p. 7 | Editorial Correspondence by Francis McLellan Wilcox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Apr 18, 1912

Editorial Correspondence

By Francis McLellan Wilcox

Los Angeles, Cal., March 27, 1912.

The biennial session of the Pacific Union Conference followed the ministerial institute. The reports of the union president and of the departmental secretaries showed that an excellent spirit of progress had attended the work during the last two years. The increase in membership amounted to 618. Over $134,000 has been given during the last biennial period to the cause of foreign missions. There has been an increase of over $75,000 tithe, making the total amount of tithe for the union conference during the last two years $296,000. In his report, the president recommended that $6,000 of surplus tithe be donated to the General Conference for use in mission fields. By action of the conference, this recommendation was adopted.

This union, particularly California, has been one of the storm-centers in the fight for religious legislation during the last few years. Thus far, through the good providence of the Lord and the campaign which our people have carried on against such measures, efforts of this character have proved unavailing. It is evident, however, that a strenuous effort will be made in behalf of Sunday legislation during the next few months. The adoption of the initiative and referendum on the part of California affords the Sunday-law advocates an opportunity to submit the question to popular vote. This will be done the coming year. Our people are awake to the situation, and see in it an excellent opportunity for an active campaign of education in bringing not only before legislators, but before the people generally, a knowledge of the real principle involved in the passage of Sunday laws.

Liberal provision was made for the further development of the Pacific Union College. Nearly four thousand dollars was subscribed for that enterprise by the delegates.

Elder G. A. Irwin, who has served the cause for many years in leading official positions, retired from the presidency of the union, feeling that in the active and earnest work which the future calls for, a younger and physically stronger man should take charge of the work. Elder E. E. Andross was chosen for the position. The union will still have the benefit of Brother Irwin’s counsels, as he was retained on the executive committee as vice-president of the union.

Several important questions of general interest were discussed at this meeting by leading workers. Inasmuch, however, as reports of the meeting will be published later, we shall not make further mention of the conference sessions here.

During the meeting at Los Angeles we were pleased to make our home at the Glendale Sanitarium. This institution is located in the city of Glendale, eight miles from Los Angeles, and is connected with that city by an excellent electric railway service. The sanitarium has been able in the past to afford accommodations for about sixty guests. Recently, however, the gymnasium building has been remodeled and enlarged and transformed into a hospital building, which nearly doubles the capacity of the institution. This hospital contains an excellent surgical ward, and one of the finest operating-rooms possessed by any of our medical institutions. The nurses’ dormitory and two cottages complete the buildings of the institution.

The working staff of this sanitarium consists of about eighty earnest men and women, forty-eight of whom are nurses. Here is conducted an excellent training-school for nurses. An effort has been made to provide the nurses with practical experience in field work, in addition to the regular instruction. Being in close proximity to Los Angeles, an excellent opportunity is afforded for gaining an experience in dealing with a large variety of cases, both acute and chronic.

Considerable has been done in visiting-nurses’ work. All nurses are expected to spend some time in labor of this kind, and arrangements with the Florence Crittenden Maternity Home afford the lady nurses an excellent experience in obstetrical nursing.

The faculty of this institution consists of Dr. D. D. Comstock, medical superintendent; Dr. Belle Wood-Comstock, lady physician; J. J. Wessels, manager; C. F. Marvin, chaplain; Mrs. Dora Basnett, matron; and Miss Lillian Santee, head nurse. We were pleased to meet here Dr. H. F. Rand, with whom we had been pleasantly associated in labor in the past. Dr. Rand, after rendering valuable assistance to the St. Helena Sanitarium for several years, has connected with the work in Glendale and Los Angeles.

Under the auspices of the Southern California Conference, bath-rooms are being operated in the city of Los Angeles. Dr. J. R. Leadsworth and Dr. H. J. Hoare, who are connected with these treatment-rooms, are rendering most excellent service.

We found in the Glendale Sanitarium an excellent spirit among the workers, and a spirit of contentment and interest on the part of the guests. The family is working unitedly and harmoniously for the building up of the work, and this spirit is bound to succeed in the end. We had the pleasure of speaking to the nurses four times during our stay.

A gain, above operating expenses, of more than three thousand dollars was made by the institution last year, and this probably will be doubled the present year.

With its beautiful surroundings, its excellent equipment, and its proximity to a city of three hundred thousand people, we believe that a successful future lies before this splendid institution.

Among the several educational institutions of the Pacific Coast which are doing much in the development of workers, both for the home field and for the world-wide work, stands the Fernando Academy. It was the writer’s privilege, in company with his brother, Elder M. C. Wilcox, to spend one day at this school, and to speak at chapel to the one hundred or more students enrolled. This school was opened in 1902. The buildings consist of the Academy Hall (a modern brick structure, seventy by ninety feet, three stories high), two homes (a young women’s dormitory, containing the culinary department of the school; an annex, or second home for the young women), and another building, in which is carried forward the normal-training work, and in which are treatment-rooms, and sleeping quarters for the young men. Ten acres of land are owned by the school, and used for garden purposes.

It was an inspiration here, as elsewhere, to look into the faces of the young men and women attending this institution, and realize that they are here not for the purpose of preparing themselves for worldly work, but that into the lives of the great majority there had entered a definite purpose to work for God, and that from this school in the future, as in the past, would go out many to swell the ranks of those engaged in carrying forward this great movement.

This school is affiliated with the College of Medical Evangelists at Loma Linda, and is doing considerable preparatory work in fitting young men and women to take the medical course. The work done in the school is accepted by the board of State medical examiners,

and its graduates are accepted without examination.

Prof. H. G. Lucas is the efficient principal of the academy. With him are associated Elder E. J. Hibbard, who has charge of the Bible work, S. Parker Smith, Dr. Lillis Wood-Starr, W. S. Boynton, B. B. Davis, Mrs. H. G. Lucas, Miss Emily A. Johnson, Miss Irma E. Lewis, G. A. Wheeler, Mrs. B. B. Davis, Mrs. W. S. Boynton, Mrs. E. C. Davey, and Miss Ava Hibbard, as teachers.

An earnest spirit exists in the school. The instructors are laboring faithfully to fulfil the responsible trust committed to them of molding the lives of the young men and women committed to their care. This institution is worthy of the hearty support of the brethren and sisters of the Southern California Conference, and we are glad it is receiving it in liberal measure. The school is larger this year than it has ever been, and its accommodations are taxed to the utmost capacity.

Fernando Academy in Southern California, Lodi Normal Institute in Central California, which we learn from many quarters is doing most excellent work, and the Pacific Union College at St. Helena, afford an excellent system of schools for the young men and women of the Pacific Coast. Many are awake to the opportunities that are afforded them. There are still many, however, in these large conferences who are either attending worldly schools or following worldly pursuits, who should seek a preparation in these institutions which have been provided. The excellent system of schools now in operation by Seventh-day Adventists should command the support of our young people everywhere. The call of God to-day is for workers, for strong, earnest, faithful young men and women. The fields are white to the harvest. Opportunities are opening and rapidly multiplying on every side. In this work to-day is afforded a place for the exercise of every talent and of every ability, an opportunity for the use of the brightest minds and the keenest intellects.

Do any wish to become heroes and heroines? to prove true and brave and noble in the great crises before the world? This work affords such opportunity; but the opportunity is not associated with worldly honor, with selfish glory, or with material riches. Greatness may be achieved, but it will be the greatness of self-abnegation, of surrender of selfish ambition, of unselfish labor for others. All may share in this lowly but truly great work for God. The doing of such work on the part of our young men and women may not place their names upon the world’s roll of honor, but they may have the honor of having their names written in the book of life. They may never be known in worldly courts, but like Daniel of old, they may be greatly beloved in the courts above, and most satisfactory of all, in the great day of the final harvest they may see souls saved to all eternity as a result of the sacrifice which they have made for the cause of God and humanity. Surely this is a heritage to be sought, a reward for which all should labor. F. M. W.