The 1907 Interview with John Harvey Kellogg

The Second Charge

The other recurring charge of Dr. Kellogg was that others interfered with and often manipulated Ellen White’s writings so that they could not be trusted to represent her positions accurately. He particularly faulted W. C. White for exercising too much control over his mother’s work, citing instances where testimonies were withheld. In these cases Kellogg either did not believe or did not know that permission was asked of Ellen White, and her consent given, before such actions were taken. IJHK 9.2

Undoubtedly, some people misused Ellen White’s testimonies as a club to whip the Doctor into line, as some continue to misuse her writings today. A few leaders clearly were engaged in a campaign to overthrow him. But to imply that testimonies were concocted, or that Ellen White was not responsible for what went out of her office over her signature, is a serious charge—one that is unsupportable. IJHK 9.3

To accept Kellogg’s position is to accept the irrational conclusion that although the Lord was concerned enough to convey a message to His prophet, He was willing to allow others to manipulate His messenger to the extent that the message, when delivered, was untrustworthy. Yet that is the only possible conclusion one can come to if one refuses to accept the content of her messages. The unfortunate thing is that Kellogg made his declarations so emphatically that one tends to feel he must be telling the truth. IJHK 10.1

For example, Kellogg could hardly have stated it more forcefully when he maintained that W. C. White “manufactured” a “testimony” from Ellen White’s personal letters charging Kellogg with trying to gain control over the Battle Creek Tabernacle. Kellogg admitted that it was signed by W. C. White, but said it was drawn from personal letters to give the impression that what was said was revelation from the Lord. He stated, “Those were private letters to private persons, every one of them, and in not a single instance did she say, ‘The Lord has shown me this.’” IJHK 10.2

In actuality, the document prepared by W. C. White was introduced as “Extracts from Letters written by Mrs. E. G. White,” and contained no less than three expressions indicating that she had divine enlightenment as to what she was writing, including this statement: “I have seen that the leaders in the medical work in Battle Creek will try to secure possession of the Tabernacle”—written in a personal letter, yes, but revealing a higher Source for her information. IJHK 10.3

Whether Kellogg was simply ignorant of the facts or was deliberately trying to mislead, we may never know. But it should keep anyone who reads his interview from uncritically accepting as fact even his most bold assertions. IJHK 11.1

What should be learned from this interview? One might devote considerable time in investigating each and every charge made by Dr. Kellogg; and, if enough documentation could be found, it is possible that on some points he might be shown to be correct. On the other hand, one might find additional instances where he would be proved entirely mistaken. But in the final analysis, our faith in the Lord’s guidance of the Seventh-day Adventist movement—in spite of its mistakes—and our confidence in the Lord’s messages through Ellen White—in spite of her humanness, must be grounded, not on any one person’s testimony, but on a comparison with the testimony of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. “God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence” (Testimonies for the Church 3:255). IJHK 11.2

Ellen G. White Estate
March 17, 1987