The Story of our Health Message

A School for Training Physicians

In answer to specific questions by Elders J. A. Burden and W. C. White, Mrs. White, in this interview, stated without hesitation that we should “have a school of our own” to educate physicians. She also agreed that it would not be a violation of principle to secure a charter. “If you can gain force and influence,” she said, “that will make your work more effective without tying yourselves to worldly men, that would be right.”—Ibid. SHM 383.1

Three weeks after this interview the leaders of the denomination were attending the autumn session of the General Conference Committee held in College View, Nebraska. It was with serious misgivings that many faced again the inevitable discussion regarding the opening of a medical college at Loma Linda, California, as an item of the agenda. The difficulties in the way loomed as large and were seemingly as formidable as ever, but the counsel that had come from an authoritative source was now so definite that it could not be misunderstood. There were hours of discussion, but the final resolution as adopted was brief: SHM 383.2

“That we recommend the board of management of the Loma Linda College of Evangelists to secure a charter for the school, that it may develop as the opening providences and the instruction of the Spirit of God may indicate.”—Action of the General Conference Committee, October 13, 1909. Quoted in The Review and Herald, May 19, 1910. SHM 383.3

This recommendation soon bore fruit, for under date of December 9, 1909, a charter, secured under the laws of the State of California, authorized the College of Medical Evangelists to grant degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, dentistry, and medicine. SHM 383.4

Now that the medical missionary character of the college was made more evident, the name, it should be noted, was changed to include the word “medical.” Of the naming of the institution, Elder Burden relates that while they were considering this matter, Mrs. White penned the words “gospel, medical, missionary, evangelist,” with the remark, “Now I think they can understand that.” As the words were studied, it was felt that “College of Medical Evangelists” really embraced what Mrs. White had written. SHM 383.5