A School of Health by W. A. R.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 2, 1907

A School of Health

By W. A. R.

To open up the work of the “right arm” of the third angel’s message at Salamanca, N. Y., a four-days’ health convention was held at the home of Brother F. H. Hicks. This was in response to a request in the New York Indicator, asking that a health convention be held.

Accordingly preparations were made to gather the brethren and sisters from neighboring parts, April 26-29, 1906. Talks and demonstrations were given, papers read, and plans made by the following-named persons: Dr. and Mrs. A. R. Satterlee, of the Buffalo Sanitarium; Sister Margaret Kysor, graduate nurse of Buffalo Sanitarium; Elder S. H. Lane, president New York Conference; Elder H. W. Carr, educational secretary; Elder F. Peabody; Elder I. N. Williams, vice-president Pennsylvania Conference; Mrs. E. E. Prescott, F. H. Hicks, Mrs. E. Ellis, W. L. Brisbin, Sister Katie Weibrecht, Brother and Sister Van Slyke, Sister Gertrude Williams, and H. S. Merchant, State agent. The subjects considered were as follows: Cure for Tobacco Habit; Treatment for La Grippe; Commandments of God; Ventilation; Non-Use of Flesh Foods; Artistic Dress; Combination of Foods; Meaning of Earthquake (San Francisco) to Us; Extracts from Book of Proceedings of Medical Missionary Conference Held in College View, Neb., in 1906; Canvassing Work; Physical Culture; Treatment Demonstrations; Health Reform; Manufacturing of Health Foods.

The total attendance was one hundred and twenty. No charge was made for meals, but at the close of the meetings a collection was taken, which paid all expenses, and left a surplus of about ten dollars to provide treatment free for those who could not pay for it.

As no flesh, butter, eggs, baking-powder, saleratus, stimulants, etc., were to be used in any form, in fact, nothing but fruits, grains, nuts, vegetables, milk, and cream, in harmony with the Testimonies, those intending to bring any food were asked to bring it unprepared. Recipes for hygienic dishes were given, also the privilege of entering the kitchen to see them prepared.

The convention was a complete success, spiritually as well as financially, one of the good results being the establishment of treatment rooms here, under the medical direction of Dr. Satterlee. Sister Margaret Kysor was left in charge to carry on the work. She remained until Sept. 7, 1906, and then left to take a Bible course at South Lancaster Academy. This left the rooms without a nurse for about two months.

November 2 I arrived in Salamanca to take charge of the work. That the Lord called me here, I have no doubt. He has been with me and helped me, and has given me words to speak to the people while relieving their physical needs, and has blessed the efforts put forth for the restoration of health. Some of the best people in town have had treatments (in their homes), and are recommending them to others. Books and papers have been left with them, thus bringing the truth to their attention, which, perhaps, could not have been done otherwise. Our facilities for treating are of course limited, but we have one room fitted up with massage and treatment table, cupboard for supplies, stove for heating room and water, and oven for sterilizing purposes. We also have a battery for administering faradic electricity, and cabinet bath for eliminative treatments. Adjoining this room is the bath-room, where full baths, sprays, and sitz baths are given.

There has been very little expense incurred. If every Seventh-day Adventist home could be made into a miniature sanitarium, how much faster this truth would go! Pray that fruit may appear from the seed sowing in Salamanca, N. Y. FLORENCE L. BOYLE.

The above letter beautifully illustrates a work which has been much neglected of late by our medical institutions and workers. There is no better way, outside of sanitarium work, of getting before the people the principles for which our institutions stand, and for which our medical people and many others are sacrificing, than by holding properly conducted schools of health. For years we recognized this means of reaching the people and working for them. Lately the care of institutions and other duties have held us so closely confined that our light has not been permitted to shine far beyond institutional walls. Would it not be well for us to take up this work again, and thus get the principles we hold before the public? This would not only be an excellent means of gaining access to people of influence, thus enabling us to present to them the special truths for this time, but would be one of the best means of interesting them in our institutions, and thus incidentally increasing the patronage of our sanitariums.

Miss Boyle’s letter has been printed without her permission, but we trust that it will be satisfactory. It contains many valuable suggestions concerning this line of work, and I trust will be instrumental in helping to awaken an interest in this kind of effort. W. A. R.