Ellen G. White the Person

by Arthur L. White
Taken from Spectrum, Spring 1972, p. 7-27

Editor’s Note: Ellen G. White emerges as a person in this article partially from the memory of acquaintances, but primarily from documentary sources, those of her own composing and those of her contemporaries. The memory of the author, a grandson, figures lightly, for he was but a child at her death in 1915. Arthur L. White, however, was closely associated with his father, William C. White, who, after the death of James S. White in 1881, traveled with his mother and assisted her in the publication of her writings. EGWP 1.1

Ellen G. White the person steps right out of a “Biographical Information Blank” furnished to the General Conference in 1909. We see her—five feet two inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with complexion rather dark, and with eyes gray and hair gray. Those who knew her earlier would tell us that her hair then was brown and her weight somewhat less than in 1909. EGWP 1.2

She was married to James S. White on August 30, 1846. He died thirty-five years later. Under children, four, all boys, were listed: Henry Nichols White, “deceased” (he died of pneumonia at the age of sixteen); James Edson White, William Clarence White, and John Herbert White (he lived only three months), also “deceased.” EGWP 1.3

The entry under the item “summary of labor” reads: “From 1845-1852, New England and New York; 1853-1872, east of Mississippi; 1873-1885, California and Northern and Eastern States; 1885-1887, Europe; 1888-1891, California, Michigan, and elsewhere; 1892-1900, Australia and New Zealand; 1901-1909, California, and Southern, Middle, and Eastern States.” EGWP 1.4

She was a Methodist “before accepting present truth.” The answer to the question “By what means particularly were you brought into the truth?” is: “Study of the Bible, listening to gospel preachers, and by revelation.” EGWP 1.5

She was born November 26, 1827, in Gorham, Maine, and “attended public school in Portland, Maine, until nine years old; spent short times in private school when twelve years old.” EGWP 1.6

The question, “When, where, and in what capacity did you begin laboring in the cause?” is answered, “In Maine, 1842, laboring for young friends; 1844-1845 began public labors, relating visions, etc.” EGWP 1.7

A simple “X” is the only mark in the two lines allotted for information “If ordained, state when, where, and by whom.” Down through the years, in yearbooks and General Conference bulletins, her name appears with the “Ordained Ministers.” On her periodically issued ministerial credentials the word ordained was at times neatly crossed out, at other times standing. Her brethren were faced with a dilemma. Since she was uniquely and unquestionably ordained by God as he had laid his hand upon her, it would be anticlimactic were men to set her apart to the ministry by “the laying on of hands.” At no time did she perform those functions reserved to the ordained minister. EGWP 1.8

But the two-page biographical blank could hardly reveal the whole story. EGWP 1.9