sacrifice that this school may be promptly and thoroughly equipped. All who love the cause of God should give liberally, and help to close this “open door,” and prepare a training school so that our young men and women, “whom the Lord would have us guard religiously, will not need to connect with worldly medical schools conducted by unbelievers.”