Conducted by the Medical Department of the General Conference
GEORGE THOMASON, M. D. . . . . Secretary
L. A. HANSEN . . . . . . . . Assistant Secretary
The Work of the Medical Missionary
(Continued)
THE graduation of the sixth class of medical missionaries from the Washington Sanitarium marks this occasion to-night. It is appropriate that we should consider at this time the character of the work of the medical missionary nurse, and some of the principles involved in the education of those who go out to engage in this service.
In discussing these questions, we shall refer to the nurse by the use of the feminine pronoun, for the reason that for the most part this kind of work is confined to this sex, although it affords to devoted men as well as women an opportunity for Christian service.
The efforts of many noble workers have added luster and brought glory to this calling. Among these might be mentioned particularly Florence Nightingale, who did such heroic work on the battle-fields of the Crimea; Sara C. Seward, who gave her life for the cholera sufferers of India; and scores of others equally as faithful and self-sacrificing.
Daily it is being demonstrated that true heroism is not to be found alone on the field of battle, nor does it belong alone to the old-time days of chivalry. We meet it more often among the world's humble toilers than on the field of carnage and bloodshed. The weary, burdened mother, spending her life for the most part within four walls, and laboring in the fear of God to train her little flock for a part in the world's great work; the faithful husband and father, oftentimes handicapped by circumstances, but toiling in patience and in love to sustain the lives dependent upon his labor; the devoted nurse, risking her life to save the sick and suffering,—these are among God's noble men and noble women; and when the unerring Judge makes up his great roll of honor at last, some of these will head the list, rather than those whom the world has counted great.
The warrior, often fired by unholy ambition, praised and flattered by an admiring world, and urged on by the hope of winning glory and renown, risks life to kill and destroy. How different the warfare of the nurse! Comparatively unknown, she labors alone, risking her life to save, happy in the consciousness of bringing cheer to some lonely heart, or comfort to some afflicted home.
Her work possesses much of heroic endeavor, and but little of romance. This word belongs to story and song, to poetry and fiction. It finds small place in the plain, practical duties of the missionary nurse; for her service is not comprehended alone in singing songs to the disconsolate or carrying flowers to the sick. She may do these when occasion affords, but to the more practical, homely phases of her work she must devote her larger energies. She must meet life in its most trying phases. Burning fever, wasting famine, desolating pestilence, poverty, squalor, ignorance, and prejudice,—these are her enemies. Disputing the claims of death, she must snatch from his cruel grasp those whom he would bring under his thraldom. She stands before the world as a teacher, an educator. By precept and example she points the way of better living, teaching the principles of natural law, and seeking to lead men to their acceptance.
The nurse may not choose her field or subjects of labor. Wherever duty calls, she must go; and the call of duty largely must be determined by the needs of suffering humanity.
To her field and subjects of labor the medical missionary nurse sustains a twofold relationship. The first of these relationships is that of a nurse, in the common acceptation of that term. As such she must possess requisite knowledge to properly perform the duties that fall to this calling. Here is a great responsibility. Human life is in her keeping. The manner in which she deals with her21charge determines the question of life in this world, and possibly the destiny of the soul at last. No careless neglect, no listless indifference, no love of selfish gratification, must be permitted to imperil the life committed to her care.
How necessary that the nurse be thoroughly trained for her responsibilities! She must have more than knowledge in the abstract, more than the theory of books. She must possess wisdom and understanding to apply that knowledge properly. Knowing the laws of health and the language of disease, she must be able to apply the science of healing to each particular condition. This will test her power of adaptability, a qualification which, perhaps next to knowledge itself, will make her work truly efficient. As the nurse goes out from the institution, she will meet varied conditions and unusual situations. She will often be compelled to devise new facilities for treatment, and create munitions of war where none before existed. All this emphasizes the practical character of her work, and the need of a careful training to meet the conditions.
We have spoken of the missionary nurse from the professional standpoint. Let us consider now the missionary nurse from the missionary point of view. As related to our consideration of the question at this time, and in its relation to Christian evangelization, this latter viewpoint is the more important. Better the missionary without the training of the nurse than the nurse without the missionary spirit. Both, however, are important; and in their union, the power of each is increased tenfold. The missionary idea should be the controlling passion in the labors of the medical missionary. Through ministry to the physical needs, she may find entrance to the heart.
It was in this manner that Christ, the greatest of all medical missionaries, labored. He "went about doing good." He healed the sick and comforted the afflicted; he bound up the bruised reed and fanned into new life the smoking flax. While addressing at times vast concourses of people, he was more often found by the side of the suffering. His chief labor was in personal ministry. Where human need was greatest, suffering and pain most poignant, there his ministry was most marked.
To the palsied man who sought healing, he declared, "Thy sins be forgiven thee." When some questioned his authority, he bade the sufferer arise and walk, thus showing the intimate relationship existing between the relief of the soul and the health of the body. All disease, either directly or indirectly, results from sin; and many there are to-day, as in the time of Christ's earthly ministry, who by finding peace of mind in forgiveness, or by the exercise of faith and trust, would find as a result quietness of nerves and healing of physical ailments. It falls particularly within the province of the medical missionary to administer this balm of double healing.
To no class of gospel workers is entrusted so sacred a personal ministry as to the missionary nurse. She enters into the very life of the one for whom she labors. To her is confided a knowledge of the deep soul secrets, the goadings of long-violated consciences, the yearnings of crushed spirits, the burdens of grief-stricken hearts. To her the curtain of
the life is lifted, and she alone may enter. What an opportunity is hers! And how recreant would she be to her sacred trust and God-given opportunities, were she to make light of the confidences reposed in her, or fail to meet the demand made upon her Christian sympathy and helpfulness.
Watching unto prayer, she may speak at the right time the word which will mean life to the soul of the downcast and discouraged, and awaken in the heart of the afflicted new impulses after God, and new purposes to do right.
The missionary nurse above all other laborers for God must preach the gospel through personal ministry. Her kind words, cheering smiles, and sympathetic touch will reveal, above the ministration of the pulpit, the life and love of Christ.
But only in God, and by his wisdom and grace, may she become a savor of life and blessing. It is only by divine power that she may be preserved from falling a prey to the adverse influences she is seeking to combat. Hers must be a life of prayer and faith and hope. Human skill must ever prove powerless in meeting human needs. Heaven can use knowledge if sanctified. Unsanctified human ability may become a savor of death, a channel of cursing. Hence the nurse should pray in faith, and work in faith, giving to the Great Physician the credit for every achievement. Thus will she become a laborer together with God in the world's great work for the salvation of lost and suffering humanity.