The Fannie Bolton Story

G. B. Starr, “The Watchcare of Jesus Over the Writings Connected with the Testimony of Jesus,” June 2, 1915

While I was connected with the Australasian Bible School for Christian Workers, then located at George’s Terrace, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia, as preceptor and Bible teacher, the following incident occurred, illustrating to my mind the watchful care of Jesus over the writings of Sister White. FBS 109.7

One day Miss Fannie Bolton stated to me that she was in great trouble regarding Sister White’s writings, and wished to talk with me about it, as she felt that I would in some way help her. I asked her what the trouble was with the writings. She said, “You know Sister White gives the writing to Sister Davis and me morning by morning, in the rough, and we put the polish on, and it all goes out signed ‘Ellen G. White.’ Now you know,” she continued, “that God gave me a talent to write, and before I ever met Sister White I corresponded for the Chicago Inter-ocean.” FBS 109.8

“Yes,” I replied, “but you never wrote as Sister White writes, nor anything comparable to it. What do you mean by ‘putting the polish on’? Am I to infer that you are altering the writings sufficiently to warrant recognition for the introduction of original matter called ‘polish’?” FBS 109.9

Miss Bolton began to weep, and said, “Perhaps I am being tempted to desire recognition.” FBS 109.10

I replied, “I think that you are; and your danger is that of any amanuensis who, in constantly handling the writings of another, entertains the idea at times that some of the finest sentences originated with himself after he has fully accepted them in writing them from time to time.” FBS 109.11

“Well,” she said, “I hope you will help me in the matter. I feel terribly over it.” FBS 109.12

I assured her that if going to the bottom of the matter would help her, I would surely help her, because I never would let the matter rest until I knew how much she had changed the writings of Sister White from the original; and I assured her that our ministers would not quote Sister White’s writings as the testimony of Jesus if she in any way altered them without evidence that she possessed the testimony of Jesus herself. FBS 110.1

Leaving Miss Bolton, I called upon Miss Davis, and asked if she shared with Miss Bolton in this view that they put the polish on Sister White’s writings, and did not receive recognition. She stated that she did not wish to try to harmonize her position with any one else, but was willing to state her own view of the matter. I told her that was all I wished, and she said: FBS 110.2

“I regard Sister White has a great fountain continuously flowing. You know, Brother Starr,” she said, “how morning by morning Sister White brings to us at the breakfast table or morning worship from twelve to sixteen pages of manuscript matter written with reference to the work in different parts of the world, or subject matter relating to her books; and then it is passed over to us, and we correct any grammatical errors, or spelling, which we do not ask Sister White to try to do in her work to write out what she has seen. This work that we perform, and that of the typewriters, the printers, the proof-readers, and the canvassers and ministers,—I regard all of these different workers that come in touch with her writings as the banks to the channel of the stream flowing out to bless the people; and you know a channel is kept green by the waters flowing along its banks. This is my view of my relation to the matter, and I feel grateful to God for the privilege of being a part of this channel. I regard it as a great personal blessing to me.” FBS 110.3

I replied that I regarded that a most sensible view of the matter, and a reasonable one; but that I could not understand Miss Bolton’s position. FBS 110.4

I then retired to my room and earnestly prayed over the matter, asking for further light from the Lord, and direction as to how to reach the real root of the difficulty. On leaving my room I passed Sister White’s doorway, and the door being ajar, she saw me and called me into her room, saying, “I am in trouble, Brother Starr, and would like to talk with you.” FBS 110.5

I asked her what was the nature of her trouble, and she replied, “My writings, Fannie Bolton,“—just four words. I then asked her what the trouble was with Fannie Bolton and her writings, and tried to appear entirely innocent of any knowledge of any trouble, that I might know what she had on her mind. She said, “I want to tell you of a vision I had about 2:00 o’clock this morning. I was as wide awake as I am now, and there appeared a chariot of gold and horses of silver above me, and Jesus, in royal majesty, was seated in the chariot. I was greatly impressed with the glory of this vision, and asked my attending angel not to permit the vision to pass away until I had wakened up the entire family. He said, ‘Do not call the family. They do not see what you see. Listen for a message.’ Then there came the words rolling down over the clouds from the chariot from the lips of Jesus, ‘Fannie Bolton is your adversary! Fannie Bolton is your adversary!’ repeated three times. Now,” said Sister White, “I had this same vision about seven years ago, when my niece, Mary Clough, was on my writings. She said, ‘Aunt Ellen gives me the writings in the rough and I put the polish on, but get no recognition for it. It all goes out signed Ellen G. White.’” [Note: Starr’s memory may or may not be accurate here. No other evidence exists of Mary Clough raising this particular objection.] FBS 110.6

As Sister White made this statement, I suppose that my face betrayed me, for she immediately said, “What is it, Brother Starr, what do you know?” I had to reply then that I was sorry, but I would have to agree with the vision, that Fannie Bolton, whether intentionally or not, was certainly her adversary, and the adversary of the best interests of the testimonies. FBS 111.1

“What do you know?” inquired Sister White. FBS 111.2

I then related to her what I have stated above, regarding my talk with Miss Bolton. FBS 111.3

“O, I knew it,” Sister White replied. “I knew it when that vision was given me. Now what shall we do? Shall we not have to dismiss Miss Bolton from the writings and see if the polish stays on?” FBS 111.4

I replied that I thought that was the sensible view of the situation, and about the only thing that we could do. She then advised me to telegraph to Sydney for Elder Olsen to return to Melbourne at once, and take Fannie Bolton with him to America. This I did. Elder Olsen reached Melbourne the next morning. But in the meantime Fannie Bolton had written out a confession that she had erred in this matter, and was certainly being tempted of the enemy, and pled with Sister White not to separate her from the writings, assuring her that she would certainly lose her mind if she was dismissed from her work. This appeal touched Sister White’s heart, and after counsel with Elder Olsen, it was agreed that Fannie should remain in her employ, but that no original matter, of which there was no copy, should be placed in her hands, but that she was to work on articles for the papers, or book matter, so that any alteration could be easily traced. Miss Bolton soon knew that this was not her original work, and became very restive under the change. It was not long until she took such a course as to make it necessary to advise that she disconnect with the family. FBS 111.5

She then went to Sydney, where for a time she was in the home of a minister who was then apostatizing from the faith [S. McCullagh], and her views regarding her work on the Testimonies and her dismissal from the writings had much to do with influencing this man and shaking his confidence in the message as a whole. However, just at this juncture, while Sister White was stopping at our house in North Sydney, the following experience occurred,—the visit of an angel, which led Sister White to recall Miss Bolton to her work again, but not to handle any original matter, which she, to my knowledge, never did afterward. FBS 111.6

While being entertained at our home in North Sydney, Miss McEnterfer left Sister White with Mrs. Starr one night while she visited Miss Jessie Israel. Mrs. Starr was very anxious for fear something might happen,—that Sister White might not be well; but she assured her that she would be all right with her, and it was only reasonable that Miss McEnterfer should have the night away. FBS 111.7

About 4:00 o’clock in the morning, we were aroused by something falling in the front room, occupied by Sister White. Mrs. Starr immediately rushed into the room, and found Sister White lying across her couch, with her face down between the window and the floor. This position made Mrs. Starr very uneasy, as she feared that she was not well; so she inquired, “What is the matter, Sister White?” Sister White replied, “O, nothing; only something fell down here, and I am trying to find what it is.” Mrs. Starr assured her that we could find it later, and not to mind about it, if she was only well. She replied, “Yes, Nellie, I am very well, and very happy this morning. I have had a visitor here.” “O, indeed! Who was it?” Mrs. Starr inquired. “Why,” said she, “it was an angel of God.” While I was sitting writing, I felt a presence by my side, and I thought one of you had stepped into the room. But upon looking up to greet you, I saw that it was an angel of God. He stood quite speechless for a little while, and I broke the silence by saying, “Well?” And he replied, “Well, Fannie Bolton is asking you to take her back, isn’t she?” She replied, “Yes.” “Well,” said the angel, “what are you going to do about it?” “Why, that is just what I want to know,” she said. “What shall I do about it?” “What do you think Jesus would do,” inquired the angel, “if He were here?” “O,” Sister White replied, “I suppose He would take her back 70 times 7.” “Well, what are you going to do?” he asked. “Well,” she said, “I am going to take her back again, and I am not going to ask W. C. White nor G. B. Starr whether I shall do it or not. I am going to stop the mouth of the enemy forever. He shall never say that I sent her from my home. I will keep her and board her and clothe her as long as she lives, and she is to remain with me if she is never able to do another stroke of work on my writings.” FBS 111.8

This vision led to the receiving of Fannie Bolton back into her home for the third and last time. Miss Bolton afterward left of her own accord, in response to the call of her mother to settle up a family estate. Sister White never dismissed her from her service. FBS 112.1

Notwithstanding all these experiences and the effort to help Miss Bolton to gain an experience that was in harmony with the work of God and true character building, she cherished her own views of the subject, and gave free utterance to them after returning to America. This we know personally has had an influence to shake the confidence of many individuals with whom she has talked, as they naturally supposed that her intimate connection with Sister White’s family would give her a correct view of the subject. This, however, we know to be far from correct, as Miss Bolton was under the influence of the adversary of the testimony of Jesus, and not under the influence of the Spirit of the author of the testimonies. FBS 112.2

While in this state of mind, of opposition to Sister White and her writings, Miss Bolton for a time became insane at Battle Creek, Michigan, and became violent, breaking window panes, etc. She was confined in the asylum at Kalamazoo, Michigan, for several years. After leaving Sister White’s writings, she attempted to use her gift, as she regarded it, of ability to write original matter. Its real value, however, was not apparent to any who read it. The facts above stated are given wholly with regard to the interests of truth, and without any malice whatever toward dear Miss Bolton, whom the writer and his wife regarded as one whom the Lord was seeking to save, and one whom they earnestly desire to see saved in the kingdom of God, but who unadvisedly listened to the suggestions of the enemy and received them as truth. FBS 112.3

The vision of Christ seated in the chariot of gold, watching after the interests of the writings connected with the presentation of the testimony of Jesus to His remnant church forever removed from my mind any anxiety regarding His ability to see that no harm came to them, and to remove from any connection with them any person who would alter or add to the writings so that they would cease to be the testimony of Jesus, but, instead, of human origin. I believe that Jesus Christ, who created the heavens and the earth, and who today upholds them by His power, is able to give to His remnant people the testimony of Jesus so that it can be truthfully said, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God and actually have the testimony of Jesus.” FBS 112.4

Those who receive these writings which have for so many years guided the remnant people of God in their world-wide work, and which have corrected so many errors and saved the people from irreparable blunders, and which have, in the writings of so many volumes of the most precious matter ever given to this world, outside of the Holy Scriptures themselves, comforted thousands upon thousands of people and led them to put their trust, not in man, but in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of mankind,—these persons really have the testimony of Jesus. Those who doubt, and regard them as man-made, do not and cannot to my mind have the testimony of Jesus. FBS 113.1