His Messenger

Chapter 9—He Opens the Way

It was a great encouragement to the followers of God after the disappointment of 1844 to have His message sent to them through Ellen Harmon. God in His tender mercy knew how much they needed counsel during this time of discouragement! HMes 46.1

Soon after the meeting held near Poland, Maine, the way opened for Miss Harmon to go to the eastern part of the State. A young man and his sister were taking this trip and urged her to go with them. She dreaded going to this new place, but since she had promised the Lord to walk in the path He opened before her she dared not refuse. HMes 46.2

After that, as she went to other places, her sister often traveled with her, for she was not strong enough to travel alone. Sometimes one of the brethren and his wife also went with them. HMes 46.3

She gave great courage to the believers by her visits. At one place she was given a vision from the Lord, rebuking some of the people of that community because they were not willing to follow the Word of God, but wanted to worship as they pleased. It was especially hard for Ellen Harmon to give this kind of message to these people, but she faithfully delivered the rebuke to them. Of course, it made the ones who insisted on having their own way very angry to have this young girl point out their sins. They did not realize it was God, not Miss Harmon, who was pointing out these wrongs. HMes 46.4

One night while Ellen was in her father’s home in Portland, Maine, she was shown that she must go to a town in New Hampshire, called Portsmouth, and bear her testimony to the group of Adventists there. She had no money to pay her fare, but she did not hesitate. The heavenly Father who had sent her the message to go, would provide the way. She and her sister dressed and prepared to go. HMes 47.1

She heard the first bell of the train ring. She put on her hat and walked to the window. When she looked out she saw a man, who was driving his horse very fast, hurry up to the gate and stop. His horse was covered with sweat. HMes 47.2

“Is there anyone here who needs money?” he called as he ran toward the house. “I was impressed that someone here needed money.” HMes 47.3

Hastily the sisters explained to him that they had to go to Portsmouth but didn’t have the money to pay their fare. The man quickly handed them money enough to pay their fare to Portsmouth and back. HMes 47.4

“Take a seat in my wagon, and I will take you to the depot,” he said. When the girls were seated, he turned his horse toward the depot. HMes 47.5

“I have come twelve miles to bring you this money,” he explained. “I could not hold my horse back; he seemed driven to go faster and faster.” HMes 47.6

They arrived at the station just in time to board the car and find seats before the train started. HMes 47.7

This experience gave Ellen much courage. It strengthened her faith to have this proof that God expected her only to do His will and He would open the way. HMes 47.8

While attending meetings at New Bedford, Massachusetts, Ellen Harmon met a sea captain, Joseph Bates. He had accepted the Advent faith about a year before the Harmon family had, and was an active laborer in the cause. Mr. Bates was very happy to meet this young woman of whom he had heard. He was a true gentleman, and treated Ellen as kindly as though she were his own child. HMes 47.9

When she talked to the believers soon after she arrived, the captain was deeply interested. After she had finished, he arose and spoke. HMes 48.1

“I am a doubting Thomas. I do not believe in visions,” he bluntly said. “But if I could believe that the testimony the sister has related tonight was indeed the voice of God to us, I should be the happiest man alive. My heart is moved. I believe the speaker to be sincere, but I cannot explain to my satisfaction her being shown the wonderful things she has related to us.” HMes 48.2

Captain Bates had followed the sea for twenty-one years, first as a cabin boy, then as a sailor, and later as the master and owner of the ships he sailed. As a navigator he was familiar with the stars and their positions in the sky. HMes 48.3

“I can very nearly tell where I am upon the sea, as to latitude and longitude, without using my charts,” he often remarked, “just by observing the stars and the sun and moon.” HMes 48.4

The captain was interested in astronomy, and enjoyed talking to those who were familiar with the stars. At one time he spoke to Miss Harmon and mentioned his interest in the study of the stars, but he soon found that she knew very little about them. She told the captain that she did not believe she had ever even looked into a book that told about the stars. HMes 48.5

In the fall of 1846 Ellen was married to James White. Mr. White was a sincere young Christian who was anxious to serve the Lord. Together they traveled and devoted their efforts to the cause of the Advent message. Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. White went to Topsham, Maine, to attend a conference that was being held there. Captain Bates was also present at this meeting. One evening during the conference, as the workers were in meeting in the home of one of the believers, Ellen White was given a vision. While in vision, in the presence of all, she began to speak of the things the messenger angel was revealing to her. Suddenly she began to talk about the stars and to describe their beauties as she saw them. She told of seeing rosy-tinted belts crossing the surface of one planet. HMes 48.6

“I see four moons,” said the young woman in vision. HMes 49.1

“Oh, she is viewing Jupiter,” said Captain Bates, as he leaned forward in breathless interest. Mrs. White continued to describe what she saw, telling of the belts and rings in their ever-changing beauty, and said, “I see seven moons.” HMes 49.2

“She is describing Saturn,” exclaimed the captain. HMes 49.3

“I see six moons,” continued the girl, as she told of the beauties of another planet. HMes 49.4

While she was still talking and in vision, Captain Bates arose and exclaimed, “This is a better description of the heavenly bodies than anything I have ever read on the subject.” Then with his face shining with the light of heaven, he added, “This is of the Lord.” HMes 49.5

Mrs. White knew nothing about astronomy, and did not know the names of the planets and stars she was shown, and the messenger angel did not name them. They may not have been the ones that Captain Bates thought they were, by her description. HMes 49.6

Captain Bates was fully satisfied that the vision of the young woman was outside her knowledge, and that it was indeed from the Lord. He praised God, and his smiling face expressed his happiness. HMes 49.7

“I believe,” he said, “that this vision concerning the planets was given that I might never doubt again.” HMes 49.8