Ellen G. White and Her Critics

The First Cry of Suppression

This may seem like stressing the obvious, but the facts are that this pamphlet, when published, soon became the occasion of questioning by some of the Sabbathkeeping group. They were in distress because “some visions were not included” in this pamphlet. They were in such distress that they “groaned and wept” and publicly spoke of “their losing confidence in the work.” Now, let Mrs. White continue the narrative: EGWC 282.5

“My husband handed the little pamphlet to Elder Hart, and requested him to read what was printed on the title page. ‘A SKETCH of the Christian Experience and Views of Mrs. E. G. White,’ he read. EGWC 283.1

“For a moment there was silence, and then my husband explained that we had been very short of means, and were able to print at first only a small pamphlet, and he promised the brethren that when sufficient means was raised, the visions should be published more fully in book form.”—Letter 225, 1906. EGWC 283.2

This explanation, coupled with the realization that the word “sketch” indicates a less than complete presentation, allayed the fears of the brethren and resulted in a request for forgiveness for their criticisms and for their fears that “you were concealing from us some of the light we ought to have.” EGWC 283.3