Last spring I gave a lecture before one thousand students at the Ogden senior high school on "Tobacco and Efficiency." This was the first opportunity of this kind in our work in Ogden. Ever since we came, we have been praying that the Lord would open the way for some of these lectures in the schools, churches, clubs, etc., but until that time the way had not seemed to open. The Lord greatly blessed at this lecture, and gave us the hearts of the teachers and students. The superintendent of schools then asked me to speak in his four junior high schools. In this way I have become acquainted with young people from many of the homes of the city.
At one of these high school lectures a member of the board of education was present. After the lecture he asked me to speak in some of the Mormon churches. We had hoped and prayed that we might gain an entrance with our health message among these people, and thus the way was opened. I have already spoken in three of the Mormon churches, and have appointments to speak in others. Recently I spoke at the State Industrial School, and the day following at the large Weber College, an institution of the Mormon Church. In all these schools and churches this lecture on tobacco has been enthusiastically received. Through the Lord's blessing a deep impression has been made upon minds, and we are making friends throughout the city.
As I go to these lectures, I take one of the nurses or other workers with me. We announce that free literature will be given to those who are especially interested in the subject if they will hand in their names and addresses. Then our workers take the Anti-Tobacco annual of the Youth's Instructor to the homes.
We have opened our meetings at the American Legion Hall. For the first few weeks we are carrying on a series of health lectures, accompanied by demonstrations of simple treatments and scientific cookery. A little later we shall work into the prophetic subjects.
It is wonderful to review how God has given us favor with the city as we have started these meetings. A short time before the meetings were to start I asked the superintendent of schools to introduce me to the mayor, and to tell him of my work in the high schools. Together we called on the mayor, and as the superintendent of schools told him about our work, he received us very cordially. I asked him to speak at our opening night, which he readily consented to do.
The local radio station co-operated in our health program, and has given me a fine evening period three nights a week entirely free of charge. The editor of the newspaper is friendly, and is co-operating by giving us good publicity. Hand-printed posters advertising our opening week are on the bulletin boards of all the high schools in the city, including even the Catholic academy. Blotters announcing our meetings have been placed in the hands of all the high school students through the teachers. In addition to all this, most of the city has been covered by our company, workers and church members distributing printed announcements and giving personal invitations.
In answer to the earnest prayers of our company and the little church, God gave us a good audience the first night. About three hundred twenty-five were present. The mayor was surprised to see such a crowd. He said he and the city commissioner had arranged a wonderful program a short time before and invited the people to attend, but only about a hundred came out. He urged the people to attend this series of health lectures.
At our second meeting, although it was a bit rainy, nearly four hundred were present. When we consider that in the evangelistic effort held here several years ago the attendance was sometimes as low as twenty, counting Seventh-day Adventists, we sincerely thank the Lord for the entering wedge provided by the medical work.
In speaking of our health message as "the entering wedge," there is danger that we shall, because of our meager understanding of the real purpose and importance of medical ministry, think of it only as a means of breaking down prejudice and so securing an audience. As a result, we may fail to give it the place which its value demands.
When Jesus came to this world, "the earth was dark through misapprehension of God." Men did not love God, because they did not know Him. Jesus chose to reveal the love of God to men by ministering to them. The principle thus clearly revealed in the life of Jesus, the great Medical Evangelist, is especially applicable to His ministers today, and that is to reveal the love of God to mankind through medical ministry.
Ogden, Utah.
