Ellen G. White and Her Critics

She Pioneers in Australia

In August, 1887, Mrs. White returned to America to continue her work of preaching and writing. Then in November, 1891, she sailed for Australia, there to throw her energies for almost a decade into the newly developing work in the Southern Hemisphere. During most of her first year in Australia she suffered much from what was diagnosed as neuritis and rheumatism. For a part of that year she continued her book writing, in addition to her correspondence with leading workers, “propped up in bed.” (See Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 338.) Looking back over this long period of illness, she wrote to the brethren gathered in General Conference: EGWC 46.4

“All through my long affliction I have been most signally blessed of God. In the most severe conflicts with intense pain, I realized the assurance, ‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ At times when it seemed that I could not endure the pain, when unable to sleep, I looked to Jesus by faith, and his presence was with me, every shade of darkness rolled away, a hallowed light enshrouded me, the very room was filled with the light of his divine presence.”—Letter 2d, December 23, 1892, quoted in The General Conference Daily Bulletin, February 27, 1893, p. 407. EGWC 46.5

She was concerned in Australia, as she had been in America, to see a school founded for the youth, where they could be trained in Christian principles, and for the Adventist ministry as well. She believed that the school should be out in the country, away from the influences of the city. She also wished to see manual labor made a part of the education. She believed that head and hand and heart ought to be educated. She felt that young people should have an education, even though they intended to labor with their hands. She prepared a written statement, early in 1894, to stimulate interest in the founding of a school in Australia. We quote from it to reveal, further, her outlook on life: EGWC 46.6

“We need schools in this country to educate children and youth that they may be masters of labor, and not slaves of labor. Ignorance and idleness will not elevate one member of the human family. Ignorance will not lighten the lot of the hard toiler. Let the worker see what advantage he may gain in the humblest occupation, by using the ability God has given him as an endowment. Thus he can become an educator, teaching others the art of doing work intelligently. He may understand what it means to love God with the heart, the soul, the mind, and the strength. The physical powers are to be brought into service for love to God. The Lord wants the physical strength, and you can reveal your love for Him by the right use of your physical powers, doing the very work which needs to be done. There is no respect of persons with God.... EGWC 47.1

“There is in the world a great deal of hard, taxing work to be done; and he who labors without exercising the God-given powers of mind and heart and soul, he who employs the physical strength alone, makes the work a wearisome tax and burden. There are men with mind, heart, and soul who regard work as a drudgery, and settle down to it with self-complacent ignorance, delving without thought, without taxing the mental capabilities in order to do the work better. EGWC 47.2

“There is science in the humblest kind of work; and if all would thus regard it, they would see nobility in labor. Heart and soul are to be put into work of any kind; then there is cheerfulness and efficiency.... EGWC 47.3

“Manual occupation for the youth is essential. The mind is not to be constantly taxed to the neglect of the physical powers. The ignorance of physiology, and a neglect to observe the laws of health, have brought many to the grave who might have lived to labor and study intelligently. The proper exercise of mind and body will develop and strengthen all the powers.... EGWC 47.4

“Habits of industry will be found an important aid to the youth in resisting temptation. Here is opened a field to give vent to their pent-up energies, that, if not expended in useful employment, will be a continual source of trial to themselves and to their teachers. Many kinds of labor adapted to different persons may be devised. But the working of the land will be a special blessing to the worker. There is a great want of intelligent men to till the soil, who will be thorough. This knowledge will not be a hindrance to the education essential for business or for usefulness in any line. To develop the capacity of the soil requires thought and intelligence. Not only will it develop muscle, but capability for study, because the action of brain and muscle is equalized. We should so train the youth that they will love to work upon the land, and delight in improving it. The hope of advancing the cause of God in this country is in creating a new moral taste in love of work, which will transform mind and character.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 352-355. (Italics hers.) EGWC 47.5