Ellen G. White and Her Critics

1. Mrs. White’s Frank Statement

As we examine in detail the alleged evidence we shall find that certain statements by Mrs. White definitely teach that people, both in the churches and in the world, sinned away their day of grace in 1844. But that evidence will also reveal clearly that Mrs. White most definitely did not have any visions that probation ended for all mankind on October 22, 1844. In 1874 there was in circulation against her the charge that she held various false beliefs, including a belief that there was no more salvation for sinners after 1844. She commented on this charge in a letter she wrote from Battle Creek, Michigan, August 24, 1874, to a Seventh-day Adventist minister, J. N. Loughborough. We quote the opening paragraphs: EGWC 203.3

“Dear Bro. Loughborough: EGWC 203.4

“I hereby testify in the fear of God that the charges of Miles Grant, of Mrs. Burdick, and others published in the Crisis is not true. The statements in reference to my course in [eighteen] forty-four is false. EGWC 203.5

“With my brethren and sisters, after the time passed in forty-four I did believe no more sinners would be converted. But I never had a vision that no more sinners would be converted. And am clear and free to state no one has ever heard me say or has read from my pen statements which will justify them in the charges they have made against me upon this point. EGWC 203.6

“It was on my first journey east to relate my visions that the precious light in regard to the heavenly sanctuary was opened before me and I was shown the open and shut door. We believed that the Lord was soon to come in the clouds of heaven. I was shown that there was a great work to be done in the world for those who had not had the light and rejected it. Our brethren could not understand this with our faith in the immediate appearing of Christ. Some accused me of saying my Lord delayeth His coming, especially the fanatical ones. I saw that in ‘44 God had opened a door and no man could shut it, and shut a door and no man could open it. Those who rejected the light which was brought to the world by the message of the second angel went into darkness, and how great was that darkness. EGWC 203.7

“I never have stated or written that the world was doomed or damned. I never have under any circumstances used this language to any one, however sinful. I have ever had messages of reproof for those who used these harsh expressions.”—Printed in The Review and Herald, January 14, 1932, p. 6, accompanied by photographic facsimile of this part of her letter. EGWC 204.1