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with strong reliance upon God for His blessing to attend the means
which He has graciously provided, and to which He has in mercy
called our attention as a people, such as pure air, cleanliness, healthful
diet, proper periods of labor and repose, and the use of water. They
should have no selfish interest outside of this important and solemn
work. To care properly for the physical and spiritual interests of the
afflicted people of God who have reposed almost unlimited confidence
in them and have at great expense placed themselves under their care
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will require their undivided attention. No one has so great a mind, or
is so skillful, but that the work will be imperfect after he has done his
very best.
Let those to whom are committed the physical and also to a great
extent the spiritual interests of the afflicted people of God, beware
how they, through worldly policy or personal interest or a desire to be
engaged in a great and popular work, call down upon themselves and
this branch of the cause the frown of God. They should not depend
upon their skill alone. If the blessing, instead of the frown, of God be
upon the institution, angels will attend patients, helpers, and physicians
to assist in the work of restoration, so that in the end the glory will be
given to God and not to feeble, shortsighted man. Should these men
work from a worldly policy, and should their hearts be lifted up and
they feel to say, “My power, and the might of my hand hath done this,”
God would leave them to work under the great disadvantages of their
inferiority to other institutions in knowledge, experience, and facilities.
They could not then accomplish half as much as other institutions do.
I saw the beneficial influence of outdoor labor upon those of feeble
vitality and depressed circulation, especially upon women who have
induced these conditions by too much confinement indoors. Their
blood has become impure for want of fresh air and exercise. Instead
of amusements to keep these persons indoors, care should be taken
to provide outdoor attractions. I saw there should be connected with
the Institute ample grounds, beautified with flowers and planted with
vegetables and fruits. Here the feeble could find work, appropriate to
their sex and condition, at suitable hours. These grounds should be
under the care of an experienced gardener to direct all in a tasteful,
orderly manner.
The relation which I sustain to this work demands of me an unfet-
tered expression of my views. I speak freely and choose this medium
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