Uphold the Medical Work
Cooranbong, N. S. W.,
February 1, 1899.
I address those in responsible positions in the General Conference
and those who are working in medical missionary lines. I am commis-
sioned to speak also to the church in Battle Creek and to all our other
churches.
I have been instructed to say, in reference to the medical mission-
ary work, that there is danger of swaying things too heavily in one
line. But what I say on this point must not be understood as in any
sense justifying those who have held themselves aloof from medical
missionary work. There are many who have not been in sympathy
with this work. They should now be very careful how they speak in
regard to it, for they are not intelligent on the subject because they have
not walked in the light. Whatever their position in the work of God,
they should be very careful not to give utterance to sentiments that
will discourage and hinder our conferences from taking hold of this
work. The position that some have occupied in reference to medical
missionary work makes it impossible for their words on this subject to
have any weight. They are not clear-sighted; their judgment is warped.
Every branch of the work is needed, but every branch of the work
is to be under the supervision of God. The medical missionary work
is to be to the cause of God as the right hand to the body. It would
not be right for all the strength of the body to go into the right hand,
and neither would it be right for all the strength of the cause of God
to be used in medical missionary work. The ministry of the word
must be sustained, and there must be unity, perfect oneness, in God’s
work. Those who have felt no interest in medical missionary work
are treating the right hand of God’s cause disrespectfully. Let all such
change their attitude toward this work. Let them speak as few words
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as possible until they stand in a right position. Silence is eloquence
when the mind is not sanctified and therefore cannot discern spiritual
things.
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