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

The Institute Opens

In his editorial report written on the second day Smith informed the Review readers that about one hundred ministers were present when the institute opened at 2:30 P.M. Wednesday, October 10. As Butler was detained in Battle Creek because of illness, S. N. Haskell was selected to chair the meetings. F. E. Belden was chosen secretary. The daily program was a full one, beginning with a morning devotional meeting at seven-forty-five and continuing through the day and evening. Smith reported: 3BIO 391.3

Sister White is present, in the enjoyment of a good degree of health and strength. Much disappointment and regret is expressed by the brethren that Elder Butler is unable to be present on account of sickness. He is remembered fervently in their prayers. The prospect is good for a profitable meeting.—Ibid. 3BIO 391.4

As Ellen White spoke at the Thursday morning devotional she was surprised at the large number of new faces in her audience. Many new workers had joined the forces in the three or four years since she had attended a General Conference session held east of the Rocky Mountains. 3BIO 391.5

The meetings at 10:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. were occupied by Elder A. T. Jones in an examination of the subject of the ten kingdoms. At 4:00 P.M. Dr. E. J. Waggoner [both an ordained minister and physician], by arrangement, took up, in the form of a Bible reading, the duties of church officers.... 3BIO 392.1

This evening further instruction will be given on the subject of our missionary work.—Ibid. 3BIO 392.2

In writing of the institute to Mary, at the Health Retreat, Ellen White reported: 3BIO 392.3

Today, Friday [October 12], at nine o'clock, I read some important matter to the conference and then bore a very plain testimony to our brethren. This had quite an effect upon them. 3BIO 392.4

Elder Butler has sent me a long letter, a most curious production of accusations and charges against me, but these things do not move me. I believe it was my duty to come. I worry nothing about the future, but try to do my duty for today.—Letter 81, 1888. 3BIO 392.5

Butler had dictated a thirty-nine-page letter in which, among a number of other things, he attributed his five-month-long illness largely to the manner in which Ellen White had counseled in dealing with the question of the law in Galatians. She had not condemned Waggoner for his positions, although they were in direct conflict with those held by Butler and Smith. 3BIO 392.6

That the president of the General Conference, who had stood loyally through the years in her support, was writing “accusations and charges” against her was disheartening. It reflected the widening tide of negative attitudes toward the messages God was sending through His messenger to His people. Butler was deeply suspicious of the work of Jones and Waggoner, and from reports that had come to him he felt certain Ellen White was in their camp. Thus the omens were beginning to appear of what was before them in the more than three weeks of the institute and the conference. To Mary she wrote: 3BIO 392.7

Elders Smith and Butler are very loath to have anything said upon the law in Galatians, but I cannot see how it can be avoided. We must take the Bible as our standard and we must diligently search its pages for light and evidence of truth.—Ibid. 3BIO 392.8

The Friday evening service, October 12, cast a cloud over the worker group. Ellen White wrote of it: 3BIO 393.1

At the commencement of the Sabbath Elder Farnsworth preached a most gloomy discourse telling of the great wickedness and corruption in our midst and dwelling upon the apostasies among us. There was no light, no good cheer, no spiritual encouragement in this discourse. There was a general gloom diffused among the delegates to the conference.—Ibid. 3BIO 393.2

She had the meeting Sabbath afternoon, and she used the opportunity to try to turn things around. She wrote: 3BIO 393.3

Yesterday was a very important period in our meeting. Elder Smith preached in forenoon upon the signs of the times. It was, I think, a good discourse—timely. In the afternoon I spoke upon 1 John 3. 3BIO 393.4

“Behold, what manner of love,” et cetera. The blessing of the Lord rested upon me and put words in my mouth and I had much freedom in trying to impress upon our brethren the importance of dwelling upon the love of God much more and letting gloomy pictures alone. 3BIO 393.5

The effect on the people was most happy. Believers and unbelievers bore testimony that the Lord had blessed them in the word spoken and that from this time they would not look on the dark side and dwell upon the great power of Satan, but talk of the goodness and the love and compassion of Jesus, and praise God more..... 3BIO 393.6

The Lord gave me testimony calculated to encourage. My own soul was blessed, and light seemed to spring up amid the darkness.—Ibid. 3BIO 393.7

Writing on Sunday morning, she noted: “Today they have a Bible reading upon predestination or election. Tomorrow noon the law in Galatians is to be brought up and discussed.” She added this observation: “There is a good humble spirit among the delegates as far as we can learn. The letter written by Elder Butler was a good thing to open this question, so we are in for it.—Ibid. 3BIO 393.8

And they were “in for it,” indeed. 3BIO 393.9

Unfortunately, the discussion on the ten kingdoms, whether the Huns or the Alemanni constituted one of the kingdoms, took on the form of a debate and dragged over a period of several days. Jones held for the Alemanni, and Smith stood for the Huns, as in his original list published in Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. Feelings ran high. Cutting speeches were made over a rather inconsequential matter. It polarized the group and laid the foundation for bitter debate of subjects to follow—particularly on the law in Galatians and on justification by faith. 3BIO 394.1

Perhaps at this juncture we should pause for a description of the two younger men from the Pacific Coast who were leading out in innovative presentations. A. W. Spalding, who knew both, provides such a description: 3BIO 394.2

Young Waggoner was not even like his father [J. H. Waggoner], tall and massive; he was short, stocky, somewhat diffident. Jones was a towering, angular man, with a loping gait and uncouth posturings and gestures. Waggoner was a product of the schools, with a leonine head well packed with learning, and with a silver tongue. Jones was largely self-taught, a convert found as a private in the United States Army, who had studied day and night to amass a great store of historical and Biblical knowledge. Not only was he naturally abrupt, but he cultivated singularity of speech and manner, early discovering that it was an asset with his audiences. 3BIO 394.3

But these two caught the flame of the gospel together, and they went forth supplementing and reinforcing each other in their work of setting the church on fire.—Origin and History of Seventh-day Adventists, vol. 2, p. 291. 3BIO 394.4