Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Sense of Cohesion Developing

By the year 1849 the still very small group of Sabbathkeeping Adventists was beginning to have a sense of cohesion. Such men as Joseph Bates and James White felt that they represented not only ideas but companies of people who held those ideas. Furthermore, they felt that these views were now rather clearly outlined, well buttressed with Scripture, definitely interlocked, and prophetically timed as “present truth.” It was in July of this year that their first publication, Present Truth, was founded. EGWC 195.3

It is hardly necessary for us here to go into a detailed presentation of quotations from their writings to show the steady transition from shut door to open door that took place. But it is important for the record to set down here the fact that the transition was gradual, not sudden. ^* There is nothing in the evidence to warrant the belief that at some particular point along the way these pioneers suddenly saw a great light and from that moment onward completely changed formerly held views about salvation and the shut door. EGWC 195.4

The most definite piece of evidence as to the time of the termination of their shut-door ideas is a statement by James White in 1854. He is answering a charge by a Mrs. Seymour in the Harbinger, that the Sabbathkeeping Adventists had closed the door of mercy on the world, saying it was too late. Here are his words: EGWC 195.5

“Now all this is entirely false. Those who have read our publications, especially for the past two years, and have known any thing of the labors of the brethren in the Sabbath cause, know that Mrs. S. has penned untruths, and that the Harbinger has published the same.”—The Review and Herald, July 4, 1854, p. 173. EGWC 196.1

Going back “two years” would bring us to the middle of 1852. We think that if the files of our publications had been clear of all shut-door views for longer than “the past two years,” James White would have so stated. The greater the total of years, the more impressive his rejoinder to Mrs. S. EGWC 196.2

Not by a reversal of views, but rather by an expansion and a development of them in a certain direction, the pioneers gained a sufficiently clear understanding of the sanctuary doctrine in relation to other Bible doctrines to enable them to preach, “Whosoever will may come,” and “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” EGWC 196.3