The Fruitage of Spiritual Gifts

Chapter 13 — Labors and Fruitage in Europe

MRS. E. G. WHITE, WITH HER son, W. C. White, and others, spent two years—from August, 1885, to the summer of 1887—in Europe. This visit will never be forgotten. The spiritual influence and godly instruction of Mrs. White won the people in every land. A large number of her many addresses in Europe were printed, and they are among the helpful contributions from her pen. To many it was an object lesson of untold value to see the deep insight Mrs. White had into European needs, conditions, and racial mentalities, together with her rare tact, firmness, and wisdom in helping all. There was danger of formalism and of a hard, condemnatory spirit in our work in certain sections of Europe. In meeting this, Mrs. White’s work was most helpful. All her instruction led to love, unity, faith in the message, and a deeper zeal for souls. FSG 161.1

The advent movement in Europe would never have been the same if it had not been for her visit. For many, many years our members and their children in England, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden never tired of telling about Mrs. White. And when now and then in later years a few disloyal ones ridiculed and belittled the gift of prophecy and the servant of God, our people said: “We know better. We heard her speak. We have seen her humble, godly, inspiring life. We have her books, and they agree with the Bible and deepen our love for Jesus.” FSG 161.2

When I first went to Europe, in 1903, nearly all our people still remembered the visit of Mrs. White, and they loved to tell of her meetings and experiences, as they felt greatly helped by her stay. Some of them related things that I had not previously heard. Mrs. White attended the first camp meeting in Norway at a place called Moss in 1887. There she met O. A. Olsen, who was one of the great spiritual leaders in this movement. She told Elder Olsen that the Lord had revealed to her that he would be chosen General Conference president at the next session which was to be held in Minneapolis in 1888. He seemed greatly troubled by this message, and told her that he certainly hoped that would not be the case. Later he and few close friends made this a special matter of prayer, and nothing was said by Mrs. White or anyone else as far as is known until the nominating committee brought in its report at the General Conference. To Elder Olsen himself, however, and to his close friends to whom he confided this, it was a unique experience. They all knew that Mrs. White did not take part in elections, and they waited to see whether the prediction would come true. FSG 162.1

Over in Scandinavia at that time we had a lady member who was well educated and prominent in our church. She was engaged to marry a certain young man, an Adventist, but was told in confidence by Mrs. White that the Lord had shown her that this man not only was unworthy of her affection but would bring on trouble. She believed this message and followed the counsel given, and later developments revealed to all how true it was. FSG 162.2

It was some of these little personal touches which nearly all have now forgotten that helped to confirm our people in Europe in their faith that Mrs. White was indeed guided by the Spirit of God. FSG 162.3

During her visit to Europe, Mrs. White first stopped in England, spending several weeks in that country. The first month after she arrived was spent in visiting London, Grimsby, Southampton, Ulceby, and Riseley, where S. H. Lane and J. H. Durland held tent meetings. Besides helping our few Sabbath keepers, she gave five addresses in public halls. Concerning her impression of her travels, she wrote: FSG 163.1

“My feelings cannot be described as I look upon these large cities where nothing is being done by the living preacher. I inquire, Why does the work advance so slowly? It is for want of workers and for want of means.”—The Review and Herald, October 13, 1885, page 625. FSG 163.2

From England Mrs. White went on to Switzerland. Here she assisted in a general European council which continued till September 28. This council was attended by laborers from England, Ireland, Wales, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, and Rumania. Of her labors there she says: FSG 163.3

“I felt urged by the Spirit of God throughout the meetings to impress upon all the importance of cultivating love and unity.... I tried to present the danger of building up separate interests between nationalities.”—Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 173. FSG 163.4

In Europe the genuineness of the spiritual gift of Mrs. White was put to an entirely new test—a test that was watched by some with the keenest interest. In America God had shown her the lives of many and revealed to her what human wisdom alone could never know. But these people, though often unknown, were of her own country and language. It was sometimes said that the things she told had been reported to her by others. In Europe, all this was changed. She was in strange lands, and among people whose mentality, customs, and language she did not understand. But in those countries, too, God told her hidden things concerning Adventists in lands she had never even seen. And the things He revealed to her were of the character and lives of people which others could not possibly have reported to her. Yet, in regard to persons in those countries, she had as clear light as she had had in the testimony she bore in America. The revelations she received were just as definite and true. The testimonies contained both stern reproof and inspiring encouragement; but every word was true, timely, and helpful. FSG 163.5

Concerning this evidence of the divine gift, one of her translators while in Europe, D. T. Bourdeau, an experienced, thoughtful man, wrote: FSG 164.1

“The labors of Sister White and her son, Elder W. C. White, were highly appreciated at this general gathering. Never was the gift of prophecy more needed, and its service more timely, than on this occasion. Errors and difficulties that had baffled human wisdom and effort were pointed out, corrected, and removed, with that tenderness, plainness, faithfulness, and impartiality which have characterized this gift during the entire period of its manifestation among us, now about forty years.... FSG 164.2

“How interesting and wonderful it was to hear Sister White correctly delineate the peculiarities of different fields she had seen only as the Lord has shown them to her, and show how they should be met; to hear her describe case after case of persons she had never seen with her natural vision, and either point out their errors or show important relations they sustained to the cause, and how they should connect with it to better serve its interests! FSG 164.3

“As I had a fair chance to test the matter, having been on the ground, and knowing that no one had informed Sister White of these things, while serving as an interpreter, I could not help exclaiming, ‘It is enough. I want no further evidence of its genuineness.’”—The Review and Herald, November 10, 1885, page 700. FSG 164.4

While in Europe, Mrs. White made her home in Switzerland. Twice during this time she visited Scandinavia and Italy. In some of these countries she met fanaticism. In Norway some had begun to teach that all pictures were sin. They wanted no photographs in their homes, in our books, or anywhere else. They did, however, use postage stamps and money with pictures, since it was unavoidable. Mrs. White explained to them that their views were extreme, and that the second commandment did not forbid the things they warned against. Her instruction concerning this and other extreme ideas built as it were a hedge about our people, and led them to be careful when other extremists arose, especially during World War I. FSG 164.5