The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

LAMSON, David Henry (1835-1897) and Elizabeth Louise (1838-1926)

An ordained minister originally from New York, D. H. Lamson preached widely throughout the Michigan Conference for more than 20 years and in Nebraska and Indiana during the last four years of his life. After his ordination in 1871 he frequently served on conference and General Conference committees. Elizabeth (née Chappell) taught public school before her marriage to David Lamson in 1857. One of their daughters, Mary Elizabeth Lamson, later became preceptor at Emmanuel Missionary College, now Andrews University, where the present women's residence hall is named in her honor. 1EGWLM 857.5

Of the two extant letters from Ellen White to D. H. Lamson, one is of special interest, having been written shortly after the 1888 General Conference session in Minneapolis, Minnesota. D. H. Lamson was among those leading ministers who opposed Ellen White, E. J. Waggoner, and A. T. Jones on the issue of righteousness by faith, which was the focus of the session. Among other concerns raised in the letter, Ellen White was clearly trying to bring about a change of mind and heart in Elder Lamson on this issue. 1EGWLM 857.6

See: Obituary: “David Henry Lamson,” Review, Oct. 26, 1897, p. 687; obituary: “Elizabeth Louise Chappell,” Lake Union Herald, June 23, 1926, p. 5; search term “D. H. Lamson” in Review and Herald online collection, www.adventistarchives.org; U. S. [Uriah Smith], “The Michigan Camp-Meeting,” Review, Sept. 19, 1871, p. 108; SDAE, s.v. “Mary Elizabeth Lamson”; Bert Haloviak, “From Righteousness to Holy Flesh: Judgment at Minneapolis” (Takoma Park, Md.: 1987), chap. 6, p. 21 [www.adventistarchives.org/doc_info.asp?DocID=17757]; Ellen G. White, Lt 10, 1856 (Jan.); Lt 48, 1888 (Dec. 13). 1EGWLM 857.7