The Program at the Institute

On pages 116-117 Prophetess of Health says, “Much more disturbing were the ubiquitous signs of worldliness: patients and staff enjoying Dansville-style amusements, physicians demanding higher wages than ministers, and workers calling each other ‘Mister’ and ‘Miss’ rather than ‘Brother’ and ‘Sister.’”CBPH 62.10

The selection of material for this paragraph is such as to leave the impression that Mrs. White’s counsel to the Institute was trivial, fanatical, and straight-laced.CBPH 62.11

The reader who does not check the original context (Testimonies for the Church 1:634) would be left to assume that Mrs. White made a big point of the “Mr.” and “Mrs.” terminology whereas in fact she merely mentioned it as an illustration of the “spirit of compromise.”CBPH 62.12

The matter of terms used for the days of the week, first day, second day, etc., is brought in at this point to further heighten the air of strangeness. But can a single Adventist be produced who refused ever to use common days of the week until the 1880’s? Certainly there was some use of the “first-day” “second-day” terminology, but it was always mixed with the common names and no one made an issue of the matter. A quick scanning of the reports from traveling ministers all through the period reveals this.CBPH 62.13

The relevance of Mrs. White’s counsel on amusements might also be shown by reference to what was actually going on at the Health Institute within a few months of its opening. Notice, for instance, the program for the Thanksgiving celebration:CBPH 62.14

1. Magic Music, so called because persons by it were directed to perform certain things, according as the instrument gave out loud or low tones.CBPH 62.15

2. A Charade.CBPH 62.16

3. An Acting Charade.CBPH 62.17

4. A Song.CBPH 62.18

5. Tableau, “Fan-Fan”CBPH 62.19

6. An Acting Charade, “Mis-sis-sip-pi” which was well executed by Messrs. Miller and others.CBPH 62.20

7. Selected Article [several humorous poems]CBPH 62.21

8. Music.CBPH 62.22

9. Comic Advertisement was read, which caused much laughter.CBPH 62.23

10. Tableau.CBPH 62.24

11. Dame Fashion, a song.CBPH 62.25

12. Pantomime.CBPH 62.26

13. Another PantomimeCBPH 62.27

14. Medley, by several gentlemen, which was mirth-provoking.CBPH 62.28

The program was concluded with four “Toasts” (The Health Reformer, December, 1866). Little wonder Mrs. White wrote, “When I saw these things, I said, this is not that which was shown me as an institution for the sick which would share the signal blessing of God. This is another thing” (Testimonies for the Church 1:634).CBPH 62.29