A Committee for the Sick

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 23, 1916

A Committee for the Sick

The suggestion of a committee for the sick in the church, comes from Dr. T. J. Evans, of Loma Linda Sanitarium. We quote from his letter to the editor of Life and Health as follows:—

“Being medical secretary of the Pacific Union Conference, I have been thinking a great deal about getting our people to work. In all our lectures before the churches, we have been urging them to do some real work in connection with medical needs. I have felt that the elders of the churches should appoint a committee, if they cannot look after the work themselves. This committee should be capable of giving treatments to those who need help, and I wish it might be possible for them to take Life and Health and use it as their organ. Our people could all do this, and it would give them favor with the people and make them active missionaries. As soon as they became acquainted and worked up friendly relations, it would open the way for other lines of truth. In fact, this plan seems to be getting a foothold in some of our churches. In Los Angeles they are already beginning a movement of this kind. I believe our people, instead of coming up to a great national crisis unprepared, and being compelled to go to the front, should be prepared to treat the sick in such an intelligent way that it would appeal to those in charge of the armies, and we would be allowed to remain in the hospitals and care for the sick and the dying. If our churches can be induced to take up this plan of using Life and Health in their house-to-house work, what club rates could you make them?”

Churches operating a committee for the sick could secure Life and Health in clubs for any length of time at the sixty-cent rate, or by ordering in bulk each month, at four cents a copy. They could sell the journal to their customers at ten cents, making a good profit, and could take subscriptions, receiving a forty-per-cent discount.

In nearly all our large churches the members will have access to those who are trained nurses. These may be secured as instructors for those who want to learn how to give simple treatments and otherwise to care for the sick. Classes may be formed, and part of the time at the weekly missionary meetings spent in preparing for this important work.

The possibilities for good in a work of this kind are limited only by the interest taken in it. The Takoma Park (D. C.) church is planning for a large work of this character. This church has quite a number of trained-nurse members who are leading out, not only in giving treatments themselves, but in teaching others. One trained nurse gave several treatments to the Assistant Secretary of State a short time ago, and sold him a copy of “Bible Readings” in full morocco, by simply leaving it at his home over one day. The best and quickest way to the mind and heart is through unselfish, helpful service. All churches that can possibly arrange for it, ought to have a committee for the sick.