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

A Full Financial Disclosure Promised

To provide information to those with questions regarding some of the financial transactions in which James White had participated with church members, or in his business dealings generally, and to provide church members with an effective tool with which to meet criticism from the world, the committee declared: 2BIO 280.3

We design to place before the public a full statement of the financial matters of Elder White.—Ibid. 2BIO 280.4

It took considerable time to assemble the data called for. On April 26 the committee announced that the report was ready, in a pamphlet that might be secured from the Review office for 15 cents. The notice indicates the anticipated field of usefulness: 2BIO 280.5

The Defense of Elder James White and Wife. This work which was promised some time since is now ready for circulation. It has been prepared with much labor and care, and will be found satisfactory as an answer to the many wicked slanders uttered against these servants of Christ. It should be circulated in those sections where the tongue of the false accuser has been busy. We commend the work to the friends of this cause, especially to those who have to meet the calumnies of wicked men. 2BIO 280.6

Our laboring brethren have often complained that their way is hedged up by wicked reports, whereby they lose much time and labor, and souls are turned away from the truth to perish in error. In such places no work can be more important than this, and we expect the friends of the cause at large will cheerfully meet the expense of its publication.—Ibid., April 26, 1870 2BIO 281.1

The first pages were given to a statement of James White's connection with the work of the church from its beginnings, and especially its publishing interests. It reviewed the transfer of business matters when an organization was formed that could take hold of them. The rate of his pay was given in detail, paralleling the Civil War years with their inflationary trend. 2BIO 281.2

June 3, 1861, to April 24, 1863, $7 per week
April 24, 1863, to October 30, 1863, $8 per week
October 30, 1863, to April 14, 1865, $9 per week
April 14, 1865, to August 15, 1865, $10 per week

On the last-named day he was stricken with paralysis, and pay stopped (In Memoriam: A Sketch of the Last Sickness and Death of Elder James White, 9). 2BIO 281.3

The report continued: 2BIO 281.4

During all this time, Sister White received nothing for her services. She labored efficiently with her husband from place to place and with the church at Battle Creek, and did a great amount of important writing in the form of epistles to individuals and to churches throughout the entire field. No preacher among us labored more ardently and efficiently than Sister White.

In consequence of their house being a home for visiting brethren, she had to keep two hired girls—one in the kitchen, and one to do general housework and sewing; yet no provision was made for the expense of hired help in the family, and the extra wear and tear of clothing in traveling. And, to say nothing of these expenses, Brother White's limited wages met only in part his general expenses, and the expenses of so large a family.—Ibid., 9, 10. 2BIO 281.5

The question naturally arises, How could James White, a man with such limited salary income, handle such a situation? The answer followed in the pamphlet: 2BIO 281.6

In this state of things, Brother White resorted to the sale of Bibles, concordances, Bible dictionaries, Bible atlases, and works of this kind, as a means of support. He sent these books out by mail and express to all parts of the country. He took them with him, east and west, and his sales were very large, so that the profits were probably more in a year than his entire wages. This enabled him to meet his large expenses, and give for benevolent and charitable purposes. In this he wronged himself. In connection with his other arduous labors, this extra effort was very taxing. But there was a wrong back of this. It was the neglect on the part of our people to pay Sister White for her valuable services.—Ibid., 10. 2BIO 282.1