Notes Afield by William E. Howell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 13, 1914

Notes Afield

By William E. Howell

Loma Linda College

UNIQUE among our sisterhood of schools is the Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists. If there is need of establishing schools of our own for the general education of our youth, equally necessary or more necessary it is to conduct a professional school of medicine, in order to protect our young people from exposure to the perils of pursuing scientific study under skeptical and worldly-wise instructors.

There is a great difference between learning a law or fact of science in an atmosphere of faith, and acquiring it from a teacher who fears not God, and regards not man as the masterpiece and image of his Creator. This is especially true when that law or fact pertains to man himself. In the study of the anatomy, physiology, and physical welfare of man, no man who does not keep continually before him the fact that the laws of his being were established and are directly controlled by his Creator, can have his understanding of God enlarged by such study, or his motives stimulated to render Him unselfish service.

It is not enough to eliminate error from scientific study; there must be also a positive flavor, a specific mold, placed upon the truths of science, if the instruction is to accomplish the desired end of awakening in the student a passion for true ministry to his fellow men. It is for this reason that the Loma Linda College occupies a unique place among the medical schools of the world. Its aim is not only to teach the technical science of medicine divested of error, but to infuse and inculcate the spirit of evangelism in all its students. Hence that unique name,—among our own and among the secular schools,—'College of Medical Evangelists.

But this is not all; we are a temperance people. We have much to say—not so much, perhaps, as we once did—about the care of the physical man, to the end that our powers of mind and of heart may be clear and penetrating in the service of God, and our lives and working strength preserved. The principles of healthful living constitute a part of the message we have to live and to give. The two chief aims in conducting colleges, academies, and church schools among us, are to save our children and youth and to develop their capacity for Christian service. Therefore diligent effort is needed to safeguard their physical health while in this growing stage, and to teach them the true relation of health principles to the giving of the advent message.

A New Sphere of Usefulness

Yet in only rare instances is there connected with the faculties of our colleges and academies a physician or a nurse who gives his entire time, or a considerable part of it, even, to teaching. It is not sufficient to leave the work that such a person can do, to the regular teacher. He may practice correct health principles himself, and commend them to students:

but it needs the special training and enthusiasm of the physician or nurse to instruct students in such a way that they will see the bearing of health principles on the message they are preparing to give, and gain a sufficiently scientific knowledge of those principles to be able to teach them intelligently.

Our medical college must take the lead in developing medical-evangelistic workers; but, as it seems to me, it must supply to our school faculties such physicians or nurses as have the gift of teaching, can carry enough in scientific or literary subjects to make their employment profitable, and can take the burden in health lines. Such persons could be responsible for the sanitation of the buildings and premises,—something much needed in our boarding schools,—and so bring up the tone of personal hygiene, temperance, and health practice in all things. This would be an honor to our schools and a strong element in the efficiency of workers. This is a new sphere of usefulness for our medical college that has impressed itself deeply on my mind during the time I have recently spent among our schools.

W. E. H.