The Fannie Bolton Story

Marian Davis to G. A. Irwin, April 23, 1900

A report in circulation in Battle Creek has just come to my notice. Lest, through this report, any should be led to reject the instruction and warning of the Spirit of God, I feel it my duty to say what I know in regard to the matter in question. FBS 91.3

It is reported that the writing of a testimony for a prominent man in Battle Creek [A. R. Henry] was entrusted to one of Sister White’s former workers [Fannie Bolton], or that she was given matter for him, with instruction to fill out the points, so that the testimony was virtually her work. FBS 91.4

I cannot think that any one who has been connected with Sr. White’s work could make such a statement as this. I cannot think that any one who is acquainted with Sr. White’s manner of writing could possibly believe it. The burden she feels when the case of an individual is present before her, the intense pressure under which she works, often rising at midnight to write out the warnings given her, and often for days, weeks, or even months, writing again and again concerning it, as if she could not free herself from the feeling of responsibility for that soul,—no one who has known anything of these experiences, could believe that she would entrust to another the writing of a testimony. FBS 91.5

For more than twenty years I have been connected with Sister White’s work. During this time I have never been asked either to write out a testimony from oral instruction, or to fill out the points in matter already written. The one who is reported to have made the statement was never, to my knowledge, either asked or permitted to do such a thing. And from my own knowledge of the work, as well as from the statements of Sister White herself, I have the strongest possible ground for disbelieving that such a thing was done. FBS 91.6

A word more. Letters are sometimes sent to Sister White making inquiries to which, for want of time, she cannot write out a reply. These letters have been read to her, and she has given directions as to how they should be answered. The answers have been written out by W. C. White or myself. But Sister White’s name was not appended to these letters. The name of the writer was signed, with the words, For Mrs. E. G. White. FBS 91.7

Hoping that this statement may bring relief to some minds, I remain, Yours in the work, M. Davis. FBS 92.1