Condensed Minutes of the Medical Convention at Loma Linda, Cal., Oct. 28-31, 1907
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Condensed Minutes of the Medical Convention at Loma Linda, Cal., Oct. 28-31, 1907
By W. A. R.
The program for the time of meeting was as follows:— Devotional meeting, 6:00 to 7:30 A. M. Morning sessions, 9:30 to 11:00 and 11:30 to 1:00 P. M. Afternoon session, 3:30 to 5:30 P. M. Evening session, 7:00 to 9:00 P. M. The time of the devotional meeting was occupied each morning by Mrs. E. G. White. The first paper was by Dr. H. W. Miller, of the Honan Mission, China. The subject was Medical Missionary Training for the Foreign Fields. Dr. Miller emphasized the necessity of each worker's receiving a missionary education in order to be rightly prepared for the work. It is not necessary for every medical missionary to receive a full and complete medical education, but he should receive sufficient training to enable him to treat intelligently the simple ailments of the native people, and to preserve his own health. On account of the millions to be warned in the continent of Asia, an army of people should receive this special training as gospel medical missionaries. The discussion of this paper was opened by Dr. S. A. Lockwood, now of the Portland Sanitarium, formerly of the Kobe Sanitarium, Japan. Others took part in the discussion of the paper. Elder F. M. Wilcox, chaplain of the Boulder Sanitarium, was the writer of the second paper. The Biblical training was classified under Head Knowledge of the Bible, and Heart Knowledge; while head knowledge is essential, it is weak and powerless unless it is strengthened and fortified and vivified by heart knowledge, which is the more important of the two. The Object of Our Sanitarium Training-schools was presented in an able paper by Dr. Julia White, of the Loma Linda Sanitarium. Briefly outlined their object is to train workers for God,—ministers, Bible workers, church-school teachers, canvassers,—all of whom should have the scientific training that will enable them to care for the afflicted by rational methods. The Spheres and Influences of Sanitarium Training-schools was outlined briefly by Elder H. W. Cottrell. He called particular attention to the fact that these schools should embrace the world, and that their influence should be measured by the consecration and devotion of both the teacher and the student to the cause of God in this last message of mercy to a perishing world still in darkness. A Plea for the First Principles in Our Medical Missionary Work was the subject of the fifth paper presented. Special stress was laid upon the idea of not depending upon our institutions to do a special work in medical lines, but that all the members of the denomination should22co-operate to their utmost in carrying out the principles of medical missionary work. While professional proficiency is desired, yet the idea that we are all missionaries for God must ever be the uppermost thought in our minds at all times, or our work will be a failure from the standpoint of a medical missionary. The sixth paper was entitled The Training of Workers at Our Sanitariums, and was written by Dr. D. H. Kress, medical superintendent of the Washington Sanitarium. The writer pointed out how our sanitariums and the training-schools at our sanitariums should be operated in order to train workers for all departments of the work. When such a plan is carried out, our medical and evangelistic work will be blended as the Lord intended they should be. Then each department of the work will be equally interested in the success and perfect working of all the other departments; and the workers will come and go with one ambition, and that to carry the gospel message to the world. The discussion of this paper was opened by Elder G. A. Irwin, followed by Elders J. A. Burden, Drs. Ida S. Herr, R. S. Cummings, and B. E. Fullmer. The seventh paper, entitled Who Should Study Medicine? and What Counsel Do They Need? was written by Dr. W. A. George, of the Nebraska Sanitarium, College View, Neb. It was stated that, first, those who apply should be thoroughly grounded in the truth that we as a people hold; second, they should be young people who can carry the heavy scientific work that is required of medical students; fourth, there is a field for lady physicians that has not been fully supplied as yet. The next paper, entitled The Needs of the Medical Missionary Cause, was presented by Dr. W. A. Ruble. These needs are concisely stated as, first, consecrated and energetic workers who may be used in our large cities and in carrying forward aggressive medical missionary work at our camp-meetings, in our churches and our homes; second, the acceptance of health principles by every Seventh-day Adventist; third, thorough systematic teaching in our sanitariums with sufficient field experience to prepare young people to go out in any capacity as medical missionary workers. How to Keep Sanitarium Patients Contented, was the subject of the ninth paper, presented by Dr. M. M. Kay, of the Glendale Sanitarium. He pointed out in detail the many avenues that should not be overlooked when persons come to our sanitariums for treatment, providing we wish them to be at all times contented. Dr. G. H. Heald, editor of Life and Health, described in a paper a self-supporting work that is being carried forward by people in different parts of the country in selling from month to month, single copies of the Life and Health magazine. These workers began in a small way at first, but many of them are now using large clubs regularly each month. Field Training and Medical Missionary Work was the eleventh paper, by Dr. G. H. Heald, of Washington. The writer outlined the actual needs that have existed among many of our workers sent forth from our institutions to foreign lands, and the necessity of each one's being an all-round worker. Dr. W. B. Holden, of Portland, Ore., was the author of the twelfth paper, entitled Conservative Surgery. Besides calling attention to some of the evils that are attending the work of the surgeon in some sections, the doctor gave his views of conservative surgery and the attendant results. The discussion of this paper was opened by Dr. H. F. Rand, of the St. Helena Sanitarium. He emphasized the thought that surgery at our institutions was simply the means of last resort to be used in order to save life. The great principles that God has given to promulgate to the world are those that we must consider as uppermost, hence a constant system of education should be followed at these institutions for the benefit of the patients. Elder W. C. White presented the next subject, Organized Medical Missionary Work: What It Should Give and What It Should Receive from the Church. In outlining his theme briefly, it might be stated that the organized work should have the prayers, influence, co-operation, funds, such as donations and loans; and the young people and the church should receive in return the same tender care that an individual physician would give his friend. The Care of the Sick Poor was the subject of Elder W. M. Healey's paper. He stated that the care of the poor, and especially the sick poor, is a matter that has perplexed the good and generous of all civilized lands in all ages. While many methods have been tried, yet it was evident from the writer's presentation that a more perfect or satisfactory system can yet be devised than has been used in the past. Dr. H. F. Rand presented a paper on Sanitarium Training as a Foundation for Medical Study and Field Work. In this the doctor pointed out that better results can be obtained when students take a course of study, because they then receive the proper foundation on which to build the structure they expect to erect. Dr. Lillis Starr, of the Loma Linda Sanitarium, gave, as the sixteenth paper, an outline of the field work done during the past two months in the vicinity of Loma Linda. She recounted how the openings for public labor had multiplied as the importance of our health principles became known, and that many are adopting these principles as fast as they are unfolded. Dr. Cummings and Dr. Abbott, who have been associated with Dr. Starr in a portion of this field work, spoke of its importance and the grand opening before us for a more extensive campaign. The Relation of the Minister Who Is a Physician to the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination and Message, was the subject of the seventeenth paper, by Dr. C. A. Hansen, of Denver, Colo. In this paper the writer outlined the method he was following in his ministerial-medical work. As he was employed by the conference as a minister, he requested his Seventh-day Adventist patients to make an offering to the church for medical services rendered. The seventh meeting was called at 7 P. M., Oct. 30, 1907. After prayer, the entire period was given to Elder A. G. Daniells, who spoke upon World-Wide Missions, calling particular attention to the rapid progress our work is making in the regions beyond. The subject, The Work of Our Colleges, Academies, and Intermediate Schools in the Training of Medical Missionaries, was discussed by Prof. H. G. Lucas, of Fernando Academy. In this paper, the writer showed that it was the duty of the principal to keep constantly before his pupils the fact that they are there to train for service in God's work. Elder G. W. Reaser presented the twentieth paper, entitled The Imperative Needs of Medical Missionary Work in Evangelizing the World. The twenty-first subject, The Popular Christian Science and How to Meet It, was presented by Dr. Fullmer. Elder R. S. Owen presented the subject of True Christian Science and Co-operation of the Human with the Divine. Dr. W. L. Gardner, of Salt Lake City, presented his observations in using a fruit diet in the treatment of typhoid fever. Extensive remarks on the subject were made by Drs. Rand, Froom, White, Paulding, Whitelock, and Abbott, and by Elder Irwin. W. A. R.