Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Charge Number 6

Mrs. White at first condemned the use of butter and eggs, but later she permitted their use. EGWC 376.3

The reasoning is this: If Mrs. White made a statement at one time, she is most surely contradicting herself, and thus proving herself a false prophet, if for any reason, she modifies that statement at a future time. With this underlying premise in the reasoning thus clearly stated, the reader is put on his guard concerning the validity of the charge before us. EGWC 376.4

We give now the longest list that we have found in any critic’s writings of alleged contradictory statements on the matter of butter and eggs. It is in parallel form and representative. We give it for two reasons: (1) that no one may be able to say that we did not let the full force of the argument present itself; (2) because we believe that in the very passages quoted in allegedly damaging parallel fashion is to be found at least the key to a harmonization of the statements. Herewith is the list: ^* EGWC 376.5

“Butter and Eggs Classed With Meat and Forbidden”

“Butter and Eggs Should Not Be Classed With Meat and Should be Eaten”

[1] Testimonies for the Church 3:21:     “We bear positive testimony against tobacco, spirituous liquors, snuff, tea, coffee, flesh-meats, butter, spices, rich cakes, mince pies, a large amount of salt, and all exciting substances used as articles of food.”     [2] Testimonies for the Church 2:367:     “Because we from principle discard the use of meat, butter, mince pies, spices, lard, and that which irritates the stomach and destroys health....”     [3] Testimonies for the Church 2:485:     “One family in particular have needed all the benefits they could receive from the reform in diet; yet these very ones have been completely backslidden. Meat and butter have been used by them quite freely.”     [4] Testimonies for the Church 2:487:     “No butter or flesh-meats of any kind come on my table.”     [5] Testimonies for the Church 3:136:     “Children are allowed to eat flesh-meats, spices, butter, cheese, pork, rich pastry, and condiments generally.... These things do their work of deranging the stomach, exciting the nerves to unnatural action, and enfeebling the intellect.”     [6] Testimonies for the Church 2:362:     “You place upon your tables butter, eggs, and meat, and your children partake of them. They are fed with the very things that will excite their animal passions, and then you come to meeting and ask God to bless and save your children. How high do your prayers go?”

[7] Testimonies for the Church 7:135:     “Milk, eggs, and butter should not be classed with flesh-meat.... Let the diet reform be progressive.”     [8] Testimonies for the Church 9:162:     “Some, in abstaining from milk, eggs, and butter, have failed to supply the system with proper nourishment, and as a consequence have become weak and unable to work.”     [9] Testimonies for the Church 9:163:     “I am instructed to tell them to eat that food which is most nourishing. I can not say to them: You must not eat eggs, or milk, or cream you must use no butter in the preparation of food.”     [10] Testimonies for the Church 9:162:     “We should not consider it a violation of principle to use eggs from hens that are well cared for and suitably fed. Eggs contain properties that are remedial agencies in counteracting certain poisons.”

These ten quoted passages are numbered for convenience in referring to them in the comments that will follow. EGWC 378.1

As already stated and illustrated, Mrs. White placed her dietary teachings primarily on a physiological basis. Though the physical laws that govern our being are divine and unchanging, the carrying out of those laws may call for changes or variations, at times, in our diet or in other of our practices. This may be due to various reasons, some of which we have touched upon already. Let us briefly enumerate the main reasons. EGWC 378.2