Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Acknowledgments

To mention by name every person who has helped, in some way, to make this book possible, would carry us quite beyond the bounds of space usually assigned to acknowledgments. And even then the limitations of memory would prevent the total from being complete. There were those who supplied perhaps only a date, or an old pamphlet, but their contribution was often of great worth. Then there was that wide and diversified group of men and women in different lands who took time from their busy labors to read the manuscript. The value of their criticisms and suggestions I do not attempt to compute, but it was large. Here apply the words of Holy Writ: “In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” EGWC 5.1

As stated on the title page, this work was “prepared under the direction and sponsorship of the Defense Literature Committee.” The personnel of that committee during the period of the preparation of this book included the following: M. E. Kern,* chairman, D. E. Robinson,* secretary, A. W. Cormack, M. K. Eckenroth,* W. P. Elliott, L. E. Froom, J. D. Livingston, H. W. Lowe, J. L. McElhany, J. W. McFarland, F. D. Nichol, W. E. Read,* D. E. Rebok, J. I. Robison, A. L. White,* L. H. Wood, F. H. Yost.* EGWC 5.2

To the members of this committee I wish to express my sincere thanks, especially to those whose names are starred (*). The latter constituted a subcommittee, with which I had the privilege of associating, that made an initial, detailed study of the leading charges against Mrs. White and suggested the preparation of the present volume. This subcommittee also examined the manuscript in great detail in the various revisions through which a book like this must go before it is ready for publication. Only those who write reference works can have any adequate idea of the value to an author of such a group as this. EGWC 5.3

To the following members of the committee I wish very particularly to acknowledge my indebtedness: EGWC 5.4

To J. L. McElhany, president of the General Conference from 1936 to 1950. Despite the endless claims upon his hours, he was ever ready to take time to give counsel and eminently worth-while suggestions in regard to the preparation of this work, and to write the foreword to it. EGWC 5.5

To A. L. White, secretary of the Ellen G. White Publications, and to D. E. Robinson, associate secretary. Their constant helpfulness in the matter of providing source material and verifying quotations, dates, and documents, greatly lightened my task. EGWC 6.1

To L. E. Froom, who is well versed in early Seventh-day Adventist history, for his reading of chapter 13. EGWC 6.2

The only surviving member of the original Board of Trustees created in 1915 to care for the writings of Mrs. E. G. White, is Francis M. Wilcox, for many years editor of the church paper, the Review and Herald. His constructive criticisms and his reading of the entire work, both in manuscript and in galley form, make me greatly his debtor. EGWC 6.3

The first section of this work deals with the question: Were Mrs. White’s Visions Due to Nervous Disorders? The answer includes a discussion of current medical views on certain mental and emotional disorders. I am deeply obligated to the following for their reading of this section of the manuscript: Charles L. Anderson, M.D., Charles T. Batten, M.D., Arthur L. Bietz, Ph.D., Cyril B. Courville, M.D., Harrison Evans, M.D.; George T. Harding, M.D., L. A. Senseman, M.D., Harold Shryock, M.D. EGWC 6.4

To Harold M. Walton, M.D., my thanks for his special reading of the section on the health teachings of Mrs. White. EGWC 6.5

My thanks also to L. C. Smith, senior attorney, Copyright Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., for his authoritative information that made possible the framing of the copyright statement on 454. EGWC 6.6

For the improvements in the book in its toilsome and sometimes halting journey from the lowland of manuscript to the summit of publication, I thank all these and others who might still be named. EGWC 6.7

F. D. N.