The Story of our Health Message

“To Be Tested and Tried”

In this letter Mrs. White pointed out that having “stood nobly for the faith once delivered to the saints,” Dr. Kellogg was to be tested and tried as he had “never yet been, only more sorely.” (E. G. White Letter 40, 1895.) SHM 295.2

The doctor’s danger at that time was symbolically represented in vision as described in the following words of warning: SHM 295.3

“I saw you holding up the banner on which are written the words, ‘Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ Revelation 14:12. Several men, some of them those with whom you are connected in the sanitarium, were presenting to you a banner on which was a different inscription. You were letting go the banner of Seventh-day Adventists and were reaching out to grasp the banner presented to you. ... SHM 295.4

“I was instructed that you and your fellow laborers were in danger of hiding the principles of our faith in order to obtain large patronage. Every jot done in this line, instead of extending the influence of the truth, will hinder its advance.”—Testimonies for the Church 8:153, 154. SHM 295.5

Further counsel urging no concealing of the distinctive truths was given in the same letter, as follows: SHM 296.1

“God is to be recognized and honored by the people calling themselves Seventh-day Adventists. In the past the truth has, to the honor of God, been proclaimed with convincing power by the physicians and helpers in our sanitariums. God will accept no less of you, but will expect far more. You and your associates are to labor on in faith and firmness, to prevent decline and to insure progress. SHM 296.2

“There must be no narrowing down of your work, no concealing of the principles of truth; there must be a widening of the base of operations. ... There must be no covering up of any phase of our message. The truth for this time must be given to the souls ready to perish. Those who in any way hide the truth dishonor God. Upon their garments will be the blood of souls.”—Ibid., 155. SHM 296.3

In regard to admitting Christian young men and women of other denominations to the medical college, Mrs. White recommended that they be accepted provided it was thought that “they would not exert an influence that would draw other students away from the truth.” But it was further stated clearly that “in the studies given, there should be no concealment of one principle of Bible truth. If admitting to your classes those not of our faith will lead to silence on the great themes that concern our present and eternal good—themes that should ever be kept before the mind—let them not be admitted. In no case is principle to be sacrificed or the peculiar characteristics of our faith hidden in order to add outside students to our classes.”—Ibid., 156. (Italics mine.) SHM 296.4