When we use the word "principle" we mean a fundamental truth or doctrine, or a settled rule of action or conduct. Other meanings are "religious belief" and "essential character."
Adventist medical work is different because its source is different. We recognize, however, that all true science, including medical science, is of God. But the fact is, there still remains an eternal difference, because we are a peculiar people, with a special medical work and message for this time.
Doctors and nurses of the world can imitate our sanitariums, equip their institutions with the same equipment, or even better. Machinery and organization is at the command of the medical profession, irrespective of objectives and motives. They can give electrotherapy treatments to perfection, and, even hydrotherapy, and we concede that they work with success. They obtain many positive results and do a great deal of good. But the spirit, the peaceful, restful, heavenly atmosphere, is missing.
Ours is a higher calling, a nobler work, and a greater responsibility—it is the healing of the soul as well as the body. It is a physical and spiritual work, the most sacred and solemn ever entrusted to mortals. Physicians and nurses are called to attend the sick and suffering from the cradle to the grave. It is their privilege and in their power to help prepare these human bodies and souls for a better and happier life in a world made new, where sickness, pain, and death are unknown.
Again, our sanitarium principle is a fundamental truth and a settled rule of conduct in our medical institutions. Blessed is the sanitarium where the medical director and staff, together with all the workers, appreciate the sacred principle and respect this God-given rule of conduct.
When Christ victoriously rose from the grave and ascended to heaven, He fulfilled His promise by placing spiritual gifts in the apostolic church, among which was the gift of healing. The apostles who had been with Jesus and learned at His feet, highly valued this gift and made the best use of it in their ministry—first healing the body, then saving the sin-sick soul. Throughout their service they faithfully imitated their Master, always uniting the gospel and medical missionary work. It is said that today as then the gospel and the medical missionary work are to advance together. And again we are told that the gospel is to be bound up with the principles of true health reform.
How important it is that we always remember the divine plan, to work as the disciples worked. Physical healing is to be bound up with the gospel commission, and teaching and healing are never to be separated. As in the days of His earthly ministry, Christ and His disciples earnestly labored as medical missionaries to prepare a people for the kingdom of God, so today earnest medical missionaries are to make ready a people for the second coming of Christ.
To accomplish His divine-plan and purpose, the Lord, in His goodness, early in the history of the 1844 movement, gave Mrs. White an extended vision with definite and clear instructions in regard to the principles of true health reform. Thus this precious light from heaven came just in time to illuminate the remnant church in her God-given mission to finish His work and prepare a people for His soon coming.
We are glad for the small but active part the Rio Clinica de Repouso White has had in this great teaching and healing program in this needy country and capital city of more than two million waiting people. I say needy millions, because that is the true expression of a challenging truth; I say waiting millions, because they are still waiting—waiting for this precious light given the Advent people eighty-two years ago.
As we opened this modest but comfortable medical institution, some doubted whether a clinic and rest home, without surgery, could ever be self-supporting. In other words, to some it was doubtful whether the sanitarium principle would work in Rio de Janeiro. I am glad, however, to be able to state that the sanitarium principle has succeeded well and been victorious far beyond the expectations of even the most enthusiastic. Now, at the end of our three-year contract, we can say that so far the Rio clinic has been a success. We do say this to the honor and glory of God, giving Him all thanks. He has been our ever-present help, according to His promises.
Our physical therapy treatments, as well as our vegetarian diet, have been the successful means of gaining a host of grateful friends among Rio's influential and better social class of people for our future Rio sanitarium now under construction.
Just a few examples will serve to give an idea of how our patients appreciate the vegetarian diet and the sanitarium principle in general. Just today a wealthy couple said: "It would be a crime to withhold from our people the knowledge of how to prepare this good-tasting and wholesome food. You must teach our people how to prepare good meals without meat. I will rent a large hall in the city and pay all expenses if you will give cooking instructions and demonstrations."
An influential woman among the government officials came as a patient. After a very happy and rapid recovery, she has been returning for her noonday meals and Friday evening meetings for more than two years. She comes in all kinds of weather, riding in overcrowded busses for an hour and then continuing on by streetcar to the Rio clinic. She is such an ardent believer in our diet that she goes so far as to refuse all invitations out for lunch by friends and relatives, as well as members of her own family
The wife of a physician said : "I was so sick I wanted to die, and was completely discouraged, weeping in despair. God answered my prayers in bringing me to your clinic. My healing has been so rapid and so complete that I consider it a divine miracle. I know now that it was not mere medicine and injections that I needed, but simply love and sympathy. This, I am glad to say, I found in abundance in all who served me here in this peaceful and quiet place."
An elderly gentleman, who had come in contact with one of our former patients in the far north of Brazil, became so impressed and encouraged by the report of this man's positive and lasting results that he decided to come to Rio by air from the Amazon, to seek medical help and treatment. Said he : "Your clinic is my last hope!".
Two women, complete strangers, came in one day, wishing to see the clinic. After they were shown around they asked for a room, saying the atmosphere was so inviting and peaceful. At the time there was no vacancy, so they reluctantly left.
A number of months later they called by telephone, explaining that they were leaving for Los Angeles the following day and inquiring whether we also had a clinic in that city. Naturally we were greatly pleased to inform them that we have a much bigger and better one, giving them the name of the Glendale Sanitarium.
So I could go on enumerating gratifying experiences we have had during the last three years of blessed medical missionary service in this beautiful capital city of Brazil. Let us always remember that the sanitarium principle and the gospel of true health reform are powerful and saving influences in any country or city where faithfully put into practice in our health institutions.
