Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 23 (1908)

Ms 127, 1908

Concerning Ellen G. White’s Donation of Books and Means to the Cause

1908

Previously unpublished.

We had to do this. The money that ought to have come from America did not come, and I hired money from America and from any place where I could obtain it to build up the work in Australia. I became involved in debt, supposing that the sale of my books would certainly let me free in a short time; but there has been a debt of thirty thousand dollars upon which I pay interest of one thousand dollars per year. Many of our people know this, but no effort has been made to relieve the situation. 23LtMs, Ms 127, 1908, par. 1

We knew it to be duty to purchase the place at Paradise Valley. Then we encouraged others to invest the means in that place; but for several reasons it has not been done, which I shall not attempt to explain, for it would not be wisdom or justice to those who have done their best, and no reflection should rest upon them. There were those who became, through deaths, so situated that they must have their means, and we could not withhold it from them and do them justice. We expected the sanitarium to prosper, but we had to go through much disappointment. I could explain much of this, but it is not the time to do this. 23LtMs, Ms 127, 1908, par. 2

Then some thought if we placed it under the rulership of the conference the whole situation would be changed. I consented, but was corrected by the Lord. It was not the best thing to do, for the conference had all the responsibilities they could carry. The sanitariums must not be added, increasing the responsibility. The sanitarium properties—Loma Linda, Glendale, and Paradise Valley—must be wisely handled and the responsibilities borne by the ones running these sanitariums. Thus confusion and difficulties would be avoided. The conferences of the North and South are to work in perfect harmony; and in these large centers each must work harmoniously, but as qualified to carry their especial interests. This can be done as far as these sanitariums are concerned. 23LtMs, Ms 127, 1908, par. 3

The royalty on my books was not sufficient for the work put forth on them. Ever since I left for the mission field of Australia, there should have been a larger price placed on my laborers that I have to employ to do my work. I must not be left to accept so small a sum for my books. It was not just, and I was trying to open new fields in Australia; and in every meetinghouse built, I donated to carry it through. I donated for tents, and then the price after our return left me with heavy debts. I donated the two books Christ’s Object Lessons and The Ministry of Healing. The printing was donated on Christ’s Object Lessons and The Ministry of Healing. Christ’s Object Lessons was handled by any who would undertake the work of selling the book. And I am told that three hundred thousand dollars have come in from the sale of this one book to help our schools. Not one dollar have I appropriated for myself. 23LtMs, Ms 127, 1908, par. 4

I have thought our brethren in business lines would reason from cause to effect. But when the Paradise Valley Sanitarium was to be taken over on certain specified terms, it was a great trial to me because parties had invested in the sanitarium in good faith, to put it, as they supposed, on a paying basis when it should be in running order. I consented against my judgment to let it go at a sacrifice on the part of those who had invested their means, as Sister Gotzian and I had done. But as soon as I had consented to do this, and preparations were made, I was instructed that this was doing injustice to those who had invested their means, for it would appear to be a failure. This must not be, for it would be the first failure in all of the managing to secure buildings. 23LtMs, Ms 127, 1908, par. 5

The Loma Linda building should stand as one of the Lord’s special favors in behalf of His people in Southern California, and every effort should be made to free this institution from debt. So with Glendale. The Lord had provided for His people to come into possession of these three sanitariums, and His blessing has attended these three sanitariums, and they have been instrumental in the conversion of souls. And if one soul is worth more than the whole world, these properties are not to be undervalued. There need not have been anything disagreeable in the sanitarium at Colonial City. If all who had been connected with it had stood in the counsel of God, it would not show the present embarrassment. The enemy has wrought to make the matter most difficult, but the Lord has used Brother John Wessels as director. He has served faithfully to place things in a just and righteous bearing; and now with Brother Cummings as physician, and his wife as matron, all will come out without failure being ascribed to it. 23LtMs, Ms 127, 1908, par. 6

We will not, therefore, let any one who has invested means in the Paradise Valley Sanitarium become the least discouraged in this matter. Loma Linda and Paradise Valley will be carried nobly if our brethren in Eastern California will do their best and lay their burdens on the conference. We can manage it because the Lord wills that through the medium of His workmen, laborers together with God, those institutions shall stand out free from encumbrance and free from debt in due time if we will be patient. But the light given me is, You have never yet failed or been discouraged in the purchases made in sanitariums, meetinghouse buildings, or in school buildings. All are under the working providence of God. 23LtMs, Ms 127, 1908, par. 7

But when that money was raised by Elder Reaser for the school buildings, he did not reason wisely. The Lord had another way to cancel these debts. Every family connected with the school should have been instructed from the first to do missionary work in our large gatherings, to dispose of those two books to believers and unbelievers, and to gain an experience in this kind of missionary effort. 23LtMs, Ms 127, 1908, par. 8

There is still a chance for them to educate women and young men how to approach the people and sell the books. This lesson is still to be learned, and there is a missionary field in Southern California that is open to be worked; and the most useful lessons are to be gained in proper tact, in modest efforts, to approach the people on this subject of making sales of these most useful books. This is the work to be done in Southern California and in all our conferences. Much can be done in this work that has been strangely neglected. I present this matter to those who will interest themselves in Southern California. In every place take up this missionary work, and unbelievers will be benefited and many will receive the light of truth. The Lord’s angels will make the impression on human minds. I call upon all our students in our gatherings, in our camp-meetings, to let your prayers ascend to God for a favorable reception of the books that I have donated to the schools. Let them settle their own bills by acting their part and educating themselves to present the truth to the people, believers and unbelievers. You can yourselves do this work and sell the books. 23LtMs, Ms 127, 1908, par. 9