Ellen G. White: The Lonely Years: 1876-1891 (vol. 3)

Canright's 1880 Defection

While Ellen was recovering at their Battle Creek home, James White made a trip to New York City in the interests of securing new printing plates for the engraving “The Way of Life.” He took D. M. Canright with him in an effort to encourage him back into active ministry. Canright was a man whose abilities were much admired by James White and Seventh-day Adventist Church members. He was an energetic and successful evangelist, and more recently called to the presidency of the Ohio Conference; he was a good executive. But in the summer of 1880, feeling that he could reach a higher point of popularity if preaching for some other religious group, Canright faltered, withdrew from the ministry, and for a time even gave up the Sabbath (Carrie Johnson, I Was Canright's Secretary, pp. 56-61). In time, however, as in some similar experience in the past, his counseling with G. I. Butler led him to reexamine the pillars of Seventh-day Adventism and its firm foundation and make himself available again for the ministry. 3BIO 152.6

James White was pleased with the recovery Canright was making. Writing from New York City to Ellen on February 4, 1881, he reported: “Elder Canright is doing splendid in getting on the track.” On February 17 he reported to W. C. White on the trip mentioned: “Elder Canright went with me, and I am glad to report him on better ground than ever before.” 3BIO 153.1

White's confidence in Canright, a man he had long admired, grew rapidly, until within a short time he was a trusted confidant. This was a result, no doubt, of the fact that White's former associates, not in church leadership, sought his counsel less and less. In fact, in an ill-advised letter to Canright, dated May 24, 1881, James White, after discussing problems, declared: 3BIO 153.2

I want you to unite with me, and in a proper manner, and in the fear of God let us help matters. It is time there was a change in the officers of the General Conference. I trust that if we are true and faithful, the Lord will be pleased that we should constitute two of that board. 3BIO 153.3

However, Ellen White entertained some misgivings concerning Canright, as expressed in a letter to Haskell on June 28, 1881. Discussing camp meeting help, she wrote, “I am really somewhat afraid of Elder Canright's position.”—Letter 2, 1881. 3BIO 153.4

This was a difficult time for James White, and for Ellen White, who tried desperately to keep things on an even keel. 3BIO 153.5