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

Ellen White's Writing and Reading

As mentioned in chapter 6, Ellen White carefully refrained from reading works on health or visiting Dr. Jackson's health institution at Dansville, until she had penned the basic thirty-one-page treatise on health published in Spiritual Gifts, Volume IV, in August, 1864. In 1867 she wrote more specifically of this, mentioning the pressure under which she had worked: 2BIO 111.6

I therefore crowded into Volume IV the most essential points in the vision in regard to health, intending to get out another testimony in which I could more freely speak upon the happiness and miseries of married life. With this consideration, I closed up Volume IV that it might be scattered among the people. I reserved some important matter in regard to health, which I had not strength or time to prepare for that volume, and get it out in season for our [1864] eastern journey.—Manuscript 7, 1867. 2BIO 111.7

The family left for this three-month-long journey in mid-August. They spent three weeks at Dansville and then continued on to fill appointments, returning home November 11 “in excellent health and good spirits” (Ibid., November 22, 1864). The pressures under which they labored on this eleven-week trip maybe deduced from James White's article titled “Home Again“: 2BIO 112.1

Since we reached home we have been in a perfect whirl of business matters.... The health question is attracting great attention from our people, and the promised report of our visit to Dansville, New York, will appear as soon as we can get to it.... 2BIO 112.2

We also want time to read up, and give some lectures to our people, on the subject of health. Work increases upon our hands, and we design to be free from every unnecessary burden, so as to labor the most efficiently for the present, as well as the future good of our fellowmen.—Ibid. 2BIO 112.3

After catching his breath, he wrote, in an editorial titled “Health Reform”, of the need of publications on the subject of health at prices “within the reach of the poorest.” Then he announced the plan to publish pamphlets on healthful living—How to Live—in each of which Mrs. White would furnish a liberal chapter. He declared: 2BIO 112.4

We shall claim no skill as physicians to cure the sick; but shall draw from personal experience, from the Word of God, and from the writings of able and experienced health reformers, facts for the common people, which we ardently hope may teach them how to preserve vital force, live healthfully, save doctors’ bills, and be better qualified to bear with cheerfulness the ills of this mortal life.... We propose to furnish six pamphlets, each to contain not less than forty-eight pages, put up in paper covers.—Ibid., December 13, 1864 2BIO 112.5

When they were completed and published, James White wrote of their preparation: 2BIO 112.6

These books have been prepared with great care by Mrs. White, who has devoted the past six months almost exclusively to them. She has selected, from the ablest and best authors, those portions which relate to everyday life. She has also written a chapter for each one of the six pamphlets, entitled Disease and Its Causes.—Ibid., June 6, 1865 2BIO 113.1

There has been some speculation in regard to the relation of her six articles and health materials she read in connection with compiling the How to Live pamphlets. The only answer of any definiteness to this question is found in her statement written for the Review two years later. She declared: 2BIO 113.2

After I had written my six articles for How to Live, I then searched the various works on hygiene and was surprised to find them so nearly in harmony with what the Lord had revealed to me. And to show this harmony, and to set before my brethren and sisters the subject as brought out by able writers, I determined to publish How to Live, in which I largely extracted from the works referred to.—Ibid., October 8, 1867. (Italics supplied.) 2BIO 113.3

Thus Ellen White explained a procedure she was led to employ in carrying out the charge that she and James must be teachers in healthful living. She received the basic principles in vision. In teaching how to apply them, she drew on the experience and counsel of physicians working in rational lines. 2BIO 113.4