The Pocket Ellen G. White Dictionary

N

national fasts — nostrums

national fasts

*Puritan ritual of turning to God. During the American Civil War, the fasts were held particularly to

The physical world is the great lesson book to learn about the Creator (Ed 99—101). “Nature still speaks to us of God’s goodness” (Ed 101). Unfortunately, due to sin, “only in the light that shines from Calvary can nature’s teaching be read aright” (Ed 101). “The e are wonderful truths in nature. . . . Sin has obscured his [humanity’s] vision,” Ellen G. White noted, “and he cannot of himself interpret nature without placing it above God” (COL 107).

necromancy

The practice of revealing future events by attempting to communicate with the dead. Ellen G. White described how evil spirits were at work with King Saul and the witch of Endor (PP 676).

nicest work

A superlative term used by Ellen G. White to describe the detail required of Adventist educators (3T 131, 269). The*work of the Adventist educator is a solemn responsibility and requires great care and tact to help mold minds and aid students in developing characters for heaven.

niggardly

Being ungenerous with one’s money or time (2T 284; 4T 126). Ellen G. White described the selfish behavior of Nabal in his treatment of David and his men as “churlish and niggardly” (PP 664).

night season

A reference to nighttime. Ellen G. White often associated this term in reference to supernatural in-struction she received while she slept. For example, “the word of the Lord came to me in the night season” (CS 264). Biblical figu es such as Balaam received divine instruction at nighttime (PP 440). Biblical prophets could receive divine instruction either during the day or at night.

North

A reference, particularly during the American Civil War (1861—1865), to the states that supported the Union. In the United States presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party dominated the North, the states north of the Mason-Dixon line, and won a plurality of the popular votes and a majority of the electoral votes nationally. This secured the election of Abraham Lincoln (1809—1865) as president. In response, eleven states in the *South seceded, which forced a confrontation that resulted in the bloodiest war in United States history. Ellen G. White expressed caution about the reluctance of *proslavery men in the North to stand up against slavery (1T 253—268).

nostrums

Ellen G. White warned against many popular and patent nostrums, or medicines, that were positively un-healthful and even dangerous. She advised health reformers instead to make use of natural remedies. Some of these nostrums contained harmful substances that led to alcohol, opium, or morphine addictions that were a “terrible a curse upon society” (MH 126, 127).