The Story of our Health Message

“To Be to the Glory of God”

The current of opinion seemed to be going in an unfavorable direction, when Elder G. A. Irwin, vice-president of the General Conference, arose. He had just returned from a visit to Loma Linda and arrived while the Los Angeles meeting was in progress. We quote again from the official minutes of the meeting: “Elder Irwin stated that in Australia the school was held back for years by the unbelief of those in positions of responsibility. He said, ‘I am in favor of your undertaking the Loma Linda property as a conference, because there have been evil results from institutions being separated from the conference. Although the conference is heavily in debt, I believe it to be the glory of God that this conference should assume the responsibility.’”—Ibid. SHM 352.2

This expression of confidence was made more effective by the narration of personal experiences where great blessings had resulted through following counsels given by Mrs. White when, to all human appearances, they seemed contrary to reason. Elder Irwin did not minimize the perplexities with which they were now confronted, but he assured them that God would open the seas of difficulty before them as they advanced by faith. SHM 352.3

No sooner had Elder Irwin taken his seat than there arose a lady, the daughter of General Otis, manager of the Los Angeles Times, a recent convert to the Seventh-day Adventist faith. She expressed her confidence that God was leading in this move, and stated that she had $10,000 invested in worldly enterprises, which sum, if the Lord would help her to secure its release, she would gladly invest in Loma Linda. She had been praying, she said, that she might be a pioneer in some truly worthy enterprise. SHM 352.4

Although later this lady was not successful in securing the release of this money, yet her public statement helped to turn the tide in favor of securing the institution by the Southern California Conference. Others in the congregation pledged moral and financial support to the enterprise, and the resolution for the property to be secured and controlled by the Southern California Conference was passed by an overwhelming vote of the delegates from the twenty-two churches represented in the general meeting. SHM 353.1