Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)

Lt 51a, 1893

Rousseau, Sister

Wellington, New Zealand

May 29, 1893

Previously unpublished.

Dear Sister Rousseau:

Your letter is received. I cannot answer it, but will heed your request that its contents be kept to myself. Notwithstanding the view you expressed, I cannot see with you in some things. Brother and Sister Starr have spoken to me very tenderly of you. Sister Starr has not made complaints to me of you, and if she feels toward you as you seem to think, she has not told me. As to your not doing enough, nothing of the kind has been mentioned to me. 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 1

Notwithstanding, we see and are made to know the unwise course Sister Daniells has pursued that has cut off her influence with the people and reached to Brother Daniells in consequence. We have all felt very much distressed over the matter. Sister Starr has been more inclined to consider the reports as exaggerated. Doubts [and] jealousy have been permitted to come in, and have made Sister Daniells act very unwisely. Sister Starr has always made answer that all she could say was, as far as she could see, not a particle of jealousy <that she could see has> been manifested by Sister Daniells in the school building. Many complaints have been made. 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 2

No doubt she has been ever tender and kind toward you, but she has not done right toward Carrie. She has not tact to deal with erring human minds. Sister Daniells flew into a passion over a little thing, and she struck Carrie in the face, and Carrie struck her back, and all this business had to be taken to Elder Daniells by his wife before Sister Tuxford. I consider that the sin on Sister Daniells’ part was grievous in the sight of God. Yet if she has made confession, it is not known to those who were acquainted with the trouble. Carrie made an open confession in the New Zealand Conference at Napier, <which I pronounce altogether unwise .> Sister Daniells’ influence has been deleterious to the churches in New Zealand; one person after another comes to me and lays the matter before me. 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 3

I was trying to help Edward Hare, for I had a message for him, and told him where he was wrong, but as soon as I mentioned Brother and Sister Daniells to Brother Hare’s father and brothers, matters were presented before me of such an astonishing character that I could do no more with them, because I would not side with them in condemning Brother and Sister Daniells. “Well,” Edward Hare said, “her course destroyed her husband’s influence. She is a liar.” “Now,” I said, “if you make these bold statements to me, you must, if a Christian, present all the facts to Sister Daniells, and tell her why you charge her with being a liar and full of jealousy. You must tell them all about it, and have this matter settled. These feelings are wicked; such things cannot go on. Of one thing I am sure: you have taken an exaggerated view of matters; Sister Daniells is not the person you take her to be.” 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 4

But, Sister Rousseau, the fact is, Sister Daniells has done wrong, a serious wrong, and has killed her influence in New Zealand. Now, I would not say anything to encourage those persons who were accusing her, but I do not know that she has many friends in New Zealand. After she slapped the face of Carrie, and they had a regular passionate set-to, she went immediately to give a Bible reading. These things grieve me. I know not how things will be settled, she will have to settle them some way. For a minister’s wife to leave such an odor behind is most painful. 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 5

Neither Sister Starr nor I have given any words to encourage the feeling that has been created in regard to Sister Daniells’ influence, but we cannot remove it from the minds of the people. It is a most distressing picture to be brought before us wherever we go. Hard work must be done to set things in order. I am here in Wellington, where the trouble between Carrie and Sister Daniells took place, and the ones who were living with Brother and Sister Daniells have given me a statement, as I requested facts. It is painful, painful. We cannot marvel that Elder Daniells had no success here in Wellington. Sins equal to Achan’s were in the camp. Now to have such things exhibited to Carrie from a minister’s wife is terrible. 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 6

Carrie is to be pitied. She loses her self-possession, and for a little time is insane, but when reason resumes her throne, then she is all broken up with penitence. When the burden of her case was rolled upon me, matters were opened before me which presented Sister Daniells’ position toward her as censurable. She has hurt Carrie. Her management is not <always> wise toward those who are not her equals. She [is] exacting and unwise in her requirements. There are other points I cannot now mention. I did not wish to put anything of this before Sister Carrie. I know that she has a quick temper, and all associated with her should seek to heal, in the place of being as an irritating plaster. But I will say no more on this point. 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 7

The letter I wrote to you is the only letter I could write even now, notwithstanding all the explanations you have made. I have the best of evidence that you have been esteemed in the school building. I have also the light that the close intimacy formed between you and Sister Daniells was not bearing good fruit. The evidence of this was not received from Brother and Sister Starr. This close intimacy was the very thing that prevented you from receiving all that expression of love and tenderness you otherwise would have received. The influence of these close attachments is not according to God’s order. 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 8

As to your being expected to work, to be in the kitchen, and take care, I have never thought you should do this, from the first. It was suggested that Sister Starr, Sister Daniells, and yourself should act together as counsellors, but neither Sister Daniells nor you were expected to do work in the kitchen. I hope you will not misjudge Sister Starr. No one could take the responsibilities she has borne and not have to possess some power of command. She saw that your health [that] was such she must not depend on you; Sister Daniells was such that she could not rely upon her, and what could she do but go ahead and act as matron? I do not think that Sister Starr has always acted with perfect wisdom, but let us consider who would do any better than she has done. I am sure if Sister Daniells had been in her place, there would have been insurrection after insurrection, for she has not tact to deal with minds. 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 9

Will you consider these things? Let everything be opened before Sister Starr, just how you have felt, and in the name of the Lord clear out this root of bitterness, and come to an understanding. You have matters very much exaggerated in your mind, but the Lord would have you perfectly at agreement. If Sister Starr has been unsympathetic, she should know it and correct it. I am sure she does not always exercise that tender sympathy she ought to have. But I am obliged to stop. I have just as tender and loving regard for you as I have ever had. You and your husband are in my heart, to love, to regard tenderly. I know your trials, they have been presented before me. I have seen the dear Saviour bending pityingly over you, saying, “Trust in Me. I will never leave nor forsake you. I am your Restorer.” 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 10

Ellen G. White

Now my sister, from the beginning of the school my only fears were that you would be too ambitious and see so much to do that you would do too much. I know something of your sufferings. If anyone has expected you to do any kind of labor about the house, I did not know it. I would advise you to go to Sister Starr and make everything straight between you and her at the very beginning of the term. Let every particle of disaffection or misunderstanding be cleared away. Let there not be the least estrangement. We have all had much pity and sympathy for you, but the Lord has given you love and sympathy without a parallel. I see, dear sister, that you have lessons to learn in some things which you do not understand. I have love and tenderness for you, but the love that grows into sentimentalism, is a dangerous, deceptive delusion; it is human, not divine. The love of Jesus is more precious than gold. 8LtMs, Lt 51a, 1893, par. 11