Our Sanitariums by Daniel H. Kress

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 29, 1910

Our Sanitariums

By Daniel H. Kress

Are They Hindrances or Helps in Spreading the Gospel?

WHY do we as a religious body, whose aim it is to carry the gospel to every creature, invest means in the establishment of medical institutions? Would not more be accomplished if the workers in these institutions could be released, and sent as evangelists into all the world? In other words, Are our sanitariums hindrances or helps in carrying out the gospel commission? In a future article I hope to relate some of my experiences in connection with sanitarium work, and what our sanitariums have accomplished, and what we may expect them to accomplish in the future. In this I shall merely aim to show why we have sanitariums, and how the demand for them may be created.

The Christian religion differs from heathen religions in that it has respect for man's physical needs: in it healing of the body and forgiveness of sin are associated. Nowhere can we find a more concise and up-to-date code of sanitary and hygienic regulations than is found in the book of the law. It is evident, in reading these, that God desired his people to enjoy health for their own sake, and in order that they might be able to minister to those who through ignorance were violating these regulations, and at the same time impart to them a knowledge of the laws upon which health and happiness depend.

The true import of these regulations was revealed more clearly in the life of Christ; for he came to magnify the law. In studying his life, we find that he spent more time in ministering to the physical needs of mankind than in preaching.

He rebuked the religious leaders of the Jews, who thought it beneath the dignity of their position to minister to man's physical needs, by relating a parable. A certain man, a Jew, on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho, he said, 'fell among thieves.' They wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 'And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.' God in his providence also led a Levite that way, and he 'came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.' 'But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds.'

The good Samaritan did still more; he brought the wounded man to an inn, or a place where he could receive the attention which he himself was not prepared to give, but which he needed in order that he might be restored to health.

Before leaving, the Samaritan made a deposit to cover, in part, the unfortunate man's expense, and said to the keeper, 'Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.'

'Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?' Jesus inquired of his hearers; and they replied, 'He that showed mercy on him.' Then said he, 'Go, and do thou likewise.'

In this parable we have brought out in the most concise manner the attitude the Christian church should take toward the needy, and especially toward her own unfortunate. The lessons of value to the church in this parable are the following: First, the members should do philanthropic work; they should seek out the unfortunate, and minister to their needs. Second, if they are not able to give these unfortunate ones the personal attention they need, they should see that they are placed where they can be properly cared for. It is this work on the part of the church which creates the demand for good Samaritans. So long as this work is done by its members, the demand for such workers will exist. Third, the financial burden of caring for the church's sick should not be thrown upon these institutions. Temporary provision should be made for the sick when they are brought, and the promise should be given, 'Whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.'

To his church for all time Jesus says, Go and do—as did the Samaritan. We see from this parable that so long as the gospel is preached, there will be a place for medical missionary work; for medical missionary work is the gospel in practice. So long as medical missionary work is done, there will also exist a need for institutions where the sick can be cared for by Christian physicians and nurses.

Sickness is increasing everywhere. While, through the suppression of epidemic diseases during the past two centuries, the average age of life has been increased, there never was a time when there were more chronic invalids than at present. Three million persons in the United States, it is estimated, are disabled on account of sickness all the time. Consequently there never was a time when there existed a greater need for good Samaritan work, and for suitable places where the sick can be cared for.

Among the churches of to-day very little attention is given to man's physical needs. This work is left for worldly physicians and nurses, and the state is supposed to furnish the hospitals. Among the remnant, God is still calling for priest and Levite to combine with their religious efforts this ministry to man's physical needs. As the church takes up this work, there will be many cases found that will have to be directed to sanitariums. Among these will be those who are abundantly able to pay their own expenses, and who will gladly do so. Those who are not able to do this should be assisted as far as possible by friends and relatives. For those who have none to help, the church should make provision. A fund should be created to meet these emergencies.

When the members of the church follow out the instruction conveyed by this parable, and engage in genuine medical missionary work, or good Samaritan work, we shall appreciate more fully the need of our sanitariums, and the place they occupy in the proclamation of the gospel message. The following out of this instruction will also help solve our financial problems somewhat; for this is God's appointed way of filling our sanitariums.

The priest and Levite saw no need for sanitariums. Had they undertaken to care for this wounded man, at once they would have seen the need of a place where he could be tenderly nursed back to health.

So long as we fail to do good Samaritan work, so long we, too, shall think of our sanitariums as hindrances instead of helps; but as we take up the medical missionary phase of the message, we shall see the need of having suitable places for giving attention to the sick near every large city, and in every place where a large church exists.

Sanitariums can not succeed financially without patients. When they are filled, success is assured. If they do not have the patronage they should have, may it not be due in many instances to the fact that as a church we need to be revived? The time has come when the members of the church of Christ must again take up the work of practising and teaching the principles of health, and of ministering to the needs of the afflicted. When they take up this work, our sanitariums will occupy the place they should in the third angel's message. God's special blessing will attend the work; the sick will be healed; and to the poor the gospel will be preached. Instead of being considered as hindrances, our sanitariums will be regarded as one of the greatest aids in carrying the everlasting gospel quickly into all lands. D. H. K.