Reaching the Children of an Entire Community by Edmund C. Jaeger

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 14, 1911

Reaching the Children of an Entire Community

By Edmund C. Jaeger

THE sickness of the world is a challenge to God's people to demonstrate the power of the Almighty to heal the body and deliver them from sin. We must vindicate the character of God before a skeptical world. This is our work. God can not approve of the ways of those who are “careless of human needs, sufferings, and rights.”

Whenever I see any one who undervalues the efficacy of medical work in bringing earth's unshepherded souls to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, I am aware immediately that it is because he has never had a practical experience in such work. The health work is as effectual in battering down walls of prejudice as was that seven days' march around the stronghold of ancient Canaan in overthrowing its walls. And this I purpose to prove to you by using an argument based upon the results obtained through prosecuting medical missionary work, in a well-defined and dignified manner, for two years in the communities of Southern California.

Two years ago, without any resources and with little encouragement from human sources, I began the presentation of the health truths. It was my contention that it would be better to spend time in educating little children than to waste it on listless adults, for I have found that the mind of an adult, with its prejudices and indifference, is ordinarily much akin to Luther's coal-sack. By the time the truth gets home to the mind, it is all spoiled by these contaminations of character. That contention was all right, but how was I to get the children? After conferring with a good-hearted, public-spirited school-teacher who listened to my plans, the way opened for the establishment of a lectureship in the public schools. God was in it, and so I went to work. Some of our people thought the lecturer was too young, but now I am glad I started just when I did. My youth was a scapegoat for my mistakes, and the children felt more at home with one near their own age.

The first lectures were given in Riverside, and happily were well received by both parents and school authorities. They became so popular with the teachers and children that a demand was made for a series to continue through the year. For the past two years the Lord gave me the opportunity to lecture once a month on sanitarium methods in the treatment of disease. Each lecture lasted about thirty minutes. To reach all the grades in the seven school buildings of Riverside, consumes about a week's time, working from three to five hours a day.

I am happy to find that some of the teachers depend solely on my instruction for the information to be given in hygiene, physiology, and scientific temperance. In these two years I have covered almost every subject of the health reform,—the use of condiments, tea, and coffee, and meat-eating, together with food combinations. Of course I have had to use tact in presenting some of the more advanced ideas with reference to the use of flesh foods. But common sense appeals to the majority of people, especially in relation to their physical being.

During the year which has just closed, five hundred lectures were given before fully fifty thousand children and adults. The work included talks before the young people's society of Christian Endeavor, before the primary, grammar, and high schools, before teachers' institutes, and before other large audiences.

My appointment as State lecturer to the Young People's Branch of the W. C. T. U. has opened the way to present many lectures before the W. C. T. U.

This next year the work will be carried on in affiliation with our new medical school at Loma Linda. The sanitarium has had such a helpful and far-reaching influence on the public that to connect directly with the institution will not cripple the work, but rather give dignity to it.

Sometimes the children get things a bit mixed, and I have a chance to smile at their remarks. After giving a lecture on digestion, in which I described the wonderful organs of assimilation, the mother of a little five-year-old was much surprised at the enthusiasm with which her son told of “the wonderful pianos and pianos and pianos which we have all over in our bodies.” Little Theodore went home much worried after a lecture on proper breathing. Upon being seated at the dinner-table, he disclosed the cause of his perplexity. “Mama,” he said, “Mr. Jaeger says I've got a lung.” Strange discovery!

I am glad to say that I have a strong grip on the older boys in the grammar grades, and I have confidence that few of them will run wilfully into sin. I am spending the summer in personal work with these youth and visiting their parents. We want to work together. One can not accomplish much without parental cooperation. These parents are glad to receive the help I have offered, and have aided financially. I have tried to be a self-supporting missionary, and God has put it into their hearts to make this possible.

At my request, many of our Missionary Volunteer societies in the United States are supplying my boys with the Instructor. Ernest Lloyd, our tract society missionary secretary, who delights to help in our literature work, has sent hundreds of copies of Our Little Friend to distribute among the little folks.

Space does not permit me to tell of reformations in homes brought about by this beneficent work, nor of the hundreds of boys who have gotten hold of higher ideals in life. If I have done nothing more than help some one get on the right track to eternity, that will be sufficient reward. There is nothing so glorious as to know that we are letting God use us, instead of our trying to use God. The question is not, How can I get more of God's Spirit? but, How can God's Spirit get more of me?

EDMUND C. JAEGER.