Health Institute
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five years but few maintain even a visible existence at the present
time.
I have publicly appealed to our brethren in behalf of an institution
to be established among us, and have spoken in the highest terms of Dr.
F as the man who has in the providence of God obtained an experience
to act a part as physician. This I have said upon the authority of what
God has shown me. If necessary, I would unhesitatingly repeat all
that I have said. I have no desire to withdraw one sentence that I have
written or spoken. The work is of God and must be prosecuted with a
firm yet cautious hand.
The health reform is closely connected with the work of the third
message, yet it is not the message. Our preachers should teach the
health reform, yet they should not make this the leading theme in the
place of the message. Its place is among those subjects which set
forth the preparatory work to meet the events brought to view by the
message; among these it is prominent. We should take hold of every
reform with zeal, yet should avoid giving the impression that we are
vacillating and subject to fanaticism. Our people should furnish means
to meet the wants of a growing Health Institute among us, as they are
able to do without giving less for the other wants of the cause. Let
the health reform and the Health Institute grow up among us as other
worthy enterprises have grown, taking into the account our feeble
strength in the past and our greater ability to do much in a short period
of time now. Let the Health Institute grow, as other interests among us
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have grown, as fast as it can safely and not cripple other branches of
the great work which are of equal or greater importance at this time.
For a brother to put a large share of his property, whether he has much
or little into the Institute, so as to be unable to do as much in other
directions as he otherwise should, would be wrong. And for him to
do nothing would be as great a wrong. With every stirring appeal to
our people for means to put into the Institute there should have been a
caution not to rob other branches of the work; especially should the
liberal poor have been cautioned. Some feeble poor men with families,
without a home of their own, and too poor to go to the Institute to be
treated, have put from one fifth to one third of all they possess into
the Institute. This is wrong. Some brethren and sisters have several
shares when they should not have one, and should for a short time
attend the Institute, having their expenses paid, wholly or in part, from