Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

Chap. 110 - The Health InstituteIn former numbers of Testimonies for the Church I have spoken of the importanceof Seventh-day Adventists’ establishing an institution for the benefit of the sick,especially for the suffering and sick among us. I have spoken of the ability of ourpeople, in point of means, to do this; and have urged that, in view of the importance ofthis branch of the great work of preparation to meet the Lord with gladness of heart, ourpeople should feel themselves called upon, according to their ability, to put a portion oftheir means into such an institution. I have also pointed out, as they were shown to me,some of the dangers to which physicians, managers, and others would be exposed inthe prosecution of such an enterprise; and I did hope that the dangers shown me wouldbe avoided. In this, however, I enjoyed hope for a time, only to suffer disappointmentand grief.I had taken great interest in the health reform and had high hopes of the prosperityof the Health Institute. I felt, as no other one could feel, the responsibility of speakingto my brethren and sisters in the name of the Lord concerning this institution andtheir duty to furnish necessary means, and I watched the progress of the work withintense interest and anxiety. When I saw those who managed and directed, runninginto the dangers shown me, of which I had warned them in public and also in privateconversation and letters, a terrible burden came upon me. That which had beenshown me as a place where the suffering sick among us could be helped was onewhere sacrifice, hospitality, faith, and piety should be the ruling principles. But whenunqualified calls were made for large sums of money, with the statement that stocktaken would pay large per cent; when the brethren who occupied633