Ellen G. White: The Early Elmshaven Years: 1900-1905 (vol. 5)

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The Proposal of Independent Publications

Associated with Sutherland at Berrien Springs was P. T. Magan. He had led out by General Conference appointment in the Christ's Object Lessons campaign in which this E. G. White book was widely sold by church members to aid in the reduction of debts on educational institutions. Being a very practical man, the thought struck him that if Education could be printed on the press of their emerging “Advocate Publishing Company” at Berrien Springs, it would help the college and provide a book that could be sold for less than if printed by the Review and Herald or the Pacific Press. Further, it could be handled in such a way as to yield the author some much-needed funds with which to carry on her work. 5BIO 181.5

On August 6, 1902, he wrote to W. C. White: 5BIO 182.1

Now, I want to talk to you a little while relative to the book Education. I know that the type will be set and plates made by the Pacific Press. I also know your great perplexity relative to the publication and sale of this book. This is the point upon which I am exceedingly desirous to write you....

I cannot help but feel that if our publishing work were broken up into smaller sections, each section pushing different lines of books, that we would have greater success; and that is why I am making a plea that [Emmanuel] Missionary College, and our little Advocate Publishing Company, as we call it, should have a chance to demonstrate what it can do on Mother's [Note: Among the younger workers were those who often referred respectfully and affectionately to Ellen G. White as “mother”] new book, Education.—P. T. Magan to WCW August 6, 1902. 5BIO 182.2

And then he put in some telling arguments: 5BIO 182.3

It is this way: In the past Brother Sutherland and some of the rest of us, as well as your mother, have written a few educational books. We find it impossible to get our old publishing houses to take hold of these books unless we give them everything that there is in it, and then they put the prices so high that there is difficulty in selling the books. After we have given them all the profits, and accepted mere pittances for royalties, we find that we have to work up the entire trade, or else the books are not sold at all.— Ibid.

Professor Magan then pointed out: 5BIO 182.4

Now, here at Berrien Springs we feel the most intense interest in the publication of educational books. We would like to build up a little educational book business—not for the money there is in it, but for the good that it will do. There must be immediately some small simple textbooks, for use in our church schools, and they must be gotten out at a price so that our poor people and poor children can have them.— Ibid.

It is not difficult to see that with the situation among the church's established publishers as it was at that time, involved as they were in the handling of commercial work and with a measure of indifference that could not be hidden (see Testimonies for the Church 7:161-163), such an appeal might have considerable weight. W. C. White presented the letter to his mother, and on August 29, both of them wrote to Professor Magan. 5BIO 182.5

The bid for independent publishing was attractive. A large distribution of a very precious book was promised. But God gave instruction to Ellen White on the point of independent publishing. In her response to Magan in dealing with the principles involved she referred several times to the light given to her in vision. She wrote from her home on August 29, 1902: 5BIO 183.1

Dear Brother Magan: I have read your letter in regard to the publication of my book on education. I respect all you say about this matter, and I was quite desirous of complying with your request, if on consideration it should be thought best. But light has come to me that it would not be wisdom to do this. Confusion would be brought in. Some things have been presented to me that I will try to present to you. 5BIO 183.2

There was in my mind a desire to present to the cause a couple of other books, to be used for its advancement, as Object Lessons has been used. In the night season I was instructed that the giving of the manuscript of Object Lessons was of the Lord, but that if other books were given to be handled in the same way, the arrangements made for their sale would bring in a train of influences that would hinder the work of handling the larger books.—Letter 137, 1902. 5BIO 183.3

She pointed out that all phases of the Lord's work must be taken into consideration if there were to be real success: 5BIO 183.4

Sometimes we get in a hurry, and by our plans bring confusion into the Lord's work. How many there are who work in their own strength, following their own lines, in order to accomplish that which they think should be accomplished. May the Lord take pity on our ignorance. May He help us to do nothing to hinder the work that He desires to have accomplished. 5BIO 183.5

The work of the Lord includes more than one line of service. The doing of it calls for many minds and for much wisdom, in order that each part may be carried forward successfully.— Ibid. 5BIO 184.1

Referring to the church's literature evangelists and how carrying out Magan's proposition might affect their work, she wrote: 5BIO 184.2

There are many things to be done to advance the work of God. I have been instructed that the canvassing work is to be revived. Our smaller books, with our pamphlets and journals, can and should be used in connection with our larger books.— Ibid. 5BIO 184.3

Ellen White had a high sense of honor, and on the point of justice and fairness, she added: 5BIO 184.4

Should I give the publication of the book on education into other hands than those who acted so liberally in publishing Object Lessons, I should not be dealing fairly. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to those who took part in the publication of this book, cooperating with me in carrying out the God-given plan for freeing our schools from debt. Let the good work continue.... 5BIO 184.5

We need to remember that the church militant is not the church triumphant. The difference between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the world is to be carefully considered, else we shall draw threads of selfishness into the web that we are weaving. We need to remember that beside every soul there is an unseen, heavenly Watcher.— Ibid. 5BIO 184.6

The manuscript for Education was submitted to the Pacific Press and has been a publication of that house from 1903 to the present. Ellen White especially led by God, refused to take steps that would bypass the divinely established organizational procedures that governed the publication and distribution of the literature of the church. 5BIO 184.7