Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Appendix Q: Last Will and Testament of Mrs. Ellen G. White

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. EGWC 674.3

I, Ellen G. White, (widow) a resident of Sanitarium, Napa County, California, of the age of eighty-four (84) years, and being at the date hereof of sound and disposing mind and memory, and not acting under duress, menace, fraud, or undue influence of any person whomsoever, do make, publish, and declare this my last will and testament, in the manner following, that is to say: EGWC 674.4

FIRST: I direct that my body shall be interred with appropriate religious services of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, without undue ceremony or ostentation. EGWC 674.5

SECOND: I desire and direct that as soon as possible, payment shall be made of the expenses of my last sickness and funeral, and in order that no property belonging to my estate shall be disposed of or sold at a sacrifice, I earnestly request all my creditors to waive and relinquish their claims against my estate and accept payment thereof under the provisions, which I am hereinafter making, for the liquidation of their claims through the handling of my properties by trustees. EGWC 674.6

THIRD: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my son, James Edson White, now residing at Marshall, Michigan, the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000). EGWC 674.7

FOURTH: I hereby give and bequeath to my son, William C. White, now residing at Sanitarium, California, all my right, title, and interest in the copyrights and book plates in all languages of the books entitled: “The Coming King” and “Past, Present and Future,” also all manuscripts (and right to publish the same) pertaining to the following books and proposed books: EGWC 674.8

“Life Sketches of Elder James White and Ellen G. White” EGWC 675.1

“Life Incidents of Elder James White” EGWC 675.2

“Spiritual Gifts, Volumes 1-4” EGWC 675.3

“Facts of Faith” EGWC 675.4

“How to Live” EGWC 675.5

“Appeal to Youth” EGWC 675.6

“Experience and Views of Ellen G. White” EGWC 675.7

“Experience of Ellen G. White in connection with the Health Reform Movement among Seventh-day Adventists” EGWC 675.8

“Story of Mrs. White’s European Travels” EGWC 675.9

“Story of Mrs. White’s Australasian Travels” EGWC 675.10

“Mrs. White’s Letters to Mothers and Children” EGWC 675.11

“Youth’s Life of Christ” EGWC 675.12

“The Southern Work” EGWC 675.13

“Education” EGWC 675.14

“Christian Education” EGWC 675.15

“Special Testimonies on Education” EGWC 675.16

“Bible Sanctification” EGWC 675.17

Also, my personal library, and all manuscripts, letters, diaries, and writings not otherwise herein devised. EGWC 675.18

FIFTH: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to William C. White, Clarence C. Crisler, Charles H. Jones, Arthur G. Daniells, and Frank M. Wilcox all the real property of which I may die seized or possessed, all my live stock and farm tools, and implements, all notes and accounts due to me and also all of my right, title, and interest in the copyright and book plates in all languages of the following publications: EGWC 675.19

“Desire of Ages” EGWC 675.20

“Patriarchs and Prophets” EGWC 675.21

“The Acts of the Apostles” EGWC 675.22

“Great Controversy” EGWC 675.23

“Early Writings” EGWC 675.24

“Testimonies for the Church,” volumes 1-9 inclusive EGWC 675.25

“Gospel Workers” EGWC 675.26

“Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene” EGWC 675.27

“Christ’s Object Lessons” EGWC 675.28

“Ministry of Healing” EGWC 675.29

“Steps to Christ” “Mount of Blessing” EGWC 675.30

“Christ Our Saviour” EGWC 676.1

“Testimonies for Sabbath-school Workers” EGWC 676.2

“Manual for Canvassers” EGWC 676.3

“Special Testimonies” EGWC 676.4

Also, my general manuscript file and all indexes pertaining thereto; also my office furniture and office library. EGWC 676.5

Together with all and singular, the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining in trust nevertheless for the uses and purposes hereinafter contained. EGWC 676.6

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said real and personal property unto said trustees, and their successors, upon the trust to enter into and upon and take possession of the said real estate and said personal property, to collect and receive the rents, issues and profits thereof, to manage and control said real and personal property, and to rent and lease the same, or any part thereof, to sell parts or portions of said real and personal property, excepting the book copyrights, for the purpose of re-investing the same in other real or personal property to be held under the same trust, and after paying all taxes, assessments, charges and encumbrances thereon and the expenses of repairing, administering, preserving, and protecting the said real property and of handling said personal property, and publishing and selling said books and manuscripts and conducting the business thereof, to distribute, pay over and apply the net proceeds from the rents and profits of said real property and from the business of publishing and selling said books and property in the manner following, that is to say: EGWC 676.7

(a) To pay over to my son, James Edson White, ^* annually, during his natural life ten (10) per cent of the net proceeds of said properties for his sole use and benefit, and upon his death to Emma L. White, his wife, during her natural life should she survive him. EGWC 676.8

(b) To pay over to my son William C. White, ^* annually, for his sole use and benefit ten (10) per cent of the net proceeds of said properties during his natural life, and upon his death, to Ethel M. White, his wife, during her natural life should she survive him. EGWC 676.9

(c) To pay over annually to William C. White, Ethel M. White and Dores E. Robinson as trustees ^† five (5) per cent of the net proceeds of the said properties, to be devoted to the education of my grandchildren, great grandchildren and other worthy individuals. EGWC 676.10

(d) The said trustees shall use the remainder of said net proceeds for the following purposes: EGWC 677.1

1. For the payment of creditors with accruing interest upon the principal indebtedness to the extent to which my creditors have agreed to relinquish their claims against my estate; such payments from said net proceeds to continue until all remaining indebtedness with interest has been fully paid. EGWC 677.2

2. If the entire remainder of said net proceeds from my said properties is more than sufficient to pay my said debts, with interest, in the manner in which my creditors shall agree to receive payment of their respective claims, then my said trustees shall use the overplus for the improvement of the books and manuscripts held in trust by them, and herein provided; for the securing and printing of new translations thereof; for the printing of compilations from my manuscripts; for general missionary work of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination; for the support of mission schools, under the negro department of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference; for the support of mission schools for the illiterate whites in the Southern States, Provided, however, that said trustees are hereby empowered and directed to sell my said real property or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the following sums:—to my granddaughter Ella May Robinson, now residing at Sanitarium, California, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500); to my granddaughter, Mabel E. Workman, now residing at Loma Linda, California, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500); to my faithful friend and helper, Sara McEnterfer, now residing at Sanitarium, California, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500); to May Walling, now residing at Sanitarium, California, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500); and to my faithful friend and helper Clarence C. Crisler, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500). ^* EGWC 677.3

SIXTH: After the death of both James Edson White and his wife, my said trustees are hereby empowered and directed to apply the amount prescribed in subdivision (a) of paragraph FIFTH toward the discharge of any legal claims against the estate of said James Edson White, and then after the full discharge of such claims, the said amount mentioned in subdivision (a) shall be applied to the maintenance of the mission schools for negroes now conducted by the negro department of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference. EGWC 677.4

SEVENTH: After the death of both William C. White and his wife, my said trustees are hereby empowered and directed to pay over to their surviving children, or grandchildren, if any, the respective amounts prescribed in subdivision (b) of paragraph FIFTH of this will; and if there be no children or grandchildren of my said son, then said respective amounts shall be devoted and used for the purposes set forth in subdivision (d) of said paragraph FIFTH of this will. EGWC 677.5

EIGHTH: Upon the termination of the trusts, or any of them, created and set forth in this will, from any cause whatsoever, I give, bequeath, and devise all of the real and personal property mentioned in paragraph FIFTH or so much thereof as may from any cause be released or relieved from said trust to my said son, William C. White; or if he be not living, then to his heirs at law. EGWC 678.1

NINTH: My household furniture, dishes, carpets, pictures, photographs and clothing, I give and bequeath in equal parts to my sons, James Edson White and William C. White. EGWC 678.2

TENTH: All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal and mixed, of which I may die seized or possessed, I give, bequeath, and devise to my son, William C. White. EGWC 678.3

ELEVENTH: I hereby appoint William C. White and Charles H. Jones the executors of this my last will and testament, without bonds; and my executors are hereby authorized to sell any property of my estate without order of Court, and at either public or private sale, and with or without notice as the executors may determine. EGWC 678.4

I also direct that no bond be required of any of the trustees named or their successors. EGWC 678.5

TWELFTH: If a vacancy shall occur for any reason among said trustees, or their successors, a majority of the surviving or remaining trustees are hereby empowered and directed to fill such vacancy by the appointment of some other fit person, and in the event that the majority does not agree upon the appointment, then such vacancy shall be filled by the Executive Committee of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference; and the new trustee or trustees, so appointed, shall have the same power touching the trust premises and in the execution of the trusts, herein contained, as the original trustees named herein. EGWC 678.6

THIRTEENTH: I hereby revoke all former wills by me made. EGWC 678.7

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of February, 1912. EGWC 678.8

[Signed] Ellen G. White