A VISIT TO THE by Mary C. McReynolds

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 26, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 38.

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A VISIT TO THE

By Mary C. McReynolds

DISPENSARY

Patients of Every Hue — Diseases

of Every Variety — But

All Alike Needy

By Mary C. McReynolds

FREE service in the dispensary in Los Angeles, California, begins at two o'clock in the afternoon. Go down early to-day, and watch the pain-racked, needy ones as they come for help.

Soon after one o'clock, the first patient arrives — a poor man whose foot had been crushed by a train. It had been defectively amputated, and for months he has suffered from the effects of poor surgery. The persistent use of hot and cold baths and the careful cleansing have put the healing process well under way, and now his grateful heart is ready to receive the principles of Christianity. His wife, too, is interested. All his neighbors know the relief that has come to him through the simple treatments; and their hearts, too, are warming under the influence of the medical ministry.

Now comes an old woman, ragged, dejected, almost haunted in her appearance. She was in a few days ago, and the interpreter told us her chief complaint was — starvation. We fed her first, and then ministered to her other needs. She may never know Christ as we know Him; but she has felt the touch of human sympathy, and knows a little of Jesus' love as manifest in His children.

Now the long rows of chairs are filling rapidly.

Over there is the wreck of a once noble man. He was tall and well built in youth; but the years of dissipation and debauch have left him bent of form, shuffling, and unsteady. Still the haggard face turns to us appealingly, and the congested eyes seem still to be looking for a way of release from the awful life that has ruined body and brain and enslaved the spirit. Strong men minister to him; and as he promises to "do better," the only hope for help is held out to him. Day after day, he comes and takes eagerly the words of counsel, and finds hope anew as he learns of the One who is "able to save to the uttermost."

PROPOSED GROUND PLAN OF THE ELLEN G. WHITE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Here are mothers bearing sick and helpless children in their arms. One is dying as the result of a vile disease contracted before its birth; another is coughing violently; others already have the unmistakable signs of the great "white plague" written in their wan faces and emaciated bodies. Here sits a poor mother weeping over the suffering of her boy, into whose eye she has put iodine instead of argyrol. She must be comforted — and perhaps we can save the eye.

So they come and wait — worn-out mothers, sick babies, boys with cut heads or hands, and girls, some of them in a most pitiable condition. Ruined men and fallen women — to all these there must be ministered physical help and wise counsel; and brave hearts must point them in their hopelessness to One who loves all, and forgives those who come to Him in true repentance.

Rashly Loyal to the

"Fatherland"

GROUPS of school children come who have been sent down by their teachers

for various difficulties. Then comes a young man who has defended the "fatherland" too vigorously, and whose excited companions tell how the wound on his head was received. As he comes day after day to have the dressings renewed, the Christian physician talks to him of the nobler things of life, and points him to paths of peace with Him who leads away from the war and bloodshed.

This service at the dispensary prepares the way for the many "out calls" that come in. In this work, we find almost every namable disease, and some conditions that baffle names — diseases internal and infirmities external.

Mexicans, Hebrews, Turks, Russians, Japanese, Chinese, Austrians — these and others come. Of varied colors and of many languages, they cannot all understand our words; but they know the language of love, and respond readily to the attempts to relieve suffering. Their hearts beat with new hope as they find that we have sincere desire to help them, regardless of any remuneration. They come for physical help alone; but to us is given the privilege of ministering to that unexpressed and often unfelt need — the hunger of hearts for that which only the Saviour can give.

To these poor people, the world-wide message of salvation must go; and in no other way can we reach them so effectually as through the means used by Jesus in His earthly ministry — true medical missionary work.