Ellen White: Woman of Vision

Starting Home

Ellen White and her helpers left Washington on Thursday, August 11, for the trip home. The trip would take them through New England, Michigan, Nebraska, and points west. WV 455.4

Monday, September 5, she was on her way by train to Battle Creek. She arrived there on Tuesday and was given one of the best rooms in the sanitarium. This was her first visit to Battle Creek since the fire and the building of the new sanitarium. She spoke the next morning to the patients in the parlor, dealing with basic Christian principles and the power of Christ to transform those who come to Him in simplicity and faith (Letter 293, 1904). After the talk Dr. Kellogg introduced her to several of the guests. She was surprised to see how powerfully the Word spoken in simplicity and earnestness had affected them. She reported that that night she received a special blessing from God. WV 455.5

The next morning she spoke in the gymnasium to a group of about 300, composed mainly of physicians, nurses, and other workers. Her topic was the love of Christ, how He showed His love in good works, and how these good works gave birth to love in the hearts of others (Ibid. WV 455.6

At the last minute it was decided that she should try to speak in the tabernacle that afternoon. As there was not much time to get word out, she expected a rather slim attendance. To her surprise the tabernacle was crowded with 2,500 people and seemed to be packed as it had been at the 1901 General Conference session. Again her sermon was a simple exposition of Christian faith. She warmed to the subject, speaking for more than an hour (Ibid.; Manuscript 90, 1904). WV 455.7

Just before the service began, A. T. Jones asked her whether she would be willing to stay over the weekend. He urged her, she consented, and during the meeting he announced her decision. But that night W. C. White, who had been in Canada, arrived in Battle Creek and pointed out that they were committed to Sabbath meetings at the Omaha, Nebraska, camp meeting. So she promised to return to Battle Creek after the Omaha appointment. WV 456.1

One of the chief purposes of the Battle Creek visit was, of course, to help Kellogg, if that were at all possible. She had received letters from him at Melrose, Massachusetts, indicating some softening of his attitude. In writing from Battle Creek to W. C. White in Canada, she said she knew that Kellogg was like a blind man with a cane, striking about to find the road, but everything so far appeared to be surface work. But she said she must do her best to speak in Battle Creek. After her talk to the workers on Wednesday morning, September 7, Kellogg did make a brief attempt at confession. He declared: WV 456.2

I want you to know that I feel in my heart to accept all the reproofs and all the instruction that the Lord has sent me through Sister White. I do not want to have any ambiguity about my position and attitude. WV 456.3

The Lord has sent Sister White here, and she has given us instruction this morning for our good, and I hope the Lord will help us all to take this to our hearts and profit by her instruction (24 WCW, p. 325). WV 456.4

But Dr. Kellogg had become a very vacillating man, and the repentant attitude was shallow and short-lived. WV 456.5

Friday, September 9, Ellen White and W. C. White reached Omaha. She was feeling a little stronger than she had for the past few days and was pleased to observe that at the Omaha station she could walk through the large waiting rooms and up and down stairs as easily as ever (Letter 283, 1904). Unfortunately, she caught a cold on the trip and was afraid she might have difficulty speaking on the Sabbath. But she went ahead and spoke anyway. WV 456.6

It was here at this Omaha meeting that one of the laymen, Jasper Wayne, sought an interview with her. He presented his newly developed plan for soliciting funds from non-Adventists by calling at their homes and leaving with them a church paper. This was the inception of what came to be known as the Harvest Ingathering Plan (later simply Ingathering), which has brought in hundreds of millions of dollars to help advance the work. WV 456.7

Ellen White spoke three times in Omaha, then went on to College View, where she and Willie were given rooms in the Nebraska Sanitarium, situated on the crest of the hill near Union College. WV 456.8

Then it was back to Battle Creek to fulfill her promise to be with the people there on Sabbath. She was given a hearty welcome, and spent five days there. She spoke three times in the tabernacle to large congregations, once to the medical students, and once to sanitarium workers. WV 456.9

Ellen White left Battle Creek on Monday, October 3. Because of delays she was unable to reach St. Helena by Sabbath, so she stayed in Reno on Friday and Sabbath and spoke to the people there. After a pleasant weekend she and her party hastened homeward. As she passed through Oakland, she found the workers at Pacific Press busily packing up the last of their things to take them to Mountain View.”The empty buildings at Pacific Press look lonesome,” confessed Willie; he had known them since 1877 (24 WCW, p. 370). WV 457.1

When they reached home, they found Marian Davis desperately ill at the St. Helena Sanitarium. Illness that could be traced to a cold contracted during the 1903 General Conference session led to tuberculosis. During Ellen White's trip in the East Marian grew progressively weaker, although she continued with her literary work. This situation was exceedingly painful to Ellen White. For 25 years the two had worked together. WV 457.2

Although Marian rallied a bit when Mrs. White returned, she died early in the afternoon of Tuesday, October 25. On October 26 she was buried in the St. Helena Cemetery, where J. N. Loughborough and a number of other early workers await the call of the Life-giver. Of her and her work, Ellen White wrote: WV 457.3

For twenty-five years Sister Davis had been a most faithful helper in my work. She was greatly appreciated by me and by all who were acquainted with her and her work, and we miss her very much. Of her it can truthfully be said, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord ..., that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Letter 29, 1905). WV 457.4