Manuscript Releases, vol. 1 [Nos. 19-96]

Another SDA Temperance Worker Commended

[Again in the years 1907 and 1908 Mrs. White was led to write words of encouragement to and regarding the work of Dr. Lillis Wood-Starr, who was engaged in lecturing on health and temperance, as a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in some of the cities of Southern California. Of the beginning and growth of her work, Mrs. White wrote]:

Dr. Lillis Wood-Starr has found many openings for educational work in medical lines in San Bernardino. She began to conduct in the homes of our own people, studies in hygienic cooking, dress, and general living. Neighbors were invited to attend some of these demonstrations, and these in turn requested that similar studies be held with their families to which they might invite some of their friends. So the work grew rapidly, until it was brought to the attention of the superintendent of public schools. 1MR 127.2

At his invitation, Dr. Starr gave health talks in the public schools of the city to as many as fifteen hundred children. She now finds herself unable to respond to the many calls that come to her for public work. Her cooperation with the W. C. T. U. has greatly helped her by bringing her in contact with many excellent ladies of that organization. Such efforts are a powerful factor in the removing of prejudice against our people. Letter 188, 1907, p. 2. (To a friend, May 30, 1907.) 1MR 128.1

[Some of our brethren feared that Dr. Starr might lose her interest in direct denominational work, and questioned the value of her endeavor as a soul winning agency. Of this Mrs. White wrote decidedly, encouraging the continuance of the work. To one of the Conference officers she stated]: 1MR 128.2

A grand work is to be done by our people for the W. C. T. U.... We need the help that these women workers can give us; they need the help we can give them in a knowledge of the gospel Sabbath. By holding ourselves aloof from the workers in the W. C. T. U., our people have lost much; and the members of the W. C. T. U. have also been on losing ground. If every possible effort is now made to reach these people, prejudice will be removed, and souls will be reached whom our people have thought would never accept this present truth. 1MR 128.3

I have been instructed that no hindrance should be placed in the way of Sister Starr's work for the W. C. T. U.... Let no hand be stretched out to hinder her in her work. Give her an opportunity to bring this message before the temperance organization. Letter 274, 1907, pp. 1, 2. (To Elder J. A. Burden, September 2, 1907.) 1MR 128.4