Ellen G. White: The Later Elmshaven Years: 1905-1915 (vol. 6)

Warnings to Safeguard the Battle Creek Tabernacle

At Battle Creek the crisis was looming over the ownership and control of the much-loved house of worship, the “Dime Tabernacle.” The structure, which could comfortably seat 2,400 people, and 3,200 when opened fully, was so known because of the method employed by James White to raise money for its construction. Since it would serve the church generally, each church member throughout the field was asked to give a dime a month toward its construction cost. 6BIO 124.6

The warning in the letter written February 4, 1907, referred to above, was not the first concerning the security of church-owned property in Battle Creek. On June 28, 1905, she had addressed herself to the subject: 6BIO 125.1

I wish to sound a note of warning to our people nigh and afar off. An effort is being made by those at the head of the medical work in Battle Creek to get control of property over which, in the sight of the heavenly courts, they have no rightful control.—Manuscript 79, 1905. 6BIO 125.2

A year later she wrote on July 27, 1906: 6BIO 125.3

I have seen that the leaders in the medical work in Battle Creek will try to secure possession of the Tabernacle. Their scheming is so subtle that I greatly fear that this may be accomplished.—Letter 306, 1906.

Although at the time there was no evidence that this would or could take place, she told W. C. White that “it will require earnest effort to save the Tabernacle to the denomination.”—30 WCW, p. 996. 6BIO 125.4

Then on October 30, 1906, she wrote of how she had directed letters to different ones in danger of being misled and again declared: 6BIO 125.5

The disaffected ones will make every effort possible to secure the Tabernacle, and to gain other advantages by which to disseminate their wrong theories and carry forward their apostasy. But the Lord lives and reigns. I am writing out the cautions He gives me. I will not give up.... It may be that I shall have to visit Battle Creek.—Letter 348, 1906. 6BIO 125.6

The warnings were noted by Elder Daniells and other leaders of the church, and steps were initiated to guard the control of the Tabernacle. In 1863, years before the procedures the denomination now employs to hold and protect church property were instituted, a corporation had been formed to hold the ownership of the Battle Creek church. The articles called for trustees to be elected by the church at stated intervals. Under normal circumstances this would have been adequate. But things in Battle Creek were far from normal. The Battle Creek church operated without a pastor. The first elder, George Amadon, who for many years was connected with the Review and Herald, selected Sabbath-morning speakers from the many ministers in Battle Creek. In 1906 the young minister sent there to care for the needs of the youth made the selection of speakers. 6BIO 125.7

As matters grew more critical, several ministers of long experience were sent in by the conference for a few weeks at a time to conduct special meetings. 6BIO 126.1