Medical
MissionaryWork in the Cities
San Francisco,
California, December 12, 1900.
There is work to
be done in California, a work that has been strangely
neglected. Let
this work be delayed no longer. As doors open for the
presentation of
truth, let us be ready to enter. Some work has been done in
the large city
of San Francisco, but as we study the field we see plainly that
only a beginning
has been made. As soon as possible, well-organized efforts
should be put
forth in different sections of this city and also in Oakland.
The wickedness
of San Francisco is not realized. Our work in this city must
broaden and
deepen. God sees in it many souls to be saved.
In San Francisco
a hygienic restaurant has been opened, also a food
store and
treatment rooms. These are doing a good work, but their influence
should be
greatly extended. Other restaurants similar to the one on Market
Street should be
opened in San Francisco and in Oakland. Concerning
the effort that
is now being made in these lines we can say: Amen and
amen. And soon
other lines of work that will be a blessing to the people
will be
established. Medical missionary evangelistic work should be carried
forward in a
most prudent and thorough manner. The solemn, sacred work
of saving
110
souls is to
advance in a way that is modest and yet ever elevated.
Where are the
working forces? Men and women who are thoroughly
converted, men
and women of discernment and keen foresight, should act
as directors.
Good judgment must be exercised in employing persons to
do this special
work—persons who love God and who walk before Him in
all humility,
persons who will be effective agencies in God’s hand for the
accomplishment
of the object He has in view—the uplifting and saving of
human beings.
Medical
missionary evangelists will be able to do excellent pioneer
work. The work
of the minister should blend fully with that of the medical
missionary
evangelist. The Christian physician should regard his work as
exalted as that
of the ministry. He bears a double responsibility, for in him
are combined the
qualifications of both physician and gospel minister. His
is a grand, a
sacred, and a very necessary work.
The physician
and the minister should realize that they are engaged
in the same
work. They should labor in perfect harmony. They should
counsel
together. By their unity they will bear witness that God has sent His
only-begotten
Son into the world to save all who will believe in Him as their
personal
Saviour.
Physicians whose
professional abilities are above those of the ordinary
doctor should
engage in the service of God in the large cities. They should
seek to reach
the higher classes. Something is being done in this line in San
Francisco, but
much more should be done. Let there be no misconception of
the nature and
the importance of these enterprises. San Francisco is a large
field and an important
portion of the Lord’s vineyard.
111
Medical
missionaries who labor in evangelistic lines are doing a work of
as high an order
as are their ministerial fellow workers. The efforts put forth
by these workers
are not to be limited to the poorer classes. The higher
classes have
been strangely neglected. In the higher walks of life will be
found many who
will respond to the truth because it is consistent, because it
bears the stamp
of the high character of the gospel. Not a few of the men of
ability thus won
to the cause will enter energetically into the Lord’s work.
The Lord calls
upon those who are in positions of trust, those to whom
He has entrusted
His precious gifts, to use their talents of intellect and
means in His
service. Our workers should present before these men a plain
statement of our
plan of labor, telling them what we need in order to help
the poor and
needy and to establish this work on a firm basis. Some of these
will be
impressed by the Holy Spirit to invest the Lord’s means in a way that
will advance His
cause. They will fulfill His purpose by helping to create
centers of
influence in the large cities. Interested workers will be led to offer
themselves for
various lines of missionary effort. Hygienic restaurants will
be established.
But with what carefulness should this work be done!
Every hygienic
restaurant should be a school. The workers connected
with it should
be constantly studying and experimenting, that they may make
improvement in
the preparation of healthful foods. In the cities this work of
instruction may
be carried forward on a much larger scale than in smaller
places. But in
every place where there is a church, instruction should be
given in regard
to the preparation of simple, healthful foods for the use of
those who wish
to live in accordance with the principles of health reform.
And the church
members
112
should impart to
the people of their neighborhood the light they receive on
this subject.
The students in
our schools should be taught how to cook. Let tact and
skill be brought
into this branch of education. With all deceivableness of
unrighteousness,
Satan is working to turn the feet of the youth into paths of
temptation that
lead to ruin. We must strengthen and help them to withstand
the temptations
that are to be met on every side regarding the indulgence of
appetite. To
teach them the science of healthful living is to do missionary
work for the
Master.
Cooking schools
are to be established in many places. This work may
begin in a
humble way, but as intelligent cooks do their best to enlighten
others, the Lord
will give them skill and understanding. The word of
the Lord is: “Forbid
them not, for I will reveal Myself to them as their
Instructor.” He
will work with those who carry out His plans, teaching the
people how to
bring about reformation in their diet by the preparation of
healthful,
inexpensive foods. Thus the poor will be encouraged to adopt the
principles of
health reform; they will be helped to become industrious and
self-reliant.
It has been
presented to me that men and women of capability were
being taught of
God how to prepare wholesome, palatable foods in an
acceptable
manner. Many of these were young, and there were also those of
mature age. I
have been instructed to encourage the conducting of cooking
schools in all
places where medical missionary work is being done. Every
inducement to
lead the people to reform must be held out before them. Let
as much light as
possible shine upon them. Teach them to make every
improvement that
they can in the preparation of food, and encourage them
to impart to
others that which they learn.
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Shall we not do
all in our power to advance the work in all of our large
cities?
Thousands upon thousands who live near us need help in various
ways. Let the
ministers of the gospel remember that the Lord Jesus Christ
said to His
disciples: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be
hid.” “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his
savor, wherewith
shall it be salted?” Matthew 5:14, 13.
The Lord Jesus
will work miracles for His people. In the sixteenth of
Mark we read: “So
then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was
received up into
heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they
went forth, and
preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and
confirming the
word with signs following.” Verses 19, 20. Here we are
assured that the
Lord was qualifying His chosen servants to take up medical
missionary work
after His ascension.
From the record
of the Lord’s miracles in providing wine at the
wedding feast
and in feeding the multitude, we may learn a lesson of the
highest
importance. The health food business is one of the Lord’s own
instrumentalities
to supply a necessity. The heavenly Provider of all foods
will not leave
His people in ignorance in regard to the preparation of the best
foods for all times and
occasions.
REFERENCE
Testimonies for
the Church
Volume Seven
Ellen G. White
1902,Page 110-113
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