Responsible Calling
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constantly seeking to destroy the workmanship of God’s hands, and
men of culture and intelligence are called upon to combat his cruel
power. More of the right kind of men are needed to devote themselves
to this profession. Painstaking effort should be made to induce suitable
men to qualify themselves for this work. They should be men whose
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characters are based upon the broad principles of the word of God—
men who possess a natural energy, force, and perseverance that will
enable them to reach a high standard of excellence. It is not everyone
who can make a successful physician. Many have entered upon the
duties of this profession every way unprepared. They have not the
requisite knowledge, neither have they the skill and tact, the carefulness
and intelligence, necessary to ensure success.
A physician can do much better work if he has physical strength. If
he is feeble, he cannot endure the wearing labor incident to his calling.
A man who has a weak constitution, who is a dyspeptic, or who has not
perfect self-control, cannot become qualified to deal with all classes
of disease. Great care should be taken not to encourage persons who
might be useful in some less responsible position, to study medicine
at a great outlay of time and means, when there is no reasonable hope
that they will succeed.
Unfaithfulness and Infidelity
Some have been singled out as men who might be useful as physi-
cians, and they have been encouraged to take a medical course. But
some who commenced their studies in the medical colleges as Chris-
tians, did not keep the divine law prominent; they sacrificed principle
and lost their hold on God. They felt that singlehanded they could
not keep the fourth commandment and meet the jeers and ridicule of
the ambitious, the world-loving, the superficial, the skeptic, and the
infidel. This kind of persecution they were not prepared to meet. They
were ambitious to climb higher in the world, and they stumbled on the
dark mountains of unbelief and became untrustworthy. Temptations
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of every kind opened before them and they had no strength to resist.
Some of these have become dishonest, scheming policy men and are
guilty of grave sins.
In this age there is danger for everyone who shall enter upon
the study of medicine. Often his instructors are worldly-wise men