Ellen G. White — Messenger to the Remnant

Chapter 8—Later Attitudes Toward The Gift

Unwittingly a grave mistake, made in the early fifties, was destined to have rather far-reaching effects on the cause of God during the next five years. Through the perplexing first six years of the formative period, the Lord had led in a signal manner, directing and protecting the work through the Spirit of prophecy. Even so, the work had moved but slowly. “It was then next to impossible to obtain access to unbelievers. The disappointment in 1844 had confused the minds of many, and they would not listen to any explanation of the matter.”—E. G. White, in The Review and Herald, November 20, 1883, p. 721, col. 2. EGWMR 51.1

But, as we have already noted in an earlier article, the outlook had improved by 1850 and 1851, and Elder James White could report: “Now the door is open almost everywhere to present the truth, and many are prepared to read the publications who have formerly had no interest to investigate.”—Review and Herald, August 19, 1851, p. 13, col. 2. EGWMR 51.2

With brighter prospects for a large work among unbelievers, the general denominational literature was shaped to meet the new conditions. The most noticeable adjustment in this line was made to avert prejudice, and for this reason, all reference to the visions and the Spirit of prophecy was left out of the regular issues of the church paper. This action was explained by Elder White in an Extra of the Review and Herald, made up largely of early Ellen G. White experiences and visions. Here is his last-page note: EGWMR 51.3

“This sheet is the form of the paper that we hope to publish once in two weeks.... We do not design this extra for so general circulation as the regular paper, for the reason that strong prejudice exists in many minds against a portion of its contents. Those who judge of a matter before they hear are unwise. Says Paul, ‘Despise not prophesyings, prove all things, hold fast that which is good.’ EGWMR 51.4

“We believe that God is unchangeable, that He is ‘the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’ And that it is His will and purpose to teach His tried people, at this the most important period in the history of God’s people, in the same manner as in past time. But as many are prejudiced against visions, we think best at present not to insert anything of the kind in the regular paper. We will therefore publish the visions by themselves for the benefit of those who believe that God can fulfill His word and give visions ‘in the last days.’”—Advent Review Extra, July 21, 1851, p. 4, col. 3. (Italics mine.) EGWMR 51.5

Pursuant to this announced policy, the Review for four years was very nearly silent on the visions. During this time, only five Ellen G. White articles were published, and even these were in the form of exhortation, making no reference to revelations. (See Early Writings, 104-114 for three of them.) This was in marked contrast to the six Ellen G. White articles in eleven issues of Present Truth, issued during the fifteen-month period from August, 1849, to November, 1850, in each of which frequent mention was freely made to the visions. (See Early Writings, 19-33.) Although James White stated his intention to issue other numbers of the Extra to supply the needs of the believers, we fail to find that this was done. EGWMR 51.6