Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

W. C. White to J. H. Waggoner, Feb. 27, 1889

W. C. White MMM 136.1

Battle Creek, Mich., MMM 136.2

Feb. 27, 1889. MMM 136.3

J. H. Waggoner, MMM 136.4

Basel, Suisse, MMM 136.5

My dear Brother,—It is now after midnight and I am soon to take train for Milwaukee to visit Eld. Conradi’s training school for the German laborers. It is a very busy time for us all here. I never worked so steadily in my life. I have received several very interesting letters from you which I have not had the time to answer, and I can only refer to a few points tonight. You spoke quite fully in your letter to Elliot about the difficulties at Basel, and about your desire to spend some time in England. You are no doubt aware that I have been planning to that end, and I see by a late letter from Eld. Holser that they are now shaping their matters so that you can spend next summer in London. I believe this is right, and I hope you will be greatly prospered there. MMM 136.6

I read your short article about the ten kingdoms. I think the opinions of our people will change on some of these subjects quite materially. It was voted at the close of the discussion at Minneapolis that all should study the question faithfully during the year. This was not reported in the Review, but a report was made which conveyed quite a different opinions impression. I told our people in the presence of Eld. Smith that while it was right to demand of the Editors of the Signs that they be cautious, that it was also demanded of the Editors of the Review that they be honest, and I showed them how this report was calculated to mislead the people. Perhaps Eld. Haskell will tell you sometime something of our experience here in Battle Creek immediately after the Conf. It was more inter sting that edifying, I can assure you, but things have straightened out much better then I would dared to have hoped, who did not have the assurance that this was God’s work, and that he would vindicate the right and make sure that it prevailed. It took considerable planning at first to secure for Alonzo on opportunity to appear before the people of the Battle Creek church at all. Some who returned from the Conf. before it was done had given out that he was a crank, and it seemed as though it would break their hearts to have the people think otherwise; but when he did a chance to speak, the prejudice was swept away like dew before the sun. MMM 136.7

My impressions are that we shall get on much faster if for a time we do not print any of these points where we think they have been wrong, but let time gradually develop the points that the infallibility doctrine of some of the Battle Creek authors is a failure. MMM 136.8

I hope soon to be able to send you a copy of the new edition of Dan. & Rev. which shows that even this book is capable of improvements. We had a very interesting discussion over some of the corrections made, and I was sorry that the book must go to press without some others which were nearly as much needed. I hope soon to be able to write you about the book business, but must close this and start for the train. MMM 136.9

Hoping to hear from you often,
I am yours truly,
pr 8.