An Unparalleled Work Of Health Reform

This gift has strengthened the ministry of the denomination in preaching a gospel message that has banished from among the membership alcoholic drink, tobacco, the unclean swine’s flesh and the flesh of all animals pronounced unclean by the Lord. (See Leviticus 11.) It is a clean sweep in all lands. Nothing parallel to it, in the way of a health movement, has ever been known in modern times. It is wrought by the preaching of the word, which works in those that believe.SPIAM 89.4

Early in the mission work in the South Seas, certain island peoples gave the church of this movement the name, “The clean church.” “Why,” they said, “all the members of this church drink no beer, they use no tobacco or betelnut, they don’t eat swine’s flesh; this is a ‘clean church.’”SPIAM 89.5

The gift of the Spirit of prophecy has strengthened the hands of medical workers and their associates in building up institutions and training centers all through the years.SPIAM 90.1

And these writings have been powerful in holding the operation of the health institution to a true spiritual standard. In “Counsels on Health” it is stated: “The religious influence that pervades these institutions inspires the guests with confidence. The assurance that the Lord presides there, and the many prayers offered for the sick, make an impression upon their hearts.”—Page 208.SPIAM 90.2

A medical man, Dr. T. S. Harding, a stranger to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, save as he and his wife saw it in action in sanitarium work, wrote in a medical journal about this spirit of confidence that guests find taking possession of their hearts in these institutions of ours. He said: “Precisely how this is accomplished I do not know, but I do know that every member of the staff, to the lowest nurse or assistant, was imbued with a spirit of helpfulness and friendliness. The atmosphere was cheerful at all times; the patient felt reassured and relaxed.”—Medical Economics, November, 1931.SPIAM 90.3

One of the largest sanitariums in the movement is in Denmark. The veteran pioneer in the enterprise, Dr. J. C. Ottosen, once told me how, when failure in the first days seemed before them, the hearts of the workers were encouraged to hold on by messages from the Spirit of prophecy, sent from far over the sea. Mrs. White wrote them that she had been shown in vision angels visiting the rooms at Skodsborg, to help the patients and to encourage the workers. “I tell you,” said the doctor, “those messages helped us to hold on until the work began to grow.”SPIAM 90.4