To Be an Educational Center

In harmony with the common ideal for every sanitarium to be a center from which should radiate to the surrounding country the truths for which it stands, a special evangelistic work was to be carried forward from Loma Linda. To her lifelong friend and associate, Elder S. N. Haskell, with his years of experience as a Bible student and in conducting training schools for city workers, she made appeal to lead out at Loma Linda in the important work to be done in “the neighboring cities, Redlands, Riverside, San Bernardino, and other smaller places.” (E. G. White Letter 269, 1905.) In following up this invitation, she also spoke of Loma Linda as an “educational center.” Regarding this, she said:SHM 363.3

“The securing of this property at such a price as we paid for it is a miracle that should open the eyes of our understanding. If such manifest workings of God do not give us a new experience, what will? If we cannot read the evidence that the time has come to work in the surrounding cities, what could be done to arouse us to action? ...SHM 363.4

“We must soon start a nurses’ training school at Loma Linda. This place will become an important educational center, and we need the efforts of yourself and your wife to give the right mold to the work in this new educational center.”—E. G. White Letter 277, 1905. (Italics mine.)SHM 364.1

Next to the seeming impossibility of raising the money to meet the payments on the property, the securing of qualified physicians, nurses, and other help needed to man another large sanitarium was a major problem that afforded a forceful argument against the wisdom of launching the enterprise, especially in view of the fact that both the Paradise Valley Sanitarium and the Glendale Sanitarium were finding it difficult to secure efficient workers for their rapidly developing work. But in this matter, as markedly as in the securing of funds, the hand of God’s providence was seen.SHM 364.2

When, in late November, 1905, the institution was ready to receive patients, there were on hand thirty-five consecrated workers, including Dr. G. K. Abbott, Dr. Julia A. White, and others, to handle the various departments of the institution. Dr. White brought with her from Battle Creek several well-trained nurses. Being influenced to make the move as they heard of the remarkable experiences connected with the securing of Loma Linda, many of these helpers had come from other states, one family even from faraway Australia. No special financial inducements were offered them; and when, shortly after the institution opened, they learned that the income from the patients was not sufficient to meet their wages, they cheerfully volunteered to give their services for room and board until the patronage should increase. Thus they emulated the pioneer physicians and helpers in the days when the Health Reform Institute was struggling with financial difficulties in the earlier days. The necessity for their voluntary generosity was soon relieved as the patronage increased.SHM 364.3