General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7

Special Meetings

W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, C. C. Crisler, T. E. Bowen, H. E. Rogers, J. N. Anderson

A MEETING OF MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORKERS

WASe

June 2, 2:30 P. M.

Dr. Geo. Thomason (acting as chairman): We did not know until a few hours ago that we were to have opportunity this afternoon of presenting some health principles to you. As physicians, we have learned to be minute men and women, emergency men and women. So we have come to you in an emergency this afternoon. GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.2

One of the evidences of the last days is to be fulfilled soon, and is even now fulfilling: “As it was in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” As we look around the world and see the evidences of degeneracy, we must all be convinced that, from a physical standpoint, if from no other, we have reached the time of the end. From a very careful study of this subject, it is a positive necessity that our Lord should come quickly if he find any one alive upon the earth to save. GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.3

A few years ago a large committee was appointed in England to investigate the causes of physical degeneracy. It was ascertained that seventy-five per cent of the men who applied for admission into the army were rejected because of physical unfitness. Although there are no plagues sweeping over the countries as compared with a few decades ago, yet the actual death-rate has not diminished. And this degeneracy began in a special sense about the time that this last message of mercy and truth began to be preached in the world. I believe that in a particular sense God has committed to us as a people a special message for this last age in the world, this last drama which is now being enacted, in which we have a part today. As we see men and women going down to destruction—a great tide of woe and misery sweeping them on into eternity—I believe it should arouse every one of us to greater activity to reach out a helping hand to rescue them. GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.4

I was impressed a few weeks ago, when reading an account of a rescue which took place off the coast of Oregon. A boat was wrecked, and from the shore the men in the life-saving station could see three men clinging to the wreckage. They launched their boat, but were beaten back by the breakers; again they tried it, and again they were driven back; a third time they tried to get out to the wreck, and that time their boat was capsized and one of them badly injured. They succeeded in getting back to land safely, and the injured man was sent to a hospital. This man was so worried about the poor fellows out on that wreck that he could not rest. He kept saying that he must do something to rescue those men. However, in the meantime, the captain of the life-boat went to the captain of a small steamer and asked him to take them out far enough so they could rescue those men. The captain told him it was certain death to attempt it. However, the captain of that life boat crew got down on his knees, and said, “For God’s sake, take us out where we can rescue those poor fellows.” They were finally rescued, and word was sent to the injured man. He settled back quietly then, saying, “I gladly would have given my own life to rescue those poor fellows.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.5

PHOTO-The Somabula mission school, Rhodesia.

My friends, that is the love that is in the heart of men when they see their fellow men suffering. They were willing to risk their lives in behalf of those who were in danger physically: how much more faithful and determined we should be in our efforts to save men both physically and spiritually! I pray that God will impress us with the importance of this life-saving message, and that he will cause it to burn so brightly within us that we shall be ready to go to our neighbors from house to house with the light. I believe that is the way this message is to go from now on,—by the people who possess one talent. God has distributed in the world many more one-talent people than two- or five-talent people. GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.6

Now, this afternoon, we are going to give you some experiences that we have had in connection with educational campaigns. I am going to call first upon Elder Corliss, an old pilgrim in this line of work, to speak on the subject, “The Whole Message to the People,—Why and How.” I am sure you will all be delighted to hear Elder Corliss on this subject. GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.7

J. O. Corliss: I want to tell you what I believe to be the truth, and I find it in a text that was written by John, in his third epistle, the second verse: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.8

I do not know how Inspiration could have worded a statement any more strongly than this,—“I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” That conveys to my mind that a person must have health according to the prosperity of his soul. I believe that the gospel not only reaches to the individual’s mind and soul, but that it takes hold of the physical nature as well. GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.9

No gospel can be applied without this, especially in the last generation of men, because there is a specific work to be done by us, and for us. We must be led to realize what this gospel of the coming of the Lord is to do for us. “It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” That is, we shall be like the Lord Jesus Christ. I take it that we shall be like him in every respect, and this means also that we shall be brought back to the original condition in which man was created. GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.10

I know it has been thought that the minister of the gospel does not have anything to do with the physical side of the question; but I am glad that the idea is being brought among us more and more now that there is need of medical evangelists, and that we must combine the two. When I first started out in this work, we ministers had to preach health reform, and there was a time when our people lived more nearly in accordance with health reform principles than they do today. GCB June 3, 1913, page 252.11

We had one interesting experience about fifteen years ago in the city of Ottawa, Canada, the capital of that great country. As we went there to hold meetings, I made up my mind that I would try to link the two lines of work together. I had my daughter, who was a nurse, with me, and I sent for health foods. At a proper time, I displayed these foods to the people, and told them I wanted them to examine them. Some way the people became interested in them, and began to buy them. It brought the people to our tent. We had more calls, too, for the work of a nurse than we knew what to do with, and the word went all over that city concerning the nature of the meetings that were being held. At the close, we got up a health reform dinner. We filled the tent with tables, and had a dinner that the leading people of the city came to,—members of parliament were there,—and they pronounced it one of the finest things they had ever seen in thir lives. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.1

When I was in London, I made up my mind that we ought to have the same thing. Dr. Olsen used to come to our tent every week, and we combined the two there. When people come into the truth under those circumstances, you will find they are nearer to the kingdom of God than people who do not have those things brought to their attention. The people who come into the truth should begin to show improvement physically, and prosper in health, even as their soul prospers. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.2

Dr. George Thomason: In the early days of this message the health reform truths were very unpopular. I have heard of physicians who were connected with the message in its early days who were not admitted into medical societies, because of their adherence to health principles. They were called “quacks,” “bran-eaters,” and all sorts of other names. But I am glad that the day has dawned when men everywhere are beginning to recognize that our principles have a foundation in science, although long before we knew they had a scientific basis, we knew that they were scientific because they came from heaven. We will have Dr. Comstock, of the Glendale Sanitarium, explain to us the scientific vindication of health reform. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.3

Dr. C. C. Comstock: I believe that Elder Corliss has given evidence that it is not absolutely necessary to be a physician in order to give forth these principles of health reform. We all have the same kind of minds, and the same sort of memories, and it is just as possible for a layman to grasp these principles as it is for a physician. I believe that when these things are laid before the people in a sensible way, they will see the reasonableness of them, and lay hold of them. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.4

Now the subject which has been allotted to me will require a great deal more time to speak on than I can give to it, because it will take a great deal of time to set forth all the scientific reasons for the principles we hold on health reform. I would like, however, to read a few extracts from eminent medical men of the world and scientists who have studied these things, vindicating the principles of health reform we profess as a people. I remember that in my first experience in connection with health principles, fifteen years ago, they were very unpopular. But I am glad that science in practical and experimental ways has demonstrated that these principles are built upon a scientific and sound basis. I am glad to see that these principles of health reform which were embodied in the Bible centuries ago, are now being vindicated in the light of scientific investigation. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.5

Now in reference to this question of the scientific vindication of health reform principles, I would like to read an extract from the Journal of the American Medical Association. Speaking of the question of nutrition and dietetics, it says: “The investigations of Professor Chittenden are in some respects epoch-making contributions to physiology. The experiments were on groups of professional men, army volunteers, athletes, and animals, and proved to his entire satisfaction that sixty grams of protein daily are sufficient for a man weighing 154 pounds, or practically one half of the previously accepted standard.” This experiment proved that just one half of the protein found in meat, eggs, and the legumes, was much better than a greater quantity. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.6

I wish it were possible to set before you these scientific principles as we have read them over and over again in the spirit of prophecy and in the Bible. The question of overeating, eating between meals, exercise, sleep, etc., are clearly set forth there. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.7

Here is another statement I wish to read, from Gautier, who is a leading authority on the question of dietetics, although not a vegetarian: “This mitigated vegetarian diet tends to make us peaceful and not aggressive and violent beings. It is practical and rational. It should be accepted and commended by those who pursue the ideal of the formation and education of gentle, intelligent, artistic, and nevertheless prolific, vigorous, and active races.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.8

Irving Fisher, in writing a report for the government on “National Vitality,” says: “The brain worker lives too sedentary a life, while the manual worker, through fatigue caused by long hours, is in a continual state of overexertion. Experiments have shown that physical endurance can be doubled by dietetic causes alone, or doubled by exercise alone. By both together, it is not unlikely that it could be tripled or quadrupled.” “Comparative experiments on seventeen vegetarians and twenty-five meat eaters in the laboratory of the University of Brussels, have shown little difference in strength between the two classes, but a marked superiority of the vegetarians in point of endurance.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.9

Science vindicates the principles we have held so long and so dear. Let us put them in practise, and so get the blessing which comes with obedience to the instruction that has come to us as a people for the last half century. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.10

Geo. Thomason: I wanted to call on Elder Loughborough, but he said he would rather not speak. I insisted on his coming on the platform, anyway. He is eighty-two years old; but I tell him he is eighty-two years young. A man is as old as his arteries. He has soft arteries, and so he is young. I want you to take a good look at him, and see what a splendid representative he is of the principles we are enunciating. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.11

We want to speak a little further in reference to the educational features of our work in the cities, in connection with our sanitariums, and work in the surrounding cities. I think Elder G. B. Starr has had as much experience as any one in this work, and I have asked him to speak upon this subject. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.12

G. B. Starr: The question I shall consider at this time is the importance of educating the people, and how we do that in our schools of health. We first try to make a connection with some church or club, some temperance club, or W. C. T. U. society, or Young People’s Christian Association, anything of that kind. They are always glad to have us. We begin in the home, and then it will grow until we get out into the halls. The audiences are good; we have never had a real poor audience. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.13

In one of the first schools of health we held in Tremont Temple, in Boston, there was a lady who seemed very much interested. I asked her why she was so interested, and she replied that she was listening for two. She said that her husband was at home ill. I have since taken several meals in that house, and her table is of the same character that you would find in our sanitariums. And there are many other such places. We have to be careful what we say to them, for they will do exactly what we tell them. And when they do, they will tell us how they have improved. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.14

In the central union of the W. C. T. U., in Boston, we were invited to speak to them in their meeting in Tremont Temple. And as we came to the Temple, we found that they had a large attendance. The lady who led the meeting, after the usual opening, called for a second prayer, and a lady on the front seat prayed in response to the request for her to pray. It was a remarkable prayer. She arose and said, “Now, Lord, we have met together today to hear Mr. and Mrs. Starr, from the sanitarium. Lord, we are expecting something out of the ordinary. Lord, give us something out of the ordinary; and help us not to reject it, but to accept it.” It was a wonderful starter; and when I arose I said, “Did you notice this lady’s prayer?” and I repeated it: “Lord, we are expecting something out of the ordinary. Lord, give us something out of the ordinary.” I said, “Did you all say, Amen?” Of course they all smiled. “Well, Lord, help us to receive it.” “Did you all say, Amen?” And I said: “My dear women, you are going to get something out of the ordinary. I am not going to stand here and preach temperance in the way you usually have it, because you can do it better than I.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.15

And so we began with the postponement of old age. We told them that all true food grows standing still. It does not run around, and use up energy. Flesh food is only an emergency food, and contains a very small amount of real nourishment, and should only be used in case of emergency, when one cannot get true food. In Deuteronomy 20:19 the Lord told the people not to destroy the trees in times of battle with the enemy, because those trees are the life of man. When you plant strawberries, peaches, pears, you know where to go to find them. They do not run away. You do not have to run after them to catch them, then use a knife, or anything of that kind. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.16

Another point: A good Heavenly Father, who loved his children, could not give them food which contained poison of any kind. Well, we had a good meeting, and it was much appreciated by these women. GCB June 3, 1913, page 253.17

Another point I want to bring to you is that the handling of true food, the eating of it, looking at it, planting it, everything we have to do with it, is pleasant to men. The fruits, the grains, the nuts, are all tempting to us. But even before you take the life of an animal, there is a disinclination to touch it, and especially so afterward. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.1

In these schools of health there are many things we present. We usually have foods prepared,—an ideal breakfast, an ideal dinner, an ideal supper. If we have drink, we pass it to the audience. If we have food, we pass it. We pass it with a little white serviette, and a spoon, and they keep the spoons. The cook tells them how each article is prepared, and they are very much interested. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.2

Then we have a demonstration in the use of common applications of water for common ailments, and we find these demonstrations always hold the people. We save them to the last, until the speech is over; but they come again and again, and keep asking for more of the schools of health. The eighteenth of June we have a reunion of all the schools of health around Boston, and we have sent out six hundred invitations. The sanitarium furnishes the lunch to them on the lawn, and the nurses have a drill on the lawn. This brings us in close touch with these people. While they do not become Sabbath-keepers at once, they do become our friends. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.3

Every door is open to us. A nurse who meets these women, said to my wife: “What have you been doing with these people? They seem like your old friends?” and so they are. Now, some day those people are going to find their way into these audiences here. Some have already come into the truth from these schools of health, and we expect to see more coming. The Lord will see that they come. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.4

After attending the school of health our lady said: “I want to tell you that my husband and I are in better health. I want to tell you that the prayer offered at the beginning of this meeting brought in an atmosphere that I do not find in any religious meeting that I attend anywhere.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.5

Another lady arose and said, “Ladies, look at me. I have not used flesh food for seven years. Do you think I need it? I have not used tea or coffee for seven years. Do you think I need them? Everything that Mr. Starr says is the solemn truth, and I want to encourage every one of you to adopt it.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.6

Dr. Thomason: Dr. Kress has had a great many experiences in connection with health school work, and he understands very well how to get appointments. The Doctor had a unique experience the other evening in getting an appointment to speak in one of the large churches in Chicago. He was invited to speak, and he went into this large church just before the time for service, and went up where he could be seen; but nobody took any notice of him. As the time came when he was to speak, he went up to some of the men and said: “I am Dr. Kress. I am to speak here tonight, I believe.” They were just ready to go into the pulpit, and they invited him in, and then they had prayer. The minister stood up, and said: “The Bible tells us to be careful how we entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The minister said there was an evangelist there that they had intended to have speak that night, but while they were praying, the minister thought it might be well to have the doctor speak. Dr. Kress spoke. Subsequently, he found that he had gotten into the wrong church. That is a new way the doctor has of getting appointments. [Laughter.] GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.7

Dr. Kress: I am glad to be able to tell you how to get openings into some of these large churches. I had this appointment, I had it in my book, and I went into this large church and took my seat in front waiting for recognition. Three men went onto the platform, and the time was coming for the meeting to open. Finally I thought, This will never do. I stepped forward and motioned to the minister, and shook hands with him, and I said, “I am Dr. Kress; I believe I am to speak here this evening.” He said he knew nothing about it, and thought that was strange. I sat down, and while they were engaged in prayer, I prayed also; but two of them were conversing together, and when he got off his knees, he said what Dr. Thomason has related. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.8

PHOTO-City dispensary, Washington

At the close of this meeting an invitation was given for those who were desirous of giving up various habits to arise. The result was that there were eight thorough conversions that night, and the people pressed forward and invited me to come the next Sunday, but I could not go. I found out afterward that I had a congregation waiting for me at another place. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.9

I want to read a text to you. It is one that came to me years ago when I first went to England. I did not know how to go about the work. While engaged in prayer, these words came before me, “These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, ... he that openeth, and no man shutteth; ... behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” And that gave me courage to go out and wait for God to open these doors for me; and from that time to this, I have had no trouble in getting openings. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.10

Recently I spent three days in Springfield, Ill., and during that time I spoke fifteen times,—in the Y. M. C. A., in three or four of the churches, in the public schools, and other places,—and I got these openings without asking for them or paying for them. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.11

A few weeks ago, I was called by telephone by a business man of Chicago, who said, “We would like to have you come down to our men’s club at our church on Sunday night.” I said, “What do you wish me to speak on?” He replied, “On the cigarette evil.” I said, “All right.” He said, “Do not be surprised when you get there to find that we have a smoker. I want you to speak to the young fellows who have just been confirmed in our church, especially.” I went to the church and when I entered, I found about seventy-five smoking. Smoke is always very offensive to me, but I had to make the best of it. I thought that Christ associated with sinners; he had a purpose in doing it; so I did it pleasantly. Finally, when the time came to speak, I said that I would not knowingly deprive any man of any pleasure, but, as a physician, it was my duty to call attention to practises and habits which were not conducive to health but were destructive to life. That opened the way, and I gave just as straight a talk as I ever gave to any congregation. When I got through, there was only one man smoking. Even the minister told me that he smoked occasionally. At the close, they came forward and shook my hand, and thanked me for the talk, and invited me back again. Our work is not to condemn; it is to save and to help; and the people will welcome it. That is what gives us open doors. They also invited my wife to come and speak to the women. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.12

A few weeks ago I went to a school in Chicago, and spoke to a thousand young boys and girls. I gave them a talk on the cigarette. Two weeks after this, I gave a talk to a conference of ministers. There were six ministers on the platform, and the women’s club was present in a body. After my remarks, an invitation was given to different ones to say something. The president of the women’s club arose and said that I had given a talk at such and such a school, and that at the close of my talk eighty-seven of the boys had come together and formed themselves into an anti-cigarette club. So a week later these people invited me to give them a talk in the assembly hall, and I had 150 of them on the platform. They now have a club of 250. To me it seems a wonderful privilege to come in among these people and talk to them. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.13

I wish you could see the interest they take in these health principles. I am becoming quite well acquainted in the city, and I cannot help but recognize that text, “I place before you an open door, which no man can shut.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.14

I pray that God may keep me where I can do this work in an inoffensive way. We need to become converted anew, and allow the meek and lowly One to come in and sup with us. After all, that is the greatest thing, and that is what this church is commanded to do. “I counsel thee to buy of me gold, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.” GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.15

Dr. Geo. Thomason: Dr. Kress has told us how he gains access to the churches. Then he tells them about his wife, and she gets an invitation. We want Mrs. Kress to have the opportunity to tell some of her experiences. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.16

Mrs. Dr. Lauretta Kress: I think I shall go back a longer way than any of the speakers this afternoon. I will go back to twenty-nine years ago, when I was married. I knew absolutely nothing about cooking. I went into my home, and tried to cook for my husband. I wonder that we have ever lived so long. We had potatoes and meat for breakfast, meat and potatoes for dinner, and potatoes and meat for supper. Then we thought we would like a change, but I did not know how to cook anything more. My husband began complaining about rheumatism, and I had headaches. But I did not know what was the trouble. One day I thought I would have a change, and I took a little of the meat left over, thought I would make a stew. I took this meat and cut it up. My sister-in-law had given me some sage, and I put in two or three leaves of green sage, and stewed it and stewed it, and thickened it, and made a little gravy. I met my husband at the gate, and said we had something new for dinner. He seemed pleased. We sat down to the table, and he took some potatoes and then put some of this stew over the potatoes. He tasted of his first, and then said, “Etta, haven’t you got some soap in this?” I said, “Soap! Why, no!” He said, “Are you sure you did not have some soap in the dish you cooked it in?” I tasted it, and if I had cut a half bar of soap in it, it would not have tasted any different. I made up my mind then that, God helping me, I would learn to cook. GCB June 3, 1913, page 254.17

I think the very first school of health I held was after I had been in Battle Creek, some twenty-six years ago. I believe a woman is not fit to marry until she knows how to cook. And if I were a man, I would not accept a wife unless she could cook, and make bread, and do everything that needs to be done in the culinary line. A great many Adventists do not know how to prepare food properly. They complain about feeling nervous and tired, and they are really throwing away a lot of the goodness of the food. For instance, potato water—you throw it down the sink, and then mash the potatoes, and put some butter in, and think you have a good dish. There is a statement in the Bible that says, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” And that is literally true in this line. GCB June 3, 1913, page 255.1

In Peter there is a ladder by which we all ought to climb to a better life. We read, “Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience.” How are you going to get more patience? There are two rounds in that ladder that you have to step on before you can ever reach godliness and patience they are knowledge and temperance. I maintain that it must be by taking these steps that God wants us to climb. GCB June 3, 1913, page 255.2

In my school-of-health work I do not always follow Dr. Kress around; I get some of my own appointments. I belong to a woman’s club. I try to get into domestic circles, so that I can help them. I remember that when I first came to one large city in the United States, and joined the W. C. T. U., they had ham sandwiches, pickles, and such things in their lunches, but I told them I did not want such things. Finally I said, “Now, ladies, I would like to furnish the food for the next lunch,” and so an associate physician and I furnished the food, and they said it was the finest they ever ate. GCB June 3, 1913, page 255.3

In Chicago I find the same opportunities. I tell the women that there is more poison in a cup of tea than in a glass of liquor. I know that some Seventh-day Adventists when they get a bad headache take a cup of tea. But let us take up this work that God has given us aright; let us live it out ourselves, and help others into a right knowledge of the principles of health. GCB June 3, 1913, page 255.4

Dr. Thomason: Now we have many more good things that we wanted to present to you, but we do not want to tire you out the first time. GCB June 3, 1913, page 255.5

Elder Loughborough closed the meeting with prayer. GCB June 3, 1913, page 255.6