The Salamanca Vision and the 1890 Diary

Personal Experiences in Connection with the Work of Sister White

by A. T. Robinson [1850-1949] ¹

In the autumn of 1890 while I was president of the New England Conference, at my solicitation Sister White, accompanied by Elder W. C. White and Sister Sara McEnterfer, attended a general meeting at South Lancaster, also a series of meetings in Salamanca, New York, and in West Virginia. SVD 72.1

Before leaving South Lancaster to attend the meeting at Salamanca, Sister White took a severe cold and became very ill on the journey. On the boat from Norwich, Conn. to New York, Elder White and I were in considerable anxiety concerning her illness. Sister McEnterfer strongly insisted that they proceed at once to Battle Creek, but I prevailed upon them to go on to the first appointment at Salamanca. SVD 72.2

At Salamanca Sister White insisted upon filling her appointments, though between such appointments she was very ill in bed. She was announced to speak on Sunday afternoon, the meetings being held in the Opera House. She being so ill, Elder White and I made other arrangements for the Sunday afternoon service. Shortly before time for the meeting, she sent for us, and told us that Sara had told her she was not to speak. She then said, with a good deal of emphasis, “I want to know by what authority my appointment has been changed.” Brother White explained as best he could. She then said, “Sara, I want to be gotten ready for the afternoon meeting.” Sara replied, “Mother, you must be crazy.” She replied, “No, I am clothed and in my right mind, and I have a message for the people.” Brother White and I almost literally carried her from her room to the Opera House and sat her down on the platform. A large audience had assembled, and I trembled for fear, as I knew it was humanly impossible for her to stand upon her feet. After the opening exercises, Elder White and I assisted her to her feet, and she spoke for more than an hour, with most wonderful power. SVD 72.3

I felt greatly encouraged and had faith to believe that she would now be able to fill the other appointments. It is so easy to have faith, or think we have, when the blessing needed is in sight. But a further test awaited us. At the close of the service we assisted her back to her room, and she was worse the remainder of that afternoon and evening than at any time before. In the evening it was decided definitely that they leave for Battle Creek the next day and, although greatly disappointed, I could see no other way. SVD 72.4

The next morning Elder White and I were summoned to her room, which we approached with no little anxiety. When we entered her room, Sister White arose and met us, her face beaming with joy and happiness. She quickly told us of an experience of the evening before. As she knelt beside her bed before retiring, she feared she would not have strength to rise again. As she was pleading with God, an angel appeared, standing at the foot of her bed. The angel said, “Satan is your destroyer, but I am your restorer.” I do not remember the exact words that followed, but it was to the effect that she was to be strengthened to fill the remainder of the appointments that were out for her to fill, in West Virginia. After relating that much of the experience of the evening before, she said, “There were some things presented to me last night concerning the work in Battle Creek, that I wish to relate to you brethren.” She then began to talk about the remainder of our journey, and the matter that she had said she wanted to relate to us seemed to have passed out of her mind. SVD 73.1

I cannot give the exact date of the Salamanca meeting, but it was some time in the month of November. SVD 73.2

The General Conference convened in Battle Creek the following March. I think it was the second Sabbath of the conference that Sister White spoke in the afternoon to a very large congregation, the text being Matthew 5:16. The burden of the discourse seemed to be that we were to show our denominational colors by being a distinct people, and letting the world know that we have a life-and-death message for this time. Three times she attempted to tell the scene that passed before her at the Salamanca meeting. Each time her mind would seem to turn in another channel. At the third reference to the Salamanca meeting, she remarked, in an almost impatient tone of voice, “But I will have more to say about that some other time.” SVD 73.3

That evening, after Sabbath, I was invited to attend a meeting held in the Review office chapel, attended by, I should think, about 30 or 40 people. The meeting was opened and conducted by Elder Dan T. Jones, who had been elected president of the Religious Liberty Association. He stated in a strong way that the Association could not continue to use the American Sentinel as the organ of the Association, unless it would modify its attitude toward some of what was termed the more objectionable features of our denominational views. Elder A. T. Jones, editor of the Sentinel, as strongly stated that as long as he had anything to do with the editorship of the paper, there would be no such change as suggested. The meeting assumed the form of a very warm discussion between those who took opposite sides of the question. Elder A. F. Ballenger held up the Sentinel and pointed out certain articles that should be omitted. The discussion continued till after midnight, and closed about one o’clock, with a majority vote to drop the Sentinel and start another paper as the organ of the Religious Liberty Association. SVD 73.4

I forgot to say that after the meeting Sabbath afternoon, Sister White met with the General Conference Committee for a brief council. Elder Olsen asked her if she would be out to the early morning meeting the following day. She replied, in characteristic positive manner, “No, I have now delivered my message and I leave the matter with the brethren.” SVD 74.1

Brother Ellery Robinson and I were being entertained during the conference at the home of Brother W. C. White. As we were on our way to the Tabernacle to attend the 5:30 meeting Sunday morning, passing the home of Sister White and noticing the house lighted up, Brother White remarked that he would call and see if his mother was ill. SVD 74.2

After the meeting was opened, Elder W. C. White came in accompanied by his mother, who had quite a lot of manuscript on her arm. After she was seated, Elder Olsen said, “Sister White, have you a message for us?” She replied, “Yes,” and arose and stated that she was awakened after midnight and bidden by an angel to write out the vision given her at the Salamanca meeting. Said she had been writing since one o’clock. She then read many pages, in which she stated among other things, that at the Salamanca meeting she was taken into a meeting where the subject under discussion was the American Sentinel. She spoke of the harsh, unchristian spirit manifested by some during the discussion. Said one brother arose, holding up a copy of the Sentinel and pointed to several articles that should be eliminated, as the paper is being read by members of Congress, judges, lawyers, etc. SVD 74.3

After Sister White finished reading and commenting, we all sat for a season in silence. Quite a number of us had been in the meeting in the Review office chapel the evening before, and knew that there had been no human possibility of Sister White knowing anything about it. Dear Elder O. A. Olsen was in the deepest perplexity, as he had known nothing of the meeting the evening before. Elder Ballenger broke the silence by saying, “Sister White has described a meeting that some of us attended as accurately as could anyone who was present.” He said, “Sister White, I was the one who held up a copy of the Sentinel, and pointed out the articles that should be left out. The meeting was held in the Review office chapel last evening.” I shall never forget the look of perplexity on the face of the dear woman as she looked at Brother Ballenger and exclaimed, “Last night!” SVD 74.4

We who attended that morning meeting had no breakfast that day. The meeting which began at 5:30, and usually closed at 6:30, continued until well on in the forenoon. It was one of the most remarkable meetings that it has ever been my privilege to attend. Men of strong iron wills, who the night before manifested a spirit of unyielding stubbornness, confessed with tears and brokenness of voice. Elder Dan T. Jones said, “Sister White, I thought I was right. Now I know I was wrong.” A. T. Jones, in his usual rasping voice, said, “You are right—now, anyhow.” SVD 75.1

The Holy Spirit witnessed to the testimony borne by His servant in that meeting, and instead of division, there came a spirit of unity and sweet communion. The Sentinel, now called Liberty, ² has continued to this day to bear a mighty message of truth to the people. SVD 75.2

It is very clear why Sister White could not relate that vision to Elder White and me in her room at Salamanca, and why she was withheld from giving it, as she attempted to do three times that Sabbath afternoon.—White Estate Document File 107b. SVD 75.3