Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Delays in Carrying Out Plans

Here is a picture of long-range plans for the expansion of Mrs. White’s earlier works, a four-volume set of subscription books, which finally became five, and is now known as the Conflict of the Ages Series. One of these projected works was to take the place of Sketches From the Life of Paul. Note the time that is suggested for the execution of the plan: Patriarchs and Prophets was to be published as “soon as possible,” which proved to be about two years. It was hoped that “during the coming year,” 1889, The Desire of Ages could be published. It came from the press ten years later, or in 1898. There was no certainty as to when the volume on the lives of the apostles, which would incorporate Mrs. White’s 1883 work on Paul, would appear. It was published in 1911. EGWC 447.5

A look at Mrs. White’s diary, which tells of her arduous labors, her illnesses, and her travels, provides an adequate explanation for the delay in the time schedule of these books. EGWC 448.1

Three letters written by Mrs. White in the year 1903 throw further light on the matter. All three letters were written from her home near Sanitarium, California. In a letter to “Dear Brother and Sister [W. O.] Palmer” on July 14, she refers to her plans regarding revision of her book on Paul. We quote all that is said on this: EGWC 448.2

“As you know, I am not always master of my own time; for often I must do much writing without delay. Many letters must be answered, and, besides, I am trying to write some concerning the apostle Paul, preparatory to revising my book, ‘Sketches from the Life of Paul.’ After completing this revision, I hope to add something to the book, ‘Life Sketches’ [in part, an autobiographical work], in order that another edition may be published.” [The revised Life Sketches was not published until 1915.]—Letter 145, 1903. EGWC 448.3

On July 19, 1903, Mrs. White, in a letter to her son Edson, includes a reference to her work on Paul, which we quote in full: EGWC 448.4

“I think that a new edition of ‘The Life of Paul’ should be published. I shall make some additions to this book, however, before it is republished.”—Letter 150, 1903. EGWC 448.5

On August 9, 1903, she wrote to H. W. Kellogg. Kellogg is the man who while still connected with the Review and Herald—he left about 1897—is alleged to have shown to Kolvoord a letter from the Conybeare and Howson publishers threatening a lawsuit if Mrs. White’s work on Paul was not taken from the market. We quote all that she says as to her plans concerning this work, placing it in its context: EGWC 448.6

“I greatly desire to write on the life of Solomon and on the history following his reign. And I desire, too, to write on the life of Paul and his work in connection with the other apostles. At times the thought of this neglected work keeps me awake at night. The writing that I desire to do on my books is greatly hindered because I am obliged to write many letters to those who are endeavoring to establish the work on a right basis, and many letters to those in despondency and sorrow. Then, too, I have to spend much time in contradicting fabulous reports.”—Letter 176, 1903. EGWC 448.7

From her letter to her son Edson it is evident that in 1903 she was thinking of a new edition of the 1883 book on Paul, and that the “revising” mentioned in the letter to the Palmers was anticipated to be in terms of “some additions to this book.” No hint of lawsuit threats, not even to Kellogg, who allegedly demanded protective bonds from her before he would consider republishing her work on Paul! She had always been confronted with “fabulous reports.” Every prominent person in public life is thus confronted. She did not live long enough, however, to contradict the lawsuit report. It evidently did not get into circulation until after her death in 1915. EGWC 449.1