Ellen G. White and Her Critics

W. C. White Discusses 1907 Rumors

On July 30, 1907, W. C. White wrote to M. N. Campbell, then pastor of the Battle Creek, Michigan, church, in regard to the newspaper story on Mrs. White’s work on Paul, which we earlier quoted. We give the letter in full: EGWC 449.2

“I ought to write you a few lines regarding the criticisms that were made in one of the Battle Creek papers on Mother’s work in ‘Sketches from the Life of Paul.’ EGWC 449.3

“If I remember correctly, this was the first of Mother’s works which was issued after Father’s death. The management of her business affairs was new to me. I was young, and my time and thought were taken up principally with the affairs of Pacific Press of which I was for a short time manager. EGWC 449.4

“If you will read carefully the preface to Mother’s work, ‘The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan,’ you will find the following statement: EGWC 449.5

“As the Spirit of God has opened to my mind the great truths of his Word, and the scenes of the past and the future, I have been bidden to make known to others what has been thus revealed,—to trace the history of the controversy in past ages, and especially to so present it as to shed a light on the fast-approaching struggle of the future. In pursuance of this purpose, I have endeavored to select and group together events in the history of the church in such a manner as to trace the unfolding of the great testing truths that at different periods have been given to the world, that have excited the wrath of Satan, and the enmity of a world-loving church, and that have been maintained by the witness of those who “loved not their lives unto the death.” EGWC 449.6

“In these records we may see a foreshadowing of the conflict before us. Regarding them in the light of God’s Word, and by the illumination of his Spirit, we may see unveiled the devices of the wicked one, and the dangers which they must shun who would be found “without fault” before the Lord at his coming. EGWC 449.7

“The great events which have marked the progress of reform in past ages, are matters of history, well known and universally acknowledged by the Protestant world; they are facts which none can gainsay. This history I have presented briefly, in accordance with the scope of the book, and the brevity which must necessarily be observed, the facts having been condensed into as little space as seemed consistent with a proper understanding of their application. In some cases where a historian has so grouped together events as to afford, in brief, a comprehensive view of the subject, or has summarized details in a convenient manner, his words have been quoted; but except in a few instances no specific credit has been given, since they are not quoted for the purpose of citing that writer as authority, but because his statement affords a ready and forcible presentation of the subject. In narrating the experience and views of those carrying forward the work of reform in our own time, similar use has occasionally been made of their published works. EGWC 450.1

“It is not so much the object of this book to present new truths concerning the struggles of former times, as to bring out facts and principles which have a bearing upon coming events. Yet viewed as a part of the controversy between the forces of light and darkness, all these records of the past are seen to have a new significance; and through them a light is cast upon the future, illuminating the pathway of those who, like the reformers of past ages, will be called, even at the peril of all earthly good, to witness “for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” EGWC 450.2

“In the ten or twelve lines underscored [italicized] above, you will find an acknowledgment regarding the use that Mother has made of the work of historians. EGWC 450.3

“A similar acknowledgment ought to have been made in Mother’s work ‘Sketches from the Life of Paul,’ and it was undoubtedly due to my lack of experience in the publishing work that such acknowledgment was not made. EGWC 450.4

“It has been claimed by our critics that Mother borrowed passages from Conybeare and Howson ‘Life of Paul,’ supposing that it was an old book out of print. But this is very absurd in view of the fact that one or two years after Mother’s book was issued, I selected Conybeare and Howson ‘Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul’ published by T. Y. Croel [Crowell] of Boston, as a premium book for new subscriptions to the ‘Signs of the Times’; and this book was widely advertised and frequently quoted from in the ‘Signs’ for a period of about two years. During this time I think we disposed of nearly five thousand copies. This shows most conclusively that there was no effort to cover up or hide what had been done in the matter of borrowing descriptive phrases or sentences from Conybeare and Howson. EGWC 450.5

“I think that Mother’s book ‘Sketches from the Life of Paul’ was regularly advertised by Review and Herald and Pacific Press for eight or ten years after this and until the whole edition had been sold. I do not know of any effort ever being made by author, publisher, or agent to suppress the book or to call it in. When the stock at the publishing house was exhausted, there may have been calls made for any agent who had books to spare, to send them back so that the small orders coming in might be filled. EGWC 450.6

“When the stock of books was exhausted and requests were made for a new edition; I laid the matter before Mother and she said that there were many things which she had written and other things which she wished to write regarding the experience of other apostles which she hoped some day to incorporate with what she had written about the life of Paul, into a book regarding the life and work of the apostles which would make a connection between the story of the life of Christ as given in ‘Desire of Ages’ and ‘Great Controversy,’ Vol. 4; therefore it was better to wait until this volume could be prepared. At the time we hoped the volume could be prepared soon, but other work has pressed in and this has been delayed from time to time until now. It is my hope that the volume may yet be prepared because I think it would be of great service to the people. EGWC 451.1

“From time to time I have received letters of inquiry regarding this book and my answer has been in harmony with what I am now writing to you. EGWC 451.2

“The people have been very impatient while waiting so long for a new edition. Some have advertised far and wide for copies of the book, and this may have given the impression to some that we hesitated to reprint it because of the criticisms made regarding the similarity of certain paragraphs between this book and Conybeare and Howson ‘Life of Paul.’ But I have always considered that it would be possible when we are bringing out a new edition either to make these passages an exact quotation and put them in quotes or to give general credit as has been done in the preface of ‘Great Controversy.’ EGWC 451.3

“If you will note carefully the paragraphs referred to by our critics, you will find that they are not an essential part of the book. They are mostly descriptive matter which could be spared without seriously affecting the argument or the spiritual instruction; and after you have studied the matter from this view point, you will agree with me, I believe, in saying that the claim made in the preface of the book is a true and correct claim.” ^* EGWC 451.4