Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Undependability of Memory

Smith is supposed to have been in such darkness regarding early documents that he did not even know that Experience and Views, published in 1851, was not a full reprint of everything written previously by Mrs. White. Again let us refer to his Review article of July 31, 1866, in which (p. 66) he quotes a passage from the tract, A Word to the “Little Flock,” giving page number, and then adds: “This is omitted on page 10 of Experience and Views.” EGWC 276.4

Whether Smith did, or did not, write a letter to a certain critic in 1883 is really beside the point. The files of the Review reveal that he was well acquainted with the tract and its relation to Experience and Views. Smith was an honest man. If he wrote the letter, and he may have, it is a choice exhibit of how the best of men can have the worst of memories at times. Seventeen years can blur the memory of incidents for most people. EGWC 276.5

Incidentally, Smith’s series in the 1866 Reviews was later placed in book form, thus becoming a source of permanent reference in Adventist homes. And the president of the publishing house at that time was James White, who is supposed to have set out, long before, on a campaign to suppress even the mention of the tract! EGWC 277.1