Ellen G. White and Her Critics

The First Argument Against Dorchester Vision

1. The last sentence of what Mrs. White is alleged to have said: namely, “From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world,” “is no part of the Dorchester vision.” That is evident from an examination of the text of “the entire vision.” “That part of the vision relating to seeing lights appearing all over the world, was not given to Mrs. White until she was in Europe about 1886. It was first published in the R[eview and] H[erald] of July 26, 1887. It also appears in Gospel Workers, 378 which bears date of 1892. Instead of her seeing this in her early childhood, as she says, she did not see it until she was past 60.” EGWC 246.1

What are the facts about the text of this vision? Did Mrs. White sit down shortly and write out what she had seen and the counsel she had been given? She did this in many instances, and thus we are in no doubt as to the text of such revelations. But sometimes she simply gave verbal instruction or counsel to individuals or churches as a result of what she had seen. In later years, particularly when recounting the past, she occasionally referred to some unrecorded vision and, at times, wrote a few lines as to what she had seen or heard. That was the case in regard to this Dorchester vision. EGWC 246.2

While Mrs. White was in vision she sometimes uttered exclamatory sentences as different scenes were unfolded to her. In a few instances someone present when the vision was given, copied down these exclamatory sentences, thinking thus to secure firsthand the very words of the prophet in vision. This was the case in regard to the Dorchester vision. Bates, who was present, tells of their having “made the publishing of the message a subject of prayer ..., and the way to publish appeared not sufficiently clear, we therefore resolved unitedly to refer it all to God. After some time spent in earnest prayer for light and instruction, God gave sister White the following vision.”—A Seal of the Living God, p. 24. Then Bates gives a series of phrases and sentences that he copied down while she was in vision. But he immediately adds this qualifying statement: “The above was copied word for word as she spake in vision, therefore it’s unadulterated; some sentences escaped us, and some which we have not copied here.”—Page 26. EGWC 246.3

It is hard to see how Bates could have more clearly stated that he copied down only a part of what Mrs. White said. Nor did the exclamations uttered give a full account of the vision. Yet critics soberly declare that they have “the entire vision,” and quote Bates as proof. We have no way of knowing what the sentences were that he left out. And in the absence of those sentences, which would provide context, we cannot be certain as to the full meaning of the sentences quoted. We wonder how the visions of Daniel and John would sound if we were dependent for our knowledge of them on the exclamatory statements these prophets might have made during their visions! EGWC 246.4

We could dismiss the whole argument at this point on the valid ground that there is no text of “the entire vision.” EGWC 247.1

Mrs. White says that in her Dorchester vision in 1848 she saw “streams of light that went clear round the world.” Her critics say, “That part of the vision relating to seeing lights appearing all over the world, was not given to Mrs. White until 1886 on a trip through Europe and that she did not publish it until 1887.” The critic is referring to a talk Mrs. White gave in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 22, 1886, which was printed in the The Review and Herald, July 26, 1887. We quote the portion that bears on the question before us: EGWC 247.2

“When in my very girlhood the Lord saw fit to open before me the glories of heaven. I was in vision taken to heaven, and the angel said to me, ‘Look!’ I looked to the world as it was in dense darkness. ... Again the word came, ‘Look! ye.’ And again I looked intensely over the world, and I began to see jets of light like stars dotted all through this darkness; and then I saw another and another added light, and so all through this moral darkness the star-like lights were increasing. And the angel said, These are they that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and are obeying the words of Christ.... I saw that the rays of light came directly from Jesus, to form these precious jets of light in the world.”—Page 466. ^* EGWC 247.3

Note these points in comment: 1. Mrs. White did not say, in 1886, that she then had a vision, but that she was recounting a vision of her “very girlhood”—which particular vision she does not state. But the critic boldly declares that she did not see this in her “girlhood,” but actually in 1886. The reader must decide between him and Mrs. White on this point. EGWC 247.4

2. The only place in Mrs. White’s writings where reference is made to any words spoken by her in connection with the 1848 Dorchester vision, is Life Sketches, published in 1915. And the only statement she there makes concerning “light,” is this: “Streams of light that went clear round the world.” Hence, this statement is the only one that can here be in dispute. But note how the critic turns her words: “That part of the [Dorchester] vision relating to seeing lights appearing all over the world.” But it is necessary thus to alter her words in order to make them parallel her words spoken in 1886. And, as we have seen, it is then necessary for the critic to assert that her 1886 words were not a reminiscence of the 1840’s but the expression of an 1886 viewpoint! EGWC 248.1