When this topic was assigned to me, I at once felt I should review my knowledge as to the meaning of the word expediency. Expedient, according to Webster, means: "Serving to promote a desired end; suitable under the circumstances."
With this definition impressed upon my mind, the title of my topic opened before me in a wider vista. "Expediency of the Hour." An hour or a time which serves to promote a desired end, or a time suitable because of circumstances. What is the desired end which we hope to attain in our institutions for the care of the sick? Is it to make money ? If so, this hour is expedient, for many are sick and are seeking the services of a sanitarium or hospital. And money is flowing freely. But you say, "This is not the end we desire." No, indeed, it should not be.
Again I ask, Is the end we desire the making of a name for the institution and the denomination? If so, I say again, this hour is expedient. But you say, "No, this is not the object before us." Then I ask, Is it the meeting of the world's standards and ideals for such institutions? But I hear a chorus of voices saying, "No, our objective is to meet God's standards, ideals, and purpose for these institutions, for they were established by Him." Yes, this is the end we should be seeking to attain with all our mental and physical energies. They were instituted by Him, and for a very definite purpose, and with very high and holy standards and ideals.
Let us renew our minds regarding the very definite purpose God has for such institutions. In Counsels on Health we read:
"Why do we establish sanitariums?—That the sick who come to them for treatment may receive relief from physical suffering, and may also receive spiritual help."—Page 271.
"We are to do all in our power for the healing of the body; but we are to make the healing of the soul of far greater importance.... Our sanitariums are to be established for one object,—the advancement of present truth."—Page 272.
"The Lord years ago gave me special light in regard to the establishment of a health institution where the sick could be treated on altogether different lines from those followed in any other institution in our world." —Page 204.
With God's purpose thus set before us, let us now ask this question: Is the time, now, in 1947, expedient to promote this desired end? To help us answer the question let me refer you to one experience. A certain lady had sought relief from many physicians in different institutions in her travels, until she found out she was getting no help. Then while in Australia, after consulting other physicians with no satisfactory result, she asked if anyone knew of a Seventh-day Adventist institution. She was referred to one of our people who was operating a treatment room. She went, and found the help she needed. Yes, the time is expedient. The people of the world have heard of Seventh-day Adventist institutions as being different, and are looking to them for help that they do not find elsewhere. Let us not disappoint them.
In my work as chaplain I have had patients tell me that they came to our sanitarium because they wanted to get away from the taking of sedatives and drugs which were being given to them in other institutions and by other doctors so freely. But the sad comment that followed was that they were disappointed, for they found it different from what it used to be. Can it be that we have turned away from the plan God has outlined, and are following in the paths of other institutions?
We might go on and multiply experiences, all of which would show us very positively that the time is expedient, and the circumstances are suitable for the great purpose of our institutions to be attained. Illness is truly prevalent. The sick are seeking help. Many of them are both sinsick and physically sick, and know it not. They need a help which they do not find in the hospital of the world. They are looking to us in our sanitariums for that which others are not giving. Many experiences could be recited to demonstrate this fact, but time does not permit.
This constitutes a great challenge to us—a challenge to turn back to the plans, standards, and ideals we have departed from, that the specific purpose God has for our sanitariums and hospitals may be attained in this expedient time.
You who occupy the positions of responsibility as directors of schools of nursing should carefully consider the challenge of the hour, and do all in your power to hold firmly to God's instruction for His institutions for the care of the sick. Let us prayerfully heed this counsel:
"If our institutions are what God designs they should be, those connected with them will not pattern after worldly institutions. They will stand as peculiar, governed and cOntrolled by the Bible standard. They will not come into harmony with the principles of the world in order to gain patronage."—Counsels on Health, p. 295.
"There is danger of those connected with the Health Institute losing sight of the object for which such an institution was established by Seventh-day Adventists, and working from the worldly stand-point, patterning after other institutions."—Testimonies; vol. 3, p. 169.
The time is truly expedient, and the challenge is great.
