General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1
WORK OF THE MEDICAL MISSIONARY AND BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION — NO. 3
J. H. KELLOGG
BEFORE taking up the special subject for to-day, allow me to read a few paragraphs from recent articles in the Review, by Sister White, in relation to GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.2
CHRISTIAN HELP WORK
We are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. This command is not that we shall simply love those who think and believe exactly as we think and believe. Christ illustrated the meaning of the commandment by the parable of the good Samaritan. But how strangely these precious words are neglected, and how frequently men oppress their fellow-men. To those who are doers of the word of Christ, prosperity is insured. In obeying his words, you become workers together with God in uplifting, in blessing, and strengthening the sons of men..... It is only practical piety that is of value. GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.3
I think we have had a wrong conception of what practical piety is. We have thought that it was not to lie, not to steal, not to do any thing very bad; but practical piety, it seems, is not negative, but it is to do what the good Samaritan did. “True piety is seen in those who are uplifting, blessing, and strengthening the sons of men.” GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.4
It would be well if every church would read in its assemblies from the Old Testament the lessons which Christ gave to the people. The spirit and character of our Heavenly Father in his dealings with men are revealed through these lessons. — Review, Dec. 18, 1894. GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.5
In the Old Testament the very same principles were revealed as those which Christ gave in his sermon on the mount. the scribes and Pharisees knew so little of these principles through every-day practice, that Christ’s sermon on the mount was a new revelation to them, and sounded like heresy to their ears. — Review, Dec. 25, 1894. GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.6
He who loves God will not only love his fellow-men, but will regard with tender compassion the creatures which God has made. When the Spirit of God is in man, it leads him to relieve rather than to create suffering. “To leave a suffering neighbor unrelieved, is a breach of the law of God.” That is a very powerful statement. It makes it very clear. “To leave a suffering neighbor unrelieved, is a breach of the law of God.” God brought the priest along that way, in order that with his own eyes he might see a case that needed mercy and help; but the priest, though holding a holy office, whose work it was to bestow mercy and to do good, passed by on the other side. His character was exhibited in its true nature before the angels of God. For a pretense he could make long prayers, but he could not keep the principles of the law in loving God with all his heart and his neighbor as himself. — Review, Jan. 1, 1895. GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.7
This is a wonderful law. I wonder if there is one of us that can love his neighbor as himself? But the law requires that we shall love our neighbors as ourselves. GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.8
The Levite was of the same tribe as was the wounded, bruised sufferer. All heaven watched as the Levite passed down the road, to see if his heart would be touched by human woe. As he beheld the man, he was convicted of what he ought to do; but as it was not an agreeable duty, he wished he had not come that way, so that he need not have seen the man who was wounded and bruised, naked and perishing, and in want of help from his fellow-men. He passed on his way, persuading himself that it was none of his business, and that he had no need to trouble himself over the case. Claiming to be an expositor of the law, to be a minister in sacred things, he yet passed by on the other side. GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.9
Enshrined in the pillar of cloud, the Lord jesus had given special direction in regard to the performance of acts of mercy toward man and beast. While the law of God requires supreme love to God and impartial love to our neighbors, its far-reaching requirements also take in the dumb creatures that cannot express in words their wants or sufferings. “Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them; thou shalt surely help him to lift him up again.” He who loves God will not only love his fellow-men, but will regard with tender compassion the creatures which God has made. When the Spirit of God is in man, it leads him to relieve rather than to create suffering. GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.10
After the Lord had laid bare the indifference and disregard of the priest and Levite toward their fellow-men, he introduced the good Samaritan. He journeyed along the way, and when he saw the sufferer, he had compassion on him; for he was a doer of the law. GCB February 6, 1895, page 39.11
This had been an actual occurrence, and was known to be exactly as represented. Christ presented these cases, and inquired which one of the travelers had been a neighbor to him who fell among thieves..... The priest and Levite who had passed by on the other side were in that very company who listened to the words of Christ, and their actions were presented before them, in their true colors. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.1
It must have been a very impressive lesson. “By this parable the duty of man to his fellow-man is forever settled.” That is a lesson for us. “The duty of man to his fellow-man is forever settled. We are to care for every case of suffering, and look upon ourselves as God’s agents to relieve the needy to the utmost of our ability.” That do n’t mean to hand out ten cents, or a quarter, or something of that kind. It means vastly more than that:— GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.2
We are to be laborers together with God. There are some who manifest great affection for their relatives, for their friends and favorites, who yet fail to be kind and considerate to those who need tender sympathy, who need kindness and love. With earnest hearts, let us inquire, Who is my neighbor? Our neighbors are not merely our associates and special friends, they are not simply those who belong to our church, or who think as we do; our neighbors are the whole human family. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.3
That is very clear. Our neighbors are the whole human family. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.4
We are to do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. We are to give to the world an exhibition of what it means to carry out the law of God. — Review of Jan. 1, 1895. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.5
There it is. It is put down here very plain. There is no mistaking what it means. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.6
An article in the last Review (Jan. 29, 1895) is upon the same subject. the relation between faith and good works is very clearly stated. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.7
The Lord is most honored and glorified by those who do the most good works. True piety of heart is manifest by good words and good works, and men see the works of those who love God, and they are led thereby to glorify God. The true Christian abounds in good works; he brings forth much fruit. He feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, visits the sick, and ministers to the afflicted. Christians take a heart-felt interest in the children that are about them, who, through the subtle temptations of the enemy, are ready to perish. Fathers and mothers, if you have guarded your own children from the wiles of the foe, look about you to save the souls of the children who have not such care. Have an interest in the souls of those for whom Christ died. there are youth all around us to whom the members of the church owe a duty. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.8
That does not mean the church in general; it means our church. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.9
There are youth all around us to whom the members of the church owe a duty; for Christ has died for them upon the cross of Calvary to purchase for them the gift of salvation. They are precious in the sight of God, and he desires their eternal happiness. The saving work of Christ is complete only when the members of the church do their part, arising and shining because their light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon them. Christ calls for voluntary co-operation on the part of his agents in doing earnest, consistent work for the salvation of souls. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.10
VENTILATION
The remainder of the hour will be devoted to the subject of health, giving particular attention to the necessity of thorough ventilation. There are four things especially essential to good health: pure air, pure water, pure food, and an abundance of exercise. These four things are necessary to good health; and it is of course understood that healthful clothing and a proper amount of heat are supplied. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.11
Pure Air. — This is an important question. You ministers have much to do with building churches. It is strange indeed that the majority of our churches are constructed without any reference whatever to ventilation! We are not ignorant upon this question; or at least, we have no right to be ignorant in regard to it. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.12
Why do we need air? Why do we breathe? Oxygen is most essential for the health. A man can live for a week without water; he might live a month without food, but it is impossible to live more than five or six minutes without air. We must have oxygen. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.13
[Here a miniature house was exhibited to illustrate the subject of ventilation. One side was glass, giving a plain view of the interior. A row of candles was lighted and placed inside, and the door and windows were shut. As they used up the oxygen in burning and gave out a poisonous gas, they well represented people breathing in a close room. In a few moments the candles burned low. the audience, as we might call them, was going to sleep. The door was opened, as if some one was entering the church, and the sleepers roused up a little, — the candles burned more brightly. Presently the candles went entirely out. The audience was “asphyxiated.” This well represented a meeting-house, or other living room, without ventilation.] GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.14
Oxygen is absolutely essential to thought. Sometimes you have felt so stupid in meetings, you could not get the texts; you could not catch the thought of what the preacher said; but when you got out of doors and got the fresh air, you felt all right. It was the lack of oxygen, the lack of pure air, that caused you to feel so stupid. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.15
What is the cause of this? Our brains and our muscles and the organs of the body in working are all the time generating poison. Our bodies are like the burning candle. Our bodies are all the time throwing off more poison than two burning candles. Consider how much material we burn up in our bodies. We eat on an average of a pound and a half a day. In the course of a year that would amount to about five hundred pounds, about three times one’s own weight. This material goes to build up the tissues of the body, and is ultimately converted into poisonous waste material. A large part of this is carried off through the breath. GCB February 6, 1895, page 40.16
How Much Air? — How much air do we need? It is not so much the actual amount of air that is consumed as it is the amount of air that we spoil. Upon the best estimates of scientific men, we spoil three cubic feet of air at each breath. From this we can estimate how much fresh air we need. Suppose we take a room 12 x 15 feet, and 9 feet high. this would contain 1620 cubic feet of air. We breathe about seventeen times per minute, and as we spoil three cubic feet of air at each breath, this would make fifty-one cubic feet of bad air per minute. The air in the room would become impure in the number of minutes obtained by dividing 1620 by 51, which is a little less than 32. Hence the amount of pure air in a room of this size, with no ventilation, would only remain in the most healthful condition with one person in it about half an hour. The breath of two persons would spoil the air in the same room in a quarter of an hour, and six persons in five minutes. So we see the need of providing proper ventilation. GCB February 6, 1895, page 41.1
Now let us calculate the need of ventilation for one of our average-sized churches. suppose it is 24 x 40, and 15 feet high. it would contain 14,400 cubic feet of air. Dividing this by 51, the number of cubic feet of air one person needs per minutes, we would have enough pure air in this building, without any openings, to last about 285 minutes. But it would only last ten persons 28 1-2 minutes, or less than half an hour, twenty persons only half as long, and a hundred and fifty persons only two minutes. So we see that a church without any means of ventilation, is soon filled with poisoned air. GCB February 6, 1895, page 41.2
Estimates might be made upon the basis of allowing two cubic feet of air for each breath, where a room is not to be occupied longer than half an hour; but for a longer time than that the amount of fresh air to be calculated per breath should be three cubic feet. GCB February 6, 1895, page 41.3
EXPERIMENTS
Several experiments were made before the audience. One was to breathe through a tube into a glass of clear-looking water in which a little lime had been dissolved. The poisonous carbonic acid gas from the breath soon turned the lime into chalk and gave the water a milky appearance. An ounce of ink will discolor a barrel of water. If the breath were blue, we would soon see how it fills the room. GCB February 6, 1895, page 41.4
Another experiment was to lower a candle into a glass jar by means of a wire, partly covering the top of the jar. The candle soon burned low, and finally went out. This illustrated the fact that one opening will not ventilate a room. There must be a current of air passing in and out. GCB February 6, 1895, page 41.5
The candle was lowered again into the jar and the poisonous air retained; and when this was repeated, a little lime water was poured into the jar, and upon being well shaken, the water became discolored by the poison generated by the burning of the candle. The beneficial effect of two openings was illustrated by lowering a thin diaphragm of tin into the jar almost to the burning candle, leaving the top unobstructed, so the pure air could pass down on one side and the poisonous air pass up the other. The candle burned brightly, thus demonstrating the need of a current of air in every room. GCB February 6, 1895, page 41.6