Safeguarding Our Institutions by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1916

Safeguarding Our Institutions

By F. M. W.

AMONG the various and multiplied agencies which God has brought into being for the carrying forward of his work, a prominent place belongs to our publishing houses, to our schools, and to our sanitariums. Each of these institutions has a specific and important work to accomplish, which can be done by no other agency. They have not been brought into existence because no institutions of a similar character were to be found in the world, but rather that they might do a work which worldly institutions could not do. Indeed, if our denominational institutions were to do merely the same work as is being done by worldly institutions, there would exist no demand for their establishment. They were created to meet a particular need in this movement.

Our Publishing Houses

There was a time when our publishing houses were spending a large part of their energy in the doing of commercial work. They depended upon that work for their support. The publication of denominational literature was subordinated to second place in their plans and calculations. Disaster overtook them. These disasters taught needed lessons, and what appeared as great misfortunes were turned into blessings. From the ashes of the old institutions new ones arose to carry on the work, not as it had been carried on before, but with every facility wholly devoted to the production of literature bearing the truth for this time. And the splendid success which has come to our publishing houses since this turning-point in their experience, has given abundant evidence of the approval of God upon the change in their policy. Only as they maintain this high standard, only as the workers in these institutions handle sacred things with pure hands and consecrated hearts, is there promise of continued success and prosperity.

Our Sanitariums

This same principle is true as applied to our sanitariums. Why should Seventh-day Adventists operate homes for the sick when well-regulated hospitals may be found in practically every city in the land? Is it because we have physicians better skilled in the science of medicine and surgery? Is it because our nurses are more competent than nurses from other training schools? We have thoroughly qualified physicians, surgeons, and nurses, but we should feel modest in claiming that they are superior in scientific knowledge, methods, and technique to physicians and nurses connected with worldly institutions.

But the Lord designed that our sanitariums should stand for certain principles of reform; that they should prove auxiliaries in the carrying of the message of salvation to the world. He designs that the men and women who visit these institutions shall find in them a different spirit than exists in worldly institutions. Lacking this Christian spirit, failing to stand for the principles of the third angel’s message, our sanitariums have no right to exist. We rejoice, however, to believe that they are laboring earnestly to fulfil their God-given mission. Their future success will be in proportion as they continue to recognize their high calling in God, and appreciate that they have been made the conservators and exponents of great principles of truth.

The work of our sanitariums is to save men physically and spiritually, and to make the material ministry a means to the accomplishment of the greater spiritual end. In their training courses they are afforded a rich opportunity to train young men and women for a part in the great world’s work, not as professional nurses primarily, but as missionary nurses, going forth to labor even as Christ labored. Only as our sanitariums are operated by men and women whose hearts God has touched, workers who are laboring, not for personal benefit in honor or remuneration, but in order to advance the gospel message, will they meet the object of their existence in connection with this second advent movement.

Our Schools

Similarly, our schools were established to afford their students an education from a Christian point of view; to give to the young men and women of the denomination a knowledge of language and science and art without any coloring of worldly philosophy, of science falsely so called, and apart from the demoralizing influences of worldly associations. It is only as our schools maintain this standard and carry on their work after this order that they can meet the purpose of God in their existence. Failing in this, it may be said of them, as of our medical institutions, that the labor and toil expended in their establishment and maintenance are spent in vain. That our schools are earnestly seeking to meet this divine purpose we confidently believe. The Lord has abundantly blessed the efforts of our faithful teachers, as they have sought to prepare the youth of this denomination for places of usefulness and responsibility in connection with this closing work.

But Satan will ever seek to divert our schools from their high and holy purpose. He will seek to exalt, in the estimation of our teachers and students, intellectual qualification above spiritual qualification. Our schools will be assailed by constant temptations to ape worldly methods and cater to worldly ideals. How necessary it is that we constantly be on our guard to hold them resolutely to the definite purpose of God in calling them into existence!

Our schools are not for the purpose of educating men and women to become great in their own estimation or in the estimation of the world. Let us teach our boys and girls that although they may secure titles through the obtaining of degrees, these titles, after all, amount to nothing unless they represent knowledge and experience which will enable their possessors to become efficient laborers for the Lord Jesus Christ.

If the enemy can corrupt the simplicity of our work, if he can lead us to trust in the gold and tinsel, in the form and ceremony, in class honors and degrees, instead of in a vital connection with divine power, his purpose will be served. But we shall learn at last to our bitter sorrow that we have trusted in hollow forms, which will rise up and mock us to our shame.

We should set before our young men and women, whether they learn trades in our publishing houses, become nurses in our sanitariums, or take regular courses in our schools, a high standard of attainment. The educational standard of our workers in every department of this cause should be raised. God would have his workmen men of whom he need not be ashamed.

We believe our youth should be encouraged to take courses of study in our schools, leading to degrees. But while we are seeking this high attainment, let us be on our guard lest we be turned aside from the simplicity that there is in Christ Jesus, and unconsciously imbibe principles and adopt methods the tendency of which will be to place upon our work a worldly mold. Worldly recognition and influence will prove a curse to any of our institutions, unless the recognition obtained and the influence gained are used as means for the better and fuller and speedier attainment of the one object of our united denominational effort—the giving of the advent message to the world in this generation.

We need to safeguard with jealous care the institutions connected with this movement. We rejoice that so many of them are being freed from the thralldom of financial indebtedness. This is surely a great victory, and we earnestly hope that they will maintain their liberty. But constantly subtle, insidious influences calculated to turn them from their high and holy calling are knocking at their doors for admission. They are the special objects of Satan’s attacks. If he can corrupt their simplicity, if he can induce the leaders in them, whether managers, physicians, or teachers, to be worldly in their influence, to cater to worldly customs and practices, he knows that many of the youth can be turned from the right way.

Let us watch unto prayer, walk humbly before God, and keep our hearts open continually to the promptings of his Holy Spirit. In this experience will be our safety and salvation as workers, and thus only can we safeguard the institutions of the Lord’s planting.

F. M. W.