The Visions of Mrs. E.G. White

OBJECTION 28. — MATTERS IN IOWA

The nature of objections to the visions depends considerably upon the locality from which they come. Wherever wrongs have been exposed or errors reproved, when opposition breaks out, these things are sure to come up in the fore front among the objections. There were, unfortunately, some fanatical movements in Iowa relative to the late war; and it so happens that those who are not (1866) leading off in that section in opposition to the visions, are the ones who were principally concerned in those movements. They were reproved by visions; and it is perhaps not to be wondered at, that, still smarting under the ignominious failure of their fanatical schemes, they should feel sensitive on this point. We have never known a person who had once committed himself upon the visions, to rise up in opposition to them, till his own dear self was in some way, either directly or indirectly, touched by their testimony. And here we discover, perhaps the principal, at least a not very remote, cause of the present opposition to the visions in that State. It would no doubt be a great gratification to those concerned to be able to prove that others in other places had been equally fanatical and were not reproved, and so that the visions were at least inconsistent, or partial in their testimony. This they attempt with a good deal of spirit; but the facts are woefully against them. The circumstances may be summed up in brief as these; In Iowa, under the pressure of repeated calls for men by the government, certain ones appealed to the legislature of the State to enact a law exempting Seventh-day Adventists from military duty. As any one might have foreseen, they utterly failed in their object; and what kind of notoriety did they gain by the transaction. Any one who wished to avoid military duty was at that time looked upon with suspicion; but here was a class who not only wished to avoid military duty, but asked that special laws might be promulgated in their behalf, in order that they might do it. If the authorities could bring special pressure to bear on any class, it would be sure to be such. VEGW 82.1

On the other hand, the General Conference Committee, to whom the brethren were all looking to do something in their behalf, sent up a petition to the government, and carried it to headquarters where all such petitions belong, — for what? For a law to be enacted especially in their favor? No; but for the benefit of a law already existing. The law exempting non-combatants was already in force; and if we could show ourselves to be such as were contemplated in its provision, the law was bound to protect us. This the committee undertook to do, and succeeded in doing. The one was a reasonable project, prosecuted in a proper manner, and in the end successful. The other was a spasmodic irrational effort, prosecuted in a spirit of fanaticism, so one of its principal abettors has once confessed, and in the end an utter failure. This is the difference between the two efforts. Yet now these disappointed Iowa aspirants for military favor, have the effrontery to come forth and declare that if their movement was fanaticism, the action of the committee was “fanaticism intensified!” We leave the reader to judge upon which side the intensity belongs. VEGW 83.1

But this is not the worst feature of their treatment of the course of the committee in this matter. The action of the committee involved an expense in procuring testimony, employing counsel, making journeys, etc., etc., in comparison with which the cost of the paper and printing of the documents which they issued, was scarcely to be taken into account; yet these murmurers set forth that the price of these documents was exorbitant, because a few pages out of the sixteen were blank, as though the mere printing was the main thing! And when subsequent steps were taken, involving a still greater expense, and the necessary documents were then issued to enable our brethren to avail themselves of the exemption act, they complain again that an extra fifty cents was added to the price of these documents when sent out of the State of Michigan. Now it was fully explained in the paper, at the time these documents were published, see Review, Volume 25, No.16, that those which were to be used out of the state, must be taken to the county clerk, thirteen miles, to receive his certificate, a step that did not have to be taken with those used within the State; and if any think fifty cents each was an exorbitant price to cover the time and expense of the journey, the cost of the certificate, and the requisite stamp, the worst wish we have for them is, that they were obliged to foot the bill out of the proceeds. But they carefully keep back all these facts, and endeavor to appeal to the prejudice of the reader, by representing that advantage was taken of those living out of the State. VEGW 83.2

And then, plunging into a still greater depth of turpitude, they add: “Since nobody is in danger of being drafted, these books can be had for one dollar. Somebody’s necessities must have been taken advantage of.” The occasion of the books being offered for one dollar after the close of the war is explained by the following resolution, which was passed, be it remembered, at the session of the General Conference of 1865. VEGW 84.1

Whereas, The General Conference Committee have been under the necessity of incurring a considerable expense in preparing and procuring preliminary proofs and documents, to enable certain of our brethren to avail themselves of the law in favor of non-combatants, which expense as yet has been but partially met from the avails of said proofs and documents, therefore, VEGW 84.2

Resolved, That this Conference hereby request all those for whose personal benefit said expense was incurred, viz., those who were liable to the draft — and all others who are so disposed, to contribute one dollar each for the purpose of defraying the same, and that each of said contributors be entitled to a copy of said documents. VEGW 84.3

This action speaks for itself. It was deliberately done in open session of the highest body known among Seventh-day Adventists; and moreover, those very persons who now throw out their base insinuations against it, were present and voted for it! Why did they not withhold their votes, and exhibit their opposition there before the Conference? But after having by their votes acknowledged that the expense of the work had not been met, and that it should be made up in the way the resolution indicated, how can they now turn about as they do and denounce the course of the committee? Such hypocrisy is too transparent to need exposure. VEGW 85.1

They further complain that during the war nothing was shown about the duty of the brethren in view of the draft, but a vision was given showing the length at which women should wear their dresses. In this they have stated an absolute falsehood; for what was published about dress was only an article from sister White in How to Live, No.6, page 63. It does not purport to be a vision. That is a clause of their own adding. Now could not sister White write and article during the rebellion on any other subject but war, without being denounced therefore? Misrepresentations like this may for awhile have some influence; but they must surely in the end redound disastrously upon the heads of their authors. VEGW 85.2