Ellen G. White and Her Critics

The 1855 Battle Creek Conference

In his retrospective 1868 article, from which we have already quoted, James White refers to Andrews’ article, and explains that it appeared in the Review, Dec. 4, 1855. Then he adds: EGWC 352.5

“This article, however, before it appeared in the Review was read at the Conference at Battle Creek about that time, ^* and the subject was discussed resulting in settling the minds of the brethren on the sunset-time, with the exception of Bro. Bates, and a few others. Since that time there has been general agreement among us upon the subject.”—The Review and Herald, February 25, 1868, p. 168. EGWC 352.6

Mrs. White again comes into the picture, as James White continues with his 1868 account of the 1855 conference at Battle Creek: EGWC 353.1

“At the close of the conference at Battle Creek referred to above, the ministers and others, especially interested in the cause had a special season of prayer for the prosperity of the cause, and in that meeting Mrs. W. had a vision, one item of which was that sunset time was correct. This settled the matter with Bro. Bates and others, and general harmony has since prevailed among us upon this point.”—Ibid. EGWC 353.2

The portion of her vision which dealt with the time for beginning the Sabbath reads thus: EGWC 353.3

“I saw that it is even so, ‘From even unto even shall ye celebrate your Sabbaths.’ Said the angel, ‘Take the word of God, read it, understand, and ye cannot err. Read carefully, and ye shall there find what even is, and when it is.’ I asked the angel if the frown of God had been upon his people for commencing the Sabbath as they had. I was directed back to the first rise of the Sabbath, and followed the people of God up to this time but did not see that the Lord was displeased, or frowned upon them. I inquired why it had been thus, that at this late day we must change the time of commencing the Sabbath. Said the angel, ‘Ye shall understand, but not yet, not yet.’ Said the angel, ‘If light come, and that light is set aside or rejected, then comes condemnation and the frown of God; but before the light comes, there is no sin, for there is no light for them to reject.’ I saw that it was in the minds of some that the Lord had shown that the Sabbath commenced at six o’clock, when I had only seen that it commenced at ‘even,’ and it was inferred that even was at six. I saw that the servants of God must draw together, press together.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:116. EGWC 353.4