Ellen White: Woman of Vision

Lifesaving Therapy For The Health Reformer

Going to the Review office, after a long absence from Battle Creek, James White found unoccupied both the Review editor's room and that of the editor of the Health Reformer. The latter was ill at home. “Our hands are full of business that has been waiting our return,” James wrote, “and editing our periodicals” (Ibid., November 15, 1870). Warren Bacheller, connected with the Review office since he was a teenager, was, with some assistance from traveling James White, keeping the Review going, but as for the Health Reformer, it stood not only waiting, but seemingly dying. James White, never reticent to get involved in time of special need, took the paper under his wing. He saw that if it was to survive, changes must be made quickly. Without formal authorization he took over, pulling things together for the already-late November issue. He furnished an editorial for this and succeeding issues, and Ellen White helped meet the emergency by furnishing an article for each of four monthly issues. These articles followed his editorials. WV 110.6

James had three objectives in view for the magazine: “First, to raise the interest of the journal; second, to increase its circulation; third, to establish a strict pay-in-advance system” (The Health Reformer, April, 1871). WV 110.7

In White's editorials he reviewed the rise and progress of health reform among Seventh-day Adventists. He made it plain that the journal was nonsectarian, but that it had its roots in the experience and convictions of Seventh-day Adventists. Ellen White's articles, keyed to experiences and observations in traveling, developed certain lines of practical counsel under such titles as “Creatures of Circumstance” in the November 1870 issue, followed in succeeding issues by “Convenient Food,” “Willpower,” and “Mothers and Their Daughters.” The journal was enlarged from 20 pages to 32. WV 111.1

At the General Conference session held in February 1871, James White was elected editor of the Health Reformer. In his reorganization of the journal he continued Dr. Trall's Special Department and introduced a new one, Mrs. White's Department. Having observed the efficacy of his wife's work with the general public at camp meetings, he persuaded her to take hold with him in attempts to save the paper. WV 111.2

The changes James White instituted in behalf of the Reformer soon began to bear fruit. His editorials and articles added interest. He was able to persuade Dr. R. T. Trall to modify his stances, which were tending to extremes. Mrs. White's Department was well received. He solicited articles from Adventist ministers who had adopted the health reform program, and by May he had 12. WV 111.3

But the best barometer was in the increased circulation—300 new subscriptions were received in 25 days. By December the subscription list had almost doubled, at 5,000. The Reformer was generally conceded to be the best health journal in America (The Review and Herald, December 12, 1871). WV 111.4