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SANITARIUM MANUAL |
Ellen G. White
Compiled by
Dale Y.
Pasco, M.D.,
Cebu City Philippines
1998 / January 26, 2005 New York
“Our work is clearly defined. As the Father sent His only-begotten Son into our world, even so Christ sends us, His disciples, as His medical missionary workers. In fulfilling this high and holy mission, we are to do the will of God. No one man’s mind or judgment is to be our criterion of what constitutes genuine medical missionary work….
The medical missionary work is of divine origin, and has a most glorious mission to fulfill. In all its bearings it is to be in conformity with Christ’s work. Those who are workers together with God will just as surely represent the character of Christ as Christ represented the character of His Father while in this world.” MM 24
“Those who desire to honor God will not mingle worldly policy plans with His plans in attempting to accomplish the results that this work is ordained of God to accomplish….” MM 23
“To my ministering brethren I would say, prosecute this work with tact and ability. Set to work the young men and the young women in our churches. Combine the medical missionary work with the proclamation of the third angel’s message. Make regular, organized efforts to lift the churches out of the dead level into which they have fallen, and have remained for years. Send into the church workers who will set the principles of health reform in their connection with the third angel’s message before every family and individual. Encourage all to take a part in work for their fellow men, and see if the breath of life will not quickly return to these churches.”- Letter 54, 1808 ) WM p 124
Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
“Man has a body as well as a soul to save. Both are to be restored to health by God’s simple but efficacious methods, which appeal to men and women of intelligence. Through a belief in the truth souls are awakened to a need of a preparation for life’s duties. As the health of the body is restored the powers of the mind are put forth to grasp the great truths of the gospel.—Letter 152, 1901.” WM 117
“The Lord has instructed me to warn those who in the future establish sanitariums in new places, to begin their work in humility, consecrating their abilities to His service. The buildings are not to be large or expensive. Small local sanitariums are to be established in connection with our training schools. In these sanitariums young men and young women of ability and consecration are to be gathered—those who will conduct themselves in the love and fear of God, those who, when prepared for graduation, will not feel that they know all that they need to know, but will diligently study and carefully practice the lessons given by Christ. The righteousness of Christ will go before such ones, and the glory of God will be their rearward.” CH 220
Fires, floods, and earthquakes.
“The Spirit of GOD is being withdrawn. Disasters by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God’s purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger.—Prophets and Kings, p 277.” WM 135
My heart is made sad as I look at our churches, which ought to be connected in heart and soul and practice with the medical missionary work….I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work. The work of a minister is to minister. Our ministers are to work on the gospel plan of ministering.
You will never be
ministers after the gospel order till you show a decided interest in medical
missionary work, the gospel of healing and blessing and strengthening. Come up
to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of
darkness, that it be not said of you. “Curse ye Meroz….curse ye bitterly the
inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord.” Judges
Do Not Wait.—Workers—gospel medical missionaries—are needed now. You cannot afford to spend years in preparation. Soon doors now open to the truth will forever be closed. Carry the message now. Do not wait, allowing the enemy to take possession of the fields now open before you. Let little companies go forth to do the work to which Christ appointed His disciples. Let them labor as evangelists, scattering our publications, and talking of the truth to those they meet. Let them pray for the sick, ministering to their necessities, not with drugs, but with nature’s remedies, and teaching them how to regain health and avoid disease.—Testimonies, vol 9, p 172 ; WM 133
SANITARIUMS ---THEIR OBJECTS AND AIMS
God’s Design In Our Sanitariums
Every institution established by
Seventh-day Adventists is to be to the world what Joseph was in
So the institutions established by God’s people today are to GLORIFY His name. GOD is to be recognized in the institutions established by Seventh Day Adventists. By them the TRUTH for THIS TIME is to be represented before the world with convincing power. CH 203
God’s purpose for His institutions today
may also be read in the purpose which He sought to accomplish through the
Jewish nation. Through
Their obedience to the laws of God
would make them marvels of prosperity before the nations of the world.
This is the FRUIT that GOD desires from His people. In the purity of their characters, in the holiness of their lives, in their mercy and loving-kindness and compassion, they are to demonstrate that “ the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Psalm 19:7
CH 204
The Lord years ago gave me special light in regard to the establishment of a health institution where the sick could be treated on altogether different lines from those followed in any other institution in our world. It was to be founded and conducted upon Bible principles, as the Lord’s instrumentality, and it was to be in His hands one of the most effective agencies for giving light to the world. It was God’s purpose that it should stand forth with scientific ability, with moral and spiritual power, and as a faithful sentinel of reform in all its bearings. All who should act a part in it were to be reformers, having respect to its principles and heeding the light of health reform shining upon as a people. CH 204-205
1. A Beacon Light
“God designed that the institution which He should establish should stand forth as a beacon of light, of warning and reproof….It was to be an instrumentality for bringing about great reforms.” CH 205
“The Lord revealed that the prosperity of the sanitarium was not to be dependent alone upon the knowledge and skill of its physicians, but upon the favor of God. It was to be known as an institution where GOD was acknowledged as the MONARCH of the Universe, an institution that was under His special supervision. Its managers were to make God first and last and best in everything. And in this was to be its strength. If conducted in a manner that God could approve, it would be highly successful and would stand in advance of all other institutions of the kind in the world.” CH 205, 206
The human family is
suffering because of transgression of the laws of God….
It is His purpose that our institutions shall be object lessons showing the results of obedience to right principles.” CH 206
2. To Promulgate Health Principles
“In the preparation of a people for the
Lord’s second coming, a great work is to be accomplished through the
promulgation of health principles….The people should be taught that
transgression of the laws of nature is transgression of the laws of God.”
CH 206
“Our sanitariums are an educating power to teach the people in these lines. Those who taught can in turn impart to others a knowledge of health-restoring and health-preserving principles. Thus our sanitariums are to be an instrumentality for reaching the people, an agency for showing them the evil of disregarding the laws of life and health, and for teaching them how to preserve the body in the best condition. Sanitariums are to be established in different countries that are entered by our missionaries, and are to be centers from which a work of healing, restoring, and educating shall be carried on.” CH 207
“The establishment of sanitariums is
as essential in
3. Memorials for God
“Our sanitariums in all their departments should be
memorials for God, His instrumentalities for sowing the seeds of truth in human
hearts. This they will be rightly conducted.
The
living truth of God is to be made known in our medical institutions.
Many persons who come to them are hungering and thirsting for truth, and when
it is rightly presented they will receive it with gladness. Our
sanitariums have the means of elevating the truth for this time and bringing it
before thousands. The religious influence that pervades these
institutions inspires the guests with confidence. The assurance that the Lord
presides there, and the many prayers offered for the sick, make an impression
upon the their hearts… .Impressions that will never be effaced are made
upon many who have been self-satisfied, who have thought their own standard of
character to be sufficient, and have felt no need of the righteousness of
Christ. When the future test comes, when enlightenment comes to them,
NOT A FEW of these will take their stand with God’s remnant people.
God
is honored by institutions
conducted in this way. In His mercy He has made the sanitariums such a power in
the relief of physical suffering that thousands have been drawn to them
to be cured of their maladies. And with many, physical healing is
accompanied by the healing of the soul. From the Saviour they receive forgiveness
of their sins. They receive the grace of Christ and identify themselves
with Him, with His interest, His honor. Many go away from our sanitariums with
new hearts. The change is decided. These, returning to their homes, are as
lights in the world.”
CH 207-208
4. Fountains of Life
“God made Joseph a fountain of
life to the Egyptian nation….Through Daniel God saved the life of all the wise
men of
5. To Reform Medical Practice
“As to drugs’ being used in our institutions, it is contrary to the light which the
Lord has bee pleased to give. The drugging business has done more harm to our
World and killed more than it has helped or cured. The light was first given to me
Why institutions should be established, that is, sanitariums were to reform the
medical practices of physicians.—Letter 69, 1898.” MM 27
The Church Qualified for Service
“Christ has empowered His church to do the same work that He did during His
ministry. Today, He is the same compassionate physician that He was while on
this earth.
We should let the
afflicted understand that in Him there is healing balm for every disease,
restoring power for every infirmity. His disciples in this time are to pray for
the sick as verity as His disciples of old prayed. And recoveries will follow,
for “the prayer of faith shall save the sick.” James
Living Waters for Thirsty Souls
“ The Lord wants wise men and women, acting in the capacity of nurses, to comfort and help the sick and the suffering….
It is the object of soul saving that our sanitariums are established. In our daily ministrations we see many careworn, sorrowful faces. What does the sorrow on these faces show? The need of the soul for the PEACE OF CHRIST…. Isaiah 55:1;
John 5:40
It is that thirsting souls may be led to the living water that we plead for sanitariums—not—expensive, mammoth sanitariums, but homelike institutions in pleasant places.
The sick are to be reached, not by massive buildings, but by the establishment of many small sanitariums, which are to be as lights shining in a dark place.
From our sanitariums, trained workers are to go forth into places where the truth has never been proclaimed and do missionary work for the Master, claiming the promise, “Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matt 28:20 --Sp Testimonies, Series B, No. 8, pp, 13, 14 (1907)” CH 211
Sanitarium and the Gospel Work
“Our sanitariums are one of the most successful means of reaching all classes of people. Christ is no longer in this world in person, to go through our cities and towns and villages healing the sick. He has commissioned us to carry forward the medical missionary work that He began, and in this work we are to do our bery best….
Our sanitariums are the right hand of the gospel, opening doors whereby suffering humanity maybe reached with glad tidings of healing through Christ….
There is most precious missionary work to be done in our sanitariums. In them Christ and the angels work to relieve suffering caused by bodily disease. And the work is by no means to stop there. The prayers offered for the sick and the opening of the Scriptures to them give them a knowledge of the great Medical Missionary.” CH 212
The plan to provide institutions for the proper care of the sick originated with the Lord. He has instructed His people that these institutions should be established. With them are to be connected intelligent, God-fearing physicians, who know how to reat the sick from the standpoint of the skillful Christian physician. These physicians are to be earnest and active, serving the Lord in their activity. They are to remember that they are working in the place and under the oversight of the Great Physician. They stand as guardians of the beings that Christ has purchased with His own blood, and it is therefore essential that they be governed by high, noble principles carrying out the will of the divine Medical Missionary, who is ever watching over the sick and suffering.
He who is set as a guardian of the health of the sick should understand by experience the soothing power of the grace of Christ….A physician is not fit for medical missionary work until he has gained a knowledge of Him who came to save perishing, sin-sick souls.” CH 213
“The sick note carefully the looks and words and acts of their physician, and as the Christian physician kneels beside the bedside of the sufferer, asking the Great Physician to take the case into His own hands, an impression is made upon the mind of the sick one that may result in the saving of his soul.” CH 214
Plants Needed in Many Places
“Christ embraced the world in His missionary work, and the Lord has shown me by revelation that it is not His plan for large centers to be made, for large institutions to be established, and for the funds of our people in all parts of the world to be exhausted in the support of a few large institutions, when necessities of the times for something to be done, as Providence opens the way, in many places. Plants should be established in various places all over the world. First one, and then another part of the vineyard is to be entered, until all has been cultivated.
“Centers should be made in all the cities that are unacquainted with the great work that the work that the Lord would have done to warn the world that the end of all things is at hand.” 8T pp204, 205 (Ch 214)
“Field after field is to be entered. The command given us is, “Add new territory.” CH 217
“God has qualified His people to enlighten the world. He has entrusted them with faculties by which they are to extend His work until it shall encircle the globe. In all parts of the earth they are to establish sanitariums, schools, publishing houses, and kindred facilities for the accomplishment of His work.”
“The opening of hygienic
restaurants and treatment rooms, and the establishment of sanitariums
for the care of the sick and the suffering, is just as necessary in
Christ co-operates with those who engage in medical missionary work. Men and women who unselfishly do what they can to establish sanitariums and treatment rooms in many lands will be richly rewarded. Those who visit these institutions will be benefited physically, mentally and spiritually—the weary will be refreshed, the sick restored to health, the sin-burdened relieved. In far-off countries, from those whose heart are by these agencies turned from the service of sin unto righteousness, will be heard thanksgiving and the voice of melody. By their songs of grateful praise a testimony will be borne that will win others to allegiance and to fellowship with Christ. The conversion of souls to God is the greatest, the noblest work in which human beings can have a part.” 7 T pp 51-60 (1902) CH 215
In this work are revealed God’s power, His holiness, His forebearance, and His unbounded love. Every true conversion glorifies Him and causes the angels to break forth into singing.
We are nearing the end of the earth’s history, and the different lines of God’s work are to be carried forward with much more self-sacrifice that is at present manifest. The work for these last days is in a special sense a missionary work….CH 216
Angels Waiting to Cooperate
“…. Heavenly angels are waiting for human beings to co-operate with them in the practical carrying out of the principles of truth. It is through the agency of our sanitariums and kindred enterprises that much of this work is to be done. These institutions are to be God’s memorials, where His healing power can reach all classes, high and low, rich and poor. Every dollar invested in them for Christ’s sake will bring blessings both to the giver and to suffering humanity….
Every city
is to be entered by workers trained to do medical missionary work. As
the right hand of the third angel’s message God’s methods of treating
disease will open doors for the entrance of present truth. Health
literature must be circulated in many lands. Our physicians in
“….It is God’s plan that agriculture shall be connected with the work of our sanitariums and schools.” 8 T pp 227, 228
Economy and Benevolence
“….The managers of all our institutions, and especially of newly established sanitariums, are to be careful to economize in the expenditure of means, that they may be in a position to help similar institutions that are to established in other parts of the world. Even if they a large amount of money in the treasury, they should make every plan with reference to the needs of God’s great missionary field.
Many sanitariums are to be established. They are not to be large, but sufficiently complete to do a good and successful work.
Cautions have been given me in reference to the work of training nurses and medical missionary evangelists. We are not to centralize this work in one place. IN every sanitarium established, young men and young women should be trained to be medical missionaries.” CH 225
Lowliness and Unselfishness
“Never are we to rely upon worldly recognition and rank. Never are we, in the establishment of institutions, to try to compare with worldly institutions in size or splendor. We shall gain the victory, not by erecting massive buildings, in rivalry with our enemies, but by cherishing a Christlike spirit—a spirit of meekness and lowliness. Better far the cross and disappointed hopes, with eternal life at last, that to live with princes and forfeit heaven….
He (Jesus) began His work in poverty and without worldly rank….
He taught His church to rely, not on worldly rank and splendor, but on the power of faith and obedience. The favor of God is of greater value than gold and silver. The power of His Spirit is of inestimable worth.
Buildings will give character to My work only when those who erect them follow My instruction in regard to the establishment of institutions…..” CH 225-226
“The Lord
will work upon human minds in unexpected quarters. Some who apparently
are enemies of the truth will, in God’s providence, invest their means to
develop properties and erect buildings. In time, these properties will be
offered for sale at a price far below their cost. Our people will recognize the
hand of
In various places, properties are to be purchased to be used for sanitarium purposes. Our people should be looking for opportunities to purchase properties away from the cities, on which are buildings already erected and orchards already in bearing. Land is a valuable possession. Connected with our sanitariums there should be lands, small portions of which can be used for the homes of the helpers and others who are receiving a training for medical missionary work.” CH 227
LOCATION
“It is the Lord’s will that these institutions shall be established outside the city. They should be situated in the country, in the midst of surroundings as attractive as possible. In nature—the Lord’s garden—the sick will always find something to divert their attention from themselves and lift their thoughts to God.” CH 265 ; (CH 227)
“To locate our sanitariums amidst the scenes of nature would be to follow God’s plan, and the more closely this plan is followed, the more wonderfully will He work to restore suffering humanity. For our educational and medical institutions, places should be chosen where, away from the dark clouds of sin that hang over the great cities, the Sun of Righteousness, can arise ‘with healing in His wings.’ Malachi 4:2” CH 266
“Our sanitariums should not be situated near the residences of rich men, where they would be looked upon as an innovation and an eyesore and unfavorably commented upon because they receive suffering humanity of all classes. Pure and undefiled religion makes those who are children of God one family, bound up with Christ in God. But the spirit of the world is proud, partial, exclusive, favoring only a few.” CH 270
STRUCTURE
Advantages of Wooden structures.
Economy in Operating
Our Buildings to Represent Our Faith
“…Shall we put a large outlay of money into a building that will soon be consumed in the great conflagration? Our money means souls, and it is to be used to bring a knowledge of the truth to those who, because of sin, are under the condemnation of God…Let us guard against extravagance or improvidence, lest the Lord’s treasury become empty and the builders have not means to do their appointed work.” CH 276
Comfort More Important Than Elegance
“It is not large, expensive buildings, it not rich furniture, it is not tables loaded with delicacies, that will give our work influence and success. It is the faith that works by love and purifies the soul; it is the atmosphere of grace that surrounds the believer, the Holy Spirit working upon the mind and heart, that makes him a savor of life unto life and enables God to bless his work.” CH 278
Mammoth Sanitariums Not a Necessity
“I have been repeatedly shown that it is not wise to erect mammoth institutions. It is not by the largeness of an institution that the greatest work for souls is to be accomplished. A mammoth sanitarium requires many workers. And where so many are brought together, it is exceedingly difficult to maintain a high standard of spirituality. In a large institution it often happens that responsible places are filled by workers who are not spiritual-minded, who do not exercise wisdom in dealing with those who, if wisely treated, would be awakened, convicted, and converted.” 7 T pp 102, 103 ( CH 239)
God directed Noah in building the ark. God instructed Moses in building the sanctuary. Today God is the Master Builder of our institutions. Take time to counsel with Him. “ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.” Psalm 32:8 CH 279
WORKERS
The workers in our institutions should be thorough reformers.
“The workers in our sanitariums have a high and holy calling. They need to awake to a realization of the sacredness of their work. The character of this work and the extent of its influence call for earnest effort and unreserved consecration….
Not a harsh word is to be spoken, not a selfish act done. The workers are to treat all with kindness. Their words are to be gentle and loving. Those who show true modesty and Christian courtesy will win souls to Christ.” CH 251
CH 292 --dress neat, characters patterned after Christ
COOK
He should be a thorough health reformer.
“…The place of meat should be supplied with wholesome foods that are inexpensive. In this matter very much depends on the cook.” CH 254
CHAPLAIN
“It is of great importance that the one who is chosen to care for the spiritual interests of patients and helpers be a man of sound judgment and undeviating principle, a man who will have moral influence, who knows how to deal with minds. HE should be a person of wisdom and culture, of affection as well as intelligence. He may not be thoroughly efficient in all respects at first; but he should, by earnest thought and the exercise of his abilities, qualify himself for this important work. The greatest wisdom and gentleness are needed to serve in this position acceptably, yet without unbending integrity, for prejudice, bigotry, and error of every form and description must be met.
This place should not be filled by a man who has an irritable temper, a sharp combativeness. Care must be taken that the religion of Christ be not made repulsive by harshness or impatience. The servant of God should seek, by meekness, gentleness, and love, rightly to represent our holy faith. While the cross must never be concealed, he should present also the Saviour’s matchless love. The worker must be imbued with the spirit of Jesus, and then the treasures of the soul will be presented in words that will find their way to the hearts of those who hear. The religion of Christ, exemplified in the daily life of His followers, will exert a tenfold greater influence than the most eloquent sermons….If all connected with the sanitarium are correct representatives of the truths of health reform and of our holy faith, they are exerting an influence to mold the minds of their patients. The contrast of erroneous habits with those which are in harmony with the truth of God, has a convicting power.—Testimonies vol 4 pp 546, 547 (1878)” CH 289
MANAGER
CH 331
PHYSICIAN
“He occupies a position even more responsible than that of the minister of the gospel. He is called to be a colaborer with Christ, and he needs stanch religious principles and a firm connection with the God of wisdom. If he takes counsel of God, he will have the Great Healer to work with his efforts and he will move with greatest caution, lest by his mismanagement he injure one of God’s creatures. He will be firm as a rock to principle, yet kind and courteous to all.” CH 321
“The physician should be a strictly temperate man.” CH 321
“Of all men in the world, the physician and the minister should have strictly temperate habits.” CH 322
“ Every medical practitioner may through faith in Christ have in his possession a cure of the highest value—a remedy for the sin-sick soul. The physician who is converted and sanctified through the truth is registered in heaven as a laborer together with God, a follower of Jesus Christ. Through the sanctification of the truth, God gives to physicians and nurses wisdom and skill in treating the sick, and this work is opening the fast-closed door to many hearts. Men and women are led to understand the truth which is needed to save the soul as well as the body.
This is the element that gives character to the work for this time. The medical missionary work is as the right arm of the third angel’s message which must be proclaimed to a fallen world; and physicians, managers, and workers in any line, in acting faithfully their part, are doing the work of the message. Thus the sound of the truth will go forth to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. In this work the heavenly angels bear a part. They awaken spiritual joy and melody in the hearts of those who have been freed from suffering, and thanksgiving to God arises from the lips of many who have received the precious truth.
Only those physicians who are genuine Bible Christians can discharge aright the high duties of their profession.
The physician who understands the responsibility and accountability of his position will feel the necessity of Christ’s presence with him in his work for those for whom such a sacrifice has been made. He will subordinate everything to the higher interests which concern the life that may be saved unto life eternal. He will do all in his power to save both the body and the soul. He will try to do the very work that Christ would do were He in his place. The physician who loves Christ and the souls for whom Christ died will seek earnestly to bring into the sickroom a leaf from the tree of life. He will try to break the bread of life to the sufferer. Notwithstanding the obstacles and difficulties to be met, this is the solemn, sacred work of the medical profession.” CH 331-332
Christ’s Method to Be Copied CH 332
Experienced Helpers CH 292
WAGES
“There are needed in the cause of God workers who will make a covenant with Him by sacrifice, who will labor for love of souls, not for the wages they receive.” CH 302
COMPENSATION
“Every worker in our institutions should receive fair compensation…
If a woman is appointed by the Lord to do a certain work, her work should be estimated according to its value. Some may think it good policy to allow persons to devote their time and labor to the work without compensation. But God does not sanction such arrangements. When self-denial is required because of dearth of means, the burden is not to rest wholly upon a few persons. Let all unite in the sacrifice.” CH 305-306
The Question of Wages
Physician in Chief
“The physician in chief himself should have larger wages.
To the physician in chief I wish to say: Although you have not the matter of wages under your personal supervision, it is best for you to look carefully into this matter: for you are responsible, as the head of the institution “ CH 311-312
Board of Directors
I wish to say particularly to the board of directors: “Remember that the workers should be paid according to their faithfulness. God requires us to deal with one another in the strictest faithfulness. Some of you are overburdened with cares and responsibilities, and I have been” instructed that there is danger of your becoming selfish and wronging those whom you employ.” CH 312