The Story of our Health Message

An Urgent Appeal

In the latter part of 1889 Dr. Kellogg presented before the General Conference Committee in session in Battle Creek, Michigan, the increasing demand for efficient and consecrated laborers in the health and temperance work. Other lines of work, he said, had absorbed so many of the young people of the denomination that it was difficult to find competent persons even to man the large sanitarium. He foresaw that in time other medical institutions would be established, and competent helpers and physicians must be trained to man them. In addition to the opportunities for service in medical institutions, there were many openings in the field. Some should be trained to give instruction in hygiene and cooking at the large camp meetings. Nurses were needed for foreign missionary service, in the city missions, and in schools. SHM 246.2

To meet these needs the sanitarium had just launched “the Health and Temperance Missionary School.” The General Conference Committee endorsed the action of the sanitarium and recommended that the managers of schools, missions, camp meetings, and other denominational institutions should select as their matrons, cooks, and nurses those who had received a special training for this work at the sanitarium. It was also recommended that conference presidents and officers should select suitable young men and women to take special training in the sanitarium. Thus it was hoped that an army of matrons, cooks, nurses, and physicians might be speedily recruited. SHM 246.3

Dan. T. Jones, the secretary of the General Conference, in reporting the action of the committee, wrote: SHM 247.1

“One reason why the health and temperance work has not been received more favorably by our people and others is because it is not understood, and its principles have been abused by those who have had the will to carry them out in their daily living, but have not been taught how to do so properly. If competent cooks could be selected in each conference, and educated, and then allowed to visit different churches and teach the sisters to prepare their food healthfully and in a palatable manner, it would do much toward advancing the interests of health reform.”—Ibid., February 18, 1890. SHM 247.2