Messenger of the Lord

Practical Counselor

Practical religion seemed to be the harmonizing theme throughout Ellen White’s writings. She saw a direct connection between doing church work and properly representing the character of God. When the young Australian publishing house was near bankruptcy, she pointed out the problems: Job estimates were bid too low, cost-control management was lacking, office overhead was too high. Then she wrote: “I was shown that this was not the way to do business. It is not the will of our heavenly Father that His work should be so conducted as to be a continual embarrassment.... Some of the workers were not willing to help and instruct their fellow workmen.... The workers in the Echo office had very little insight into the right methods of obtaining success.” MOL 97.10

She ended her counsel with these words: “Brethren and sisters connected with the work of the Echo office, these words I have written were spoken to you by my guide.” ³⁸ MOL 98.1

During those difficult days, when the future of a college in Australia seemed uncertain, Ellen White was confident that the land purchased at such a “cheap price” would indeed fulfill all the needs of a future school. But none of the committee members were convinced regarding what she had been shown. She was distressed at their “unsanctified caution.” ³⁹ MOL 98.2

In a letter to Marian Davis, her confidante and efficient helper in book—making, Mrs. White used her practical imagination regarding Avondale, and, based on the counsel of her Guide, wrote: “I have planned what can be raised in different places. I have said, ‘Here can be a crop of alfalfa; there can be strawberries; here can be sweet corn and common corn; and this ground will raise good potatoes, while that will raise good fruit of all kinds.’” ⁴⁰ MOL 98.3

Part of the problem in the early days in Australia was that not much had been done along the lines of scientific farming. Ellen White knew that if Avondale would show the way in proper soil management, more than just the college would benefit. She knew that poverty in that area of Australia would be greatly reduced when people saw how successfully they could raise their own food. In a letter to Edson, she emphasized what she had been exemplifying in the development of orchards at the school and on her own two acres: “The cultivation of our land requires the exercise of all the brainpower and tact we possess. The lands around us testify to the indolence of men.... We hope to see intelligent farmers, who will be rewarded for their earnest labor.... If we accomplish this, we shall have done good missionary work.” ⁴¹ MOL 98.4