The 1911 Edition of “The Great Controversy”

Chapter 3—Copy of a Letter Written by Elder W. C. White

Written from Sanitarium, California, July 25, 1911, to the members of the Publication Committee.

“Dear Brethren: In the accompanying letter to our State Missionary Agents, I have made a brief statement about the changes that appear in the new edition of The Great Controversy. 1911GC 7.1

“A study of these changes may lead some to ask the question, ‘Has Sister White the authority and right to make changes in her published writings, either by addition, or by omission, or by any change whatever in the forms of expression, the manner of description, or the plan of the argument? ’” 1911GC 7.2

The simple statement of some facts regarding the writing of her books, and the enlargement and development of the story of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, may of itself constitute an answer to this question. 1911GC 7.3

It is generally admitted that in Sister White’s discourses, spoken to the people, she uses great freedom and wisdom in the selection of proofs and illustrations, to make plain and forcible her presentation of the truths revealed to her in vision. Also, that she selects such facts and arguments as are adapted to the audience to whom she is speaking. This is essential to the attainment of the best results from her discourses. 1911GC 7.4

And she has always felt and taught that it was her duty to use the same wisdom in the selection of matter for her books that she does in the selection of matter for her discourses. 1911GC 7.5

When Mother was writing Great Controversy, Volume IV, in 1882-1884, she was instructed regarding the general plan of the book. It was revealed to her that she should present an outline of the controversy between Christ and Satan as it developed in the first centuries of the Christian era, and in the great Reformation of the sixteenth century, in such a way as to prepare the mind of the reader to understand clearly the controversy as it is going on in our day. 1911GC 7.6

While Mother was writing this book, many of the scenes were presented to her over and over again in visions of the night. The vision of the deliverance of God’s people, as given in Chapter XL, was repeated three times; and on two occasions, once at her home in Healdsburg and once at the St. Helena Sanitarium, members of her family, sleeping in nearby rooms, were awakened from sleep by her clear, musical cry, “They come! They come!” (See page 636.) 1911GC 7.7

Several times we thought that the manuscript of the book was all ready for the printer, and then a vision of some important feature of the controversy would be repeated, and Mother would again write upon the subject, bringing out the description more fully and clearly. Thus the publishing was delayed, and the book grew in size. 1911GC 8.1

Mother regarded this new book as an expansion of the subject as first published in Spiritual Gifts, Volume 1 (1858), and now found in Early Writings, 210-295. 1911GC 8.2

And notwithstanding the divine instruction regarding the plan of the book, which has made it so useful to the general public, Mother felt that it was addressed chiefly to the Adventist people of the United States. Later, in preparing it for a wider circulation, she omitted a few portions that had appeared in the earlier edition. Examples of these may be found in the chapter entitled, “The Snares of Satan,” pages 518-530. Let us trace the history of this chapter. 1911GC 8.3

In the book Spiritual Gifts, Volume 1, first published in 1858, and now constituting the latter part of the book Early Writings, there are 42 articles. Number 32 of these, entitled “Covetousness,” has four paragraphs, covering three pages in the latter book, dealing chiefly with the following topics: 1911GC 8.4

1. Satan instructs his angels to lay snares for the Adventist people.

2. Sleeping church they can hold.

3. The hated Sabbathkeepers are taking away Satan’s subjects.

4. Go make the possessors of lands and money drunk with cares.

5. Lead them to love and idolize the world.

6. Keep all the means possible within our [Satan’s] ranks.

7. Disturb their meetings, and cause confusion.

8. Destroy love for one another.

9. Discourage and dishearten their ministers.

10. Put in them a grudging disposition, and lead them to give sparingly.

11. Satan leads all to indulge their besetting sins.

12. He exults over the folly of those who enter his snares.

13. The experience of Judas an example.

14. Christ dishonored by the mean acts of Christians.

15. God displeased with selfishness.

16. Every opportunity should be improved to do good to one another.

In this article, ten of the above sixteen subjects are dealt with in the first paragraph of 37 lines. 1911GC 9.1

In the 1884 edition of The Great Controversy, Volume IV, this same subject, or a portion of it, is treated under the heading, “Snares of Satan,” and fills fourteen pages. 1911GC 9.2

The first two topics are dealt with in the first paragraph of ten lines. The third topic, relating to the Sabbathkeepers taking away Satan’s subjects and his hatred of them, is enlarged upon to occupy five paragraphs. 1911GC 9.3

Topics 4-6 are expanded to three paragraphs, occupying a page. 1911GC 9.4

Topic 7, regarding Satan’s effort to bring distraction into the meetings of God’s people, is enlarged upon to fill four paragraphs, making nearly two pages. 1911GC 9.5

Topic 8 occupies nearly a page. 1911GC 9.6

Then new topics are introduced relating mostly to false doctrines, that Satan strives to introduce among God’s people. These fill eight pages, to the close of the chapter. 1911GC 9.7

The treatment of this chapter, in which Mother enlarges upon the subjects that are very briefly stated in her earlier writings, is an illustration of her manner of dealing with many of the subjects revealed to her in vision. 1911GC 9.8

In her first visions the lives of the patriarchs, the mission and teachings of Christ and His apostles, and the controversy as carried forward by the church of Christ from the ascension to our day, were at first presented to her in outline, and were written out in brief, comprehensive articles as we find them in Early Writings. 1911GC 9.9

In later years one group of subjects after another was shown her in vision repeatedly, and each time the revelation brought out more clearly the details of the whole, or of some features of the subject. 1911GC 9.10

Consequently, Mother has written and published her views on the various phases of the great controversy several times, and each time more fully. 1911GC 9.11

That which was published regarding the fall of Satan, the fall of man, and the plan of salvation, in Early Writings occupied eight pages. The same subjects as published in Patriarchs and Prophets occupied 30 larger pages. 1911GC 9.12

That which was published in 1858 about the life of Christ, as found in Early Writings, occupied 40 pages. The same as published in 1878 fills over 600 pages of Spirit of Prophecy, Volumes II and III. And as now published in The Desire of the Ages, and in Christ’s Object Lessons, it fills more than a thousand pages. 1911GC 9.13

In The Great Controversy, Volume IV, published in 1885, in the chapter “Snares of Satan,” there are three pages or more of matter that was not used in the later editions, which were prepared to be sold to the multitudes by our canvassers. It is most excellent and interesting reading for Sabbathkeepers, as it points out the work that Satan will do in persuading popular ministers and church members to elevate the Sunday sabbath, and to persecute Sabbathkeepers. 1911GC 10.1

It was not left out because it was less true in 1888 than in 1885, but because Mother thought it was not wisdom to say these things to the multitudes to whom the book would be sold in future years. 1911GC 10.2

With reference to this, and to other passages in her writings which have been omitted in later editions, she has often said, “These statements are true, and they are useful to our people; but to the general public, for whom this book is now being prepared, they are out of place. Christ said, even to His disciples, ‘I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.’ And Christ taught His disciples to be ‘wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.’ Therefore, as it is probable that more souls will be won to Christ by the book without this passage than with it, let it be omitted.” 1911GC 10.3

Regarding changes in forms of expression, Mother has often said: “Essential truths must be plainly told; but so far as possible they should be told in language that will win, rather than offend.” 1911GC 10.4

Regarding passages that are likely to be the occasion of bitter and unprofitable controversies on the part of Roman Catholics and others, Mother has said: “All that is said in The Great Controversy regarding the claims of the pope and the papacy is true. Much historical evidence regarding these matters has been designedly destroyed; nevertheless, that the book may be of the great benefit to Catholics and others, and that needless controversies may be avoided, it is better to have all statements regarding the assumptions of the pope and the claims of the papacy stated so moderately as to be easily and clearly proved from accepted histories that are within the reach of our ministers and students.” 1911GC 10.5

In harmony with this, Mother has fully approved of each of the following changes: 1911GC 10.6

Page 50. Old Edition: “More than this, the pope has arrogated the very titles of Deity. He styles himself ‘Lord God the Pope,’ assumes infallibility, and demands that all men pay him homage. Thus the same claim urged by Satan in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through the Church of Rome, and vast numbers are ready to yield him homage.”

New Edition: “More than this, the pope has been given the very titles of Deity. He has been styled ‘Lord God the Pope,’ and has been declared infallible. He demands the homage of all men. The same claim urged by Satan in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through the Church of Rome, and vast numbers are ready to yield him homage.”

(At the close of this passage in the new edition, reading “Lord God the Pope,” the reader is referred at the foot of the page to an Appendix note, where he learns where to find these identical words in the Latin origin, in an authorized gloss on the Roman Canon Law.)

Page 234. (Referring to the Jesuits) Old Edition: “Cut off from every earthly tie and human interest, etc.”

New Edition: “Cut off from earthly ties and human interests, etc.”

Page 235. Old Edition: “But under this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were concealed.”

New Edition: “But under this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were often concealed.”

Page 567. Old Edition: “The Church’s claim to the right to pardon, causes the Romanist to feel at liberty to sin, etc.”

New Edition: “The Church’s claim to the right to pardon, leads the Romanist to feel at liberty to sin, etc.”

Page 266. Old Edition: “The 1260 years of papal supremacy began with the establishment of the papacy in A.D. 538, and would therefore terminate in 1798.”

New Edition: “The 1260 years of papal supremacy began in A.D. 538, and would therefore terminate in 1798.”

Page 439. Old Edition:“This period, as stated in preceding chapters, began with the establishment of the papacy, A.D. 538, and terminated in 1798. At that time, when the papacy was abolished and the pope made captive by the French army, the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, ‘He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity.’”

New Edition: “This period, as stated in preceding chapters, began with the supremacy of the papacy, A.D. 538, and terminated in 1798. At that time, the pope was made captive by the French army, the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, ‘He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity.’”

Page 579. Old Edition: “The infliction of the deadly wound points to the abolition of the papacy in 1798.”

New Edition: “The infliction of the deadly wound points to the downfall of the papacy in 1798.”

Pages 580, 581. Old Edition: “Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let history testify of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations; and having gained a foothold, to further her own aims, even at the ruin of princes and people. Romanism openly puts forth the claim that the pope ‘can pronounce sentences and judgments in contradiction to the right of nations, to the law of God and man.’

“And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never changes. The principles of Gregory VII and Innocent III are still the principle of the Romish Church. And had she but the power, she would put them in practice with as much vigor now as in the past centuries. Let the principle once be established in the United States, that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by the secular laws; and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured.”

New Edition: “History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations, and having gained a foothold, to further her own aims, even at the ruin of princes and people. In the year 1204, Pope Innocent III extracted from Peter II, king of Arragon, the following extraordinary oath: ‘I, Peter, king of Arragonians, profess and promise to be ever faithful and obedient to my Lord, Pope Innocent, to his Catholic successors, and the Roman Church, and faithfully to preserve my kingdom in his obedience, defending the Catholic faith, and persecuting heretical pravity.’ This is in harmony with the claims regarding the power to the Roman pontiff that ‘it is lawful for him to depose emperors,’ and that ‘he can absolve subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous rulers.’

“And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never changes. The principles of Gregory VII and Innocent III are still the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. And had she but the power, she would put them in practice with as much vigor now as in past centuries. Protestants little know what they are doing when they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the principle once be established in the United States, that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured.”—W. C. White Letter, July 25, 1911.