p. 256 | Teaching Health Reform Principles

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 13, 1913

Teaching Health Reform Principles

By Belle Wood-Comstock

Health reform has not been regarded by many of our people in its true light. Many Seventh-day Adventists have not understood as they should the principles of the care of the body, but have got hold of only a few rules in regard to eating, rules which they have either failed to entirely carry out or have carried to such an extreme as to bring health reform into disrepute. In consequence there has been a great lack of sympathy and harmonious cooperation between our churches and our sanitariums. Many have felt that sanitarium work was something apart from them, something with which they could have little in common. In order that there might be brought about a better understanding of health principles and of the relationship existing between the various features of our work, and that our nurses might have the opportunity before graduation of teaching health principles and thus become enthusiastic with the great principles set before them, our faculty at Glendale has long felt constrained to begin a series of schools of health in the churches of Los Angeles and the surrounding vicinity.

Of the twenty-five churches in and about Los Angeles, we began with the one at Boyle Heights, a church of about sixty members. We found them very glad to receive us, and with four nurses to assist in our demonstrations and to visit in the homes, giving treatments, teaching, answering questions, etc., we began our first school of health Sabbath, January 25.

Sabbath morning and afternoon studies were given presenting to the people the importance of health reform, showing them that the principles of health reform are God-given, that his people may have strong bodies, keen minds, and be happy, healthy Christians, and true representatives of Christ.

The importance of medical missionary work was emphasized. If we would follow truly in Christ’s steps, we must be medical missionaries in our homes, among our neighbors, in field work, in our own and foreign lands. Presenting the gospel of health as a part of the gospel of salvation, our message will be a complete one, and results will be greater and farther-reaching.

Evening after the Sabbath we began our series of lectures and demonstrations, the subjects including exercise, fresh air, proper breathing, healthful dress, hygienic cookery, dietetic reforms, simple treatments, care of the child, hygiene and sanitation, accidents and emergencies.

Sunday we served to about fifty a simple but tasty and palatable hygienic dinner at the home of one of the near-by members. This, in connection with two lectures, gave the sisters an idea of how adherence to proper methods of cooking and serving food may be a pleasure instead of a burden.

The demonstration of healthful dress led to a resolution on the part of many to readjust their clothing so that their bodies might be free in every way to do efficient service for the Lord.

Wednesday evening, in connection with the regular prayer-meeting, a little time was spent in telling the people of our sanitarium work and the importance to our young people of the opportunities afforded them in our nurses’ training-schools. This led to a hearty response in the testimony meeting that followed, and the Spirit of the Lord came very near, and the bond of sympathetic union between the members of the church and the sanitarium workers was strengthened as they were led to see that the sanitarium work was their own work and needed to be upheld by them in every way. We were all led to feel that, as a result of fuller cooperation on the part of all, a great blessing would be ours, and results would be seen in our work that had not been seen before.

Thursday evening a question box was opened, and many questions were answered, throwing light upon subjects that had been puzzling different minds. Every afternoon except Monday a meeting for the sisters of the church was held, including demonstration and the answering of questions.

During the week the four nurses spent their time in the homes, becoming acquainted with the people, answering questions, and giving treatments. To say that it was a blessed experience for those nurses, can give but a faint idea of what it meant to them. They returned home with shining faces, with their Christian experience deepened, with a different conception of the goodness of God to us in giving us these great truths, and with a firmer resolve to continue ever as teachers and helpers of the people, using the gospel of health in connection with the other vital truths of this great message given us.

If we had failed to help the people, our efforts were more than repaid in seeing the enthusiasm of our nurses, their happy faces as they realized that they could accomplish something in this great work. As we left the people of the church, we told them that we should be glad to correspond with them at any time, answering questions that might arise in their endeavor to carry out health reform principles and helping them in any way possible. This was largely left with the four nurses, giving them an opportunity to carry on missionary correspondence.

Our efforts were very humble and far

from reaching that grade of efficiency we wish to see, but we feel that the Lord has blessed us in our attempt, and that by continuing our effort we shall be able to accomplish more and more. In helping our own people to carry out the light the Lord has given, we indirectly shall be the means of leading many others to the light of the truth. Our schools of health carried on among our own people may be in the end as fruitful in a harvest of souls as if our time had been spent entirely among people of the world. Our people need more education in these principles, and we feel that the Lord will hold us responsible if we do not give it to them.

Report of Work Done by Nurses

Number visits made ............ 65 Number treatments given ........ 15 Number Bible readings held ..... 1 Number cook-books sold ........ 3 Number cook-books ordered ...... 4 Number persons helped with sewing and making health garments ...... 2 Number meetings attended ....... 13

BELLE WOOD-COMSTOCK, M. D.