The Story of our Health Message

Temperance Work

Some of the non-Adventist neighbors who attended these study groups by invitation asked that similar studies might be given in their homes. Soon many “family circles,” with an average attendance of twelve persons, were meeting regularly for the study of healthful living, rational treatment, diet, and hygienic dress. This opened the way later for public lectures before groups of mothers, and in the public schools, and the introduction of well-prepared literature for the children. The work spread to many neighboring cities and towns, and even to Pasadena and Los Angeles, where Dr. Starr addressed a group of no less than a thousand mothers. Noble ladies of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union welcomed these efforts with great enthusiasm and helped to open many doors for the workers from Loma Linda. During a state convention of the W.C.T.U. at Redlands in the summer of 1907, two and a half hours were granted to these workers for the presentation of health principles and demonstrations of healthful cooking. SHM 372.3

Mrs. White rejoiced greatly as she witnessed this work in behalf of Christian temperance. It reminded her of the temperance campaigns of earlier days which she had encouraged, and she took this occasion to urge that this line of work might be revived. “I am sorry,” she commented, “that there has not been a more lively interest among our people of late years to magnify this branch of the Lord’s work. We cannot afford to lose one opportunity to unite with the temperance work in any place. ... I shall urge our people, and those not of our faith, to help us in carrying forward the work of Christian temperance. I am being aroused anew on this subject.”—E. G. White Letter 278, 1907. SHM 373.1

Regarding the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, with which she herself had labored in hearty co-operation in former years, she said: “None who claim to have a part in the work of God should lose interest in the grand object of this organization in temperance lines.”—Ibid. SHM 373.2

For the second year of the school, Professor Howell having been called to mission service in Greece, Dr. G. K. Abbott served as president, a position he occupied for three years. The scientific department was strengthened by the addition to the faculty of Prof. George McCready Price. Dr. Starr was also called to give instruction in physiology and dietetics. This gave her added opportunity to enlist a group of the students for a valuable experience in field work. SHM 373.3