Untitled article by A. G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 1, 1906

A Statement of Facts Concerning Our Present Situation—No. 4

By A. G. Daniells

THERE is no good reason why there should be trouble between the evangelical and medical missionary workers of our denomination. The highest purpose of the work to which each class is called is the same—the salvation of sinners. The two lines of work are only different ways of accomplishing the same great end. The very nature of the work calls for union and harmony, instead of strife and division.

And we know that union is possible. The Lord's ways are consistent, harmonious, and possible of accomplishment. In some parts of our great field of operations, it is known by blessed and continued experience that preachers, physicians, Bible workers, and nurses can work together in Christian union and harmony. And of course they have enjoyed the best of success in their different lines of work while laboring in harmony with each other. What is possible for some, is possible for all, if they will follow the way marked out by the great Leader.

When, therefore, disunion and controversy exist among these workers, it is because some or all of them have departed from the Lord's way and followed their own way. A departure from God's way by some, if not all, of us, has been pointed out over and over again by the Testimonies of the spirit of prophecy for many years. The failure to heed the warnings and instruction given has prevented harmony from being established.

One of the wrongs in our midst against which we have had repeated and positive warnings, has been a plan of administration that was designed to bring our medical missionary work in all parts of the world under the control, to a greater or less extent, of one central board, and under the domination of a single individual. The evils of this policy of centralization in connection with this line of work have been pointed out from time to time for years. A few quotations will be sufficient to indicate the nature of the warnings given through the spirit of prophecy to the leaders of our medical work:—

The leaders in our medical work at Battle Creek have endeavored to bind our medical institutions fast, in accordance with their plans. Notwithstanding the many warnings given them that this should not be done, they have desired to bind up these institutions in some way so that all our medical work shall be under their control.—'Testimonies for the Church,' Vol. VIII, page 231.

I am instructed to say that not all the arrangements connected with the management of the medical missionary work are to originate in Battle Creek. The medical missionary work is God's work, and in every conference and every church we are to take a decided stand against allowing it to be selfishly controlled.—Ibid., page 231.

The idea gained favor that the medical missionary work would be greatly advanced if all our medical institutions and other medical missionary interests were bound up under the control of the Medical Missionary Association at Battle Creek. I was told that I must lift my voice in warning against this. We were not to be under the control of men who could not control themselves, and who were not willing to be amenable to God.—Ibid., page 217.

The light came to me clear and distinct that the medical missionary work was absorbing too much, while a more definite work in special lines was being neglected; that you are gathering into your arms a class of work that is never-ending, which was eclipsing the work that needs to be done in every city,—the proclamation of the soon coming of Christ. The third angel's message was being blanketed, and you were not altogether straight on these things. There was danger in several ways that you did not discern.—From an unpublished Testimony to the Superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, March 24, 1899.

It has been presented before me distinctly that there is not to be a submerging of interests or a binding up of all the sanitariums with the Battle Creek Sanitarium, so that they shall all be amenable to your control. These things are not of God's devising, but are the result of human planning. . . . It is an error to tie up everything possible with the powers at Battle Creek. All are required to work in perfect harmony. Each has a part to act, the high and influential, and also the lowly ones. They can work in harmony without being bound with human cords, as they were being bound to Battle Creek as their great center and power. God has not left his people

to become the sport of Satan's temptations, and thus turn to a curse the blessings which he designed for them. Meanwhile the impression rests upon some minds that I am in harmony with all these things.—Ibid., July 28, 1901.

From the foregoing it is perfectly plain that the leaders in the medical work were made fully acquainted with the results that would come from the course upon which they had entered. These messages of instruction were not heeded, however, but instead there was manifested a determination to continue this policy.

In order that the readers of the REVIEW may have fully before them the definite steps taken in this matter of binding our sanitariums, treatment rooms, and medical missionary enterprises in all parts of the world to the Medical Missionary Association at Battle Creek, I will here present the following statements made by the president of that association, and record of action taken in a meeting of the Medical Missionary Association, at the General Conference of 1901, reported in the General Conference Bulletin, pages 316 and 317:—

In order to bind our different sanitariums together, the Medical Missionary Board has devised this plan, that instead of creating an entirely independent corporation wherever a sanitarium is organized, as at Spokane, etc., there shall be auxiliary associations established, tied to this central body. And there are two knots that are tied: One is that the persons elected to these offices are nominated by this association at its biennial or annual meetings, and elected by its elective body. And no person can be a member of the elective body of one of these smaller institutions unless he is nominated by this body for that purpose. Then the board of trustees, in some instances at any rate, are nominated by this body, the Medical Missionary Board. So there are two great ties. It is impossible for these institutions to exist without this body, and to maintain their corporate life without this corporation.

The reason I have explained so fully in reference to the matter is because I want to ask this body to take a vote adopting this mode of procedure, and recommending that it shall be continued, and that all the sanitariums organized and incorporated shall be incorporated on a similar plan, so that they shall be tied to this body, and thus prevent their starting off on a tangent, and becoming absorbed into any purely local or selfish interest.

After a vote had been taken recommending “that this plan be adopted universally,” the chairman said:—

I am very glad to see this vote taken. It will back up the Medical Missionary Board, and make it feel a little stronger in carrying out this principle.

Thus by formal action the Medical Missionary Association was committed to the policy of centralization and of attempting to control our medical missionary enterprises in all parts of the world; but the warnings from the spirit of prophecy against following this course were still continued, a few of which will serve to make clear to the reader the fact that the results were fully stated, and could have been avoided if there had been a disposition to heed the counsel given:—

I advise that the document you sent me, which you said was to be presented to the managers and physicians in our sanitariums, shall not be urged upon any one. . . . It is not to be accepted by our people; for it means oppression to all who sign it.—From an unpublished Testimony to the Superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, dated Oct. 15, 1901.

God would have you make a decided change. You are not to feel that you are the only one who can steer the medical missionary bark into safe channels, that you are the only safe captain and pilot. You have for years been making mistakes, and it is because you grasp altogether too much. You have not sensed that God himself is the ruler, but have taken the scepter in your own hands. To carry out your plans, to serve the schemes that you suppose are the supreme things to keep the work in motion, you sacrifice the interests of many.—Ibid., Dec. 30, 1901.

I am instructed to say to you that if you carry on the sanitarium and medical missionary work as you are now doing, you will bring in a state of things that will be according to the wisdom of human minds, but not as God requires his work to be carried on. You must not feel that wherever there is a sanitarium established, it is your work to investigate, criticize, and condemn, unless in all respects it meets your ideas. You are not to stand in a position to require every one to understand and carry out your mind, while you discourage and condemn unless you choose to favor. The Lord would have the medical missionary work established in different places.—Ibid., Dec. 30, 1901.

Many can testify from sad experience that the attempted enforcement of this centralizing policy brought division, heartburnings, and separation into our ranks. Many ministers, a few physicians and leading nurses foresaw the evil results of binding institutions by legal documents, and medical workers by formal declarations, to the Medical Association, and remonstrated. Their position was right, the spirit of prophecy spoke in plain protest, and the whole scheme has been abandoned, and is no longer a cause of controversy. But the plan created trouble, and laid the foundation for wider differences.

A. G. DANIELLS.