Ellen G. White and Her Critics

False Conclusions Drawn From Evidence

2. Mrs. White has been charged with inconsistency, of failing to follow her own counsel to the church, of even going contrary to principles, set down in Holy Writ. But we have discovered that there is a fallacy in the reasoning underlying this charge. The critics are really saying in effect that there are no exceptions to rules, that neither circumstances, time, nor place have a bearing on how counsel should be applied. But we all know there are exceptions, and our study, we believe, has revealed that fact, as we have reconstructed the historical context for her various statements and deeds under criticism. EGWC 532.1

3. Stray statements in her writings have been lifted out and made to carry a meaning never intended by the author. This is a favorite but reprehensible method employed by infidels in their attacks upon the Bible. They may point to James, for example, and declare that the Bible teaches salvation by works. Then they may point to another kind of Scriptural passage and contend that it contradicts James. The infidel’s argument sounds impressive to many listeners because they do not know the Bible and so cannot place the particular passages in their true context. In this book we have sought to place in their right context the stray phrases or paragraphs from Mrs. White that critics have used against her. And how different they have then looked! EGWC 532.2

4. Where there is more than one conclusion that might be drawn from the available facts the critics have consistently been satisfied to draw the conclusion that will make Mrs. White appear in the worst light. We confess that their conclusions have sometimes seemed plausible. But we have sought to show that a conclusion may sound plausible without being true. And then we have gathered all the facts together to present what we believe is the true conclusion, the one best supported by those facts, the conclusion that best fits the picture of Mrs. White’s whole manner of life and speech. And how different that conclusion has proved to be! EGWC 533.1