Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

22/277

W. C. White to E. J. Waggoner, Jan. 9, 1887

I am quite anxious to hear from you about the conference and especially about the Sabbath-school work. Up to this time I have not hard a word excepting the few facts you published in the Signs stating who the officers were. I was a little surprised and much pleased to see that C. H. was chosen president. With Oyen as vice-president I think the work will go forward nicely. MMM 49.1

Once you told me you thought of sending me all your law articles, pasted on a scratch book. I wish you would do this. I am now told by Eld. Butler that I am largely responsible for their publication. I think there must be a little misunderstanding somewhere. I do not remember of advising you to publish any such articles and I will confess that I was surprised at their appearance. I do remember of advising you to publish through the Signs, articles on the subjects you had presented at the college. But I do not think, and I do not believe that you contemplated at that time, that these articles were to dwell upon these points which have been the subject of so much controversy in the past, and of so much anxiety and perplexity at the present time. I have written Eld. Butler that I had no doubt that you thought that you had ample ground for the statement that I advised the publication of these articles, but that I could not remember having done so, and if I did it was with a misunderstanding as to the ground they were to cover. MMM 49.2

I have not read Eld. Butler’s pamphlet yet. I have not wanted to begin the subject until I could give it a thorough examination, and up to about two weeks ago I have had absolutely no time to study. As I read the chapter over it seems as though the apostle must have had both laws in mind and talked of first one and then the other without making it very clear which one he was thinking of. MMM 50.1

I am glad to hear that matters are moving along so nicely on the Pacific coast. Our work here moves slowly, but there is being a good foundation laid. Fifteen applied for baptism yesterday as the result of the meetings held thus far here in Basle. In Russia the work goes forward amid persecution and difficulties. Australia and New Zealand seem to be the only places in this whole world where we have much to boast of, and I am beginning to fear that our continual boasting over this will work no permanent good to us or to them. I was a little surprised after all we have had for the last year in the Review and Signs and Instructor and Sketch Book, to see a new series of articles started in the Signs in which the ground is all to be canvassed again. My feelings reminded me of that sweet poem pronounced by a Welch minister as a blessing at the table where they had had rabbits for forty-five days in succession. I presume you remember it. MMM 50.2

Hoping to hear from you soon, MMM 50.3

I am yours truly, MMM 50.4