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

Sabbath Readings, Compiled by Ellen G. White

Adelia Patten knew something about these Sabbath Readings. On June 9, 1863, James White advertised them, and in so doing provided a bit of history: 2BIO 94.5

Mrs. White, assisted by Sister A. P. Patten, is publishing a series of tracts with the above title [Sabbath Readings], for youth and children. She has a vast amount of moral and religious reading which she has been collecting during the past fifteen years, from which she is selecting and compiling these tracts. They are coming from the press at the rate of about one hundred pages a week. These will be held for sale in three forms.—The Review and Herald, June 9, 1863. 2BIO 94.6

The forms were sixteen-page tracts, six tracts bound together in a pamphlet, or twenty-four tracts in bound-book form. White added: 2BIO 94.7

This Sabbath reading is designed for every family. All our friends must be liberal in supplying their families and their neighbors, or the enterprise will be a losing one.... We hope that all who look favorably on the enterprise of furnishing with good reading those homes which are destitute, and adding to their own libraries suitable Sabbath reading, will help sustain it.—Ibid. 2BIO 95.1

In this enterprise is reflected Ellen White's concern not only for her own family but for Adventist families generally. The children must be led gently in a course that would build character for this life and the life to come. 2BIO 95.2