Ellen G. White — Messenger to the Remnant

1888 and 1911 Editions

In her public ministry, Mrs. White had always shown an ability to select from the storehouse of truth, matter well adapted to the needs of the congregation before her; and she also recognized that in the choice of matter for publication in her books, sound judgment should be shown in selecting that which was best suited to the needs of those who would read the book. Therefore, when the new American edition of The Great Controversy, enlarged and prepared while she was in Europe, was brought out in 1888, intended for general circulation, there were left out several pages of matter instructive to Adventists, but not appropriate for non-Adventist readers. An example of this may be seen in the chapter entitled, “The Snares of Satan” (pages 518-530 in the edition of 1911). Portions of this chapter, as it appeared in the earliest edition, were omitted in the revised and enlarged book first issued in 1888. More recently the omitted portions have been reprinted elsewhere for our workers. (See Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 472-475.) EGWMR 58.6

In 1911, because the electrotype plates for the book were badly worn, it was necessary to reset The Great Controversy and when this was done, it was reillustrated, the references to historical quotations were inserted, and in a few instances clearer historical citations were substituted with the express approval of the author. On July 25, 1911, soon after receiving copies of this new edition of the book, Mrs. White wrote of her satisfaction regarding it as follows: EGWMR 58.7

“I regard this new edition with great satisfaction. The book ‘Great Controversy’ I appreciate above silver or gold, and I greatly desire that it shall come before the people. While writing the manuscript of ‘Great Controversy,’ I was often conscious of the presence of the angels of God. And many times the scenes about which I was writing were presented to me anew in visions of the night, so that they were fresh and vivid in my mind.”—Letter 56, 1911. EGWMR 58.8