Loma Linda College by F. M. Burg

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 5, 1915

Loma Linda College

By F. M. Burg

Its Planting; Its Mission

No one who is familiar with the history of this institution can have any doubt concerning the opening providences of God in its establishment and in its history to the present time. Circumstances attending the purchase of the Loma Linda property so clearly reveal the guiding hand of the Lord that to those who have acquainted themselves with the facts, these marked evidences of divine direction afford ground for the strongest assurance and faith in this place as one of the leading centers of our denominational work.

Concerning Loma Linda as a place especially adapted to sanitarium work and the care of the sick, Sister White wrote as follows:—

“I wish to present before our people the blessing that the Lord has placed within our reach by enabling us to obtain possession of the beautiful sanitarium property known as Loma Linda.

“Until our recent visit I had never before seen such a place as this with my natural eye, but four years ago just such a place was presented before me as one of those that would come into our possession if we moved wisely. It is a wonderful place in which to work for the sick. We must make decided efforts to secure helpers who will do most faithful medical missionary work. Oh, how I long to see the sick and suffering coming to this institution! It is one of the most perfect places for a sanitarium that I have ever seen, and I thank our Heavenly Father for giving us such a place. It is provided with almost everything necessary for sanitarium work, and is the very place in which sanitarium work can be carried forward on right lines by faithful physicians and managers. When I saw Loma Linda, I said, ‘Thank the Lord. This is the very place we have been hoping to find.’

“It is one of the best locations for sanitarium work that I have ever seen. At this place the sick can be given every natural advantage for regaining health and strength.”

And in speaking of this location in its relation to the great work to be accomplished in Southern California, where unrivaled climatic conditions are attracting many thousands of persons every year, she said: “In Loma Linda we have an advantageous center for the carrying on of various missionary enterprises. We can see that it was in the providence of God that this sanitarium was placed in the possession of our people. We should appreciate Loma Linda as a place the Lord foresaw we should need, and which he gave.”

The Medical School

There has been no less encouraging evidence that our school for training workers was established under the Lord’s direction. Concerning Loma Linda as an educational center, Sister White wrote the following in 1905:—

“With the possession of this place comes the weighty responsibility of making the work of the institution educational in character. Loma Linda is to be not only a sanitarium, but an educational center. A school is to be established here for the training of gospel medical missionary evangelists. Much is involved in this work, and it is very essential that a right beginning is made.”

“In regard to the school I would say, Make it especially strong in the education of nurses and physicians.”

The danger of being led away from God and away from the truths and principles of simplicity that should characterize the movement that is to prepare a people for the end of all things, is pointed out in the following quotation:—

“Our people are now being tested as to whether they will obtain their wisdom from the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, or seek to the god of Ekron. Let us determine that we will not be tied by so much as a thread to the educational policies of those who do not discern the voice of God and who will not hearken to his commandments. . . .”

“Shall we represent before the world that our physicians must follow the pattern of the world before they can be qualified to act as successful physicians? This is the question that is now testing the faith of some of our brethren. Let not any of our brethren displease the Lord by advocating in their assemblies the idea that we need to obtain from unbelievers a higher education than that specified by the Lord.”

“The representation of the Great Teacher is to be considered an all-sufficient revelation. Those in our ranks who qualify as physicians are to receive only such education as is in harmony with these divine truths.”

“Some would advise that students should, after taking some work at Loma Linda, complete their medical education in worldly colleges. But this is not in harmony with the Lord’s plan. God is our wisdom, our sanctification, and our righteousness. Facilities should be provided at Loma Linda, that the necessary instruction in medical lines may be given by instructors who fear the Lord, and who are in harmony with his plan for the treatment of the sick.”

“I have not a word to say in favor of the world’s ideas of higher education in any school that we shall organize for the training of physicians. There is danger in their attaching themselves to worldly institutions, and working under the ministrations of worldly physicians. Satan is giving his orders to those whom he has led to depart from the faith. I would now advise that none of our young people attach themselves to worldly medical institutions in the hope of gaining better success or stronger influence as physicians.”

On the character of the training to

be given in our medical school, Sister White wrote under date of March 24, 1908:—

“The education that meets the world’s standard is to be less and less valued by those who are seeking for efficiency in carrying the medical missionary work in connection with the work of the third angel’s message. They are to be educated from the standpoint of conscience; and as they conscientiously and faithfully follow right methods in their treatment of the sick, these methods will come to be recognized as preferable to the methods of nursing to which many have become accustomed, which demand the use of poisonous drugs.”

The following was written in August, 1905:—

“These students who intend to deal with suffering humanity will find no graduating place this side of heaven. Every bit of knowledge that is termed science should be acquired, while the seeker daily acknowledges that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Every item of experience and everything that can strengthen the mind, should be cultivated to the utmost of their power, while at the same time they should seek to God for his wisdom—their consciences illuminated, quick and pure; for unless they are guided by the wisdom from above, they become an easy prey for the deceptive power of Satan.”

The study of the Word of God is to have its proper place in the school curriculum. On this point we call attention to the following:—

“If the medical students will study the Word of God diligently, they will be far better prepared to understand their other studies; for enlightenment always comes with an earnest study of the Word of God. Let our medical missionary workers understand that the more they become acquainted with Bible history, the better prepared they will be to do their work.”

“The students in our school should aspire to higher knowledge. Nothing will so help to give them a retentive memory as the study of the Scriptures. Nothing will so help them in gaining a knowledge of their other studies.”

And while the Word of God is to be studied and made of very first importance, we are told that in scientific lines the school at Loma Linda is to be of the “highest order.” I quote the following:—

“The light that God has given in medical missionary lines will not cause his people to be regarded as inferior in scientific medical knowledge, but will fit them to stand upon the highest eminence. God would have them stand as a wise and understanding people because of his presence with them. In the strength of Him who is the source of all wisdom, all grace, defects and ignorance can be overcome.”

Medical Evangelistic

Seventh-day Adventists exist for just one thing, and that is the proclamation of the third angel’s message—God’s warning to a perishing world of its soon-coming doom, and his appeal to men to prepare to meet him.

The school at Loma Linda is one of the many and varied agencies that exist as factors in this great movement. Some of our schools are training preachers and teachers; our sanitarium schools are training nurses to work in the same great cause; Loma Linda College has been called into existence for a specific work,—the education of physicians and nurses to go out as evangelists in connection with the last work of God in the earth. Of the work to be done, the following was written by the servant of the Lord:—

“In medical missionary schools many workers are to be qualified with the ability of physicians to labor as medical missionary evangelists. This training the Lord has specified is in harmony with the principles underlying true higher education.”

“Some of the students are to be educated as nurses, some as physicians. They may obtain at our schools all that is essential to perform the work for this time.”

“Much good can be done by those who do not hold diplomas as fully accredited physicians. Some are to be prepared to work as competent physicians. Many working under the direction of such ones can do acceptable work without spending so long time in study as it has been thought necessary in the past.”

From what has been written relative to the work to be done at Loma Linda, and the place of this school in our denominational activities, it is clear that a certain number are to be qualified as regular physicians, and to pass examinations required by law for professional practice; but the larger number are to go forth “qualified with the ability of physicians to labor as medical missionary evangelists.”

There is a large field for workers with this kind of training, and Loma Linda presents unique advantages in every way for giving such a preparation for service. Its doors are open to our young men and women who feel a zeal in their hearts to have a part in this great work of warning the world, and who wish to secure this valuable training for a double ministry.

F. M. BURG.