The Fannie Bolton Story

“Was Mrs. E. G. White A Plagiarist?”, a statement submitted for criticism prepared by the Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate, March 23, 1936, pp. 12, 13

But one critic is more reckless in his charges of plagiarism, even inferring theft of the matter for all her publications. Of two of her most popular books, he says: “‘Desire of Ages,’ is practically all culled from other authors on the life of Christ. Just recently we received the best of evidence that Fannie Bolton wrote ‘Steps to Christ’ without any dictation or assistance from Mrs. White whatever. It was her product in toto, but was published as Mrs. White’s production.”—Gathering Call, Sept., 1932. FBS 120.3

The burden of proof for such bold charges should logically rest upon the accuser. But for the first assertion no evidence whatever is given. And for the second, there is only an unsupported statement that the writer has “the best of evidence.” FBS 120.4

The facts are that he has no evidence whatever. On the contrary, it can be shown by “the best of evidence” that this preposterous statement regarding the authorship of “Steps to Christ” is a willful slander. Much of the contents of this book can be traced back to articles published by Mrs. White in the Review and Herald or Signs of the Times, months or years before Fannie Bolton ever saw Mrs. White. Any one who has access to Testimonies for the Church 5:635-41 an article from which the chapter on “Confession” in “Steps to Christ” is entirely drawn. This portion of Volume 5 was first published in 1882, five years before Fannie Bolton first met Mrs. White. FBS 120.5