Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Mrs. White’s Own Statement

6. We have also Mrs. White’s straightforward statement as to the relationship of her assistants to the writing of her books: EGWC 477.6

“She [Marian Davis] is my book-maker. Fannie [Bolton, who had put in circulation the false story that an assistant had written a testimony,] never was my book-maker. How are my books made? Marian does not put in her claim for recognition. She does her work in this way. She takes my articles which are published in the papers, and pastes them in blank books. She also has a copy of all the letters I write. In preparing a chapter for a book, Marian remembers that I have written something on that special point, which may make the matter more forcible. She begins to search for this, and if when she finds it, she sees that it will make the chapter more clear, she adds it. EGWC 477.7

“The books are not Marian’s productions, but my own, gathered from all my writings. Marian has a large field from which to draw, and her ability to arrange the matter is of great value to me. It saves my poring over a mass of matter, which I have no time to do. ^† EGWC 477.8

“So you understand that Marian is a most valuable help to me in bringing out my books. Fannie had none of this work to do. Marian has read chapters to her, and Fannie has sometimes made suggestions as to the arrangement of the matter. EGWC 478.1

“This is the difference between the workers. As I have stated, Fannie has been strictly forbidden to change my words for her words. As spoken by the heavenly agencies, the words are severe in their simplicity; and I try to put the thoughts into such simple language that a child can understand every word uttered. The words of some one else would not rightly represent me. EGWC 478.2

“I have written thus fully in order that you may understand the matter. Fannie Bolton may claim that she has made my books, but she has not done so. This has been Marian’s field, she has qualified herself for this, and her work is far in advance of any work Fannie has done for me.”—Letter 61a, 1900. EGWC 478.3

The foregoing six points of evidence we present in answer to the undocumented hearsay quoted by the critics in support of their charge that Mrs. White was a grossly ignorant woman, with so little literary knowledge that she was utterly dependent on others, and that indeed her books are largely the work of others. EGWC 478.4