The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 80

February 24, 1903

“Principles of Organization of the Pacific Union Medical Missionary Association” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 80, 8, pp. 9, 10.

ALONZO T. JONES

THE principles that were developed and adopted in the organization of the Pacific Union Medical Missionary Association were considered and approved by the council of responsible brethren held in Battle Creek in November, 1902; and it was directed that an account of this organization be written out and published in the REVIEW AND HERALD for the consideration of our workers and people generally. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.1

This organization was effected at the St. Helena Sanitarium, California, June 19, 1902. The following-named persons were present and took part in the work of organization: Elders W. T. Knox, J. N. Loughborough, A. T. Jones, J. O. Corliss, W. C. White, N. C. McClure, M. C. Wilcox, M. E. Cady, H. A. St. John, W. S. Sadler, B. F. Richards, Drs. W. R. Simmons, A. N. Loper, G. H. Heald, G. A. Droll, W. H. Jones, R. A. Buchanan, Brethren E. E. Parlin, A. Boeker, Wm. Saunders, C. H. Jones, L. C. Nelson, T. T. Heald, J. J. Ireland, W. D. Hicks, Z. Thorp, H. H. Haynes, L. M. Bowen, Jesse Arthur, and Sisters Gotzian and Sadler and others. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.2

Preliminary to this matter of June 19, there had been elected at the Pacific Union Conference held at Portland, Ore., Feb. 28 to March 10, 1902, a Board to take charge of the medical missionary work in the Pacific Union Conference. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.3

The election of this Board was the result of a long and earnest study of the medical missionary work, in principles and operation, by a large committee appointed for this purpose by the Pacific Union Conference in session. The Board was elected, not only to take charge of the medical missionary work in the Pacific Union Conference, but also to effect the permanent organization of the medical missionary work in this conference, into a Pacific Union Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association. The Board that was elected consisted of the following-named persons: A. T. Jones, A. N. Loper, W. R. Simmons, W. T. Knox, T. S. Whitelock, A. Boeker, E. E. Parlin. The Board organized at Portland by electing A. T. Jones, President, and W. R. Simmons, Secretary. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.4

The circumstances and the purpose of the appointment of this Board made its work of more than ordinary importance. The Testimonies had lately, repeatedly, and strongly indicated that the form of organization of the medical missionary work was in certain vital points defective. This required that this Board should search for original principles, as the basis of the organization that it was appointed to effect. The study of the question by the large committee at Portland had developed indications of the general direction to be taken; and in God’s evident working in the reorganization of the General Conference, begun in Battle Creek, Mich., in the General Conference of 1901, there seemed certainly to be indications that it would be safe to follow in the organization or reorganization of the medical missionary work. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.5

In a word, the principle of reorganization of the General Conference is the principle of self-government. The General Conference pushes back to union conferences all that can be done by union conferences; the union conferences push back to the respective conferences all that can be done by the individual conferences; the conferences push back to the respective churches all that can be done by the individual churches; the churches push back to the individual Christians all that can be done by individual Christians; and the individual Christian pushes back to God all that can be done in and through the individual Christian by God. Thus this order of things finds in God with the individual Christian, it source of life and energy; and so of organization. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.6

The General Conference having pushed back to the union conferences all that can be done by union conferences; and the Pacific Union Conference, after an extended study by a large committee, having appointed a Board to effect an organization of the medical missionary work in this union conference, this seemed to this Board to be an indication that the General (the International) Medical Missionary Association should push back to union associations all medical missionary work that can be done by union medical missionary associations; that the union associations should push back to State or conference associations all that can be done by such associations; that the State or conference associations should push back to local associations all that can be done by such associations; that the local associations should push back to individual Christians all the medical missionary work that can be done by the individual Christian with God as his recognized Source of life and energy. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.7

With this principle as their guide, the Board canvassed the subject quite fully, and arrived at what seemed to them clear conclusions, which they submitted to this meeting for consideration, to be adopted, modified, amended, or rejected, as by further thought and discussion might be thought best. These, as formulated, were read one by one with explanatory remarks by the president of the Board as follows:* ¹— ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.8

The Principles of Organization of the Medical Missionary Work

1. “Where the burden of labor rests, there rests the weight of control. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.9

2. “The weight of endeavor should be always, as a principle, to have every work start and develop as self-supporting, by local resources, local energy, and local control. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.10

3. “Under present circumstances general control of local enterprises is in operation; but whenever any enterprise becomes strong enough to go alone, it should be turned over by the general to local control. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.11

4. “It is possible that instances may occur in which the great importance of establishing the work at some pivotal or strategic point may require the establishment of an institution before there is a sufficient local constituency for efficient control. In such cases there should be general effort and general control until there is developed local constituency sufficient for local control.” ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.12

PRESIDENT OF BOARD: Here arose the question, we considered it, it is now before you, and it is one of the vital questions: What shall be the constituency of the local medical missionary enterprise? Where shall we find the constituency? Of what shall it be composed? In the California association as it has stood there is no such thing as any local constituency; all enterprises are conducted by one Board and from one center, merely as branches from that one center. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.13

JUDGE ARTHUR: There are only two sanitariums that would be embraced in this union association, that are organized and have any connection with the International Association. These are at Spokane and Portland; and I reorganized both of them two or three years ago. I then strongly advocated the organization of an association independent of the other, and I suggested this very plan of operation. At that time I believe it was talked among the brethren here, and afterward abandoned. But I was satisfied that the time would come when you would find that it was the scheme. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.14

PRESIDENT OF BOARD: So the question before this Board was, How shall the constituency of local enterprises be obtained and composed? In following out the principles with which the Board started, we answered it thus:— ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.15

5. “The constituency of a local enterprise shall be the church well instructed and in active co-operation in the principles of health and medical missionary work.” ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.16

QUESTION: That would be the local church? ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.17

ANSWER: Yes. The membership of the local church where the medical missionary enterprise is to be established, shall be the constituency of that enter— prise. Yet bear in mind the distinct proviso: “The church well instructed and in active co-operation in the principles of health and medical missionary work.” Not otherwise. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 9.18

6. “This church constituency of local enterprise shall elect its own medical missionary Board of management, including at least one member of the State Board.” ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.1

This, so as to make and keep a connection all the time, and by their own choice, with the State Board. According to the old way, the central Board makes this connection, by itself, or by its appointment. But as here proposed, the people who establish and conduct the enterprise make the connection with the State Board by their own choice, and of such member or members of the State Board as they choose to choose. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.2

QUESTION: Would it be out of harmony with the general principle, to have the local church concerned choose from its membership a smaller number than the whole membership of the church as a constituency or electorate to elect the local board of control? Would not this be an advantage, especially where the church is large? ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.3

ANSWER: Such an arrangement would not be at all a violation of the principle: it would be simply a variation in the manner of applying the principle. As suggested, I think myself that it would be a distinct advantage where the membership of the church is large. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.4

It was then moved and seconded and unanimously carried that Article 6 be amended so as to read:— ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.5

6. “This church constituency of local enterprise shall elect or choose an electorate to elect its own medical missionary Board of management, including at least one member of the State Board.” ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.6

PRESIDENT OF BOARD: This amendment having been made, I will read it into the other articles where it is required, as I proceed. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.7

7. “The whole number of local constituencies in annual conference compose the State constituencies, and elect or choose an electorate to elect the State Board, including at least two members of the Pacific Union Board. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.8

8. “Delegates from the State constituencies in union conference assembled compose the union constituency, and elect or choose an electorate to elect the Pacific Union Medical Missionary Board. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.9

9. “The bond of union and co-operation is loyalty to Christian principle in morals, in discipline, and in health and the treatment of disease. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.10

10. “In short, the Medical Missionary Association shall be essentially of the church,—simply the church itself at work in medical missionary lines, just as schools and colleges represent the church at work in intellectual lines, and the churches and conference the church at work in evangelical lines. The sanitariums shall be instrumentalities of the church, just as are schools, tract societies, etc. The physicians, nurses, etc., shall be regularly licensed by the conference as church workers, the same as others. ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.11

11. “The funds of State organizations, at least for the present, shall be from the tithe of the income of the local enterprises, and from donations: of the Pacific Union, the tithe of the income of State organizations and from donations.” ARSH February 24, 1903, page 10.12

(To be concluded.)