A constituency meeting of the College of Medical Evangelists was held at Loma Linda, March 27 to April 1, 1912. At this meeting were present the president, the treasurer, and the medical secretary of the General Conference; the president of the Pacific, North Pacific, Columbian, Lake, Northern, Southern and Southwestern Union Conferences, and four other members of the General Conference Committee. The executive committee of the Pacific Union Conference, and the executive committee of the Southern California Conference. LLM 22.2
In his address to the constituency, Elder G. A. Irwin, president of the Board of Trustees, referred to the launching of the medical college as “one of the most important moves made by this denomination since the removal of our General Conference headquarters from Battle Creek, Michigan, to Washington, D. C. He spoke of three things as being “positively necessary in order that the school may be successful and meet the mind of the Lord in its establishment: (1) Money with which to erect and properly equip the necessary buildings; (2) The hearty cooperation of the entire denomination through its recognized leaders; (3) Steadfast adherence upon the part of the directors and medical faculty to the principles contained in the instruction upon which the institution was founded... LLM 22.3
“When we ask young men and women to come to Loma Linda, to take a medical course, we must have buildings where they can be comfortably housed. If we expect these students to successfully pass their examination before the State boards at the close of their term, we must provide the necessary facilities to enable the teachers properly to instruct them. LLM 22.4
“If this constituency does not want to see the indebtedness of the institution increased, then it must provide a plan whereby the necessary means can be raised to do what of necessity must be done if we proceed with this undertaking. LLM 22.5
“On the other hand, even though we might obtain all the means necessary, a few men and a small constituency could not make a success of this work; it must have the hearty support and confidence of the whole denomination... LLM 22.6
“I have placed adherence to the principles upon which the institution is founded last, not because in my judgment it is least, but because I wish to give special emphasis to the fact that we might have both money and influence in abundance, and yet fail because we lose sight of the fact that this enterprise is but a part of a great movement in which there must be perfect union between the medical and the Evangelical departments of our work... LLM 23.1
“The possibilities before such a school as this are very great. Hundreds of medical evangelists could be used today by this denomination to good effect, not only in heathen lands, but in the cities and densely populated districts of the civilized nations of the earth. May our faith lead us to grasp these possibilities and cause us to lay broad plans and to act promptly in view of the limited time which yet remains to do the work allotted to us as a people.” LLM 23.2
Dr. W. A. Ruble, president of the medical College, reported 237 students as being in attendance at the college and allied schools. These are grouped as follows: LLM 23.3
College: 1st. year, 24; 2nd. year, 23; 3rd year, 9; Medical Evangelistic Course, 1. Nurses: 1st year, 19; 2nd year, 21; 3rd year, 20. Special, 5; Preparatory, 26; Church school, 87. LLM 23.4
Speaking of the Laboratory, Dr. Ruble said: “This building is perfectly adapted to the purposes for which it was constructed; thanks to the counsel of those who knew what they needed and have worked to produce it. Already courses have been conducted in the respective laboratory rooms in histology, embryology, bacteriology, chemistry, and materia medica. Just the apparatus for these courses that was required has been provided. The line of demarcation between economy and efficiency has been carefully guarded.” LLM 23.5
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