Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Which Publisher Threatened Suit?

On such evidence as we have related thus far in this chapter the colorful story of the threatened lawsuit rests. At least if there is better evidence, no one has ever produced it over the years. We think that the recital of this worthless hearsay and gossip, so plausibly mixed with faded memories, serves a good purpose. It makes evident, once again, how shaky is the foundation on which the various charges against Mrs. White rest. EGWC 453.2

If the critics had stayed by the easily obtainable facts, they never would have brought this charge. As usually framed, the charge alleges simply that the “publishers” threatened suit. One critic says it was the T. Y. Crowell Company. He probably mentions this name because it was from the Crowell Company that the Pacific Press and the Review and Herald in 1883 purchased some thousands of copies of the Conybeare and Howson book to use as a premium with subscriptions and in connection with the Sabbath school lessons. Kolvoord, from whose 1926 story we quoted earlier in this chapter, prefaces that story with the declaration: EGWC 453.3

“‘Sketches From the Life of Paul’ was an infringement on the copyright owned (I believe) by the S. S. Scranton Co., on Conybeare and Howson’s treatise on the same subject.” EGWC 454.1

Obviously, his whole story of threatened suit for infringement of copyright would be pointless unless there was a copyright on the book that could be infringed. ^* EGWC 454.2