More Brief Statements From a Council of Workers by L. A. H.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 5, 1914

More Brief Statements From a Council of Workers

By L. A. H.

Among the questions receiving consideration by the workers in a recent council was that of the prevalence of error as regards healing. It was deplored that even among our own people there seems to be considerable uncertainty regarding the value of our sanitarium methods of treatment, and more or less seeking for help from various other things offering relief for physical ailments. Some of the statements made by various ones are here given:—

There is a Babylon of healing methods, as there is a spiritual Babylon. We are called out to stand for truth in one as well as in the other.

As a people, we occupy a distinct field in relation to the question of physical healing.

Any method that fails to make natural law plain and to call attention to the importance of its obedience is not a right method.

Here is the marked difference between our work and that of some others, between true methods of healing and false ones. Here it is that we must make ourselves known more forcibly. The false method ignores fundamentals. It does not reform the man. It does not point out to him his violations of natural law and the results, nor show him the importance of stopping his bad habits.

We need not apologize for our truths or for not believing error. That many may be following after false methods is no reason that we should do so. We must have the courage of Nehemiah, to build up our own wall and to be undisturbed by what others are doing.

A fundamental defect of most false methods is the lack of preparation for dealing with the sick. There is a failure properly to diagnose disease. There is lack of suitable equipment with which to treat it. There is a dependence upon one or two things for the treatment of all ailments.

There is danger in depending too much upon one or two things, and this principle holds good in relation to any method of treatment. For example, if a man puts his entire dependence in fomentations, he is making a mistake, just the same as the man who relies upon manipulation of some part of the body.

We should exalt principles rather than methods. It is a duty of our sanitariums to enlighten our people on correct principles of healing. It is far better to give instruction in the things that are true than to make attacks on the false. When people learn what these principles of truth will do for them, they will not be subject to the many prevailing errors.

The energy that we might use against error will accomplish more if used to establish right principles. Our business is to find the landmarks and stay by them. We must get right ourselves, follow right methods, develop efficiency, go on faithfully with our own work, and not bother ourselves about what others are doing. Truth will prevail over error.

But the people say they get results from these false healers, and it is results they want. One patient told me of visiting a magnetic healer who was able to put him to sleep in a little while, whereas he had not been able to get sleep before. I explained the danger of going to such a healer, and told him of the after results; but he replied that he had no care about after results; what he wanted was sleep, and the healer gave him that, so he was satisfied.

It is that way with many persons; they want results, and do not care how they get them. They do not recognize that it is more important to have good done to them than it is to feel good. We must instruct people that it is necessary for them to do right even though they do not see immediate results; that they must be willing to do right rather than to feel good.

It must be made plain that natural law requires obedience, and that without this we cannot expect real results; that the results that come without such obedience are not genuine and cannot be relied upon. We are in danger of looking to the world as having the methods that give success, and of depending upon worldly methods for our success. We are sure of success only as we depend upon what God has revealed as truth. L. A. H.