Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Second Controversial Passage Examined

This brings us to a consideration of the second of the two controversial passages: EGWC 313.3

“Every species of animal which GOD had created were preserved in the ark. The confused species which GOD did not create, which were the result of amalgamation, were destroyed by the flood. Since the flood there has been amalgamation of man and beast, as may be seen in the almost endless varieties of species of animals, and in certain races of men.”—Spiritual Gifts 3:75. EGWC 313.4

This passage is separated from the first by only a few pages. The intervening pages give the account of the Flood. Here she speaks of “every species of animal which GOD had created,” in contrast with “the confused species which GOD did not create.” “Confused species” of what? The construction permits only one answer: Species of animal. But an amalgamation of man with beast would produce, not a species of animal, but a hybrid man-beast species, whatever that might be. Mrs. White is here most certainly speaking of “confused species” of animals. And she says simply that such “confused species” “were the result of amalgamation.” EGWC 313.5

Let us summarize, now, by placing in parallel columns the substance of two statements by Mrs. White: EGWC 314.1

Amalgamation of Man	Amalgamation of Beast
The intermarriage, the amalgamation, of races of men defaced the image of God.	The amalgamation of “species of animals” resulted in “confused species.”

We believe these parallel passages fully warrant the conclusion, already reached, that when Mrs. White said, “amalgamation of man and beast,” she meant (1) the amalgamation of races of men, and (2) the amalgamation of species of animals. The first “defaced the image of God,” the second “caused confusion everywhere.” EGWC 314.2