The Story of our Health Message

For the Needy in Chicago

Reference has been made to the beginnings of an extensive work conducted in Chicago for the poor and the outcasts. This work was broadened until there were in that city not only the two dispensaries already spoken of, but also the branch sanitarium, the Workingmen’s Home, the Star of Hope Mission, the Life Boat Mission, and other enterprises. SHM 296.5

All this, although carried forward in a self-sacrificing way by the scores of workers, called for a very heavy outlay of means. Messages through the Spirit of prophecy continued to arrive, deploring the extension of this line of work to a degree that made it disproportionate to the worldwide work of the denomination. Mrs. White did not devaluate the work that should be done for the poor and needy. In 1898 she cautioned the physician-in-chief: SHM 297.1

“Take heed that in the work you are doing, you do not misapply your powers, giving all you have to a work which is not a whole, but only a part of the work to be done. Keep the part you are doing in symmetrical proportion with the other lines of the work, that the structure we are building may be firm and solid, able to withstand the stress of circumstances and temptation.”—E. G. White Letter 126, 1898. SHM 297.2

Repeated counsels were given, urging that this line of work be given only its proportionate attention in a worldwide evangelistic effort. And when there was no evidence of a change of plans, she, in harmony with her counsel, urged that the great unentered or needy mission fields be no longer crippled, while large sums of money and many workers were used in the city mission work. SHM 297.3