A Call for Co-operation

Thus it was that at this General Conference of 1897 the ministry were strongly urged, as they had been in the earlier days (in 1866), to manifest themselves wholeheartedly in union with health principles, making them a part of their own lives, and recognizing in them a vital part of the threefold message they were giving to the world.SHM 290.3

Two years passed and the General Conference was again in session at South Lancaster, Massachusetts, in March, 1899. Again timely messages relating to the medical work were received from Mrs. White in Australia. This time they pointed out serious misconceptions of the nature of medical missionary work on the part of the leaders in that branch of the cause, and they were read by Elder G. A. Irwin, president of the General Conference. On the morning of March 1, 1899, he stood before the delegates, who were expecting a resumption of the business proceedings, and said: “Some communications for the conference came in the mail from Australia this morning. Shall they now be read?”—Ibid., March 2, 1899.SHM 290.4

There was a general response of “Certainly,” and the president proceeded to read: “We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Prophecies are fulfilling. The last great conflict will be short, but terrible. Old controversies will be revived. New controversies will arise.”—Ibid.SHM 291.1

The message proceeded to point out that decided efforts were now to be made to bring the message for this time prominently before the people. There was to be “no change in the features of our work.” There was to be “no confederacy with the world, supposing that by so doing we could accomplish more.” “No line of our faith that has made us what we are is to be weakened.” As the work should advance, dangers would arise that needed to be guarded against. “As new enterprises are entered upon, there is a tendency to make some one line all-absorbing; that which should have the first place becomes a secondary consideration.” (Ibid.)SHM 291.2

This tendency to give an undue attention to a line of work good in itself, but threatening to absorb a disproportionately large amount of means and number of workers, was shown in the “great interest” that had been “aroused for the poor and outcast classes,” “the uplifting of the fallen and degraded.” “There is danger,” Mrs. White warned, “of loading down everyone with this class of work, because of the intensity with which it is carried on.” “We are not to strain every spiritual sinew and nerve to work for the lowest classes and make that work the all in all. There are others whom we must bring to the Master.” (Ibid.)SHM 291.3