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

Changes Affecting the Sense

In some places the wording was tightened up, making it less sweeping and more accurate or exact; technically the changes could be said to alter the sense, even ever so little. 6BIO 328.3

On page 27, the word nearly was added, making the sentence read: 6BIO 328.4

For nearly forty years after the doom of Jerusalem had been pronounced by Christ Himself, the Lord delayed His judgments upon the city and the nation. 6BIO 328.5

On page 52, an explanatory phrase was added: 6BIO 328.6

Satan, working through unconsecrated leaders of the church, tampered with the fourth commandment also.

On page 53, the modifying word many made the statement more accurate. Not each and every Christian followed the majority. The modified sentence reads: 6BIO 328.7

But while many God-fearing Christians were gradually led to regard Sunday as possessing a degree of sacredness, they still held the true Sabbath as holy of the Lord and observed it in obedience to the fourth commandment. 6BIO 328.8

On page 564, the modifier well-known is substituted for recent: 6BIO 329.1

A well-known writer speaks thus of the attitude of the papal hierarchy as regards freedom of conscience. 6BIO 329.2

Significant changes listed as affecting the sense are such as those relating to the order of the Jesuits on page 234. The clause, reading “cut off from every earthly tie and human interest,” was changed to read: “cut off from earthly ties and human interests.” 6BIO 329.3

On the next page, the word often is added, softening the statement: “But under this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were often concealed.” 6BIO 329.4

Because of changing figures each year, the statement on page 287 regarding the accomplishments of the Bible societies was modified. In the 1888 book, it read: 6BIO 329.5

When the British Society was formed, the Bible had been printed and circulated in fifty tongues. It has since been translated into more than two hundred languages and dialects. By the efforts of Bible societies, since 1804, more than 187,000,000 copies of the Bible have been circulated. 6BIO 329.6

The 1911 book reads: 6BIO 329.7

In 1804 the British and Foreign Bible Society was organized. This was followed by similar organizations, with numerous branches, upon the continent of Europe. In 1816 the American Bible Society was founded. When the British Society was formed, the Bible had been printed and circulated in fifty tongues. It has since been translated into many hundreds of languages and dialects. (See Appendix.)

The appendix note gives data on Bible circulation up to 1910. This could be changed in the future more easily than the text. 6BIO 329.8

On pages 287 and 288 of the 1888 edition, after the formation of foreign mission societies are discussed, eight lines are devoted to mention of Carey and Judson as examples of a thrust in foreign mission work. For space reasons and because of some inexactness in wording, these were omitted in the text of the 1911 edition and an appendix note filling a full page took its place, reviewing the advance in foreign missions. 6BIO 329.9

On page 383, the 1888 Great Controversy carries the phrase “in a message which is yet future.” This was omitted in 1911, because there would come a time in history when it would be present and not future. The omission does no injustice to the text. In the 1888 edition the sentence read: 6BIO 330.1

Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation, in a message which is yet future, the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon.

In the 1911 edition the sentence reads: 6BIO 330.2

Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon. 6BIO 330.3