Chicago Bible Study Work
By Clyde Lowry
THE workers in the Chicago medical missionary work have received a great blessing from taking up a systematic study of the Bible. Early this summer each worker adopted the plan of committing to memory at least one verse of Scripture each day, and seeking to add something to the happiness of at least one soul each day. A little later, Miss Grace Amadon came from Battle Creek to spend a few weeks with us, and she began a regular Bible study class at 5:30 each morning. This was found to be a good hour; for all were wide awake, and had not yet begun to feel the effects of the strain and responsibility of their hard day’s work. The class grew in interest and attendance, and the seeds that were thus sown are already springing up and bearing fruit. When she returned to her church-school work in Battle Creek, Dr. Paulson and others felt impressed that the proper course to pursue was to divide our large family into many small Bible study circles. Several meetings of leading workers were held, and it was made very clear that no one had a right to be considered a leader in an institution who was not prepared to lead out in Bible study and in missionary activity. The result was that fourteen volunteered to organize Bible classes to meet at convenient times and places, so that every worker should have an opportunity to attend one of these classes each day. These leaders included our five physicians, and the matrons of the sanitarium and hospital, the head nurses of the ladies’ and gentlemen’s treatment departments at the sanitarium, the manager of the Hygiea Dining Rooms, the medical students at the Workingmen’s Home, the superintendent of the Life Boat Mission, and several others. There has been a general and growing interest, and plans are being laid that will yet constitute this a mighty force for the spreading of the gospel message in this city. All members of our family are included in these classes, the average attendance of each being about six. Some of the patients attend these studies, Dr. Hunter’s class being composed almost entirely of patients. A schedule has been prepared, so that each class will attend the Life Boat Mission at least one night each week. This will not prevent any individual from going at other times. A working committee has been appointed to assist in the Sunday morning services at the Harrison Street Police Station, and this interesting work will be pushed with greater energy than ever before. Each class will have access to at least one copy of the REVIEW AND HERALD, so that the Sabbath-school lesson can be studied from that source as well as from the Lesson Quarterly. It was agreed that two meetings each week should be devoted to the study of the Sabbath-school lesson, and that every effort should be used by classes and individuals to increase the interest and attendance at the Sabbath school. The other hours are spent in studying the life of Christ from the four Gospels, with “The Desire of Ages” as a side study. As a result of this work, additional laborers have been secured for the Life Boat Mission Sunday school and for our mission Sabbath school. Hundreds of God’s little ones are living and dying in darkness here because we have been unable to carry them the gospel light. Bible meetings are held daily in the Workingmen’s Home Dispensary and in the Halsted Street Dispensary, and there our workers meet with men and women who perhaps might never hear the gospel at any other place. The work is onward and upward, and God is wonderfully blessing this movement. We are of good courage, and we believe that God will develop our faith and expand our minds as we exercise the talents that he has given us. What is proving such a source of help to our Chicago medical work will be equally helpful in every institution as well as in every church and family that will adopt the same plan as far as their circumstances permit.