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

The Friday-Night Vision

Then, stopping short, she told the audience that many representations had passed before her the night before. Describing one scene, she told of being in a council meeting, with one after another finding fault with their brethren. There was great confusion. “The dress of the speakers was most undesirable,” she said. It “was a representation of character.” Christ Himself was present. Finally, after hearing one after another speak words of accusation, and when finally He could get the attention of those present, “He declared that the spirit of criticism, of judging one another, was a source of weakness in the church today.” Christ picked up a standard that He held high. In burning letters was God's law, and He repeated the words “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” As she witnessed the scene, “the names of the faultfinders appeared before them,” and by each name “the faults of the erring one.” And the lesson: “All who love God supremely will love their neighbor as themselves.”— Ibid. Ellen White made no attempt to give more than a general application of the vision. Church leaders present breathed easier. 6BIO 107.3

In conversation with some of the workers, she spoke of one interesting incident in the Friday-night vision. She saw many people rushing forward with criticism; some sought to lay the blame for the trouble and calamities on someone else. Then a large mirror was lifted up in which all saw themselves. Not only did they see their outward appearance, but the mirror reflected their inner character, as well. As different ones saw in the mirror their own condition, they turned away in silence. 6BIO 107.4

W. C. White reported: 6BIO 108.1

All of the leading laborers have united in presenting to our people on the campground the thought that this calamity is to teach each one to search his heart and see wherein we have gone astray.—30 WCW, p. 834.

On Monday in the ministers’ meeting, Ellen White told how “the experiences of Job had been presented to her during the night season as a lesson to us for this time” (Ibid.). 6BIO 108.2

In the absence of any direct testimony associating the calamity with grievous misdeeds of institutional managers, the stance set forth above became the prevailing concept. 6BIO 108.3

The fire was indeed a major calamity. The Pacific Press, with a hundred employees, was the largest and best-equipped printing plant west of the Rocky Mountains. Except for a few typewriters, the records of accounts receivable, a portion of the Signs of the Times and Our Little Friend mailing lists, and some of the book plates, all was lost—a loss of between $200,000 and $300,000. Insurance provided $100,000, just enough to pay their debts (The Signs of the Times, August 8, 1906). 6BIO 108.4

Ellen White's personal loss in book plates that were destroyed was estimated at $5,000. 6BIO 108.5