Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)

Lt 14, 1901

Rand, Doctor S.

St. Helena, California

January 22, 1901

This letter is published in entirety in 21MR 285-288. +^Note

Dr. S. Rand
Hamilton, Newcastle

My dear brother,—

I wish to express to you my satisfaction at your connection with the Hamilton Bath Business and the Retreat. There is a large and progressive work to be done in Newcastle and Maitland. I look upon this work as a growing work, and if it is not hindered by unwise movements, it will do much good. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 1

My brother, I wish your ideas upon health reform to be more clear and pronounced. Your advice in regard to the eating of meat and butter is not as it should be. In many cases the result of eating these articles has been to bring more suffering upon the patients. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 2

I have received letters from New Zealand in which the writers stated that nut foods do not agree with them. I did not know just how to answer these letters. In the night season I was instructed that the nut foods need reforming, that too large a quantity of nut food is used when nuts are cooked with other food, and that some nuts are not as wholesome as others. A reform must be made in the matter of health foods. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 3

The foods used should correspond to the climate. Some foods suitable for one country would not do at all in another place. And the nut foods should be made as inexpensive as possible so that they can be procured by the poor. Light has been given me that almonds are preferable to peanuts, but peanuts in limited quantities may be used in connection with grains to make nourishing food, which can be cared for by the digestive organs. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 4

But let all who can eat freely of fruit. Fruits and grains are preferable to nuts. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 5

Olives may be prepared in such a way that they will be superior to any drug in helping consumptives and those who have inflamed, irritated stomachs. Olives might be eaten with good results at every meal. The advantage supposed to be gained by the eating of butter may be obtained by eating properly prepared olives. The oil in olives is a remedy for constipation and kidney diseases. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 6

It would be well for us to do less cooking and to eat more fruit in its natural state. Let us eat freely of fresh grapes, apples, peaches, oranges, blackberries, and all other kinds of fruit which can be obtained. Let these be prepared for winter use by canning, always using glass instead of tin. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 7

Dr. Rand, educate yourself to discard all flesh meat. Soon butter will never be recommended, and milk will be entirely discarded; for disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. Soon there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 8

God will give His people ability and tact to prepare wholesome food without these things. Let our people in Australia discard all unwholesome recipes and learn how to live healthfully in accordance with the directions God has given. Let them impart this knowledge as they would Bible instruction. Let them preserve the health and increase the strength by avoiding the large amount of cooking which has filled the world with chronic invalids. We are coming to the time when recipes for cooking will not be needed, for God’s people will learn that the food God gave Adam in his sinless state is the best for keeping the body in a sinless state. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 9

Hot drinks are not required, except as a medicine. The stomach is greatly injured by a large quantity of hot food and hot drink. Thus the throat and digestive organs, and through them the other organs of the body, are enfeebled. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 10

The Lord would be pleased to see His people intelligent upon many matters where they are now ignorant. Let those who have obtained knowledge of how to eat and drink and dress, so as to preserve health, impart this knowledge to others. Let the poor have the gospel of good health preached unto them from a practical standpoint, that they may know how to care properly for the body. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 11

Our people should be experiment how to prepare food without the use of milk or butter. The time is near when the whole animal creation will groan under the disease which curses our earth because of the iniquity of the fallen race. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 12

How safe is it now to use these articles? We may not with certainty say, for it is difficult to know which cattle are diseased and which are not. One thing we do know. The physicians connected with our sanitariums should be health reformers in every respect. They should never prescribe flesh meat or butter for their patients. Let them prescribe instead a diet of bread and fruit. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 13

Now, my brother, you are suffering from dyspepsia. This should not be. In the institution with which you are connected, you should see that the table is provided with the best food that can be prepared. And as regularly as possible take your seat at the table with the family. Association with others at the meal and pleasant, cheerful conversation will be a great blessing to you. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 14

You should have your office in the institution. In the providence of God your business may become much larger than it is. God may provide for you a more suitable location. But if He does not, do the best you can, and above all, be a health reformer. Do not think that you must blanket your faith in order to obtain patronage. The reason that we as a people establish sanitariums is that the souls as well as the bodies of men and women may be saved. The truth is never to be concealed, for we are to be God’s light-bearers to the world. Christ says, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” By your pure doctrines, your correct deportment, your prayers, your Christlike example, you are to exert a preserving influence in the world. “But if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?” [Matthew 5:13.] 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 15

The Jewish leaders had hidden the truth by a mass of tradition. Christ pronounced their teachings of no value. They were as salt which has lost its savor. Christ came to this world to rescue the jewels of truth from the rubbish of falsehood and tradition, and give them back to the world clothed with their original purity and life-giving power, that the souls and bodies of men might be preserved from corruption. And He desires His people in this age to present the truth in all its freshness, that it may stand out in marked contrast with the customs and practices of the world. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 16

All human thought is but a fractional part of what is comprehended in the mind of Christ. He caused the truth to stand out superior to the most learned lore of the rabbis. He made the truth appear in its original excellence, for He is the Author of all truth. In His hands truth was simplified, dignified, and ennobled. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 17

“Ye are the light of the world.” [Verse 14.] Thus He regards those who believe and practice the truth. When truth is mingled with error, its saving properties are destroyed. God calls upon the people on whom His light has shone to present the truth as it is in Jesus, to show by their genuine goodness the power of truth, to reveal in their lives the saving principles of the gospel. By their words and actions they are to cause to appear with distinctness the preserving qualities of truth. Let them remember that the men and women in the world form their opinion of God by the characters of those who profess to serve Him. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 18

“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” [Verses 15, 16.] 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 19

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” [Verses 17-19.] 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 20

It is our work to give this message. We are to teach men and women not to regard lightly one principle of the law of God. By precept and example we are to explain the nature of God’s holy requirements. Thus we shall be in the world a savor of life unto life. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 21

Physicians are inclined to feel justified in doing many things on the Sabbath which they should refrain from doing. The needs of suffering humanity are never to be neglected. But as far as possible, all work should be laid aside on the Sabbath. At this time we should do all in our power to let light shine to a benighted world, for Satan is doing his utmost to cast his hellish shadow across the pathway of every soul. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 22

Please read Exodus 31:12-18. Could anything be more positive than this? The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is not to be hidden under a bushel. In all our sanitariums the light on this question is to shine forth. By our methods of work we are to exalt God’s memorial. We are ever to acknowledge the binding claims of the Sabbath command. This, God declares, is a sign between Him and us throughout our generations forever. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 23

Let us remember that it means much to the educators and those being educated in our sanitariums to keep the Sabbath aright. This should be regarded as much more important and essential than it has been in the past. Testing truth is to be given to the world. Men are to be taught that the seventh day is God’s memorial of creation. Yet this truth is not to be presented in such a way as to render it offensive. The light is to shine forth in such a way that it will illuminate the minds of all. 16LtMs, Lt 14, 1901, par. 24