Loma Linda Messages

Introductory Statement

G. A. Irwin

The fifth biennial session of the Pacific Union Conference was convened at Mountain View, Cal., Jan. 25, 1910, according to appointment. Early in the meeting, it became evident that one of the most important questions to be discussed was the policy that the Conference should adopt in its relations toward the Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists. LLM 492.2

In 1907, counsel had been received by the workers at Loma Linda, from Sister E. G. White, that— LLM 492.3

“With the possession of this place comes the weighty responsibility of making the work of the institution educational in character. Loma Linda is to be not only a sanitarium, but an educational center. A school is to be established here for the training of gospel medical missionary evangelists. Much is involved in this work, and it is very essential that a right beginning be made. LLM 492.4

“In regard to the school, I would say, Make it especially strong in the education of nurses and physicians.” LLM 492.5

Evangelistic Nurses

During a medical council of the Pacific Union Conference held at Loma Linda Oct. 27-31, 1907, the following resolutions were adopted: LLM 492.6

“Whereas, the Loma Linda School of Evangelists has been established for the education and training of those who shall go forth into home and foreign mission fields to teach the gospel and to heal the sick; and,— LLM 492.7

“Whereas, In these home and foreign mission fields there is need of thousands of medical missionary evangelists, thoroughly qualified to carry the gospel message and to minister to the sick, laboring as nurses, who through diligent study and experience have acquired extraordinary ability; therefore,— LLM 492.8

“1. Resolved, That we approve of the efforts of the founders and managers of the Loma Linda School of Evangelists to equip and conduct a school in connection with the Loma Linda Sanitarium; and that we encourage them to strengthen its faculty, and to continue to give its students a thorough education and training in these practical lines of work in which the medical evangelist is called to engage. LLM 492.9

“2. Resolved, That the General Conference Medical Department be requested to give most careful study to the question of providing for our young people the most favorable opportunities for them to secure the qualifications that they must have, in order to carry forward the medical missionary work of our cause.” LLM 493.1

Medical Students

In the pursuance of this work, the managers of the college met with great encouragement, and in the autumn of (861) 1909 were urged by students wishing to take a full medical training to incorporate and organize as a medical college, in order to be prepared to offer a line of study that would enable the graduates of the complete medical course to pass the examinations required by State Boards of Medical Examiners. LLM 493.2

This matter was discussed at the General Conference Committee Council held in College View, Neb., Oct. 5-15, 1909, where the following action was taken: LLM 493.3

“Resolved, That we recommend the board of management of the Loma Linda College of Evangelists to secure a charter for the school, that it may develop as the opening providences and the instruction of the Spirit of God may indicate.” LLM 493.4

In harmony with this action, the College of Medical Evangelists was chartered December 9, which charter provides for the granting of medical degrees to those who are graduated from the full medical course. LLM 493.5

At the time the General Conference Committee Council took action in College View, favoring the incorporation of the Loma Linda school as a College of Medical Evangelists, there was in the mails a letter enroute from California, addressed by Mrs. E. G. White to Elder J. A. Burden, and containing the following— LLM 493.6

Words of Counsel (B-132-'09)

“Sanitarium, Cal., Oct. 11, 1909.

“Elder J. A. Burden:

“Dear Brother,—

“I am instructed to say that in our educational work, there is to be no compromise in order to meet the world's standards. God's commandment-keeping people are not to unite with the world, to carry various lines of work according to worldly plans and worldly wisdom. LLM 493.7

“Our people are now being tested as to whether they will obtain their wisdom from the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, or seek to the god of Ekron. Let us determine that we shall not be tied by so much as a thread to the educational policies of those who do not discern the voice of God, and who will not hearken to His commandments. LLM 494.1

“We are to take heed to the warning: ‘Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ Those who walk in the narrow way are following in the footprints of Jesus. The light from heaven illuminates their path. LLM 494.2

“Shall we represent before the world that our physicians must follow the pattern of the world before they can be qualified to act as successful physicians? This is the question that is now testing the faith of some of our brethren. Let not any of our brethren displease the Lord by advocating in their assemblies the idea that we need to obtain from unbelievers a higher education than that specified by the Lord. LLM 494.3

“The representation of the great Teacher is to be considered an all-sufficient revelation. Those in our ranks who qualify as physicians are to receive only such education as is in harmony with these divine truths. Some have advised that students should, after taking some work at Loma Linda, complete their medical education in worldly colleges. But this is not in harmony with the Lord's plan. God is our wisdom, our sanctification, and our righteousness. Facilities should be provided at Loma Linda, that the necessary instruction in medical lines may be given by instructors who fear the Lord, and who are in harmony with His plans for the treatment of the sick. LLM 494.4

“I have not a word to say in favor of the world's ideas of higher education in any school that we shall organize for the training of physicians. There is danger in their attaching themselves to worldly institutions, and working under the ministrations of worldly physicians. Satan is giving his orders to those whom he has led to depart from the faith. I would advise that none of our young people attach themselves to worldly medical institutions in the hope of gaining better success, or stronger influence as physicians.... LLM 494.5

“(Signed) Ellen G. White”

A Letter of Inquiry

During the recent session of the Pacific Union Conference, Jan. 25-30, 1910, the committee on plans studied the question, as briefly outlined in the foregoing statements. The committee also took into account the responsibility, financial and otherwise, which would rest upon any organization that might attempt to organize and support a denominational medical college. The object to be gained was greatly to be desired, but the expense would be so large, and the difficulties so many, that they did not feel free to recommend the undertaking of such an enterprise, before satisfying themselves, first, that they correctly understood the instruction given in the communications received from Sister White. Therefore the following letter was placed in her hands Wednesday, January 26: LLM 494.6

“Mountain View, California.
“Jan. 25, 1910.

“Mrs. E. G. White,
“Mountain View, Calif.

Dear Sister White,—

“We have read the testimonies, as far as we have seen them that you have given concerning Loma Linda, and the establishment of a medical school in connection with the work at that place. As far as we know, our people are anxious to carry out the light that the Lord has given; but there is a difference of opinion between us in regard to what you mean when you use the term, ‘a medical school.’ LLM 495.1

“Some hold that when you speak of ‘a medical school,’ you mean a school where the Bible is made prominent, where all features of our faith are taught, and where the message is given in its fulness; in addition to which we give an outline of the treatment of simple diseases, the care of the sick, and such things as will qualify the student to go into a foreign field, or even into a city, and do intelligent medical missionary work, using his medical knowledge as a means of introducing the Bible and teaching the truth. LLM 495.2

“Others hold that when you use the phrase ‘a medical school,’ you mean, in addition to the foregoing, a fully equipped medical school that teaches the Bible and the truth, as before said, but that gives such a thorough training along medical lines as will qualify the students who take the course, to pass State Board examinations and become registered qualified physicians for public work. LLM 495.3

“We are very anxious to preserve unity and harmony of action. In order to do this, we must have a clear understanding of what is to be done. Are we to understand, from what you have written concerning the establishment of a medical (862) school at Loma Linda, that, according to the light you have received from the Lord, we are to establish a thoroughly equipped medical school, the graduates from which will be able to take State LLM 495.4

Board examinations and become registered, qualified physicians? LLM 496.1

“Most respectfully yours,
“(Signed) I. H. Evans,
“E. E. Andross,
“H. W. Cottrell.”

This letter of inquiry was returned Thursday, January 27, with the following reply: LLM 496.2

“A Statement Regarding the Training of Physicians

“The light given me is, We must provide that which is essential to qualify our youth who desire to be physicians, so that they may intelligently fit themselves to be able to stand the examinations required to prove their efficiency as physicians. They should be taught to treat understandingly the cases of those who are diseased so that the door will be closed for any sensible physician to imagine that we are not giving in our school the instruction necessary for properly qualifying young men and young women to do the work of a physician. Continually the students who are graduated are to advance in knowledge, for practice makes perfect. LLM 496.3

“The medical school at Loma Linda is to be of the highest order, because those who are in that school have the privilege of maintaining a living connection with the wisest of all physicians, from whom there is communicated knowledge of a superior order. And for the special preparation of those of our youth who have clear convictions of their duty to obtain a medical education that will enable them to pass the examinations required by law of all who practice as regularly qualified physicians, we are to supply whatever may be required, so that these youth need not be compelled to go to medical schools conducted by men not of our faith. Thus we shall close a door that the enemy would be pleased to have left open; and our young men and young women, whose spiritual interests the Lord desires us to safeguard, will not feel compelled to connect with unbelievers in order to obtain a thorough training along medical lines. LLM 496.4

“(Signed) Ellen G. White.”

*****

Recommendation Outlining a Plan of Operation

The instruction contained in this reply was so clear and definite, that the committee on plans felt they could no longer hesitate; hence they prepared a recommendation favoring the establishment of a medical school at Loma Linda. The committee brought this recommendation, with the accompanying correspondence, before the Conference on Friday afternoon, January 28, for consideration. The recommendation reads as follows: LLM 496.5

We Recommend, (1) That, in harmony with the above instruction, we favor the establishment and maintenance of a medical school at Loma Linda, Calif. LLM 497.1

(2) In order that this medical school may meet the mind of the Lord in doing the work appointed for it by the Spirit of Prophecy, we invite the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Lake, Northern, Central, Southwestern, and North Pacific Union Conferences, and the Southern California Conference, to unite with the Pacific Union Conference in establishing and suitably equipping and maintaining this school. LLM 497.2

(3) That a Board of control, for directing the management of the school, be appointed as follows: LLM 497.3

(a) Two members to be appointed by the General Conference. LLM 497.4

(b) One member by the Lake Union Conference, one by the Northern Union Conference, one by the Central Union Conference, one by the Southwestern Union Conference, one by the North Pacific Union Conference, one by the Pacific Union Conference. LLM 497.5

(c) Two members to be appointed by the Southern California Conference, LLM 497.6

(4) That the school shall be maintained by funds obtained as follows: LLM 497.7

(a) Tuition. LLM 497.8

(b) Donations. LLM 497.9

(c) Deficit if any to be met annually by the General Conference, the Lake, Northern, Central, Southwestern, North Pacific, and Pacific Union Conferences, and the Southern California Conference, all sharing equally. LLM 497.10

(5) That each of the above-mentioned organizations be requested to raise one thousand dollars, in behalf of the equipment and maintenance of the school for the calendar year 1910. LLM 497.11

(6) That a separate set of books be kept, carrying all accounts of the school, so that the same can be audited, and a full knowledge of the cost of operating the school submitted to the constituency annually. LLM 497.12

(7) That a Committee, consisting of the incoming president of the Pacific Union Conference, the president of the Southern California Conference, W. C. White, J. A. Burden, and I. H. Evans be asked to present this entire question to the General Conference and the Union Conferences referred to, and to lead out in the establishment of this medical school. LLM 497.13

*****

The reading of the recommendation was followed by a motion to defer action at that meeting, and make it the special order for a meeting to be held the evening after the Sabbath, January 29. LLM 498.1

At the appointed hour, the Conference was opened by Elder H. W. Cottrell, and then Elder G. A. Irwin was called to the chair. After introducing the subject for discussion, the chairman made the following remarks: LLM 498.2