Exhibits Relating to the Writing of The Desire of Ages

Exhibit 61—Sunday, December 22, 1895, Marian Davis to J. E. White

Since these books are sent out without explanation as to the authority by which the author speaks, it was thought best to avoid, as far as we could, statements for which the Bible seems to furnish no proof, or which to the ordinary reader appear to contradict the Bible. Better to give the reader what they will accept and profit by than to excite criticism and questioning that will lead them to discredit the whole.... ERWDA 30.5

Sister White says that Christ was twice crowned with thorns, but as the Bible mentions only the second crowning, it was thought best to omit the first, or rather to give the second instead of the first. ERWDA 31.1

—White Estate Received Correspondence File.