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

Lifesaving Therapy for the Health Reformer

Going to the Review office, James White found unoccupied, both the Review editor's room and that of the editor of the Health Reformer. The latter was ill at home. “Our hands are full of business that has been waiting our return,” James wrote, “and editing our periodicals.”—The Review and Herald, November 15, 1870. Warren Bacheller, connected with the Review office since a teenager, with some assistance from traveling James White, was keeping the Review going, but as for the poor Health Reformer, it stood, not only waiting, but seemingly dying. James White, never reticent to step in in time of special need, took the paper under his wing. He saw that if it was to survive, changes must be made, quickly. Without time for any formalities, he took over, pulling things together for the already late November issue. He furnished an editorial for this and succeeding issues, and Ellen White stepped in to help in the emergency by furnishing an article for each of four monthly issues. These articles followed his editorials. 2BIO 307.2

James had three objectives in view for the magazine: 2BIO 307.3

First, to raise the interest of the journal; second, to increase its circulation; third, to establish a strict pay-in-advance system.—The Health Reformer, April 1871.

White's editorials took the form of depicting the rise and progress of health reform among Seventh-day Adventists. He made it plain that the journal was nonsectarian, but that it had its roots in the experience and convictions of Seventh-day Adventists. Ellen White's articles, keyed to experiences and observations in traveling, developed certain lines of practical counsel under such titles as “Creatures of Circumstance” in the November, 1870, issue, followed in succeeding issues by “Convenient Food,” “Willpower,“ and “Mothers and Their Daughters.” The journal was enlarged from twenty pages to thirty-two. 2BIO 307.4