The College of Medical Evangelists by Irwin H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 13, 1916

The College of Medical Evangelists

By Irwin H. Evans

Most of the readers of the REVIEW are quite familiar with the school established some years ago by the denomination, at Loma Linda, Cal., known as the College of Medical Evangelists. During the recent council held at Loma Linda, considerable time was given to the consideration of this school and its future. Our people cannot but be interested to know the results of the constituency meeting of this school.

I will not deal with the school in its general phases in this article, but will confine myself to one series of recommendations, which had in view the erection and equipment of a hospital in Los Angeles, in which our medical students can carry on at least a portion of their studies, and secure satisfactory clinical work. Among other recommendations, the following were adopted:—

Whereas, The Loma Linda Medical College was started in response to the earnest counsel given through the spirit of prophecy; and,—

Whereas, In endeavoring to establish and operate this college we have become involved in financial obligations; and,—

Whereas, The creating of this heavy indebtedness is contrary to counsel given through the spirit of prophecy, resulting in great embarrassment and bringing discouragement to many; and,—

Whereas, The board of management has requested counsel as to what course shall be pursued in the future; therefore,—

1. Resolved, (a) That we instruct the board to make every reasonable effort to carry on the school in harmony with the counsel given through the servant of Lord, providing a complete four-year medical course;

(b) That we appreciate and approve of the memorial and pledge offered by some of the sisters to collect a fund of $61,000 to build and equip a hospital and dispensary for clinical work in Los Angeles; and,—

That this campaign be opened as soon as possible after the first of January, 1916.

(c) That articles be furnished in the REVIEW and the union conference papers, setting forth the plans and needs of this school, and inviting donations to this fund.

(d) That while following this instruction in continuing the school, to follow also as carefully the instruction which has come to us from the same source against contracting debt, and so conduct the business that there shall be no increase whatever in present obligations.

We further recommend,—

(e) That every endeavor be made to operate the plant so as to secure the fullest possible financial returns.

(f) That we ask the Pacific Union and the North American Division Conferences to continue their appropriations to said school for 1916 and 1917.

(g) That we ask the North American Division Conference to appropriate to this school for the liquidation of its indebtedness one fifth of the five cents per capita fund raised in the Division Conference; this appropriation to begin with the five-cent-a-week fund raised during 1917, and thereafter until said action is rescinded.

(h) That the rate of tuition from the beginning of the school year 1916-17 be $150, with $10 additional for laboratory fee.

2. Resolved, That we ask the officers and laborers of all our conferences and institutions, and parents, to encourage our young people who are planning to take a medical course, to take their training at the Loma Linda college.

These recommendations were very carefully considered by the constituency of the Loma Linda institution, and our leading men throughout the North American Division Conference, as well as the Executive Committee of the General Conference. I am not aware that there was a vote against these recommendations, which looked to the further equipment of this school, its future financing, and patronage.

Why should not every Seventh-day Adventist who is planning to take medical training secure this training in our denominational medical school? Everything looks most promising that the rating will be satisfactory as soon as we can provide the necessary equipment as outlined in these recommendations. It will be cheering to our people to know that the managing board of the school places itself firmly upon the platform that no further indebtedness shall be incurred. With the provisions outlined for beginning to liquidate the already existing indebtedness, and utilizing all the agencies at hand for increasing the earning capacity of the enterprise, we may look upon our medical school with great hope.

During one of the meetings, several of our leading sisters asked permission to introduce a series of recommendations concerning the raising of funds for the erection and equipment of a hospital to be located in Los Angeles. At this writing, I shall not enter into a discussion of the great and imperative need for this hospital, as these necessities will be set forth by other writers in articles which will appear from time to time in the REVIEW and the conference papers. The council at Loma Linda, in a session of the North American Division Conference Committee, adopted the following recommendations, looking toward the collecting of the funds for the hospital, as suggested in the memorial presented by our sisters:—

1. We recommend, That the name of this organization be The Women's Committee on the Los Angeles Hospital.

2. That an organization be perfected, consisting of a chairman, a secretary, and a treasurer, who shall be the treasurer of the North American Division Conference.

3. That Mrs. S. N. Haskell be invited to call together such representative women as may be deemed best, to perfect this organization.

4. That the territory in which this committee shall operate shall be North America.

5. That a representative woman be selected in each union conference, and in such local conferences as may be deemed advisable, to aid in carrying forward the work.

6. That this work be carried forward by means of articles in the REVIEW AND HERALD, the union conference papers, by correspondence, and by personal solicitation.

7. That this whole work be carried forward under the cooperative counsel of the Treasury Department of the North American Division Conference.

8. That all expenses connected with this movement be met from the funds collected by this committee.

At a recent meeting of the General and Division Conference Committees in Washington, a further outline and completion of the organization of this Women's Committee in behalf of the Los Angeles hospital was adopted, which reads as follows:—

1. The name of the organization for raising the funds shall be the Women's Committee of the Los Angeles Hospital.

2. That Mrs. S. N. Haskell be chairman.

3. That Mrs. G. A. Irwin be secretary.

4. That W. T. Knox be treasurer.

5. That auxiliary secretaries for the collection of this fund be arranged as follows:—

(a) A secretary in each union conference.

(b) A secretary in each local conference. These secretaries are to be appointed by the executive committee of each union conference, and to take general charge of the raising of funds in the union for the hospital.

6. That plans be made to have all the money paid in by December 31, 1916. That as many as are able to do so be urged to pay their pledge as early as possible, in order that funds may be on hand quickly with which to begin the erection of the buildings.

7. That the amount to be raised be $61,000 with which to erect and equip the hospital, plus the expense of raising the funds, and that all the overflow, if any, be held intact, to be appropriated for the purposes of the college by the North American Division Executive Committee.

Dr. P. T. Magan, together with the brethren and sisters on the Pacific Coast, has already secured a portion of this $61,000. The union conferences have been requested to perfect the organization in their territory at once by the appointment of leading sisters, as provided for in the recommendations above mentioned, and thus set in operation at the earliest possible date the soliciting of donations from our people throughout the Division Conference. The school greatly desires the use of this hospital and dispensary for its work beginning with the opening of the next school year, about September 15, 1916; but it will take considerable time after the money has been secured, to erect and furnish a building the size which this will of necessity have to be. Therefore, it is greatly desired that those who are able to pay their donations in cash, do so.

Some will be able to give, but not immediately. Therefore, we trust that those who have available cash and can pay their pledges at once, will advance the money to the treasury as soon as possible. The brethren ought to have enough money in hand to purchase the land at an early date. The management promises not to proceed farther than the money is available, so that at no time will debt be incurred.

We look with great hopefulness to the future of this institution. It is already provided with a strong faculty of earnest, consecrated, Christian men, who are loyal Seventh-day Adventists. The president of the school is Dr. Newton Evans. It is designed that Dr. P. T. Magan take charge of the Los Angeles work.

We are very anxious, now that a full understanding has been reached between the school board and the General and Division Conference Executive Committees, concerning the school's not increasing its obligations further, that the school may be favored with the confidence, sympathy, and cooperation of the entire organization, and that the presidents of our union and local conferences, and parents everywhere who have children desiring to secure medical training, will use their influence in persuading these young people to attend the College of Medical Evangelists. We also desire that our people everywhere shall unite in prayer for this school, that the young people who secure their training in it may come forth with a firm determination to give their lives to the finishing of the third angel's message.

I. H. EVANS.