On the first page of the Health Reformer, the first health journal published by Seventh-day Adventists, printed in .1866, with Dr. PI. S. Lay as editor, there appeared the significant inscription, "Our Physician, Nature. Obey and Live." This magazine was published monthly at the Western Health Reform Institute, Battle Creek, Michigan. The price for a year's subscription was one dollar, and in the statement regarding the terms of the subscription rate, there was the notation, "invariably in advance." Doctor Lay was at that time the medical superintendent of the little Health Institute which had been opened almost concurrently with the appearance of the first issue of the Health Reformer.
The first article to appear in the first publication of the journal was entitled, "Digestion," written by Dr. J. S. Ginley. This proved to be a somewhat definite discussion of the anatomy and physiology of the digestive tract, and also presented something of the chemistry of digestion. There was a limited knowledge at that time of the functions of the gastric juice and also of the pancreatic and intestinal juices. There was some understanding of what took place in the change of starches to sugar. In his article Doctor Ginley touched upon the digestion of fat. The article ends abruptly with the simple words, "More hereafter." The second article in this first number was written by Ellen G. White, and the title of it was, "Duty to Know Ourselves." The burden of her article seems to be the proper care and rearing of the child. This very enlightening comment is found:
"Children are sent to school to be taught the sciences, but the science of human life is wholly neglected. That which is of the most vital importance, a true knowledge of themselves, without which all other sciences can be of but little advantage, is not brought to their notice. A cruel and wicked ignorance is tolerated in regard to this important question. So closely is health related to our happiness that we cannot have the latter without the former. A practical knowledge of the science of human life is necessary in order to glorify God in our bodies. It is, therefore, of the highest importance, that among the studies selected for childhood, physiology should occupy the first place. How few know anything about the structure and functions of their own bodies, and of nature's laws. Many are drifting about without knowledge like a ship at sea without compass or anchor, and what is more, they are not interested to learn how to keep their bodies in healthy condition and prevent disease...
"Ignorance upon this important subject is sin; the light is now beaming upon us, and we are without excuse if we do not cherish the light, and become intelligent about these things, which it is our highest earthly interest to understand."
Following these two very interesting and enlightening articles, Elder Loughborough discussed the subject, "Rest," and Elder D. T. Bourdeau began a series entitled, "Health," which contained a discourse on the importance of the Christian's conforming to God's natural laws, as he understands them, in the care of his body. He introduced the article with the familiar words in 3 John 2. There appeared a poem on "Nothing but Water to Drink," and also a little insert on "How to Save Your Teeth." In his editorial, Doctor Lay presented the policies of the magazine. We note one paragraph of this interesting editorial:
"It shall be our great object to lay before our readers facts of vital importance in relation to the health reform, and aim to instruct the people how to avoid sickness or, if sick, how to regain their health and that without poisons. It shall be our constant aim to make the Health Reformer worthy the patronage of an intelligent and candid public. Its contributors will be persons of experience and of high mental and moral attainments. Its selections will be of the choicest kind."
The subject of "Flesh as Food for Man" was discussed by Elder J. N. Andrews. This article dealt with the experiences of Israel. Quoting from the text, "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient," Elder Andrews told those early readers that Paul certainly meant to teach that there are classes of food which are not unlawful and not Biblically forbidden, but which it is for the best good to let alone. He then proceeded to give ten reasons why grains, fruits, and vegetables should replace the excessive use of flesh foods, which were being commonly served in such abundance.
An interesting account appears relative to the habits of 6,68o persons on the Devon estate in Ireland. The author stated that out of the six hundred farmers on this estate, all but a very few did not use meat from one year's end to another, except at Christmas and Easter, and that they were noted for their well-being on such a program. Pork came in for its share of exposure. Trichina seemed to be prevalent, and there were warnings in newspapers in that day, even as we see common references in State health bulletins today, warning people of the dangers in the use of trichina-infected pork. Statements relative to \-richina consisted of quotations from current )apers of the day, and reports of individuals in various parts of the country. A news item for the month, found on the last page, reads as follows:
"A Soother.--A Detroit pork dealer with a keen eye to trade, thus attempts to quiet the fears of his customers in regard to pork eating: 'No trichinae ! I hereby inform my friends and customers that by instructions received from Doctor Kiefer, and by application of a powerful microscope, I am able to furnish only perfectly sound and healthy pork.'"
The editor commented, "The microscope probably cures." Among other articles which appeared was one by Elder Waggoner on "Two Meals a Day ;" also there were selected articles on "Mastication of the Food" and "Indulgence of the Appetite." A question-and-answer column was also introduced, and the questions in that first volume were regarding the swelling on a boy's neck; a sallow, bilious complexion; and the merits of coarse or fine ground wheat. Another questioner wanted to know which was the better for food—wheat or corn. An amusing poem was included, entitled, "How to Be Sick." This poem suggested nonbathing, vegetables swimming in grease, plenty of pork, the use of tobacco, the drinking of drugged liquor, sleeping with closed windows, and drinking strong tea and coffee. Even the field of mental hygiene was not forgotten in telling the readers how to be sick:
"Keep storming and scolding at trifles,
No matter where blame may belong.
All accidents lay onto someone,
Though no one but you may be wrong;
And never take time from your labors
To rest either body or mind,
For fear you may lose a few dollars,
Or fortune may falter behind."
Thus was launched the first number of the health magazine to be printed by this denomination, a move destined to become a great educational program which is represented at the present time by the publication of thirty-two Seventh-day Adventist health magazines in twenty-four respective countries. Practical health instruction constitutes the whole or the larger part of the subject matter in these journals. However, even with the launching of this first paper the publication of health education literature for the people was an untried field for the early church.
Relationship of Spirit of Prophecy
A study of the volumes of the Health Reformer that succeeded the first edition indicates that mistakes were made, and many times a strong hand had to lay hold of the helm in order to bring back to the middle of the road both the editorial policy and the message which was being given to the people. It was at such times that the Spirit of prophecy became a strong balancing wheel, correcting error and urging a more careful study of natural laws. It is evident that the health teachings of the Spirit of prophecy were not dictatorial, or rule of thumb in their presentation, else such differences of opinion regarding what they taught would not so often have arisen in the minds of that early group. Then, as now, some people tried to use the Ellen G. White writings on health to condemn the practices of others in the church. This wrong use often led to disbelief, not only in the message, but also in the messenger.
Perhaps in no other field as in health teaching are the Testimonies so often misused or misapplied. One of the most interesting accounts of an individual's experience in understanding the place, purpose, and use of the Testimonies in the guidance of the church is found in the Gospel of Health, a magazine published by us concurrently with the Health Reformer, in 1896, 1897, and 1898. In an article in this magazine, Mrs. S. M. I. Henry, who was a very influential worker in the W.C.T.U., describes under the title "A Telescope," the conditions that led up to her acceptance of our Sabbath message and other truths. She gives an account of the disturbances in her mind as she went out into the field and learned from some their lack of faith in the Spirit of prophecy. She herself was perplexed over the place which these writings were to fill in her acceptance of truth.
Mrs. Henry had sought an interview with W. C. White, but had not received the permanent relief she desired from the burden of her question. She had always believed that the Spirit of prophecy lived in the church, that it was by this power that Wesley and many others in modern times had spoken. Many times there had come to her heart a great desire to recognize such a voice when it should speak to her. One day in a meeting held at the Chicago Medical Missionary Training School (December, 1897), she expressed to those gathered there her great perplexity and keen desire to really understand the place of the Spirit of prophecy in the great advent message which she had espoused. She asked those present to pray earnestly with her for light on the subject. As she knelt in prayer in company with the small group who had gathered for this meeting, the entire subject was made plain to her. In describing the experience, she gives us such a beautiful picture of the proper use of the Spirit of prophecy in the church, that we here give her description in her exact words:
"Accordingly, we all bowed in prayer, and I stated my case to God, with as deep a sense of need as I had ever known in my life. All the great and marvelous blessings of my life were for the time forgotten in this present need, and as must always be true, I was heard. The manifestation of the power of the Spirit of God was as clear as sunlight ; and in that light I saw the Testimony as simply a lens through which to look at the truth. It at once grew from a lens to a telescope,—a perfect, beautiful telescope, subject to all telescopic conditions and limitations,—directed toward the field of the heavens,—that field, the Bible. Clouds may intervene between it and a heaven full of stars,—clouds of unbelief, of contention; Satan may blow tempests all about it ; it may be blurred by the breath of our own selfishness ; the dust of superstition may gather upon it; we may meddle with it, and turn it aside from the held; it may be pointed away toward empty space; it may be turned end for end, so that everything is so diminished that we can recognize nothing. We may change the focus so that everything is distorted out of all harmonious proportions, and made hideous; it may be so shortened that nothing but a great piece of opaque glass shall appear to our gaze. If the lens is mistaken for the field, we can receive but a very narrow conception of the most magnificent spectacle with which the heavens ever invited our gaze; but in its proper office as a medium of enlarged and clearer vision,—as a telescope,—the Testimony has a wonderfully beautiful and holy office.
"Everything depends upon our relation to it and the use which we make of it. In itself it is only a glass through which to look, but in the hand of the divine Protector, properly mounted, set at the right angle, and adjusted to the eye of the observer, with a field clear of clouds, it will reveal truth such as will quicken the Wood, gladden the heart, and open a wide door of expectation. It will reduce nebulae to constellations; faraway points of light to planets of the first magnitude, and to suns burning with glory.
"The failure has been in understanding what the Testimonies are and how to use them. They are not the heavens, palpitating with countless orbs of truth, but they do lead the eye and give it power to penetrate into the glories of the mysterious living word of God."
In speaking of this afterward, Mrs. Henry stated, "This has been the most beautiful experience that has ever been granted me. It grows on me from day to day." Thus again a kind Providence through inspiration gave balance and direction to the voice of prophecy among His remnant people. Uninformed as were many of the writers on health subjeCts in that early day, nevertheless this voice was ever sane and rational, pointing out to misguided individuals the practical viewpoint of God's provision for the health of His children
Selected References
Gospel of Health, Vol. II, p. 27, Good Health Publishing Association, Battle Creek, Michigan, 1898. Health Reformer, Vol. I, 1866.