Impressions of Loma Linda Medical College
By G. B. Starr
It was my privilege to attend the medical missionary convention held at Loma Linda, March 19-23, and to remain several days after and become thoroughly conversant with the equipment, plans, purposes, personnel of the faculty, and spirit of the place. The impressions made on my mind I wish to pass on to the readers of the REVIEW, especially to students in our schools and colleges who believe themselves called of God to add a medical training to their preparation for his work. It was emphasized, from first to last during the convention, that the object of the Lord in establishing the College of Medical Evangelists was, not to train physicians for the world's work, but to train medical evangelists for the Lord's work. His closing work in all the earth in its final triumph and benediction to suffering humanity is to present the life and work of Jesus in a revelation of his love and service in the blending of healing and soul saving as seen in his own personal ministry while here on earth, the Spirit of God witnessing and working with this ministry to the rescuing of souls in all lands, physicians and evangelists, nurses and Bible workers, working together in a sweet, brotherly unity to accomplish a work impossible without this unity. I can assure the readers that the Spirit of God witnessed to the presentation of these matters. It was clearly shown that the world's medical schools are not prepared to train workers for God's cause any more than are the world's theological seminaries to train ministers to preach the three angels' messages. It is evidently just as inconsistent for our precious youth called to medical evangelism to look to worldly medical schools to equip them for the highest service in the cause of Christ for this time, as it would be for their companions called to the ministry in other lines to plan to attend Harvard, Yale, or Princeton, hoping to be equipped for their work. The call of the hour is for trained medical men and women imbued with the spirit of reform, and trained to impart to others the information they receive. Physicians are wanted who are filled to overflowing with the spirit of dietetic and health reform, and who have deep, abiding, and inspiring convictions that God's methods of treating disease are the only methods worth considering. Physicians who are needing outlets for their pent-up convictions are wanted to step into sanitarium parlors, lecture rooms of the various clubs and societies, and homes of the people, so widely open at the present time, and to be opened wider and wider as men and women are prepared to enter them. As changes are made in the future in the many institutions conducted by this denomination as a distinctive, integral, vital part of its God-given work, Loma Linda must be looked to as the natural place to find the men prepared to fill these openings. Here are men and women who for four and five years have been steadily trained in the God-given principles that make our medical work distinctive from all other medical work, as truly distinctive as our Bible teaching is distinctive,—men and women who, during these years of training, have, as a prime feature of their training, been drilled in imparting knowledge to others in lectures and conventions in all the near-by villages and towns until they have gained an experience which will enable them to carry on this work of imparting to others wherever they are called. And this is not simply theory. The finished product is actually here. Doctors who have finished their course at Loma Linda and have passed the California State Board examination, which is peculiarly severe and testing, and passed with a percentage of 96+, are now actually employed as physicians and doing successful work in their medical departments, and are also successful and interesting lecturers. Young men and women who are looking to the world's schools to give them a polish, recognition, and standing—which they have been advised that Loma Linda was unable to impart—are surely heading for disappointment. The recognition of God and his people cannot longer consistently be given to those seeking for positions in our institutions whose faulty training unfits them for his work. In past years when we had no medical school, we might reasonably have hoped that God would in a special manner save young men from the corrupting influences of the world's schools, but it would be presumption and not faith that would now choose these influences under which to gain an education. To Loma Linda, men of God's appointment are bringing to the medical students the cream of all the schools, the latest and best in all scientific lines, placed in the setting of truth as given by the Lord. Physicians, ministers, and educators among us who have in the past advised young men to attend other institutions, and have demerited the facilities of Loma Linda, should change their attitude and acquaint themselves with the facts, and now throw every ounce of their influence this way, and thus work in harmony with the Spirit of the Lord and the call of the hour for men specially trained for a special work. We must cease to bear false witness against the work of God, and use our decided influence to make successful what he says should succeed. Among the seventy-five contented students now in training are many bright minds and consecrated lives who give promise of being men and women whom the Lord is preparing for his work. The laboratory is well equipped for successful teaching, and Dr. Truman and his assistants are doing the best and most practical work we have ever seen in these lines. Dr. Ruble and assistants in pathology and bacteriology and Dr. Shryock in histology and embryology are all up to the mark. Dr. Hoare is making the usual dry anatomy alive with interest. The new hospital, built by the gifts of God's people at the last General Conference, is a model of up-to-date equipment, and is furnishing Dr. George and assistants with facilities for giving all that can be asked for along the lines of surgery. Dr. Risley's department of electricity, X ray, electro-photography, and chemistry, is alive with electrical forces. Here we found the latest and best in equipment for obtaining facts contributing to certainty in diagnosis. Dr. Newton Evans, the new president of the college, is a true "mixer," as one of his coworkers described him,—a man who knows how to harmonize with his fellow workers and to make room for all the talent and ability placed about him. He is beloved by his fellow workers and students. The outlook for Loma Linda is bright. The freshman class for 1915 should be the largest and best yet enrolled, and will be, we feel assured, if young men and young women are led in their decisions by the Spirit of God. The youth who are aspiring to do the world's work and are heading in their plans for large commercial advantages, should not plan to come to Loma Linda. This class is not needed here. But those who, like their Lord and Master, the Great Physician and Medical Evangelist, plan to gather the best that Heaven can bestow for the purpose of giving it out to others in a blessed ministry of self-denial,—these are wanted. For the location of his school God has chosen one of the most beautiful spots on this beautiful earth. The surroundings are all calculated to contribute to the accomplishment of the ends desired, and to turn out the workers in sound health and with a sound spiritual experience. We can truly pray God to bless Loma Linda in its Heaven-appointed work. The present prosperity of the Loma Linda Sanitarium will be noticed in another article. G. B. STARR.