Loma Linda Messages

J. A. Burden to E. G. White, Sept. 20, 1909

Sanitarium, Calif., Sept. 20, 1909.

Mrs. E. G. White,

Dear Sister White:—

You will recall that at our last talk at the General Conference, concerning the medical educational work at Loma Linda, you suggested that notwithstanding the neglect of the General Conference to take any action encouraging us to go ahead with the advanced medical training, you instructed us to go forward, following the instruction you had given in developing the medical school. The points that perplexed me at that time were, First, what liberties our students would finally have, to do real medical work, other than nursing, or such work as could be carried on by nurses without the qualification of physicians. Second, with reference to what plans we should lay that our students should become recognized as physicians, qualified to practice our healing art. You stated that God would give us recognition when He saw it was necessary. Thus the matter dropped, but I understand that after I left Washington, the General Conference Committee met and considered at some length the question of the Loma Linda College of Evangelists, and passed the following recommendations:— LLM 421.4

“The Loma Linda Sanitarium is an important institution, having splendid location, and is capable of doing a great amount of good in the development of workers. It should be not only a sanitarium of the first class, but a training center for young people who can enter service for foreign fields. LLM 422.1

“While the General Conference is not in a financial condition to render financial aid to the Loma Linda sanitarium, (751) (beyond the salary of a Bible teacher), it is still in fullest sympathy with the principles for which it stands and the work which we believe it is appointed to accomplish. Therefore— LLM 422.2

“We recommend that the Pacific Union Conference cooperate with the trustees of the Loma Linda Sanitarium, in carrying forward the work which the institution should accomplish. LLM 422.3

“(a) By helping along such financial lines as is mutually agreed upon by the trustees of said institution and the Pacific Union Conference Committee. LLM 422.4

“(b) By aiding the institution to secure the best possible help in the way of teachers and aiding in the payment of their salaries. LLM 422.5

“(c) By encouraging our young people to take training at this institution. LLM 422.6

“Resolved, That we recommend the Loma Linda College of Evangelists as a special training school for medical missionary workers for the world-wide field, and encourage it to maintain and strengthen its efforts to provide a course of study for the training of workers combining the qualifications of the highly trained nurse with those of the practical evangelist; and, further, that before giving counsel as to the suggested plan of adding to their Faculty and equipment so as to give one or two years' medical study that would be accepted by a recognized medical college as a part of a regular medical course, we request definite information concerning the changes involved in adapting their courses of study to this purpose, the requirements of such colleges as would affiliate on this basis, and as to what such a plan would involve financially.” LLM 422.7

You notice there are four points in the above resolution. 1st, the question of strengthening the Faculty and equipment, so that the work done by the College would be recognized in other medical schools, giving students who might want to finish their courses of study in regular schools, advanced standing for the work done at Loma Linda. 2nd, the conference desires to know what changes would be necessary in our present courses of study to give students this advantage in entering other schools. 3rd, they would like to know something concerning the standing of the medical schools that would recognize the education given at Loma Linda, if such changes were made in its course of instruction. 4th, what additional expense would be involved in fitting the Loma Linda College to do a complete work that would be recognized in other medical schools. LLM 423.1

Since receiving the communication of the General Conference, we have gone into the matter as fully as time and opportunity would permit, to obtain definite information on these four points. First, we find that the way is open for the students of Loma Linda College to take advanced standing in other medical schools, provided we secure a charter from the state which cost is about $75.00. Second, that in order for our students to enter other medical colleges after the charter is secured, we would need to strengthen our course of study in the first two years about three hundred hours, or one hundred and fifty each year. The students would have to meet the state requirements for entering the college, which is at present a high school education or its equivalent. Third, almost any regular medical college in America would receive our students, for advanced work if those requirements were met. Fourth, in reference to the outlay financially, first we would need to add to our facilities to do this work acceptably to the State, about $3,000.00. Then, to meet what we feel is necessary to make them practical in their work, we should have a small hospital costing not more than $6,000.00 or $7,000.00. This would make an outlay of about $10,000.00. Perhaps you are aware that our medical course of study covers three years. The medical schools used to be three years' courses, but recently they have (753) raised them to a four years' course. Inasmuch as we give in our medical course not only the scientific training, but the Bible and our methods of treatment as well, we could not cover the first two years of regular medical college course in the same time; but our three years' course we find will be readily accepted for two years of a regular medical college course. LLM 423.2

Now as to the question involved. Would there be danger, first, in securing a charter for the school that would open the way for the Loma Linda students to secure this advantage in worldly schools of completing their course, and becoming accredited physicians? The brethren generally seem to feel that it would be out of the question for us to think of equipping the Loma Linda College with facilities for giving full medical course to qualify students to receive recognition by the state. Hence, the suggestion of this compromise plan, which would keep the students under right influences for three years, while becoming well grounded in Bible study along with their scientific preparation. Then it is thought that if only the most capable were encouraged to go on and complete the full course as accredited physicians, and all others be encouraged to enter the work as evangelists, all might work out satisfactorily. LLM 423.3

Without going further into detail, we desire to lay the matter before you for your consideration, to see if the Lord has any light for us. LLM 424.1

Yours truly,

(Not signed but seems to be repetition of Bro. Burden's idea, not EGW's, ERP. 1960)

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