The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

Lt 12, 1850

August 15, 1850,¹ Centerport, New York 1EGWLM 215.1

Letter to
Stockbridge Howland and Louisa M. Howland.² 1EGWLM 215.2

This letter is published in entirety in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 15, pp. 207-209.

News to close friends of the dramatic healing of her baby Edson and of her husband. 1EGWLM 215.3

Dear Bro. and Sister Howland,

I send this vision to you for you to read to the church in Topsham [Maine]. 1EGWLM 215.4

Brother Rhodes [Samuel W. Rhodes]³ came here last Tuesday which is just one week ago today.⁴ We were glad to see him. He has just got out a new chart. It is larger than any chart I ever saw; it is very clear. We like his chart much.⁵ 1EGWLM 215.5

My babe [James Edson] had been very sick for about a week. We had prayed for him and he was some better and we thought he would recover. Tuesday, P.M., James [James Springer White] and myself went to Port Byron [New York] with Brother Rhodes. He was to take a canal boat and go on his way to Michigan. It seemed as though we could hardly let him go. We knew not why we felt so. 1EGWLM 216.1

On our way home it seemed to me that Satan had stepped in and was troubling Edson. We found it even so; we found the child at the point of death. James took his horse and carriage and started to overtake Bro. Rhodes. He went five miles [eight kilometers], overtook him and brought him back. That night they prayed for Edson and he has come up very fast since. Satan wanted to hinder the work of the Lord, so he afflicted the child, but he was beaten back by faith in God and His name shall have the glory.⁶ 1EGWLM 216.2

When Satan found he could not take the life of the child, he tempted me that God had left me or the child would have been healed when we first prayed for him. I sank under this temptation in despair and was so until last Sabbath evening. My heart seemed within me like lead, but God delivered me that eve and Satan’s power was broken. 1EGWLM 216.3

The next he got hold of was Clarissa [Clarissa M. Bonfoey].⁷ She was sunken and discouraged. At the same time James was taken with the cholera morbus. He failed very fast until yesterday, P.M. Then he made a request for us to pray for him. Bro. Harris [William Harris]⁸

Identity: There are several indications in this letter that Ellen and James White are staying at the house of “Bro. Harris” in Centerport, a hamlet just outside the village of Port Byron, Cayuga County, New York. This is no doubt the “William Harris” whose name appears in the Review under the address “Port Byron.” Port Byron, a mile or so from Centerport, had a post office and would therefore be used as the postal address.

See: Wm. Harris, “From Bro. Harris,” Review, Nov. 8, 1853, p. 142; idem, “From Bro. Harris,” Review, Feb. 5, 1857, p. 110; William Harris, “From Bro. Harris,” Review, Sept. 10, 1857, p. 151; obituary: “Wm. Harris,” Review, Apr. 22, 1873, p. 151.

was gone to his work so that it only left Sister Harris [Lydia Harris],⁹ Clarissa, and Sarah [Sarah B. Harmon]¹⁰ and myself. We all felt unworthy to engage in the work, but we felt that the work of the Lord was hindered by his lying on a sick bed, and we knew unless God should deliver him he could not get well. He had a high fever. He had the cramp take him in his hips and extend down to his feet. His stomach was much strained by vomiting. We knew something must be done. I anointed his head and stomach and bowels in the name of the Lord, then we took hold of faith for him. Our united prayers went up to God and the answer came. Sister Harris and Clarissa were set entirely free and they prayed God with a loud voice. The Spirit caused Clarissa to laugh aloud.¹¹ James was healed every whit; the great distress he had had in his head was every whit removed and he looked as though he had got the holy anointing. The fever and all pain left him and he ate and was strengthened. He walked out upon his faith, harnessed his horse and he and I went to Port Byron, one mile and a half [two kilometers] and back.¹² He gained strength very fast. He is quite strong today. Praise the good Lord. 1EGWLM 216.4

When Satan found his power was completely broken upon him, he went to the child again. He waked us crying at the top of his voice. He seemed to have the colic and we went up to the chamber, anointed his stomach with oil and prayed over him, rebuked Satan and he had to flee. We heard no more from him till morning. He is quite well today but rather weak. We feel quite free from his (Satan’s) power today. He has made a desperate struggle to get some of us, but we have driven him back. 1EGWLM 217.1

The Lord showed me some weeks ago that as James would begin to republish what the leaders had written in 1844, upon the truth,¹³ Satan would try to hinder us; but we must struggle for the victory and go on. It has been just so. He knows this work will hurt his cause and save some jewels. That is why he rages so, but he is driven back. 1EGWLM 217.2

Picture: Copy of an Ellen White letter to Stockbridge and Louisa Howland (Aug. 15, 1850 [Lt 12, 1850]), the original of which is not extant. Copied in Record Book, No. 1, by Jessie F. Waggoner in the 1880s.

Picture: The Howland home in Topsham, Maine, where the Whites lived in 1847-1848.

Picture: Stockbridge Howland and his wife, Louisa