A Place Called Oakwood

Chapter 2—Letters

One of the primary methods of communications in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was written correspondence: personal letters. Ellen White certainly utilized this method, penning thousands of letters. A good portion of the letters were of a personal nature, but because of their rich counsel many appeared in denominational periodicals, the Testimonies to the Church volumes, pamphlets, and later posthumous collections. Mrs. White wrote letters to further God's work; encouraged individuals to personal holiness; warn church members of dangers in their path; open the mysteries of God; urge a particular course; share visions; and raise money for church causes. PCO 10.1

Mrs. White penned letters about Oakwood to select individuals, constituencies, church congregations, and even the Oakwood student body. The school, at first in the denomination's proverbial backseat, was thrust nearer to the forefront through Mrs. White's personal correspondence. In the following letters, Ellen White shares the burden for Oakwood God placed on her. PCO 10.2

Note: A few transcribed talks with references to Oakwood are also included in this section. The only transcribed speeches Ellen White gave on the Oakwood campus appear in the previous chapter.