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Experiences in Treatment Room Work

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 51.

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Experiences in Treatment Room Work

By L. A. H.

There are fifty treatment rooms operated by our people, most of them under private ownership and management. These are usually located in cities of some size. As a rule, they give a good representation of our denominational work. In some instances they are conspicuous for their missionary work.
Our department correspondence gives us some very encouraging items concerning this phase of our work, and shows that we have some earnest workers connected with it who are anxious to do their part in giving the truth for this time. A few items and quotations may be of interest to all those who are glad for the various means of advancing the cause of truth.
From two nurses in Illinois we received a good long letter. They say: “Our work has won the confidence of the people. We are in position to speak to persons in a way we could not if we were in the evangelistic work only, and, of course, this is the paramount reason for our doing this work. We have not been here a full year, and cannot say we have been successful in winning souls to the truth, but we know we have helped many to live more useful lives. We have taught them a better way of living, and have also shown them how to take care of themselves. Some think it strange that such young people as we are should have such a ‘peculiar doctrine,’ but we are glad that we have this message to give others.
“We keep reading matter on hand all the time, and point out certain articles to individuals to read. We have used over one thousand copies of the War Extra of the Review, and about one hundred copies of the Signs, besides our other publications. We keep reading matter in the waiting rooms of the physicians here in the city.”
A man and his wife in a Southern city have many good experiences. He writes:—
“We find treatment room work unexcelled as a medium for presenting our special truths. It reaches people at home and in the home, right where they live for most of the twelve months. It reaches the entire family; not only the sick one that might be reached by the sanitarium plan, but all the members.
“My own heart is so full at this moment over a recent experience that I can scarcely write. A very exclusive lady of wealth came to us a week ago for treatment. While waiting her turn she engaged me in conversation. As she first entered, she noticed one or two Bibles and some other books and papers on the table. She remarked pleasantly, ‘You people are Christians, are you not?’ I answered that we were, and soon we were talking on the second coming of the Lord. She asked, ‘Do you actually believe that he really is coming again?’ Then I told her of the precious hope, and of the indications of the early realization of this hope. She seemed so happy. She had never heard of this before, and drank it in. The other day she told my wife she never would forget that first day and the blessing she received. ‘God sent me here,’ she said again and again.”
One man in the Central West says: “There is always opportunity to bring in different phases of the message in a way not to offend, and we meet with a class that could not be reached with any other means. It is not so much what we say, but it is what we do and the way we live that has the greatest influence with the people. Our door being closed every Friday night, with a card in the window, is a constant reminder of the true Sabbath. A Baptist minister has tried to show me the error of my way. We have some very interesting talks sometimes, but we always avoid arguing. One patient asked me, ‘Why do you keep Saturday?’ I replied that the Lord required it, and asked, ‘Why do you keep Sunday?’ He said he had never thought of that.”
Another man, in the Far West, writes, “I have always found openings for planting gospel seed among every class and caste of people. I always keep a good supply of literature upon present truth in the office or near at hand, and pass it out at every opportunity. Our work is largely among the wealthy class, and I must say I have never had such experiences in all my years of work. Many precious blessings come to me through the work in the treatment rooms. I believe if this work is properly carried on, it can never fail of having a good influence for the message. And why not? It is a part of the message.
“While in a foreign field I knew a man who saw the sign ‘Closed on Saturdays,’ on our door, and upon learning why we closed on Saturday he gave us a liberal donation, to be used in the treatment room work and in carrying forward the message. I could mention many other instances where help has been given the cause by strangers who were influenced by this work.
“In our work here we have trusted to the Lord to open the way and bring us in favor with the physicians and people. Some of the doctors opposed our work for a time, but the tide soon turned in our favor, and now a great deal of our work is sent to us by the leading doctors of the city. Some of them speak highly of our work. We spend much time in prayer that we may be guided aright.”
A gentleman was taking massage in one of our treatment rooms, and engaged the attendant in conversation, asking a number of questions concerning Seventh-day Adventists and their work. The worker felt the need of special help in answering the questions, and silently prayed for it. He was enabled to give the inquirer much information concerning the various phases of our work and special points of truth. At the close of the treatment the gentleman doubled the fee asked for the treatment, saying that it was the best treatment he had ever received, though he had taken massage in every country in the world, and probably in every State in this country. His card showed him to be a leading minister of one of the large denominations.
Experiences of this kind might be multiplied. This may be sufficient to indicate that the band of workers in these treatment rooms are deserving of our prayers. They should have the hearty support of their brethren and sisters, and every help needed to assist them in rightly representing our message.
L. A. H.