General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1
THE WORD OF GOD — NO. 4
W. W. PRESCOTT
I WOULD like to call attention in our study this evening to one point further in the parallel between Christ, the word, and the Scripture the word. You know that the pivotal point on which our religion turns is the fact that Jesus Christ died and rose again. History records no less than twenty-five false christs, but of only one Christ is it true that he died and rose again. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.6
Every religion has its sacred books, but of our sacred writings alone may it be said that they have been put to death and have risen again. Let us read the scripture in the eleventh chapter of Revelation, beginning with the third verse:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.7
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.8
I will not take any time to prove that the two witnesses are the Old and New Testaments. You can do that just as well as for me to take time. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.9
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.10
Revelation 22:18, 19:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.11
If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.12
That is the way God regards those who hurt his word, — take from it, add to it, or change it in any way. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.13
Revelation 11:6:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.14
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy [this was done through the prophet Elijah]: and have power over all waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. [This was done through Moses.] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.15
The third verse says:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.16
They shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.17
You will very readily recognize this period as that of the papal persecution at the time when the Bible was shut away from the people; but the two witnesses did prophesy during that whole time. “When they shall have finished their testimony,” — that is, when the time comes when they finish their period of prophesying, clothed in sackcloth, — “When they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” The two witnesses were crucified there; our Lord also was crucified there. The time when these two witnesses were prophesying in sackcloth closed in 1798. Then just about this time we must look for some special action against the word of God, and that we find in 1793, when the French Assembly passed a decree against the word of God, thus locating this prophecy in its fulfillment in France. We may look to the capital of France as being the city which especially is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified in the person of his saints, in the persecution against the people of God. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.18
And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in the graves. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.19
Three and one half days of prophetic time are three and one half years of literal time. Then we should expect that three and one half years from the time this decree was passed prohibiting the word of God, that prohibition should be removed; and in 1796 a measure was introduced into the French Assembly to remove the prohibition, and six months later the measure passed by unanimous voice. Those who are at all curious to follow out the time may have a thought like this: Three and one half days, — that is three years and a half. Three years and half would be just the length of the ministry of our Lord. But three years and a half are forty and two months, and forty and two months will be 1260 days; and 1260 days of prophetic time would be 1260 years of literal time. Thus you may make the connection like this: The word of God lay dead the same length of time that the living word of God was proclaiming itself in Judea; and you may go further and say that for every day that the living word of God, which was proclaiming itself in Judea, was rejected by the people, for a year their access to the word of God was interfered with. That period of darkness was upon the earth a year for every day they rejected Christ. GCB February 24, 1895, page 317.20
And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets [Notice that expression, — “these two prophets.”] tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. GCB February 24, 1895, page 318.1
We can hardly prevent our minds from running to this scripture in the first chapter of Acts, ninth verse; “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” GCB February 24, 1895, page 318.2
After the removal of this prohibition upon the Bible by the French Assembly, special organizations for the spread of the Bible everywhere were formed. The British Bible Society, and soon after, the American Bible Society, were formed; and soon the word of God became exalted, and it has been scattered far and wide since that time. You can study this parallel further, but I suggest it as a further thought in that parallel between Christ, the word, and the Scriptures, the word. GCB February 24, 1895, page 318.3
Let us now consider further how the word was given. It is the word of God proceeding forth and coming from God, just as Jesus Christ, the living Word, proceeded forth and came from God. But it came to us through Jesus Christ by the ministration of the Spirit. Let us read two or three scriptures; first, in 1 Corinthians 8:6: “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [through whom, Revised Version] are all things, and we by him.” And so Christ’s statement as recorded in Matthew 11:27: “All things are delivered unto me of my Father.” John’s gospel, 3:35, says: “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.” That is, all that God has done in this world in any way since the entrance of sin, he has done through Jesus Christ. So we have received the word of God through Jesus Christ, just as at Sinai the Father and the Son with the retinue of angels were there, but the Father spoke the word through the Son; and it was the same Jesus Christ who spoke the law in Mount Sinai that spoke the same law on the mount when he was here in the flesh, which is called the sermon on the mount. It was the same Jesus Christ; in one case in his divinity, with wonderful outward exhibition of power and glory; in the other case in the flesh, but the same Jesus Christ speaking from a mount in both places and speaking the same principles in both cases. So it has been through Jesus Christ that everything has come to us from God, and the Spirit has been the agency which he has used in giving us this word. So while it is indeed and in truth the word of God, Jesus Christ spoke the word. Jesus Christ gave the word. It was the Spirit of Christ in the prophets which testified beforehand of the sufferings and the glory. GCB February 24, 1895, page 318.4
Now that Spirit by which he gave the word is the actual representative of Jesus Christ. Let us read some scriptures upon that point. Read from John’s gospel, fourteenth chapter, sixteenth verse and onward:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 318.5
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever: even the spirit of truth [From the twenty-sixth verse we learn that the Comforter is the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Spirit.]; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him: for he dwelleth with you [“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”], and shall be in you. [“Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more: but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? [How is it possible that we shall see you, and the world not see you?] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. GCB February 24, 1895, page 318.6
If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. GCB February 24, 1895, page 318.7
Now read 1 John 3:24: “Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” That is the way we know that he is in us. So in the fourth chapter, thirteenth verse: “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” So that may be used as a comment upon the twentieth verse of the fourteenth chapter of John: “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” How? — By his representative, the Spirit. I will not take time to comment further upon those scriptures. You can see that the thought in them is that he would come to them, and they should see him, because of his giving them the Spirit; and on the day of Pentecost this scripture was fulfilled, and has been fulfilled and is now fulfilling in the same way. He is with us: “Lo, I am with you alway.” His presence is not a sort of figment, or notion, but it is a reality. Every Christian ought to believe in the real presence. GCB February 24, 1895, page 318.8
Now as a comment further upon that same idea, I will read in “Steps to Christ,” page 84:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.1
And Pentecost brought them the presence of the Comforter, of whom Christ had said, “He shall be in you.” And he had further said: “It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Henceforth, through the Spirit, Christ was to abide continually in the hearts of his children. Their union with him was closer than when he was personally with them. The light, and love, and power of the indwelling Christ shone out through them, so that men, beholding, marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.2
I will also read a word from a recent Testimony commenting upon this same idea: “If we open the door to Jesus, he will come in and abide with us. Our strength will always be reinforced by his actual representative, the Holy Spirit.” “By his actual representative, the Holy Spirit”; then the Spirit which gave the word was the actual representative of Jesus, and the spirit which abides in the word is the actual representative of Jesus. That is, Jesus gave the word, and Jesus abides in the word; and it is altogether the word of Jesus. Yet it is none the less the word of God; but as being given to us through Jesus Christ, and by the ministration of that spirit, it becomes the word of Jesus. GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.3
Now, further as to the characteristics of that word. In the epistle to Titus, first chapter, verses one and two, we read:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.4
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.5
The thought that I want from that text is that God cannot lie. The same thought is brought out in Hebrews 6:17, 18:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.6
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.7
It is impossible for God to lie. God cannot lie. Everything depends upon his word; and being a God of truth, and Jesus Christ the truth, the spirit, the spirit of truth, God cannot lie. That is to say, God is infallible, and God’s word therefore is an infallible word. He cannot lie. But that word is also the word of Jesus Christ, and he, equally with the Father, is infallible. So this word is the infallible word of the infallible God, given to us through the infallible Son, Jesus Christ. Observe the force of that statement. It is the infallible word; it cannot be wrong. It is more than that, it is the true word. One of you may speak a word that is true, but you are not infallible. You may lie, but God cannot lie; and he who cannot lie is the infallible one, and the word of one who cannot lie is an infallible word. GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.8
And notice again this thought: Although Jesus Christ took sinful flesh, — flesh in which we sin, — he took that flesh, and emptying himself and receiving the fullness of God in himself, God was able to keep him from sinning in that sinful flesh. So that although he was manifested in sinful flesh, God by his spirit and power dwelling in him, kept him from sinning in that sinful flesh. So although this word is given to us in language with which we lie, God has made a manifestation of himself in this language which is used to lie with and to deceive with, without lying and without deceiving; and he has kept his own thoughts perfectly straight, perfectly free from mistakes, in this very same language that we make mistakes in. Just as he kept his thought perfectly straight, so he made a perfect revelation of his mind in that sinful flesh which we use to commit sin in. The law of the Lord is perfect, without blemish. Not advancing now any theory as to the inspiration, one way or the other, I yet emphasize this idea, that the word of God is the infallible word of the infallible God, and that it can be depended upon wholly as the word of God. GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.9
Now I called attention last evening to the necessity of receiving the word of God, not as the word of man, but as the word of God. On the other hand we are not to receive the word of man as the word of God. While we do not receive the word of God as the word of man, and we are cautioned against that and instructed to receive it as it is indeed the word of God, on the other hand we are not to receive the word of man as the word of God. That there would be danger of this is plainly set forth in the Scriptures. Read Mark 7:6, 7:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 319.10
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.1
I do not need to refer to other scriptures where the same idea is suggested, putting the word of man in the place of the word of God. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.2
Now the one spoken of as the mystery of iniquity that was to exalt itself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, was to sit in the temple of God, “showing himself that he is God,” or showing himself off as God; and the disciples were warned against that. The scripture says, “The mystery of iniquity doth already work,” and that in the apostle’s time; and the same apostle who wrote that second letter to the Thessalonians, from which we have quoted, gives the word of warning among his last instructions. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.3
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:28-30. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.4
(Continued on page 325.)
MEDICAL MISSIONARY AND BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
THE first meeting of this Association was held Feb. 21, 1895, at 3:30 P.M. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.5
“There are Lonely Hearts to Cherish,” as opening song, expressed the sentiments of the work of the Association. Elder D. A. Robinson offered prayer. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.6
J. H. Kellogg, M.D., President of the Association, addressed the delegates, and stated that the Association was incorporated in harmony with plans laid at the last General Conference for such an enterprise, and is called the S.D.A. Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association. All presidents of Conferences, members of the General Conference Committee, and those who have paid $1000 to the Association, are members. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.7
Since the incorporation, a number of enterprises have been initiated and carried forward. Several sanitariums and medical missions have been established. Sanitariums in Chicago; in College View, Neb.; Boulder, Colo.; South Africa; and Guadalajara, Mexico, are in operation, with the exception of the one in South Africa, which is in progress of erection. The Sanitarium at St. Helena, Cal., has placed itself under the supervision of the Association. In all, there are eight sanitariums and two medical missions under the direction of the Association. Other lines of education and philanthropic work have been put in operation. The following is a report of the Haskell Home for Orphans:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.8
Number of children in the Home, 48. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.9
Number of persons in the Mothers’ Class, 16. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.10
Teachers, 3. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.11
Cost per capita for food, $23.93. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.12
Cost per capita for clothing, $12.47 GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.13
The Orphans’ home is not a reformatory nor a hospital. It is not expected to receive children that are imbecile or incorrigible. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.14
An Old Peoples’ Home has been in contemplation ever since the gift of Mrs. C. E. Haskell was made for the erection of the Home for children, and a number of old persons have been received. Money is now on hand for the erection of a building for the Old Peoples’ Home; and the work will be proceeded with as soon as there is a reasonable assurance of a maintenance fund. Twenty-three old people are already under the care of the Association. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.15
A Widows’ Home has been projected, and six widows and their thirteen children have been received. The mothers have been given work enough to pay for the support of the children, and the enterprise is thus far self-supporting. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.16
All the work here represented is the outgrowth of the movement for a James White Memorial Home. It is most appropriate that there should be such a memorial, since Elder White was a friend of the aged, the poor, and the helpless, and ever extended to them a helping hand. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.17
The following brief report was given of the Charity work at the Sanitarium and Hospital, in Battle Creek:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.18
Number of charity patients treated, 286. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.19
Amount expended for charity treatment, $34,224. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.20
Number of free surgical operations, 207. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.21
Number of endowed beds, 16. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.22
Number of persons sent from each State, Illinois, 8; Indiana 9; Iowa, 10; Kansas, 3; Minnesota, 4; Michigan, 12; Nebraska, 6; New England, 4; Ohio, 6; Pennsylvania, 4; Wisconsin, 9. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.23
States from which charity patients have been received, which have no endowed beds, the patients being put in other beds: Washington, California, Oregon, and New York. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.24
REPORT OF ST. HELENA INSTITUTION
Number of patients for December, 1894, 115.
““surgical operations for year, 150.
““patients treated free for December, 1894, 40.
““free surgical operations for year, 50.
““employees. 65.
GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.25
Number of nurses in training — 1st year, 17; 2nd year, 24; total, 41. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.26
Number of nurses under Medical Missionary engagement, 20. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.27
Number of medical students — 1st year, 4; 2nd year, 3; 3rd year, 2; total, 9. GCB February 24, 1895, page 320.28
Number of physicians employed — men, 3; women, 2. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.1
““men nurses, 15; women nurses, 25.
Amount expended for charity patients, estimated at actual cost, $400 a month. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.2
Amount expended in other lines of missionary work connected with the institution, $1000 for 1894. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.3
Number of nurses sent out to engage in Medical Missionary work, 2. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.4
Total amount invested in the work, $130.922. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.5
Net gain, as indicated by last financial report, $8000. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.6
The institution has been rapidly growing in confidence, and has made many improvements during the last year, and is giving greater prominence to the principles represented by the Association. From recent reports it is evident that a good religious interest exists, and a missionary spirit is dominant. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.7
A. R. Henry made a gift to the Association of a house and lot in College View, Neb., for a sanitarium at that place. Dr. Loper is the physician in charge, and it is confidently believed that this enterprise will be a very valuable auxiliary to the work of the Association. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.8
The Colorado Sanitarium in Boulder is conducted on the cottage plan. The prospects for its success are very promising. It is already a little more than self-sustaining, and deserves the support of the denomination. Consumption, if taken early in the progress of the disease, may be successfully treated there. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.9
Number of patients during 1894, 41.
““patients treated free, 11.
GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.10
Present number of employees, 6. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.11
Number of nurses, 3.
““nurses under missionary engagement, 2.
““physicians employed, 1.
““pay patients during the year, 30.
GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.12
Amount received from pay patients, $1884. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.13
A sanitarium is being established at Portland, Oregon. This city is on the Pacific Coast. It is a long way from St. Helena, and is a splendid place for a medical institution. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.14
A sanitarium to cost from $25,000 to $30,000 is in process of erection in South Africa. Engine-house, barn, and other buildings are already erected; and a bath-house is already in operation by workers there. Drs. A. J. Sanderson and Mary Sanderson have been requested by the Medical Missionary Board to take charge of the institution when completed. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.15
REPORT OF THE CHICAGO MEDICAL MISSION
From June, 1893, to January 1, 1895.
Number of baths given, 25,586; other treatment, 18,789; dressings applied 6782; prescriptions filled, 1827; packages of food supplied, 431; lunches given away, 1803; number of persons using laundry, 20,161; number of persons prescribed for at dispensary, 6062; number of persons visited by nurse, 6376; garments given away, 6195; tracts given away, 7422; testaments given away, 114; gospel conversations held, 12,041; number of penny dinners, 75,000; visits by nurses, 6160; cost of the Chicago mission to this present time, $9193.76; amount received for the Chicago mission in donations, $875.78. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.16
The work has developed far beyond our expectations, but has not reached its limit. The earnings of the Chicago Branch have not been enough to support it; and an important question to consider is: What shall its future be? Shall the work be curtailed? or shall other means be provided for sustaining it until the Chicago Sanitarium enterprise gets upon a good paying basis? GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.17
THE MEDICAL MISSION AT GUADALAJARA, MEXICO
This was opened Jan. 1, 1894. Guadalajara is a city of about 100,000 inhabitants, and ours is the first recognized medical mission in Mexico, and Dr. Lillis A. Wood was the first authorized medical missionary in Mexico. Dr. Levi B. Salmans, Silao, who has been doing work for over two years, and is the presiding elder of the Methodist church, being also a physician, has been allowed to do what he could in the line of medical missionary work on his own responsibility, but has had no official recognition as a medical missionary. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.18
Experiments have proven that a medical mission may be made a success in Mexico, as shown by the following report:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.19
Number of patients received during the year, 2513; number of treatments given, 13,931; number of patients treated free, 2475; number of pay patients, 44; number of surgical operations (all free), 21; number of employees (in medical work), 5; number of men nurses, 1; women, 2; number of physicians, 1 (woman). GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.20
The total expense of the medical work, including improvements, furnishings, drugs, instruments, etc., but not including the wages of doctor and nurses, $2257.54.
Invoice of medical supplies and apparatus, January 1, $1082.56.
GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.21
Receipts from patients during year, $1398.94. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.22
Amount expended in other lines of missionary work in connection with the mission-school, $602.76; literature distributed, $40 worth. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.23
The spiritual influence of the work has been good. Much prejudice has been broken down, and the way seems open for evangelistic work. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.24
Taking the invoice ($1082.56) from the total outlay ($2257.54), leaves $1174.98 as the net expense of the medical work for the year; and subtracting this net expense ($1174.98) from the total receipts ($1398.94) leaves a balance of $223.96 to the credit of the medical office. The above figures are all in Mexican money. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.25
Nearly all the patients pay something, although many pay but a few centavos. In the above two items, all who have paid full price are included in the number of pay patients, and all who have been treated at reduced rates, with charity patients. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.26
The Superintendent, Elder D. T. Jones, reports that the receipts from the mission more than pay the expenses of the medical missionary work. GCB February 24, 1895, page 321.27
Four persons are engaged in medical missionary work, besides the superintendent, Dr. Lillis A. Wood, Miss Ida Crawford, Mrs. Sarah Bartlett, and Brother Alfred Cooper, nurses. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.1
Miss Ora Osborne and Mrs. Lillie Cooper, who are engaged in conducting a school, may also be considered as medical missionaries, as the school is a direct outgrowth of the medical missionary work. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.2
They need a male physician there, and the work should be extended to surrounding towns. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.3
The work of Drs. M. G. Kellogg and J. E. Caldwell has been referred to in the reports of others, and need not be rehearsed here. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.4
Total number of physicians under the direction of the Association, 33; number of nurses under direction of Board, 262; medical students, 32; total, 327. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.5
Present needs of the Association:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.6
1. Young men and women of first-class ability, good health, thorough consecration, missionary enthusiasm. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.7
2. Co-operation and support of every member of this Association in diffusing the principles of health which this institution represents, the principles of Christian benevolence, and of practical hygiene which it is intended to exemplify. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.8
On motion of S. H. Lane, the chair was empowered to appoint a Committee on Resolutions. Announcement of appointments postponed. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.9
Adjourned to meet February 26, at 3 P.M. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.10
THE HEALTH REFORM INSTITUTE
THE second meeting of the Health Reform Institute was held February 21, at 5 P.M. The President, J. H. Kellogg, M.D., called the house to order, and Elder A. O. Tait offered prayer. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.11
Elder L. McCoy, chairman of Committee on Resolutions, presented the following report:— GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.12
1. The stockholders of the Health Reform Institute feel to express their gratitude to God for the large growth in religious interest and missionary spirit in the institution; also for the continued prosperity which has attended it, even during the financial depression, which is a source of devout thankfulness to all friends of the institution. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.13
2. We hereby express our indorsement of the action of the managers of the Sanitarium in increasing the length of the course for the training class for nurses, in adding a line of Bible and missionary study, and also in limiting the number of those who are admitted to this class to those who intend to engage in actual missionary work. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.14
We commend the improvements which have been made in the various branches of the medical department. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.15
We note with pleasure, and endorse heartily, the charitable work done by the institution for the past two years. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.16
It is a source of much satisfaction that the entire net proceeds, or earnings, of the institution from its organization have been expended in improvements and charities, the latter amounting to $223,722.82. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.17
We express our satisfaction with the improvements which have been made, the erection of the Dormitory, improvements in the bath rooms, and also in the equipment of a hygienic laboratory. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.18
We rejoice to learn of the rapidly increasing sales of health foods, and the high estimation in which they are held by those who use them in all parts of the world. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.19
L. MC COY,
D. T. JONES,
J. H. MORRISON,
Committee.
These resolutions were voted on separately, and unanimously adopted. On motion of J. N. Loughborough, meeting adjourned to Monday, February 25, at 11:30 A.M. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.20
SABBATH SERVICES
SABBATH, Feb. 23, was another blessed good day for those in attendance upon the meetings. On the evening of the Sabbath the discourses of Elders Prescott and Jones were especially accompanied by the unction of the Spirit. The word of God, the love of Christ, and his relation to his people were made more clear and beautiful to our understanding than ever before. As these discourses will appear in full in the BULLETIN, no further notice need be given them here, only to say that at their close a flood of light seemed to rest upon the meeting and an opportunity was given for the congregation to express praise and gratitude to God. All through the vast congregation little testimony meetings were started and in a half hour hundreds had testified to the blessings God had conferred upon them. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.21
On Sabbath morning, Sabbath-school was held as usual. Schools were conducted in the English, French, Spanish, German, and Scandinavian languages. At 10:30 the congregation was divided and services held in the College chapel and the Tabernacle simultaneously. Both houses were crowded. Synopses of the discourses are given. We would gladly give them entire, had we the manuscript and the room. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.22
In the afternoon the Scandinavian and German friends held services in their respective languages, and the other delegates held a crowded social meeting in the Office chapel. Elder Olsen conducted this meeting. He first read a communication from Sister White, which will appear in our next; then with a few appropriate remarks referred to the prospect before us. He saw in the future greater trials and difficulties, greater dangers, than any we have met. He saw also abundant grace, and at last a glorious victory. GCB February 24, 1895, page 322.23
A testimony meeting then followed in which ministers and delegates participated freely. The testimonies rarely exceeded a minute in length, and were generally much shorter. The tender Spirit of Christ was there in power, and all spoke of the wonderful blessing and light they were receiving. Truly it is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity. Many could say from a deep experience that it had been the most precious day of their lives. GCB February 24, 1895, page 323.1
God is good. He is on the giving hand. He has not forsaken his chosen heritage, though we be so unworthy. We fully believe that the blessings of this occasion will not be confined to those who are here, but that they will be felt all through the field. We here are conscious that thousands of earnest prayers are being offered to God for this Conference. We can say to the praise of divine grace that they are being answered. GCB February 24, 1895, page 323.2