Ellen G. White: The Progressive Years: 1862-1876 (vol. 2)

The Glorious Fulfillment in Battle Creek

Other dreams that helped to bring courage to the hearts of James and Ellen White are recorded in the same chapter, “Conflicts and Victory,” quoted above. What a thrilling experience to see the glorious fulfillment of these dreams! As explanations were made and sins fearlessly pointed out, changes came in the Battle Creek church. On Sabbath, October 19, 1867, twenty-seven young people responded to a call to give their hearts to Jesus. The scene as Uriah Smith described it was such as they had never before witnessed in Battle Creek (The Review and Herald, October 22, 1867). “It was good to be there,” he wrote. 2BIO 210.4

On the following Monday morning forty-four more candidates and many church members gathered at the “baptizing place” in the Kalamazoo River, about two blocks from the church and Review office. James White baptized sixteen and Loughborough and Andrews baptized the other twenty-eight (Ibid., October 29, 1867). That evening, the members of the Battle Creek church assembled to give further consideration to the matter in the Testimony pamphlet, Number 13, then running through the press. They chose to make a public response as a church. It opened: 2BIO 211.1

We esteem it a privilege as well as a duty to respond to the foregoing statements of Sister White. We have been favored with an acquaintance of many years with the labors of these servants of the Lord. We have known something of their sacrifices in the past, and have been witness of the blessing of God that has attended their plain, searching, faithful testimony. We have long been convinced that the teachings of the Holy Spirit in these visions were indispensable to the welfare of the people who are preparing for translation into the kingdom of God.—Testimonies for the Church, 1:609-610. 2BIO 211.2

The lengthy statement mentioned the fruitage of positive and negative attitudes toward the visions. It referred to the affliction through which the Whites had passed, and then to the negative attitude of the church beginning with December, 1866: 2BIO 211.3

We think that the action of Sister White in taking her sick husband on her northern tour, in December last, was dictated by the Spirit of God; and that we, in standing opposed to such action, did not move in the counsel of God. We lacked heavenly wisdom in this matter and thus erred from the right path. 2BIO 211.4

We acknowledge ourselves to have been, at this time, lacking in that deep Christian sympathy that was called for by such great affliction, and that we have been too slow to see the hand of God in the recovery of Brother White. His labors and sufferings in our behalf entitled him to our warmest sympathy and support. But we have been blinded by Satan in respect to our own spiritual condition.—Ibid., 1:610, 611. 2BIO 211.5

Coming to the crux of the matter, the church confessed: 2BIO 212.1

A spirit of prejudice respecting means came over us during the past winter, causing us to feel that Brother White was asking for means when he did not need it. We now ascertain that at this very time he was really in want, and we were wrong in that we did not inquire into the case as we should. We acknowledge that this feeling was unfounded and cruel, though it was caused by misapprehension of the facts in the case.—Ibid., 1:611.

Accepting the reproof set forth in Testimony No. 13, the church members asked the forgiveness of God and His people. They acknowledged the special blessing of God during the past few days, declaring: 2BIO 212.2

The labors of Brother and Sister White with us for a few days past have been attended with the signal blessing of God. Not only have deep and heartfelt confessions of backsliding and wrong been made, but solemn vows of repentance and of returning to God have accompanied them. The Spirit of God has set its seal to this work in such a manner that we cannot doubt.—Ibid. 2BIO 212.3

The statement, drawn up by six of the most prominent men in the cause, was adopted unanimously by the church on Monday evening, October 21, 1867. 2BIO 212.4

This experience of confession and revival in the Battle Creek church was climaxed with a communion service. James White officiated, with D. T. Bourdeau assisting on the one side and A. S. Hutchins on the other side. Smith reported that “the spirit of humility, union, and love, which these ordinances are calculated to promote, seemed to be present to a greater degree than we ever before witnessed on any like occasion.... It was a season of power, in which the Spirit of the Lord was copiously shed down upon us.”—The Review and Herald, October 29, 1867. 2BIO 212.5