Ellen G. White: The Australian Years: 1891-1900 (vol. 4)

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Work for the Outcasts

Dr. Kellogg was reaching out to bring aid to the deprived, the drunkards, the prostitutes and outcasts in Chicago. This work, at its inception, brought commendation from Ellen White, but as it grew disproportionately, cautions and restraints were called for. Alarmed, she wrote to him on December 14, 1898: 4BIO 397.1

Constant work is to be done for the outcasts, but this work is not to be made all-absorbing. This class you have always with you. All the means must not be bound up in this work, for the highways have not yet received the message. There is work in the Lord's vineyard which must be done. No one should now visit our churches, and claim from them means to sustain the work of rescuing outcasts. The means to sustain that work should come ... from those not of our faith. 4BIO 397.2

Let the churches take up their appointed work of presenting truth from the oracles of God in the highways. As in the days of Christ, we are to minister to all classes. But to make the work of seeking for the outcasts all and in all, while there are large vineyards open to culture and yet untouched, is beginning at the wrong end. The means now given by the churches is needed to establish the work in new fields. The glad tidings are to be proclaimed to every nation, tongue, and people.—Letter 138, 1898. 4BIO 397.3

Through the year 1898 she penned seventeen letters to Dr. Kellogg, aggregating some 113 pages; many were messages of caution. On December 18, 1898, she warned: 4BIO 397.4

You are in positive danger. You are placing too many duties upon yourself and those connected with you. Unless you give yourself time for prayer and for study of the Scriptures, you will be in danger of accommodating the Scriptures to your own ideas. Take heed that in the work you are doing, you do not misapply your powers, giving all you have to a work which is not a whole, but only a part of the work to be done. Keep the part you are doing in symmetrical proportion with the other lines of the work.—Letter 126, 1898. 4BIO 397.5

Her last letter to him in 1898 was a most earnest appeal, dated December 29. 4BIO 398.1

Brother John Kellogg, my mother heart goes out toward you with weeping, for by symbols I am warned that you are in danger. Satan is making masterly efforts to cause your feet to slide; but God's eye is upon you. Fight these last battles manfully. Stand equipped with the whole armor of righteousness. By faith I lay you, in earnest prayer, at the feet of Jesus. You are safe only in that position. Never for a moment suppose that you are in no danger. You are God's property. You are to consider that you are under God's supervision. Your strength is in learning of Jesus Christ, His meekness, His lowliness of heart.—Letter 132, 1898. 4BIO 398.2

One of her letters contained a strong appeal to Dr. Kellogg for financial help with which to build the much-needed Sydney Sanitarium. She urged that the Battle Creek Sanitarium, now in a prosperous time financially, should give aid to the medical work in Australia. Dr. Kellogg responded to the appeal, but not in the way Ellen White intended or expected. By the terms of the new charter for the Sanitarium designed by Dr. Kellogg in 1897, none of the profits of the institution could be used outside of the State of Michigan. Pressed by Ellen White, the doctor informed her that within a short time he would see that the work in Australia would receive $5,000. This he would raise himself. It was easier to respond to the appeal for money than to the appeals for changes in the course he was following in an unbalanced medical missionary work, in disparaging the ministry, and in steps being taken to make the medical work undenominational. 4BIO 398.3