Medical Missionary Work the Right Arm of the Message
By W. J. Stone
We have been told that the medical missionary work sustains the same relation to the third angel's message that the right arm has to the body. This is a wonderful statement; and if fully comprehended, this branch of our work would receive far greater assistance than we have heretofore given it. “The right arm of the body of truth is to be constantly active, constantly at work, and God will strengthen it. But it is not to be made the body. At the same time the body is not to say to the arm, I have no need of thee. The body has need of the arm in order to do active, aggressive work. Both have their appointed work, and each will suffer great loss if worked independently of the other.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 288. It always enlists our pity and sympathy to see a right arm cut off or paralyzed so that it can not perform its proper function. We feel that one so afflicted is greatly crippled in his efforts in life. If an artisan, he is almost incapacitated for service. No matter what his occupation, his work is likely to be deficient. So with the third angel's message. “True missionary work is that in which the Saviour's work is best represented, his methods most closely copied, his glory best promoted. Missionary work that falls short of this standard is regarded in heaven as defective.”—Id., page 230. “During his ministry, Jesus devoted more time to healing the sick than to preaching.”—“Desire of Ages,” Trade Edition, page 407. The right arm wields a mighty power in the battle of life. It performs not only the hardest tasks but the most menial. It is the member which not only earns the livelihood, but whose daily duty20is to feed the body. The body could not well receive proper nourishment without the aid of the right arm; and unless the body is nourished, it can not furnish the vitality needed for the arm. Each is equally dependent upon the other. This reasoning is true of the medical missionary work,—the right arm of the message. Properly nourished, the medical work can be a great help to the evangelical work, by educating more efficient workers, by raising up churches, by tithe-paying, and by bringing large donations to the assistance of our work. Not the least is its influence upon leading men of the world in favor of our work. The medical work, once well established, is self-supporting. The means invested is not consumed, but remains year after year, adding to its possessions greater value and more efficiency, accomplishing greater good, with no drain on the body. It is important, then, that the right arm of the message be kept in a healthy, active condition. Our sanitariums throughout the world treat annually about twenty-five thousand patients. These persons are brought under a favorable influence and hear much of present truth. Many accept the message. Two thousand workers are employed in these institutions, earning a wage of nearly six hundred thousand dollars a year, a tithe of which would be about sixty thousand dollars. Add to this the large number of students who earn enough to pay their way while gaining an education, and we have about one hundred thousand dollars annually saved to the denomination in educating our young people. These are some of the reasons why the right arm of the message should receive our hearty support.