Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Dr. J. H. Kellogg Testifies for Mrs. White

In the latter part of the nineteenth century no Adventist leader was more prominent than Dr. J. H. Kellogg, medical superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium. He therefore had frequent occasion to correspond with Mrs. White and to note the character of her work and her writings. In a letter bearing the date line “Battle Creek, Mich., Sep. 9, 1892,” he wrote to her in part as follows: EGWC 512.2

“There are so many who are ready to say that Sr. White has been influenced to do or to say this or that, I often hesitate about writing you concerning things which I would like to write to you about, so that in case remarks of that sort are made I can say with the utmost confidence that there had been no possible opportunity for you to be influenced, by me at any rate. It has been to me a source of more confidence and satisfaction than I can express to you, that I have often seen in my acquaintance with you and your work, wrongs set to right through the special leading of your mind by the Lord. EGWC 512.3

“I used often to make a test in my mind, saying nothing to anybody. I would say to myself, Now here is an evident wrong. Sister White knows nothing about it, or if she knows anything about it, the circumstances are such as would produce a personal prejudice in favor of the wrong rather than against it. If the Lord leads her to denounce and correct this evil, I shall know that she is being specially led. In not a single instance did the test fail, and so my confidence grew. I mention these facts very often to those whom I find doubting.” EGWC 512.4