Ellen G. White and Her Critics

1. “To the Little Remnant Scattered Abroad”

FIRST PRINTING

This vision was received December, 1844. ^* First appeared in print in the The Day-Star, January 24, 1846, pages 31, 32, under the title “Letter from Sister Harmon. Portland, Me., Dec. 20, 1845.” Addressed to the editor, Enoch Jacobs, the letter carries this note after the signature at the close: “N.B. This was not written for publication; but for the encouragement of all who may see it, and be encouraged by it.” In another column, on page 32, the editor wrote: “The vision of Sister Harmon in the present number, is published at the request of many friends that have heard it read.” (Ellen G. Harmon, after her marriage to James White in August, 1846, is known as Ellen G. White.) EGWC 621.1

SECOND PRINTING

In the April 6, 1846, broadside. At one point in the letter, as first printed, the sentence occurs: “Well bless the Lord, Bro. Jacobs, it is an extra meeting for those who have the seal of the living God.” As reprinted in the broadside, “dear brethren and sisters” is substituted for “Bro. Jacobs.” This is an illustration of what is meant by minor deletions that have no bearing on the controversy over “suppression.” EGWC 621.2

THIRD PRINTING

In the tract A Word to the “Little Flock,” pages 14-18, under the title “To the Remnant Scattered Abroad.” EGWC 621.3

FOURTH PRINTING

In the Review and Herald Extra, July 21, 1851. It appears as the second section of a three-section contribution by Mrs. White. The sections, in order, are: (1) A sketch of her early life, (2) this first vision, (3) a vision on the Sabbath truth, which originally appeared as a letter to “Dear Brother Bates.” Sections 1 and 3 we shall consider later. In this Review and Herald Extra the first vision is prefaced with these words: “Here I will give the view that was first published in 1846. In this view I saw only a very few of the events of the future. More recent views have been more full. I shall therefore leave out a portion and prevent repetition.” It is in this printing, therefore, that we find the deletions in this first vision that have been the subject of so much discussion. Note, however, that these deletions, instead of being made secretly, in the hope that no one would notice a change in the text, are announced openly, and a frank and rational reason offered for them. We shall here give simply the text of the three deletions. Those who wish to note the context will turn to Appendix D, page 574, which gives the full text. EGWC 621.4

Deletions

(1) “It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another.” EGWC 622.1

(2) “And as we were gazing at the glories of the place our eyes were attracted upwards to something that had the appearance of silver. I asked Jesus to let me see what was within there. In a moment we were winging our way upward, and entering in; here we saw good old father Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Daniel, and many like them. And I saw a vail with a heavy fringe of silver and gold, as a border on the bottom; it was very beautiful. I asked Jesus what was within the vail. He raised it with his own right arm, and bade me take heed. I saw there a glorious ark, overlaid with pure gold, and it had a glorious border, resembling Jesus’ crowns; and on it were two bright angels—their wings were spread over the ark as they sat on each end, with their faces turned towards each other and looking downward. (cc) ^* In the ark, beneath where the angels’ wings were spread, was a golden pot of Manna, of a yellowish cast; and I saw a rod, which Jesus said was Aaron’s; I saw it bud, blossom and bear fruit. (dd) And I saw two long golden rods, on which hung silver wires, and on the wires most glorious grapes; one cluster was more than a man here could carry. And I saw Jesus step up and take of the manna, almonds, grapes and pomegranates, and bear them down to the city, and place them on the supper table. I stepped up to see how much was taken away, and there was just as much left; and we shouted Hallelujah—Amen. We all descended from this place down into the city.” EGWC 622.2

(3) “Well, bless the Lord, dear brethren and sisters, it is an extra meeting for those who have the seal of the living God.” Comments on Deletions EGWC 622.3

Comments on Deletions

(1) This first deletion is discussed at length in the chapter: “Mrs. White and the Shut Door—Part II.” We believe that that discussion shows that the doctrine of no more mercy for sinners is not taught in this passage. EGWC 622.4

(2) It is alleged that this deletion was made because it teaches that the righteous dead are in heaven and that Mrs. White, after having this vision, accepted the doctrine that the dead are unconscious till the resurrection day. For good measure the criticism is made that this passage teaches the very foolish notion that grapes grow on “silver wires.” EGWC 623.1

Some evil motive must be found for the deletion. Lacking such a motive, critics, rarely refer to a particular deletion. It would be too evident to the reader that if she had no evil motive in deleting a passage, she must have had an honorable one. But did Mrs. White have an evil motive in the instance before us? Did she wish to conceal an abandoned doctrine or to hide a foolish notion regarding grapes? We shall let her speak for herself. In Appendix F is found an extended statement made by Mrs. White in 1883 in which she gives a clear answer to these charges. The reader is referred to that statement. EGWC 623.2

The substance of most of what constitutes deletion number 2 is presented in the 1847 vision (the letter to “Dear Brother Bates”), which is also printed in the Extra. (See Early Writings, 32, 33.) EGWC 623.3

(3) This is brief, is free of doctrinal implications that might be supposed to embarrass, and has never, so far as we have discovered, been cited by the critics. We list it here rather to indicate what we mean by minor deletions. Apparently, in 1883, a critic must have cited this deletion, for Mrs. White in her 1883 statement comments on it. See Appendix F, p. 591. EGWC 623.4

FIFTH PRINTING

In the first edition of a collection of Mrs. White’s writings, the little book Experience and Views, pages 9-15. (Early Writings, 13-20.) The text of the fourth printing is used. EGWC 623.5