Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 20 (1905)

Lt 309, 1905

Burden, Brother and Sister [J. A.]

“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California

November 1, 1905

Portions of this letter are published in MM 7; LLM 137-138; PC 190-192. +^Note

Dear Brother and Sister Burden,—

We were deeply interested in your letter in regard to the prospect of having patients almost as soon as you are ready for them. I am very much pleased with your report. I have been trying to interest in Loma Linda the gentleman with whom we found rooms while attending the San Jose camp-meeting. His name is Merrill. He has not been long in the truth, but he welcomed us to his house, furnishing us with two rooms. I sent him a booklet describing the situation at Loma Linda, a pamphlet containing something in regard to our work there, and Ministry of Healing and asked him if he could not donate and loan some means at once and help us to secure the advantage now presented. I ought to hear from him soon. We gave him your address, asking him to correspond with you if he could do us this great favor in helping us out. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 1

I also wrote to Walter Harper, asking him if he could not help the San Diego sanitarium to complete the building they are trying to finish. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 2

I am so thankful to our heavenly Father that for a long time He has kept before me that there were buildings that we could obtain at a greatly reduced price. This instruction kept me from trying to purchase land on which to erect buildings at large cost. The Lord has certainly prepared the way for us, and He wants us to work interestedly in securing sanitariums. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 3

I feel thankful for the school property at Fernando. And I do thank the Lord for the property at Paradise Valley. And now you can see that the Lord designs that these places should be worked. It may be that there will have to be another building secured at a distance from Los Angeles; for thus it has been presented to me. But we cannot yet reach out for more, unless the Lord should make it known that the time has come. If we consecrate our individual selves to the Lord, we shall have that wisdom which will enable us to move intelligently. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 4

I feel thankful that Elder Decker and his wife are thinking of making Loma Linda their home. He can, if he will, be a blessing. We shall each feel an individual responsibility to do our very best. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 5

You will notice what a recent number of the San Francisco Chronicle says about the crowds coming into Los Angeles. Let us move intelligently and keep up the religious life and service in our institutions. We shall prosper if we walk humbly with God. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 6

In Jesus is our life derived. In Him is life that is original, unborrowed, underived life. In us there is a streamlet from the fountain of life. In Him is the fountain of life. Our life is something that we receive, something that the Giver takes back again to Himself. If our life is hid with Christ in God, we shall, when Christ shall appear, also appear with Him in glory. And while in this world, we will give to God, in sanctified service, all the capabilities He has given us. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 7

I thank the Lord with heart and soul and voice that He has brought Loma Linda to our notice, that we might obtain it. I thank the Lord that He has sent you to help me carry out in determined effort that which He designed should be a great blessing to us. Redlands will be a center, and so also will Loma Linda. A school will be established as soon as possible, and the Lord will open the way. I could not but think, as I read the notice of the people flocking into Los Angeles, if Loma Linda had not been sold to us, there would now be a ready sale for it. With all the buildings in connection with the main building, we have large advantages. If we will walk humbly with God, and do according to that [with] which He has prospered us, we will have Christ as our friend and our helper. “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” [Matthew 16:24.] These are the terms of our discipleship. Will we comply with them? 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 8

Christ was the Prince of heaven, but He made an infinite sacrifice and came to a world all marred with the curse brought upon it by the fallen foe. He lays hold of the fallen race. He invites us, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] The offer is ours, and every advantage is ours if we will accept the terms. I am trying to do this most earnestly. We can be an example to others by our cheerful obedience to the will of God. Let us comply with the conditions, and in complying we shall find the rest we crave. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 9

In regard to the proposition made by Brother Holden, I look at the matter as you do. We cannot afford to start out on the high-wage plan. This was the misfortune of the people in Battle Creek, and I have something to say on this point. We have before us a large field of missionary work. We are to be sure to heed the requirements of Christ who made Himself a donation to our world. Nothing that we can possibly do should be left undone. There is to be neatness and order, and everything possible is to be done to show thoroughness in every line. But when it comes to paying twenty-five dollars a week, and giving a percentage on the surgical work done, light was given me in Australia that this could never be, because our record is at stake. The matter was presented to me that many sanitariums would have to be established in Southern California; for there would be a great inflowing of people there. Many would seek that climate. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 10

We must stand in the counsel of God, every one of us prepared to follow the example of Jesus Christ. We cannot consent to pay extravagant wages. God requires of His underphysicians a compliance with the invitation, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” [Verses 29, 30.] 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 11

We see so much help to be given to our ministers laboring in the gospel in every country where messengers are sent. In every place there needs to be a school, and in very many places a sanitarium. In Jesus Christ is our help and our sufficiency to carry the work forward intelligently. God has looked upon the great display made by some who have labored in New York; but He does not harmonize with that way of preaching the gospel. The solemn message becomes mingled with a large amount of chaff, which makes upon minds an impression that is not in harmony with our work. The good news of saving grace is to be carried to every place; the warning must be given to the world, but economy must be practiced if we move in the spirit of which Christ has given us an example in His life-service. He would have nothing of such outlay to represent health reform in any place. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 12

The gospel is associated with light and life. If there were no sunlight, all vegetation would perish, and human life could not exist. All animal life would die. We are all to consider that there is to be no extravagance in any line. We must be satisfied with pure, simple food prepared in a simple manner. This should be the diet of high and low. Adulterated substances are to be avoided. We are preparing for the future, immortal life in the kingdom of heaven. We expect to do our work in the light and in the power of the great, mighty Healer. All are to act the self-sacrificing part. Every one of us is to learn of Christ. “Learn of Me,” He says, “for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” [Verse 29.] 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 13

All the grand displays that have been made in the medical missionary work, or in buildings, or in dress, or in any line of adornment are contrary to the will of God. Our work is to be carefully studied and is to be in accordance with our Saviour’s plan. He might have had armies of angels to display His true, princely character; but He laid all that aside and came to our world in the garb of humanity, to suffer with humanity all the temptations wherewith man is tempted. He was tempted in all points as human beings are tempted, that He might reveal that it is possible for us to be victorious overcomers, one with Christ as Christ is one with the Father. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not; but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on His name. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 14

God calls upon Seventh-day Adventists to reveal to the world that we are preparing for those mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those who will purify their souls by obeying the truth as it is in Jesus. Let every soul who will come after Christ deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Him. Thus saith the great Teacher. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 15

Love to all the family. 20LtMs, Lt 309, 1905, par. 16