Friends at Home Monterey, Michigan January 12, 1863 This letter is published in entirety in 20MR 145. Dear Friends at Home:
We arrived here safe the same evening we left home. A part of the road was very rough, and where it was sandy it was as good as it ever was. But the journey nearly used me up. James stood it well and attended meeting the same evening. Preached twice yesterday. We meant to stop at Otsego but we feared a storm. The next day we expected to stop at the D’s [Days?], but they had all left for the meeting so we did not stop anywhere until we arrived at Monterey. At noon we stopped in the old spot to feed the horses and to eat our lunch. Sabbath morning I was lame and sick with cold. Sister Jones packed me and I felt better and went to meeting. There is quite an interest here, but Brother Lay is waiting for this letter and I must draw to a close.
(1LtMs, Lt 1, 1863, 1)
Lucinda, I forgot to tell you when at home not to sew. You can’t do the house work and run the machine without overdoing, and just let the things go. They will none of them suffer till I get home. Don’t try to do too much, I beg of you. Take good care of the children. Help them all you can to watch. Encourage them and lead them along. I think more of this than all the work you can do. Just let Sister Hewitt have the boys’ pants, if they really need them, to take home and make. Don’t tax your strength too much, but care above all things for the eternal interest of my boys.
(1LtMs, Lt 1, 1863, 2)
I left some lozenges in a napkin upstairs on the table. I want them much. Please send them. And if the boys have eaten any of them, please look in that black trunk and get a few more and put up for me. They are in a black tin trunk of mine. Please send my boots and my cape, and Willie’s little sack that you colored, for Frankie Jones.
(1LtMs, Lt 1, 1863, 3)
I will write the boys and all of you when I have time. Love to them, Lucia, and William and yourself.
(1LtMs, Lt 1, 1863, 4)
Lt 2, 1863
Cornell, Brother Battle Creek, Michigan January 20, 1863 Portions of this letter are published in 5MR 436; 11MR 352-353. Dear Brother Cornell:
I have not yet seen the letter you have written to Angeline, but we have sent for it and it will soon be here. I have heard all the substance of the letter from Brother Loughborough and Uriah. Angeline has just come in and read the letter from Brother Cornell. I am astonished and alarmed. If I should be at Waukon, I should be compelled to rebuke the manifestations in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Is it possible that Paris people have not learned enough of fanaticism yet? I do think the persons you mention, and all who receive their light, have not yet learned the voice of the true Shepherd.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 1)
In [Testimony] No. 9 you will see a note in regard to the East. I was shown that, as God revived His work, those who had formerly been in fanaticism would be in danger of crediting their impressions and feelings, and the devil would use them to push poor souls into the fire. Satan used some as long as he could push souls into the waters (into cold formality), and then when he has accomplished all he wishes in that direction, he will give them a blind zeal and lead them to be moved by feelings and impressions, and through them will push souls into the fire to be consumed by fanaticism. The Paris people have been first pushed into the fire, next into the water, now again into the fire.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 2)
My soul is sick and discouraged in regard to those who have been so long rebellious in Waukon. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”1 Samuel 15:23. Souls in Waukon have rebelled and stood fast in their rebellion, and very recently they have professed to see themselves, and their stubbornness is changed to a spirit of witchcraft or divination. I call upon all who have the cause of God one particle at heart to rise in the name of the Lord and put down the manifestations among them.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 3)
In the last vision I was shown that some in Waukon were just beginning to see themselves, but they had been in the snare of the devil so long, and been influenced by evil angels so many years to resist the testimonies God had sent them, that they could not recover themselves from Satan’s snare at once; and that such ones would have to walk in deep humility, and live a life of continual repentance, before they could redeem the past. I saw that their former experience has been so dark and evil that they had not discernment enough to know the work and spirit of Satan. They would as soon call darkness and error light, and reject the true light and think themselves very near to God, when Satan was controlling them. Therefore it was not safe for them to follow their own judgment or to attempt to lead or dictate in the least. But they must submit to do what their stubbornness has made exceedingly difficult for them to do—be led by the judgment of others who have been true to the cause of God.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 4)
I saw in my last vision that Waukon was not the place for John; that the churches should not take hold to help him until he cut entirely loose from the farm in Waukon, for their means might as well be buried as to be given to him in his present condition. I saw that he had been in perfect bondage to his uncles and had tried in every way to please them. A continual fear of his uncles has been upon him. He has scringed and crippled and has been hypocritical in some things to meet the wishes and wants of these ungodly, worldly uncles.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 5)
I saw again that it was not safe for John to be in Waukon for other reasons. Satan has used a few women to keep him bound there and through their influence he has made efforts to present the truth which had much better not have been made, for John was in complete bondage at the time he made the efforts there. He did hurt, more hurt than good, and I saw that Satan would work in various ways through those who had been as agents or mediums for Satan to keep John in Waukon. And as John was led to Waukon through a spirit of rebellion, he never could be free till he left that place and cut loose from that farm entirely and had no connection with Waukon or any temporal interest there. Then the church at large could take hold with interest to do for John. Until then they had no duty to do more than just meet his present wants and requite him for his present labor.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 6)
I have not the least confidence in the manifestations in Waukon. I saw [that] John should not go to Waukon to remain there. These manifestations say he must come to Waukon. I saw in the last vision that Mother Andrews was pushing through the darkness to get into light, and that rays of light were penetrating the thick darkness even to Father Andrews. I saw how long God had borne with his rebellion and his crooked refusal of the light given through visions; yet I saw that Jesus our Advocate yet invites him to come.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 7)
The manifestations place Father and Mother Andrews in a hopeless condition, or nearly so. Here is the same old rejecting, casting-off spirit manifested in Paris years ago—the Jesse Stevens spirit which led him at last to put an end to his own existence.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 8)
This work which you think may be of God is directly from evil angels. Beware of it. Resist it. Be afraid of it as you would of a rattlesnake. We will not give it the least quarter.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 9)
Only in the last vision I was shown Calvin Washburn in total darkness. He had no interest or energy in holy things. He did not know the first principles of the truth. He had not manifested any faculty to obtain or secure earthly goods, neither had he any interest to secure the heavenly treasure. I saw that unless there was an entire reformation in him God will not entrust him with the true riches.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 10)
I have written in great haste, in great earnestness, for I feel that the case demands a speedy and severe remedy. Be assured that God will not use individuals who have traveled much in darkness to direct and teach His children. These are perilous times. God works through those who have walked carefully and in humility before Him; those who have been true; those who have moved understandingly and in His fear.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 11)
Again I exhort those in Waukon who have been rebellious to save their own souls, and it will be all that they can do, and all that God requires of them.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 12)
In haste.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 13)
Please read and send John Andrews and me a copy immediately.
(1LtMs, Lt 2, 1863, 14)
Lt 3, 1863
King, Brother and Sister Battle Creek, Michigan March 2, 1863 Portions of this letter are published in 2Bio 95. Dear Brother and Sister King:
While conversing with Sister King I felt grieved to see not that change in her feelings I might expect after the testimony which I wrote and sent her. She thinks that her course has been about right when it has been very faulty. That which had been shown me in vision came so plainly to my mind [that] I cannot forbear writing out more explicitly that she may more fully understand her case.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 1)
I was carried back in the past to your marriage. I saw that Brother King could have obtained a younger and more capable woman, but his study was to obtain a person who would fill the place of mother to his children. He thought he chose for the good of his children one who would be affectionate and tender and kind to his infant flock. But his expectations have not been realized and his disappointment has been most bitter.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 2)
Sister King, from the first your interest has been separate from your husband’s. You have felt thus: that which belongs to my husband is mine, and that which belongs to me is my own. Your interest has ever been more with your relatives than with your husband and those poor motherless children. You have been extremely selfish and penurious. This is a trait of character with your relatives. Your mother, but more especially your brother and sister, are wrapt up in their own interest. This is a miserable spirit. You have cherished it, and it has been one cause of shutting love and harmony from your family.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 3)
Your husband possesses a noble, generous heart. He has suffered much and been much annoyed with the extreme selfishness which you have exhibited, and yet he has not realized it half as bad as it is. God’s frown is upon it. Angels of God flee from the presence of those who possess it.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 4)
This selfish spirit you brought into the family with you, and have kept up a separate interest. You were indulged in your childhood. You were allowed to fret and scold, and if a little ailing, to complain. At such times you have been waited on and petted. And now it is natural to complain and fret and to draw all the sympathy to yourself; it has become second nature.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 5)
You knew that you were totally unfit to take charge of motherless children, for you had no love for children and were very easily annoyed by their childhood merriment. You permitted your husband to be deceived in you, and through a misplaced confidence he gave you his heart. Then if you had tried to act a mother’s part and cherished a love for those dear children, and been patient with their childhood waywardness, you would have filled an important place and been esteemed by all, and in the end obtained a rich reward. You have taken a course which God hates. You have never taken those children into your heart. You commenced to care for them as though it were a drudgery, a task which nobody understood or could ever understand.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 6)
You have been at times situated inconveniently where it was highly necessary for you to exercise patience. You professed to be a Christian, your husband a perfect unbeliever. But you could not bear the least trial of your patience. Unless everything moved just so smoothly you were agitated and angry and brought a cloud, dark and heavy, over the household, and any place was preferable to your presence.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 7)
You have mourned over your lot and over the trials of married life, and have sometimes advised those who were unmarried to remain so while free to keep so. Oh, if you had only done as you have advised others it would have been a mercy to more than one! The happiness of five were depending on the course you might pursue. But instead of making your husband and children happy, the most you thought of was yourself. You have made them very unhappy and miserable. The children could not love you; you gave them no chance to do so.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 8)
Your husband has tried to make the best of everything, but your course has told upon his even temper, and upon his strong affections, and he has been in a measure alienated from his children through your influence. Yet he did not realize it. You have pursued a course toward his children which he never should have suffered. He has borne with your fretfulness and complaining until forbearance ceases to be a virtue. Now he should be decided that no fretfulness, censuring, or complaining should be indulged in to his children. Unless this is overcome now it never will be, and Sister King will have no part with God’s people, no home in His heavenly kingdom. God cannot take you to heaven as you are. You would mar that peaceful, happy place.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 9)
What can be done for you? Do you design to wait until Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven? Will He make you all over new when He comes? Oh, no. This will not be done then. The fitting up must be done here; all the hewing and squaring must take place here upon earth, in the hours of probation. You must be fitted up here, the last blow must be given here. When Jesus takes His place on the great white cloud, He that is holy will be holy still and he which is filthy will be filthy still. His reward is with Him to give to every one according as his works shall be. Now is your time to get ready, to make haste and repent, and seek meekness and righteousness, that you may be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger. Now is the time to search your heart and to rid yourself of your supreme selfishness and covetousness. It is time for you to possess nobleness of soul.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 10)
Your supreme love of self has led you to spare yourself and suffer the heavy burdens to come on Lucia when she was a mere child, and at the very time when she needed the greatest care to establish a good constitution. The seeds of disease were in her system, therefore she needed the most careful attention to help her overcome that which has threatened to carry her to an untimely grave. Lucia has been suffered to go beyond her strength for years. When she has complained of sickness or of suffering you have sometimes charged her, sensitive child that she was, of complaining to get rid of work, that you thought she complained more than she needed to, that she was not as bad off as she represented.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 11)
I heard in vision the very words spoken: “You are as well as I am. You are as able to work as I am. You do not feel any worse than I do.” You were ever referring to yourself as a criterion, as though no one could feel any worse than yourself. You have never realized how hard Lucia has worked, and she never has received credit for the amount of labor she performed.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 12)
Your health was not good; yet it might have been better if you had possessed fortitude and self-denial to have broken yourself of habits indulged in from childhood. Had you risen early in the morning and superintended your household matters as every mother should, your health would have been better. You have indulged yourself in the injurious habit of spending the very best hours in bed. If you had risen earlier you would not have felt so languid and weak. Often, mornings, Lucia has arisen after passing a restless, painful night, to do that which you ought to have done.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 13)
Self has been your highest consideration. Lucia’s strength has been taxed to the utmost. You have sometimes pitied her, but have pitied yourself three times where you did her once. She was far less able to endure hard labor than yourself, but she was left to do it. God has noticed these things. You have a faculty that Lucia has not, of calling attention to yourself and enlisting sympathy. Hours of suffering she has endured without a murmur, when if you had suffered half as much you would have had much to say about it and would have done nothing at all.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 14)
Lucia’s lot has been hard. Her father has been like one asleep. His eyes have seen some things which have caused him sorrow, but his eyes have not been half opened. He should, above all things, have looked out for the interest of his only daughter. He did not reflect and realize how lonely he should be without her. She is a sunbeam in his path. He should have known that the burdens came too heavy upon her frail constitution, else she would not have suffered so much.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 15)
You, Brother King, have let the statements of your wife sway your judgment. She has enlarged upon and swelled her own labor, while that of your daughter has been often represented to you as small, light, that which she could do without injuring her. You have felt alarmed at times, but as often efforts were made to make you see that your fears were groundless. These efforts of your wife have proved too successful. It should not have been so. You have not known half of the sadness and suffering Lucia has borne. It was your duty to have had a sharp lookout for these things and not be pacified so readily. It was for you to say what course your daughter should pursue—your only daughter, left you by a tender wife and mother, whose whole interest was for you and her children, one whose heart was wholly yours, one who never caused you a moment of sadness, one who never gave you a harsh or fretful word. Lucia is a type of her mother.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 16)
Your children have not been properly cared for. Your present wife has been close and has stinted them. She has begrudged them good and abundant clothing. Especially has Lucia been neglected in this respect. Her wardrobe has been kept scanty and poor. Everything desirable to your wife has looked too good for Lucia. I saw her looking at things brought into the house which might have made Lucia comfortable and which she actually needed. She knew Lucia needed those very things. She held up these things, examining them, and finally decided to keep them for herself.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 17)
Lucia is a sensible girl. She felt the injustice of these things and has wept over them in secret, but made no complaint to her father or anyone. Lucia richly earned treble what she had, and even if she had not worked so hard, even if she had not been as patient and submissive as she has, as a daughter she was entitled to a liberal supply. But I saw that she had borne burdens which persons who are much older would shrink from. Had Lucia gone out to work in any family among strangers and labored as she has at home, she could more than have supported herself and supplied herself with a liberal wardrobe.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 18)
But she has done what she never should have done and has been overtaxed. She has not been an equal sharer in privileges with her present mother. Instead of her mother denying herself of privileges of visiting and attending meetings at a distance from home, and for Lucia’s encouragement had her go occasionally with her own father, if one must stay at home, it has generally been Lucia. The mother claimed all the privileges and Lucia has had but very few privileges or bright spots in her experience. There has been an astonishing selfishness manifested in this. She has been left to take the care at home when her mother was enjoying privileges that Lucia was a stranger to.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 19)
Sister King, your constant complaining has shut out all room for Lucia to tell when she did suffer, and has shut away from her the sympathy she ought to have had. Such exhibitions of selfishness are alarming. I was compelled to enter into your family and was shown things in vision which had transpired. I have heard you and Brother King in conversation. I have heard the very words which have been spoken between you. I have seen the passion and rage which you exhibited because your course was censured. Then I have seen Brother King in the deepest perplexity. He hardly knew what course to pursue. He has wished himself alone again with his infant flock.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 20)
While you have talked and acted as though it were a great task to have the care of those children, and as though it was a great condescension in you to come into the family, you looked only on one side of the matter. You have not seen your course of injustice and selfishness. You have not seen that the family have been greater sufferers than you. You have never known how much misery you have caused. You have never thought that the family would have been far better off if you had never entered it. Your course has driven one son from his home to the army. And yet you justify yourself and think you are about right. May God give you true repentance before it shall be too late.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 21)
Brother King, you have been greatly perplexed at times to know just what to do, and to save a storm have let your wife have her own way in many things. This would be excusable, somewhat, in you if you alone were concerned in the matter, but when your children are brought into the account, when you know they must be affected by the course you pursue, then let the consequences be what they may, you should act for the good and for the interest of your children. You should take a firm, decided course when you know that you are right, and act the double part of father and mother to your children.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 22)
There has been but little union and harmony in your family. There never can be a true state of feeling of love and union until there is a decided reform in Sister King. She has not been willing to see herself and there can be no reform until she does. She is constantly striving to save herself from censure and to make her case good when she ought to feel that she has been all wrong and should feel true repentance for the evil she has caused. As Brother King’s eyes are opened he will do his part to correct the evil which has existed in his family, which has nearly ruined his children.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 23)
If Sister King remains as she has done, justifying her course in almost everything, criminating others, there will be a greater variance than there has ever been yet between them. She must see her course as it is and confess her wrong course, her selfishness, her covetousness, and overcome these things, redeem the past, and cherish a noble, generous spirit. Be benevolent and kind to the children.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 24)
I would that she could see how heaven has regarded her course. All such things God hates. Would that she could see how angels of God have regarded these motherless children. Angels have been commissioned to have special charge of them and to efface the impressions her influence was making upon them. How tenderly have these angels watched to preserve the affections of the children that they might not wither, and to preserve their noble qualities that the fine feelings of the soul need not die. If anything could move Sister King, such a sight would move her, and her course would be arrayed before her just as despicable as it is. She would see how she had repulsed those dear children whom she should have taken close to her heart. She would see how harshly she has dealt with their young and sensitive natures.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 25)
She has been willing and even anxious that others should think that she had a hard lot, that she had taken upon herself a great burden. The most of her unhappiness she has made herself by her own fretful, peevish disposition. She talks too much, gets easily excited, talks just what comes into her mind, follows her feelings instead of governing them, controlling them by obtaining the Spirit of God to help her in the work. She creates confusion by so much talk.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 26)
She has supposed she had trials but she is unacquainted with real trials. She has manufactured trials for herself. She has a noble, kind husband, a good house, and everything she needs. Yet she is often unhappy because she makes herself so by ugly traits of character. She would not be corrected in these things. God calls upon her now to reform. Will you take hold of this work in earnest, and act as though you had something to do? If you see yourself as God sees you, you will make haste to separate these evils from you. When you have a sense of your true condition, hours which you spend in bed in the morning will be spent in humble, fervent prayer before God for grace to help you to reform.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 27)
Before I saw you last I had strong hope that you had reformed. I am disappointed. I thought Lucia’s sickness would have a tendency to open your eyes to see how frail the poor child was, and I expected you would feel deeply when you came to see her, that you would feel reproached for your course toward her and the lack of care you have had for her. But from remarks you made in regard to Lucia, I judge you are either entirely blind or utterly incapable of feeling. You remarked that your conscience was clear in regard to Lucia, that you had not made her work hard. I have thought you could not be honest or that your conscience was seared and you were past feeling, for if your conscience did not condemn you, you must be past hope. You cannot mend a wrong till you see it and feel it. When you spoke depreciatively of Lucia’s labor in the house, and that Lucia had done nothing to hurt her, that the washings were not much, etc., I knew better, and so does any reasonable person. I never felt so discouraged in regard to you. I do not think there has been the least change in your feelings or views.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 28)
Sometimes I think that you have been selfish and covetous so long, have been self-caring all your life, that you cannot see that selfishness is a part of your very existence. You have grown up with it and it cannot be separated from you. I know that it will require a great effort on your part; it will be equal to the death struggle to separate this darling sin from you. But from what I have seen, it is life or death with you. Reform and become a true Christian, overcome and have everlasting life, or continue as you are and perish with the sinner. It is certain you can never be saved as you are. You may plead your own cause, but the Judge of all the earth you cannot deceive. He will judge righteously and from His decision there will be no appeal. There is no excuse for your course. God help you to repent with all your heart, and to labor just as zealously to undo what you have done as you did to do wrong. Remedy the evil while there is hope.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 29)
Lucia, I saw, had not been extravagant in her wants. She has put up with anything which has been presented to her without a murmur. She has been a child whom God has loved. She has not been appreciated and loved as she deserved. Her sensitive heart has been so often crushed with censure and reproof, which she did not deserve, that she has submitted to suffer and toil in silence when she was not able, and when she should be at rest.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 30)
If her ways of doing work did not agree with her present mother’s idea of the matter, she would talk to her in an ordering, censuring manner, to irritate her and deeply wound her feelings. There was nothing to inspire love or reverence in the children for her. There has been no love in her heart for Lucia. Her selfish nature forbids her exercising love for the children. The main idea with Sister King is that the children are to wait on her and make the work easy for her.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 31)
I saw that it was Brother King’s duty to study to make his children happy. But little happiness have they had in their life. God requires you, Brother King, to redeem the past. You have been too severe at times, and too impatient with your children. They have had but little to inspire them with courage and there has been much to irritate and provoke them to wrath. Oh, what miserable work there has been made in your household! God grant, Brother King, that you may realize this to its full extent, and now seek to counteract the evil. Never correct your children upon the testimony of any one who gets easily excited and angry. That which you see with your eyes and hear with your ears, credit; but you have punished your children when the whole wrong lay upon your wife. She was unreasonable and created disturbance. It is time for you to see as you never have seen before.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 32)
A stepmother often makes a stepfather. You have meant to be right and true to your children, but you have not known just what course to take. Angels of God will help you, for they are interested for you. But there must be an entire change, a thorough reform in your family. There has been too much mischief done already to permit or allow things to go any farther as they have gone. One has been driven from his home to the army. Lucia’s health is gone. She is a mere wreck in point of health. Is not this enough evil fruit? Is it not time for a reform? My spirit is stirred within me. I will not let this matter rest until there is a thorough change.
(1LtMs, Lt 3, 1863, 33)
Lt 4, 1863
Testimony re James and Ellen White Refiled as Ms 1, 1863.
Lt 4a, 1863
Tetimony re Monterey Church Refiled as Ms 2, 1863.
Lt 5, 1863
Scott, Brother and Sister Battle Creek, Michigan July 6, 1863 Portions of this letter are published in 5MR 296-297; 15MR 125. Dear Brother and Sister Scott:
I was shown some things in reference to you.
(1LtMs, Lt 5, 1863, 1)
I was shown that you have not been right. You have not felt right for some time. I saw that Brother Thomas Lane had not taken that prudent course in some respects that he should. It left a door open for Satan to enter and disturb Sister Scott. She is nervous and her health is not good, and although she has a kind husband, yet he is not one with her in faith, and therefore she has trials that others cannot fully understand who have sympathizing companions.
(1LtMs, Lt 5, 1863, 2)
Sister Scott has been imposed upon. Mrs. Hinman has had a wonderful influence over Sister Scott. She is not a reliable woman. She is not an exemplary woman, one that is true, and her fruits testify that the tree is corrupt; and yet this woman has obtained a great influence over Sister Scott, and she has credited reports and laid things upon Sister Dewett that she was not guilty of.
(1LtMs, Lt 5, 1863, 3)
Sister Scott’s error was in not listening to the voice of those of influence in the church. She suffered those who have not the love for the truth to have greater influence over her than God’s chosen servants. Organization is to bring into agreement and union individuals who will pledge themselves to have a care for each other, to advise with and counsel each other. Elders, local and traveling, are appointed by the church and by the Lord to oversee the church, to reprove, exhort, and rebuke the unruly and to comfort the feebleminded. There is no higher tribunal upon earth than the church of God. And if the members of the church will not submit to the decision of the church, and will not be counseled and advised by them, they cannot be helped. If one and then another think they know best, and choose their own judgment instead of the judgment of the church, what kind of a church should we have? What would be the use of a church if each one is permitted to choose his own course of action? Everything would be in the greatest confusion; there would be no harmony, no union.
(1LtMs, Lt 5, 1863, 4)
I was referred to Hebrews 13:17. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.”1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13. “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.”Matthew 18:15-18. “Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
(1LtMs, Lt 5, 1863, 5)
God has bestowed power on the church and the ministers of the church, and it is not a light matter to resist the authority and despise the judgment of God’s ministers. Sister Scott, you have greatly erred. It was your duty to lay your case in the hands of the church. Let them bear the responsibility. If they err, you are clear. They are accountable and not you. If you had seen things with your own eyes and had witnessed the guilt of Sister Dewett, then could you pursue the course you have with some excuse. As it is, you took your case in your own hands, deeply interested yourself in an uncertain, questionable matter, and charged upon one professing to be a sister in the church, the crime of stealing. This charge you could not sustain. Mrs. Hinman could not sustain it. She had greater influence upon you than God’s chosen servants. You have moved very blindly. You have talked upon this matter and dwelt upon it until it has destroyed your spirituality, injured your health and happiness, and injured a poor, erring, ignorant woman who has been trying to save her soul by repentance for her past sinful course. This Sister Dewett was not standing in the light. All was not right. Yet I saw that things had been charged upon her of which she was not guilty.
(1LtMs, Lt 5, 1863, 6)
You have injured your own soul more than any of the church. You have felt tried with the course the church pursued toward you. You have no complaint to make, for you took yourself out of the hands of the church. Every move made by every member of the church has not been at all times with due consideration and compassion, yet you have caused grief in the church and were not prepared to look upon any move they might make in the true light. Your feelings have been easily agitated, and always will be until you have come where you should. Cut loose from Mrs. Hinman, for you cannot benefit her nor she you. Seek the society of those who can help you and strengthen you.
(1LtMs, Lt 5, 1863, 7)
You should have submitted to the judgment of the church. If they decided wrong, God could take hold of this matter in His own time and vindicate the right. He does not lay upon you the responsibility of keeping the church in order. Sister Scott, you have been loved and respected by the church. But you intermeddled with a matter which has greatly hurt your spirituality and lessened you in the estimation of the church. Yet, they love you still, and by now humbling yourself and living wholly for God, you can redeem the past and again live in the heart of God’s people. God help you to take an elevated position, exalt the truth, adorn your profession, and let your influence not be against your brethren but in union with them.
(1LtMs, Lt 5, 1863, 8)
Lt 6, 1863
Vision re Caledonia Church Refiled as Ms 3, 1863.
Lt 7, 1863
White, Henry; White, J. E.; White, W. C. Adams Center, New York November 5, 1863 Previously unpublished. Dear Children, Henry, Edson, and Willie:
We received Adelia’s and Edson’s letters today. Were glad to hear from you all.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 1)
I am as well as could be expected with all our traveling and broken rest. We left Newport Thursday morning. Rode three miles in a lumber wagon to Newport village. Then took the stage for Claremont—fourteen miles. Took dinner at the hotel, then stage again for the depot, four miles farther, then the cars, and rode until eight o’clock at night, when we stepped out at St. Albans, Vermont. Stopped at the hotel over night.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 2)
Took breakfast and then took our seats in the stage for Enosburg—twenty miles, I think it was. The horses were quite slow in ascending the hills. The stage carried us to Enosburg Falls, four miles from Brethren Bourdeau. We could not obtain a conveyance to take us to the place of meeting. We waited some hours.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 3)
While waiting we met an Advent brother and his wife in the tavern. Had a long talk with them. Their names were Roberts. They were Himes’ class of Adventists. James showed them the charts. He hung them up in the hotel. They seemed much pleased with them. They were more than half persuaded to be Sabbathkeepers.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 4)
After a long time we found a man with one horse and an old sheep rack, who took us to the place of meeting. The horse was poor and could not go much faster than a walk. Your father had to walk up most of the hills, and the steepest pitches we both walked. We arrived at our destination at last, near the commencement of the Sabbath, all worn out, having eaten nothing but one cracker since morning. We were heartily welcomed by the Brethren Bourdeau and the brethren and sisters whom we found present from different places.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 5)
Sabbath morning we looked out the window and saw a long procession of teams slowly ascending the hills. They kept coming and coming. The schoolhouse could not begin to hold them. They had fitted up with seats the woodshed, stable, and barn—all quite close. At one end of the woodshed there was a stove which gave a little heat. The barns were literally packed. Four hundred people were present all through the meeting; nearly three hundred of these were believers. Our meetings were good. When I saw the place for meeting, I feared we could not labor at all, it looked so odd. But we had unusual freedom.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 6)
Your father labored hard. He preached twice Sabbath, and talked in business meeting about one hour, and three times Sunday. And then after all meetings had closed he had another meeting in the house and sat up till past eleven o’clock. Monday he did business nearly all day for the paper, and neighbors who had attended through the meeting—and who were convicted of the truth—came in. Your father hung up the charts and went to work preaching to them. He talked until nearly ten o’clock. They had no arguments against the truth. They tried to raise some objections but made poor work of it.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 7)
Tuesday he wrote for the paper until noon, then hastily packed, ate a little bread and milk, and then we started for St. Albans, with Brethren Bourdeau driving. Most all the way it was up hill—pull, pull, pull, going very rough. We did not get into St. Albans in time for the cars and had to stop over night. Brethren Bourdeau and ourselves went into our sleeping room and we ate our lunch of bread and apples together. Then we parted with them and we retired to rest.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 8)
We were aroused at four o’clock by a rap upon our door. We dressed hastily, and as soon as possible got into the hack to be conveyed to the depot. We there learned that the express train was four hours behind and that would detain us a day because we could not make connection at Rouse Point. Finally some of them got up a special car and made an extra trip to Rouse Point to accommodate five passengers. We were pleased when we found ourselves on the way to our next appointment at Buck’s Bridge. We ate a couple of crackers and an apple for our breakfast and at about twelve arrived at Madrid depot.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 9)
Found Brother Henry Hilliard waiting for us. He took us to his house where we were heartily welcomed. We always find rest in that pilgrim’s home. Dinner was ready and we had a good appetite. Next morning I was up at daylight, feeling rather the worse for my journey the day before. At noon we rode three miles in a rainstorm to Buck’s Bridge to meet our appointment there. It was only an afternoon meeting, yet the house was filled with believers and unbelievers. After the meeting closed we took a hasty supper, for your father was doing business selling charts and books every moment of the time.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 10)
As soon as supper was over we stepped into the double wagons and rode eight miles, accompanied by Brethren Tailor, Buck, Whitney, Hilliard, and Lawrence. We tarried at Brother Thompson’s that night. The teams went step and step. The weather was raw and chilly. We had been in a free perspiration in the meeting. We both labored hard in the meeting. Both of us had unusual freedom and the meeting seemed to strengthen and encourage all present.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 11)
Your father was so tired and nervous Thursday night he could sleep but a portion of the night. At three we were called up to go to the depot. We took a tasteless breakfast on account of the early hour, and then rode four miles to the depot and were soon on our way to this place. When we stepped off the cars there was a large number of the brethren to meet us and welcome us to this place. We found quite a number of letters here—two from Edson, two or three from Adelia—but I was sorry to see none from my oldest son. Has he forgotten his parents?
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 12)
There is an excellent company of brethren and sisters here. They seem to be living Christians, hearty and sincere, hospitable and true. Your father preached twice Sabbath and attended a business meeting late in the evening. He did not get to rest until 11 o’clock.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 13)
Five brethren sat up all night needlessly, wholly needlessly. Brother Arnold was president of the conference and he was so long and tedious he kept five of our brethren up all night. Your father was so completely exhausted with his constant labor in meeting and out he could not preach Sunday.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 14)
I had good liberty in this place. Your father and myself had been thoroughly published in this community. My name had been sneered at from the pulpit by the ministers, and all thought they must come out to see what kind of a being I was. The house was crowded full Sabbath and Sunday. I talked twice Sabbath and once Sunday. I had something for the conference and had to stay at home from meeting and write out what I had, which would be needed immediately after the afternoon meeting.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 15)
In the afternoon I had so much to write that we were late when we came into the entry of the meetinghouse. They told us we could not get in, for the house was crammed full. They sent us around to the back doors of the meetinghouse—a door each side of the pulpit designed to air the house, or rather relieve the speaker easily when the air was oppressive. By considerable crowding, gaining and pushing, we found our way into the house. People were sitting on the platform around the desk, on the steps, and everywhere they could find a place, as thick as they could crowd together. The large gallery was full.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 16)
While Brother Andrews was preaching, I took my paper and laid it on my Bible and finished the matter to be read to that large conference of delegates. I wrote five pages. Brother Andrews closed. While they sang a hymn I put up pencil and paper, and when they had ceased singing I was upon my feet to talk.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 17)
I had perfect liberty. There was not a sneer or a smile upon a countenance in that congregation. They listened with the greatest respect and attention. Many stood up in the aisles and entry and all were still, almost, as death. I have had perfect liberty in this place.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 18)
Sunday night there was a business meeting about seven o’clock. Two brethren came for me. It was very dark. Brother Salsbury carried the lantern while another brother drove his horse, following the light. Our stopping place was about half a mile from the meetinghouse. (I read my testimony for the conference in regard to the qualifications of ministers who wanted to preach the truth. Some, I saw, had no duty to preach. It was embarrassing for me to read it before them all, the supposed ministers being present.) The meeting went off the best of any meeting of the kind I ever attended. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon that meeting.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 19)
My reading the matter for the ministers before the people left a solemn, deep impression upon those present. There was sobbing all over the house. No one had the least disposition to oppose or question the matter. It was heartily received.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 20)
We have been parting with brethren all day. I am rather dull today. It was past 12 o’clock when we returned from the meeting and it was one o’clock before we retired to rest. I could not close my eyes for hours, I had felt so much wrought upon through the day. I slept about three hours. But the Lord sustains us. I have written eleven pages before this today.
(1LtMs, Lt 7, 1863, 21)
Lt 8, 1863
Sawyer, Brother NP 1863 Portions of this letter are published in 3MR 261-262. Dear Brother Sawyer:
I have been meaning to write you for some time, but have been so busily engaged writing for Testimony No. 9 that I have not had opportunity to write to you.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 1)
I was shown some things in regard to you. I saw that you have something to do. You believe the truth, but you get fanciful views of Scripture and talk out these ideas which your mind has run upon, which have injured your efforts in the Sabbath school. You must restrain your mind upon this point. The plain chain of truth has been dug out and presented in publications and from the desk. In reading and studying the Scriptures you are in danger of getting a fanciful understanding of them—original views of your own which do not harmonize with the faith of the body. In reading and explaining the Scriptures you should be very careful not to depart from the expressed and established views which have been given by those in the faith who have sought for truth as for hid treasure, who have endured any labor and spared no expense, who have in the fear of God presented a harmonious chain of truth.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 2)
I saw, Brother Sawyer, that your inclinations to be rather fanatical injured your usefulness and placed you where it was unsafe for you to bear any great responsibility in the church.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 3)
I saw that you are in danger and must guard yourself on every side or the enemy will take great advantage of you. You feel a zeal for the truth, and there would not be any special danger in this zeal if you did not let it carry you too far. You get some fanciful views and interpretations of Scripture and get very animated upon them and lead minds in a wrong direction. There is enough plain Scripture truth for young and old to safely dwell upon with profit, and you should more closely confine yourself to the explanation of those scriptures which have been dug out, and the body settled upon their meaning, and then you will not raise a controversy or cause a jangle in the feelings of your brethren.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 4)
You must restrain the disposition within you of being original. You must lean upon the faith of the body or you will mar the work of God and injure the truth. No new views should be advocated by preachers or people upon their own responsibility. All new ideas should be thoroughly investigated and decided upon. If there is any weight in them they should be adopted by the body; if not, rejected. Unless there is order in these things there would soon be great confusion in our ranks. It is not in the order of God for one to feel at liberty to express his views independent of the body, another express his, and so on. If such a course should be taken we should not all speak the same things and with one mind glorify God. All of us have a part to act, but it is in union with the body. You could be of use in the church if you would get rid of the tendency there is in you to be a little fanatical, to let your mind run too much to the fanciful.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 5)
Your wife hurts your influence and hurts your testimony. She is vain and girlish instead of putting on the woman and putting away childish talking and laughing. She fails to take upon her the responsibilities belonging to a wife. These things destroy your usefulness in a great measure. You too often partake of her spirit and you are in danger of losing the force of the truth out of your heart.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 6)
Your wife has so long given her mind to frivolous things that if she has serious thoughts they pass away like the morning dew, leaving scarcely a trace upon her mind or conduct. She does not choose for her society those of experience and elevated, substantial minds, but it is natural for her to associate with young and frivolous minds. It is time for her to think seriously, soberly, of her soul’s salvation. Unless she possesses a determination of purpose and a perseverance exceeding anything she has yet manifested, she will pass heedlessly along the path of vanity and folly until it is too late for her to reform, too late to obtain salvation, too late to hear the sweet voice of mercy, and her eternal destiny will be forever fixed.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 7)
God calls upon her now to renounce the world with its desires, vanities and follies and seek substantial joys. She will have to make a greater and more determined effort than she ever yet has made. Angels of God are watching the development of character and weighing moral worth. What shall they record concerning your wife at present? Her record is of but little worth anywhere—unfit to bear alone the responsibilities of her little family, relying upon others for that help that she is capable of rendering herself. As regards doing others good and exerting a saving influence, she tells nothing there. The weight in the scale on every side is very light except in the direction of vanity and folly.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 8)
“Turn ye, turn ye ...; for why will ye die?”Ezekiel 33:11. We are in this world to be of some use to others around us, to exert a saving influence, to be God’s workmen to save ourselves and shed a holy, saving influence around us.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 9)
God help you both to be united to serve and glorify God, to take an exalted, elevated position, and both be fitting for immortality.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 10)
In love.
(1LtMs, Lt 8, 1863, 11)
Lt 9, 1863
Philips, Br. Refiled as Lt 4b, 1864.
Lt 10, 1863
Cornell, Sister Topsham, Maine November 28, 1863 Portions of this letter are published in 5MR 386. Sister Cornell:
The Sabbath has passed and I will write you a few lines. We received the letters from your husband; none from yourself. It may look hard to you, our speaking to you as plainly as we have, but we feel that there is necessity of plain work.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 1)
Battle Creek, Michigan December 22, 1863
I commenced the above before we were all attacked with severe colds, which proved fatal to Henry. I will now finish what I intended to write.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 2)
First I will state that we left Topsham the 16th [15th], complying with the urgent request of the church in this place. We traveled day and night, near one thousand miles; left Topsham Tuesday, arriving at Battle Creek Thursday about four o’clock p.m. We lived on our simple fare of crackers and apples until we sat down at our own table in our own home. I did not feel justified to pay fifty cents apiece for eating at the places of refreshments when we could just as well take our simple fare and lunch it on the road. We tasted nothing warm from the commencement of the journey to the close. I had a constant diarrhea from the commencement of Henry’s severe suffering until the present time. Therefore was quite weak on the journey, but felt better when our journey was ended than before we commenced the journey.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 3)
Yesterday we attended the funeral of Henry in this place. All the school was present. Uriah improved. He did well. No one could do better. We laid the remains of our dear son by the side of John Herbert in Oak Hill Cemetery. Our hearts are sad but we are comforted by the Christian’s hope.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 4)
I will say, Angeline, we wish you well but have many fears in regard to you, because we do not think you have fears enough for yourself. We do not think you know yourself, and but very little of the power of the grace of God.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 5)
I trembled when I wrote the testimony for you and Mary. I thought if there was not a decided change, a thorough work performed for you after reading that solemn, important message, I should become perfectly discouraged in regard to you both. From the interview with you at Newport, I could not perceive the slightest change, which caused my hopes and expectations to die in regard to you.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 6)
I have thought matters over much since that time and shall in this letter try to speak to you so plainly that you may fully understand me. I do this from a sense of duty. From the many views which I have had in regard to Brother Cornell and yourself, I have had, I know, correct views of your Christian character and your defects, failings which I do not think you realize.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 7)
You were speaking in regard to receiving help to prepare for your last journey—that Sisters Julia and Maria Kellogg excused themselves from assisting you when you thought they could have helped you if they were so disposed. I have had no conversation with Julia or Maria in regard to these things of which I write, but these things have been in my mind since they were spoken of between us.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 8)
Angeline, I fail to see where you could have the slightest claims upon anyone in Battle Creek for help. In the first place, you have never been any special benefit to the church in this place. You have not borne burdens here or taken any responsibility upon yourself in the meetings, but have had to be helped in spiritual things instead of helping. Again, the burdens of life have rested upon you very lightly. Your family burdens have been very light compared with those of the church in Battle Creek generally. You have had only yourself and husband to care for, and yet in bearing this light burden you have considered you had all that you could do, and occasionally have had some assistance from others. From what has been shown me from time to time, you do not have that ambition and love for labor which you should have. You are too indolent and choose your own ease rather than to become weary, as all have to who are obliged to labor. You spend too many thoughts upon yourself, dwelling upon your little ailments and infirmities, when considerable more labor and exercise performed by you would have given you less time to dwell upon your infirmities and would have improved your health. When traveling as you have done, not bearing the special burden of the work of God, no special burden of writing upon you, no care of children, I inquire, What can she do with her time?
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 9)
It is very wrong for you or any minister’s wife to go from place to place to be waited on, to eat and to drink and sleep, when no special burden of the work rests upon her. While traveling through the summer your labor was very light, and your cares could not be otherwise but light, even if you went much from house to house, yet every hour should count. And if your time had been diligently spent, you need not have been one iota behind in your serving.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 10)
It is true it is not as convenient to carry a satchel from house to house with a dress in it to make, or pants to make for your husband, but I believe you seldom make his pants, vests, or coats. Perhaps you make his shirts. I have had to do all these things besides having the burden of labor in meeting, writing for publication, and the care of three children, and I presume I suffered as much pain from day to day as you have, Angeline. Within a few years I have let others do my sewing, for my writing matter was large. I could not do all that which I had before me of writing. Yet there has seldom been time, even of late years, that my every hour has not counted. If I were to visit and must converse, my sewing has generally been ready in the daytime to employ my fingers, and talk. In the evening I have had my knitting, ready to knit.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 11)
As you have no one but yourself and husband to do for, all your time cannot be employed. Then you can be useful to others as you travel by at least doing as much work as you make. But as few burdens as you have to bear, I should certainly blush to ask for help from a church so burdened down with care and labor as the church at Battle Creek. What if your dresses and sewing were not all done before your leaving for the East? You would find plenty of time while visiting from place to place, were you economical of your time, to do three times over all you had to do.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 12)
The great secret of the matter is, you do not love to have any care in temporal or spiritual matters. You shun burdens and seek for ease while somebody has to bear burdens. And unless you change your course very much, you will not have the reward of well-doing awarded to you. Just as you have denied yourself, and sacrificed for others’ happiness, just so will you receive. Your principle study had been to care for dear self and look out for dear self. Every tree is known by its own fruits, every one will be rewarded as his works shall be.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 13)
I do not think you ever had any real sense of what it was to sacrifice for God or His cause. I was told Sister Cornell said in the meeting at Brother Folsome’s that she felt that she was making a great sacrifice in leaving her pleasant home to go from place to place with her husband. The one that told me had taken it for granted that it must be so. I felt disgusted. Said I, Don’t tell me any more like that. If Sister Cornell calls it sacrificing to be welcomed from place to place, fed, and waited on, and she bear so few burdens as she is bearing, may God pity His people and His cause, for they will never prosper with the example of such among them. These, then, are the sentiments of the wives of our missionaries.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 14)
If you are ever saved, Angeline, you will be tested and proved as sure as God lives, for you have not yet tasted the cup of self-denial and sacrifice. You are a stranger to that disinterested benevolence manifested by your divine Lord.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 15)
In my last testimony you were referred to the Judsons. At times they lived in constant expectation that before another setting sun they might suffer torture and death. [They lived] in face of suffering and persecution and privation, and in constant fear of being deprived of life. Should you leave your pleasant home, then might you talk of sacrifice. As yet you have not tasted it. You are not yet able to drink of the cup and to be baptized with the baptism. You have suffered so little for Christ that you look upon yourself as a martyr when you are constantly privileged above most of God’s children.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 16)
For years I have not dared to consult my feelings, wishes, or pleasure. I have made it a point to follow duty, stern duty, wherever it may lead. I am not my own, I am bought with a price. I must have no will, no pleasure, of my own.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 17)
The testimony given you reproved you for the course you pursued in New York. You hurt yourself, crippled your husband’s labor, and were a living curse to him all the time you were there. What possessed you to go to New York? Why were you not contented to remain at home? I have no doubt that Satan sent you to New York. You made yourself very unhappy and injured yourself in the estimation of the best of our brethren and sisters there by your complaints and homesick, childish feelings. Far better would it have been for you had you remained at home, and much more highly would you have been esteemed. You made no effort to be happy yourself or make those around you happy. And this was the wife of one of our successful ministers! God save His cause and His people from being discouraged and disheartened by such influences!
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 18)
I wish I could tear off the curtain from your past life and acts and present them before you as I have been made to look upon them. I want you to see things as you have never seen them before. I want you to feel as you never have felt before. I want to arouse you. You should pray earnestly to God, Lord, make me to know myself. This lesson you have never yet fully learned—to know yourself.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 19)
I think you are capable of doing good, but you prefer ease to mental anxiety and care connected with the work of God.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 20)
But enough has been said without my prolonging this letter.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 21)
I will further say, all were disappointed in you at Newport and wishes were expressed that you had never come there, for they had thought from what Brother Cornell had told in regard to you, that you were a laborer, a help to the cause of God. They said the young in the faith would have your example constantly to refer to and their labor would be increased very much. Said they, “What shall we say when others inquire in regard to Sister Cornell? They have such an exalted estimate of her Christian experience and influence, from what Brother Cornell has said in her praise, that all will inquire in regard to her. She has been in the faith so long, we thought we could look to her for counsel, and her experience would aid us.”
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 22)
I could not justify your course in the least. They thought, as well they might, if ministers took their wives with them it was to labor together as Brother and Sister Hutchins labored. And from what has been shown me, they are right in expecting as much as this. You, Angeline, were you a devoted Christian, could do more than Sister Hutchins, but your will has never been long at a time in subjection to the will of God. Self has had to be consulted instead of the will of God. You are entirely ignorant of what it is to be devoted to the cause of God, considering it your highest pleasure to do good and exert a saving influence upon those around you.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 23)
Oh, for your soul’s sake, begin to work earnestly for God! Lose sight of self and your own ease and your own pleasure and now, even now, in this late period of time, redeem the time as much as possible that the angels of God may make a record of duties unselfishly performed.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 24)
I think it was all a mistake, your going East. But now you are there, labor, labor with all your might; labor earnestly, untiringly. If you get weary, remember you are not alone. I get weary, expect to get weary. Better to wear out than rust out. You never have hurt yourself with work in temporal or spiritual matters. I would do something or die in the effort.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 25)
(Signed) Ellen G. White.
Sister Cornell: I saw many things while at Newport that led me to conclude that you felt no burden of the work of God upon you. If Mary and you had felt any burden, or that you really were on a mission to do good to souls, you would not have manifested the indifference, and I call it contrariness, that you showed out at Brother Wakefield’s. If you have no remembrance of these things, or if you consider them too small to be noticed, I think you should be reminded of them for I think they are things which tell everywhere they are manifested.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 26)
After I left the meeting Sunday and came home to write, I found you and Mary had kept no account of the time and, as it was a little late, felt no disposition to attend meeting. You were ready to excuse yourselves so readily and stay at home, notwithstanding the expense you had been to to get to Newport. A young sister came in from the other room. She was pale and sickly looking, and would have enlisted the sympathy of anyone who might see her. Mary and you took not the slightest notice of her. She was there upon the settle when I came in. I knew you had been there two or three days and I did not introduce her. Supposing you had been conversing together, I went into the front room to write.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 27)
You both left the room you had been sitting in and followed me, leaving the sister of Brother Wakefield alone. This looked strange to me. I spoke to you in regard to her. You made as an excuse that you did not know her, having had no introduction to her. This did not relieve my mind one particle. I consider it no excuse at all. Had it been a young gentleman instead of a young lady, then you would have had an excuse.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 28)
If you went East to labor for the good of souls, if you felt any burden for souls, was it not your duty to become acquainted with that young girl by introducing conversation to her? She felt very lonely and came in to see you to relieve her loneliness. Surely sisters who left their homes to be to the expense of traveling hundreds of miles with their husbands should not be so bashful and reserved as to require an introduction before being able to converse with one of their own sex.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 29)
Then again, when Sister Chase wished us all to take dinner at her house, I spoke to your husbands about it and it was decided to comply with her request. I thought that Sister Wakefield ought to be relieved and that it would help the feelings of others and be an encouragement to them to visit them. I remember the short way you spoke of the matter. You did not see how you could go, etc., when I failed to see anything to hinder your going, if you had a disposition to do so. But then Mary and you acted out your own natures so completely. You, neither of you, treated your husbands with respect or seemed to care how disagreeable you made it for them. You acted just as though you wished to make them feel [as] unpleasant and as unhappy as you could about the affair. Old Sister Wakefield said that while you were ironing, Mary and you were sporting over the appeals we had made to you all four in regard to the subject of health.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 30)
You did go at last, but what a blessing you must have carried with you! How much good do you suppose such visiting does? You certainly could not have carried the approbation of the Lord with you.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 31)
And these were missionary women who had left home to accompany their husbands and labor in connection with them in the work of God. Had you the least ideas of your duty, or what God requires of you, your actions would have had altogether a different tone and influence from what they had at Newport.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 32)
Never will I be silent and leave people to think that we think you about right and that we approbate your traveling with your husbands. I am fully settled now in my own mind that the place for you both is at home. I believe that you should remain there for the good of the cause of God and let your husbands go out free, if they can go without you. If not, remain at home with you. The good of the cause, I believe, demands this.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 33)
And from many things which have been shown me, if you, Angeline, talk less upon your poor feelings, if you think and talk less upon your aches and pains, and bear burdens in life as others have to, your health will improve. I think, from what I have been shown, you never can have health unless you exercise more and feel that you are of some worth in the world. Bear your own weight. You can liberally support yourself if you once get rid of these feelings that you must nurse your old ailments and complain and worry over every poor feeling.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 34)
It is time we understood ourselves and what our duty is before God.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 35)
Angeline, Mary and yourself have made child’s work of serving God. It is time now you at least bear your own burdens, if you do not help others to bear their burdens.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 36)
My heart aches, for the cause of God is burdened for His poor people.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 37)
In love.
(1LtMs, Lt 10, 1863, 38)
Lt 11, 1863
Children Newport, New Hampshire October 23, 1863 Previously unpublished. Dear Children:
I have just spoken in meeting and have left while the discourse is being preached by your father or Brother Loughborough. I have to improve every moment in writing or in meeting.
(1LtMs, Lt 11, 1863, 1)
After we left you we journeyed on to Boston. Sarah Lunt met us in the depot at Portland. She had not anything particular to say, yet wished just to see us. Your father stayed in Boston and I took the horse cars for Paul Folsome’s. About ten o’clock we ate up all clean the lunch put up for us. The good biscuit went well.
(1LtMs, Lt 11, 1863, 2)
The horse cars took me safely to Winter Hill, but far above Paul’s. There was a large trench dug—for laying the pipes for the water works—between the horse cars and Paul’s, where we usually get off. This is the reason for my being carried beyond. I was dropped at last with your father’s black valise, Brother Folsome’s valise, my large carpet bag, and my box or basket. I took all these and plodded on to Paul’s. My hand trembled for hours after I got there.
(1LtMs, Lt 11, 1863, 3)
That night Henry came out to Paul’s and the next morning he drove one of Paul’s horses into Boston to take us in. First your father was taken to Mr. Bufford’s and I went to Sister Temple’s. She was not in. I waited one hour, then we went to meet your father and hurried to the depot. Your father worked hard and hurried around to get his charts packed until the sweat ran off from his face. We stepped on board the cars and then ate our dinner—a loaf of bakers bread and apples. We left the cars at Radford and took the stage, which was literally packed inside and on the outside. There were as many on the outside as inside. We were three hours coming fourteen miles. After the stage left us we met—at the hotel—Brother Wakefield, who took us to his house, three miles.
(1LtMs, Lt 11, 1863, 4)
We found Brother and Sister Cornell and Brother and Sister Loughborough at Brother Wakefield’s. All were in good spirits Sabbath morn. We were both poorly. The bed was damp at Paul’s and we took cold, which settled in our neck, lungs, and limbs. We did not attend the forenoon meeting but remained at Brother Wakefield’s to use water treatments. Your father and mother both took packs which were a great benefit to us.
(1LtMs, Lt 11, 1863, 5)
We attended meetings afternoon and evening. Last night we were very chilly. I could not get warm. I have been to the meeting today and took part, but feel miserable. It is so strange that with all we have had to say, we must suffer from the lack of care in regard to beds not fully aired. We must now all go to visit a sister whose husband is in the war. She has recently embraced the Sabbath. She wishes us all—the three ministers and their wives—to come and take dinner with her today.
(1LtMs, Lt 11, 1863, 6)
Monday morning. We went according to appointment to Sister Chase’s. At one o’clock there was to be a funeral. A young man died with diphtheria and we were to suspend the meeting in the afternoon, but as there was quite a number of the brethren from some distance who had come to the meeting, and it was thought that not nearly all the people could get into the chapel where the funeral was to be held, notice was given if there were more than could get into the chapel, the large schoolhouse would be open and if they would come they might expect a meeting. The schoolhouse was well filled and we had an excellent meeting. Your father preached forenoon and afternoon. I followed in exhortation. Had a good degree of liberty.
(1LtMs, Lt 11, 1863, 7)
We all took supper at Sister Chase’s. That is an excellent woman. Her mother lives with her, a venerable, intelligent woman of sixty. She was convinced of the truth of the Sabbath when we [the remainder is missing.]
(1LtMs, Lt 11, 1863, 8)
Lt 12, 1863
Friends at Hanover Battle Creek, Michigan February 18, 1863 Portions of this letter are published in 2MCP 632-633; 15MR 125-126.
Read this to the church and to whom it may concern:
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 1)
Dear Friends at Hanover:
I will write you what was shown me in regard to some things. I was pointed back and saw a time when meetings were held in your place preparatory to organization. I saw that some were in the background, were not in the place in which God required them to be. The Brothers Carpenter and their wives felt the necessity of arising and making thorough work. Some did not come up as they thought they should. They did not move fast enough, and did not view things as they viewed them, and they tried to arouse them but they were hard to be aroused.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 2)
Then I saw that a proper course was not taken with those who did not seem to come up to the work and were holding back. I saw that a hurried spirit had come in. Some did not consider their own weakness, their own failings, and how much patience had had to be exercised toward them; but forgetting this they were too exacting and watched for failings in those who were backward. There was a zeal manifested not according to knowledge. All were measured with an iron rule, and the visions were made an iron rule to bring others up to and measure them by. All the zeal manifested was not from God; it was a fanatical zeal. Feelings took the lead. Strong feelings governed and souls were pushed off, when a judicious, reasonable, patient, forbearing course would have brought them along. If God had dealt with Brother Daniel and Lorinda as rigidly as they have sometimes dealt with their brethren, if He had marked their words and acts as they have marked the words and acts of their brethren, they would have been cut off long ago. But a kind and compassionate Saviour has borne with them, and although Lorinda has often felt bitterly and been wrong, yet she has again felt that if we sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 3)
We must bear with one another, remembering our failings. With some have compassion, making a difference; others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. All cannot bear the same rigid discipline. All cannot be brought up to just another’s ideas of duty. Allowance must be made for different temperaments and different minds. God knows how to deal with us. But my heart has been sick as I have seen brother deal with brother and the disposition to catch another in his words, and to make a man an offender for a word.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 4)
I saw that nearly all of you who were trying to get right carried the matter a little too far, especially Lorinda. Brother Daniel and Lorinda had a strong spirit which controlled matters very much.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 5)
I was shown the case of Brother Brezee. A prudent, forbearing, patient course would have brought him right along into the church, and Brother Young would have come along also, and others who have been holding back. These persons had not had that experience in the visions Lorinda had had. They had not much acquaintance with me, and it was all wrong to make the visions an iron rule to measure them by. Such a course was injudicious and the influence has been bad. Others who have not united with the church have been looking on. They could not feel that all that was said and done was just right. They were suspicious.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 6)
Brother Young was suspicious and dared not trust himself to venture out, to wholly cast his interest with the church, for he feared all was not right. And Brother Young’s undecided position has caused him to grow weak and to falter. He has possessed a sweet Christian spirit. Satan has wrought to place obstacles in his way at home to hinder his advancement, and he has also wrought to cast his mind into doubt and perplexity in regard to the church. It has been his study to know whether the church was right. If he could have had perfect confidence there, the church would have proved as an anchor to have held him on the right foundation. God’s love is toward Brother Young yet. He wants him to be a soldier of the cross of Christ.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 7)
Brother Brezee has felt prejudiced and wrong, but a right course was not taken by the church to remove that prejudice and help him to see that he might act in unison with the church. A harsh, overbearing, exacting spirit was manifested all out of place and uncalled for. These mismoves must be righted lest souls perish. They have stumbled, but God is merciful and has borne with them while they have felt prejudiced and bitter and hard against us—my husband and myself—and against the visions. Pressing the visions upon them set them farther from the visions and led them to despise them. They received ideas that we were exalted and just as hard and severe as those were who pressed the visions upon them. These things cut off our influence from such, and the enemy presents matters to their minds in the worst possible light. But God is ready to break the snare and let these souls see clearly. They must not feel tried with those who tried to do them good, if in their zeal they went too far and were exacting, and now such should manifest just as much willingness to acknowledge these wrong moves as they were anxious others should come up to the mark. Right is right and wrong is wrong.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 8)
I saw that all should feel an interest in the cause of God and should move in union. These who have been watching and doubting should come forward and unite their interest with their brethren. Where there is union there is strength. One or two must not think that they can be prospered by keeping aloof from their brethren and think that they can go to heaven alone.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 9)
God is leading out a people. He is cleansing and fitting up a people for translation. These people must be one; their faith and interest must be one. I saw that all who profess the truth should unite together to walk in church capacity, to be a mutual strength and help to each other. None should seek or dare to lord it over God’s heritage, or dare to hold off and reject any one of their brethren without sufficient cause, but should labor with them and bear with them as long as Jesus has borne with them. This has not been done. God’s Spirit has been grieved and His work hindered.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 10)
I saw that the lack of union and love in the church and among those also who could not unite with the church has been known and marked in believers, and they have reproached the truth on account of these things. If all who profess the truth, who keep God’s commandments, would heed the prayer of Christ and carry it out, be one as He was one with the Father, the world would know that they had the truth and would be compelled to acknowledge it.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 11)
A work will be accomplished in your vicinity when you all take hold of the work unitedly and are one, and carry out the principles of truth and holiness. It is time for all to take hold of the work, not stop to measure off just the share of wrong belonging to another, but each search his own heart, confess his own wrongs, and leave his brethren with the Lord. One has only to answer for his or her wrongs; and while so narrowly watching to pull the weeds from the garden of his brethren, the poisonous weeds are growing strong and rank in his own. Let each labor to keep his own soul and to possess a happy, cheerful, forbearing spirit at home, and all will be well.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 12)
I exhort Brother Young to take hold. God loves him and wishes to save him, but he must come under the watchcare of his brethren. He has grievous trials at home, but God can preserve him pure amid all his troubles if he will comply with His requirements.
(1LtMs, Lt 12, 1863, 13)
Lt 13, 1863
Jones, Charles Battle Creek, Michigan June 21, 1863 Previously unpublished. Dear Brother [Charles] Jones:
In the last vision given me at Otsego I was shown some things relating to the church at Monterey. I saw that you had many things, Brother Charles, to discourage you and destroy your usefulness. Your wife is not that help to you she should be. She lacks ambition, lacks energy. From her youth her attention has been called to herself. Her mother has petted her, humored every ache, every poor feeling, every imaginary complaint, until Sister Sarah was ailing most of the time, and she fell into a whining, complaining habit, always sick, always ailing. Selfishly she has lived, almost wholly for herself. Herself was her first thought.
(1LtMs, Lt 13, 1863, 1)
I saw that she had made efforts to arouse and overcome this whining and complaining, but falls back soon in the same old track, is sick and almost helpless, when, if she would put on a little ambition and energy, she would forget her poor feelings. She nurses her miserable feelings too much, talks and thinks about them too much. Her sickness might often be resisted if she had energy and will. She needs something to call her out to forget herself and be interested in, for others’ good.
(1LtMs, Lt 13, 1863, 2)
I saw that it was wrong for Brother Charles, with his poor health, to have so many in his family. I saw that it was all a mistake. Sister Sarah can do (if she will only feel as God would have her) all the little work for her husband and herself. An increase of family makes an increase of work and an increase of burden for Brother Charles. I saw that Brother Charles should live by himself. It is not his duty to live with his wife’s parents. They should be alone, and Brother Charles be free to do his duty as an elder of the church. He has too many now to provide for. He and his wife should live by themselves, and they will be far happier. Sister Howard and her daughter should not live together; they hurt one another. Their living together hurts Charles, for he is affected with the influence around him, and his usefulness is injured. Sister Howard and Sarah are too much alike to live together.
(1LtMs, Lt 13, 1863, 3)
Sometimes Sister Sarah is sick, but often she can, with exercising and by doing her own work, save herself from sickness. The power of the will has much to do to resist sickness. Had she taken less medicine, and [shown] more ambition and energy, she would have been far better off than now. Medicine has done her more injury than disease.
(1LtMs, Lt 13, 1863, 4)
Nearly all females are not well, are not really healthy, but if all should yield to their poor feeling and give up their ambition, lose their power of endurance, what a helpless, useless class of mortals there would be on the earth. Sister Sarah, smooth that clouded brow, look cheerful, talk cheerful, let the tones of your voice be cheerful. When in company don’t make yourself the theme of conversation, your poor feelings and bad feelings. Rise above them. It is wrong for you to feel the most of the time that you need Charles’ sympathy. He needs your sympathy tenfold more than you need his. You are not sound and healthy but you have no wearing cares and heavy labor to perform, and you sin against your husband and tax him heavily by increasing your family. He has several to provide for when he should have only two.
(1LtMs, Lt 13, 1863, 5)
You are forming a connecting link with the world. You have one in your family who is of the world. She listens, gets what she can to carry to the world in regard to the church. Brother Charles is an elder in the church. He should be free, but Satan is determined to destroy him by fastening to him helpless clogs. I saw that where the elders devote their time to the good of the church and have to spend hours in wearing labor visiting different families to counsel, reprove [the remainder is missing.]
(1LtMs, Lt 13, 1863, 6)
Lt 14, 1863
Ministers in Minnesota: NP May 1863 Portions of this letter are published in 5MR 294. To Ministers in Minnesota:
In my last vision I was shown some things in regard to Minnesota. I saw that the people were not in as good a condition to be helped as they were two or three years ago. There has been a lack of efficient labor there, and while the prejudice against the truth is growing stronger, and prevails, the influence of the truth is growing weaker. The truth has been poorly represented and all the time it is growing harder for efficient laborers. It would require a great amount of labor now to remove the prejudice before any real good could be accomplished and souls brought out into the truth.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 1)
Elder [W. M.] Allen is not a suitable man to enter new fields, for his influence is not what it ought to be. Those who dealt with Elder Allen did not move with the greatest wisdom and there was too much selfish interest manifested. Brother Morse has tried to do what he could in Minnesota and has had a little success. Influences have come in which have led Brother Morse to labor to correct the wrong, which was too much for him in his own strength. A selfish feeling came in, and Brother Morse put on too much the airs and authority of an experienced minister.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 2)
Here is the great evil in Minnesota: it is in men who are not qualified, thinking that God has called them to preach this message. They are not fitted up by experience in the message and they run the truth of God into the ground. And the men whom God shall send to labor in Minnesota will have a heavy burden on their shoulders, and it will be a laborious task to counteract the influence which others have exerted in placing the cause where it is.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 3)
I saw that Brother Ingraham hurt the cause of truth in Minnesota by tolerating an unruly son, and many in Minnesota judged his labor in the cause just according to the management he exhibited in regard to his boy. Had Brother Ingraham possessed the talent of the ablest man, his influence would be of but little account there, for the exhibition of such miserable management of his son and the mischievous, annoying, sly, abusive tricks, and the general willful disobedient conduct of the boy would destroy the influence of ten such as Brother Ingraham. They considered that if that was the way he ruled his house he was incompetent to rule the church.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 4)
Brother [John] Bostwick is not at all calculated to build up the cause in Minnesota. He lacks the perseverance to carry out and finish the efforts he commences; he does not concentrate his labor; his mind is all over—a touch here and there, doing nothing thoroughly—he expends no persevering effort and can show but little fruit. Such labor is worse than nothing. Some think he is just the man for Minnesota, but such greatly err in regard to the wants of the cause. He does not understand the wants of the cause. He is not willing to be led.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 5)
If, before he attempted to teach the truth, he had availed himself of the privilege of being under the influence of some experienced preacher who was systematic in his labor, and learned of him as a pupil at school would learn of his teacher, by this time he might do something which would tell. But he has so long labored on his own hook, going hither and thither without having a definite object and matured plans to carry out in laboring for souls, that it is about useless to expect that he can now take hold of the labor as every minister should who gives himself to the work of the ministry. Everything depends upon young ministers starting right. They must have system, a purpose, and a will to do. Where they lack this, their labor is worse than nothing.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 6)
Brother Bostwick visits many places, introduces some points of the truth, stirs up prejudice, and leaves them to do the same in another place. A minister should not introduce the truth in a place unless he can accomplish the labor he has begun, for if he just introduces the truth and does not remove prejudice and objections from minds, it is ten times worse than if he had never struck a blow. God will acknowledge only thorough workmen as laborers in His cause.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 7)
Brother Bostwick is not a thorough laborer. He has not learned from others what he might have learned had he been teachable. He has not been willing to receive instruction and has the idea that he is competent to do a great work. He has not understood himself. Minnesota is a good field, but it has been hurt with inexperienced workmen. Brother Bostwick thinks he knows it all. Unless he can lead and control he is unwilling to do anything. He can not lead, he lacks ability, perseverance. He is too much given to change.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 8)
The influence of his wife is not calculated to elevate the cause of God. Her habits are untidy and in this respect she is unfitted to benefit the church at all. She must reform and possess habits of neatness and order, or the blessing of God cannot rest upon her. Neatness and order are the essential characteristics of every true follower of Jesus. God was very particular in regard to His ancient Israel. He gave them special directions in regard to cleanliness lest the Lord should pass by and see their uncleanness and would not go out with their armies to battle against their enemies. I saw that God was no less particular now than He was anciently. If those who embrace the truth receive it in the heart, it will commence its purifying process. The purity of truth and cleanliness are twin sisters. The truth will not long dwell with uncleanness, and will cleanse from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit causing the receiver to perfect holiness in the fear of God. If it does not do this work it is not because the truth is insufficient, but the receiver has not drunk deep enough at the fountain of truth. He needs a deeper draught.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 9)
The appearance of Brother Bostwick’s wife is disorderly and slack; the hair is in disorder, the garments are not cleanly, and are carelessly arranged on her person.
(1LtMs, Lt 14, 1863, 10)
Lt 15, 1863
Noyes, Brother and Sister Battle Creek, Michigan January 24, 1863 Previously unpublished. Brother and Sister Noyes:
I was shown some things concerning you both, which I must write. I saw that you both have a work to do, a great work, before you can be approbated of God. You have taken hold of the truth, but the truth has not taken hold of you and wrought for you as God designed it should. You have not let the truth and Spirit of God do its office work upon your hearts, and affect your lives, as it surely must if you are saved.
(1LtMs, Lt 15, 1863, 1)
Brother Noyes is coarse and rough, slack in his habits, boisterous in conversation with unbelievers, overbearing and easily raised. He has not had a saving influence among unbelievers. He could not win souls to the truth, but his course has a tendency to drive unbelievers farther off and prejudice them against our faith, and disgust them.
(1LtMs, Lt 15, 1863, 2)
God does not lay upon Brother Noyes any burden for others, for He sees that he has all that he can do to save his own soul. He feels capable of marking out a course for his brethren to pursue. He can see what he thinks they ought to do, but fails to see the work he has to do in order to be a consistent Christian, conforming his life and acts to the truth. Until he does this, he only injures the truth by seeking opportunities to talk with others in regard to it. God excuses him from all such burdens.
(1LtMs, Lt 15, 1863, 3)
The great inquiry with him should be, “What shall I do to be saved?” Your words are rough, not choice and select, and you are a poor representative of the truth. You are not a humble Christian. Your words and acts testify against you. You must entirely reform, or the people of God will advance and leave you far behind. You do not adorn your profession, but by your life and acts cause the enemies of our faith to reproach the truth.
(1LtMs, Lt 15, 1863, 4)
I was shown that your influence at home, in your family, is not good. It is not elevated, but altogether too low, passionate, and harsh. You are teaching your children sad lessons, and impressing their young minds in a wrong way. You do not control yourself and speak mildly, patiently, but you let anger dwell in your heart, and act it out in your family. Again I saw that you were jealous of your brethren. You want to dictate too much and have them come to your ideas, when your judgment is not good and should not be followed. A man who leaves things at such loose ends about his farm and home, who manifests so little order and good taste in his worldly, or business, transactions, should not be very zealous to dictate in regard to church affairs, for [if] his voice should rule in the church, the church would go all to pieces.
(1LtMs, Lt 15, 1863, 5)
I saw that you did not see and realize your lack, your deficiency. You think yourself competent to dictate when you are not. You should put away your jealousy and take a position to listen to your brethren. Unless you do, certain ruin is before you. Your jealousy will only injure and destroy yourself, for your brethren will not notice it. Sacred duties are before them, which they will form. Therefore you will hurt yourself much more than you can them.
(1LtMs, Lt 15, 1863, 6)
You lack judgment, order, refinement, and good taste, and must be willing that your lack should be supplied by their sufficiency. You must be helped by them, advised and counseled by them, and then you should listen to them and be teachable, not think you know it all and can guide them.
(1LtMs, Lt 15, 1863, 7)
By a holy life and godly conversation you can testify to the saving power of the truth. An orderly and correct deportment maintained by you will lead unbelievers to see that the truth has accomplished much for you. It is not enough to merely profess the truth, but all must be doers of the word. All must be workmen. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
(1LtMs, Lt 15, 1863, 8)
(Signed) Ellen G. White.
[P.S.] Brother Maynard, I have no copy of this. Please preserve this. Keep it in your hands and read it to Brother and Sister Noyes.
(1LtMs, Lt 15, 1863, 9)
Lt 16, 1863
Andrews, J. N. NP January 1863 Previously unpublished. Dear Brother Andrews,
I am sorry that the letter never reached you which was sent to you. I also sent a vision in regard to Bro. Ross to Bro. Edson some time ago and have not heard one word from it.
(1LtMs, Lt 16, 1863, 1)
I wish to say in the last vision which was given me [Nov. 5, 1862] I saw that if you labor in this cause it is your duty to cut loose from your farm in Waukon, that as it now stands it was not the duty of the church to help you while you are fastened to that place, that their means might just as well be buried as to go in that direction. I saw that it would be the will of God for you to cut loose and put yourself in a shape where you and your family can be abundantly provided for and then what you receive will be yours and the churches can know where it goes and have the satisfaction of its doing some good.
(1LtMs, Lt 16, 1863, 2)
I was shown some three or four years since that when you came to the light you would not stay in Waukon. A spirit of rebellion took you there, and you have been overtaxed with labor and perplexity and you could not be of much use unless you should cut loose and let your brethren do for you. In the last vision the same was repeated that it was your duty to cease studying or taxing the mind much, and if you devote yourself wholly to this work to do what you can, God will strengthen you for the purpose, and you must shake off the shackles and be a free man. You are too much entangled now, and if you have to lose, free yourself, and give your interest to the work.
(1LtMs, Lt 16, 1863, 3)
I saw, Br. A, that you were almost a slave to the will and wishes of your uncles. You have placed too much confidence in them, and sought too hard to please them and have felt a sort of dependence upon them. This is all wrong. Maintain a spirit of noble independence. Do not scringe or cripple to please them. Be God’s free man. Your relatives are like all the rest of the world. Their word is no better than the word of other men. You may flatter yourself that they are all just, but you will find your mistake. Their principles are worldly principles. They are governed by worldly motives. I saw that the Lord has not been pleased with the fear you have had and the bondage you have felt on account of your uncles. Cut loose, cut loose, from all this. Strike out independent. Know what is your own. It is your privilege.
(1LtMs, Lt 16, 1863, 4)
Lt 17, 1863
Fish, Emory NP late 1863 Previously unpublished. Dear Sir Emory Fish,
It is my duty to write you a few things. Last June your case was presented before me. I was shown that you have not been right. You professed to believe the truth which was sanctifying in its influence, elevating the receiver when the pure principles of truth were carried out; but you have failed to live out the truth, to carry out its holy principles. You are guilty of the transgression of God’s law. You have been criminally intimate with a young woman who lived in your family. Labor was spent in your case which you did not receive. You chose your own course, and were left to go on still farther and destroy your influence and to[bring] reproach [on] the cause of truth.
(1LtMs, Lt 17, 1863, 1)
Your discipline in childhood was not what it ought to have been. You were indulged, had your own way about as you chose. The lack is seen now in your religious experience. You never were subdued in childhood. Your passions were not controlled then and have not been controlled since. The truth carried out in life would have wrought a reformation for you, but you sipped too lightly at the fountain of truth, and its influence failed to refine and correct your life.
(1LtMs, Lt 17, 1863, 2)
Your family is an unhappy one. You have caused your wife much sorrow. She has loved you but your course has stirred up all the evil in her nature and often she exhibits no affection but feels hard and bitter towards you. She is a proud woman, but few have understood her true feelings. You have planted a thorn in her heart which wounds every day. She has not taken a wise course to correct your wrong course and to retain your affection and love. Years ago you were an unhappy, miserable family. But if you had both unitedly laid hold of the truth and conformed your life to its holy principles, ceased to have done evil, learned to have done well, you both would have been sanctified through the truth and been a happy family.
(1LtMs, Lt 17, 1863, 3)
Your wife has often repulsed you because she had cause to suspect, cause to know, that you were not true to the marriage vow. Had her course been different she would have saved herself much trouble and had a redeeming influence upon you. She has held back and has not professed the truth as you have. You have professed the truth and have stood directly in her way. You have at times been almost upon the point of acknowledging your errors and wrongs to some of the church, but then it was so humiliating you could not have courage to do so. You thought that the church had not wisdom to deal wisely with your case, because you have seen a lack of wisdom manifested by them in other things, therefore you have braced yourself up and would have chosen the church to separate you from them and thus lessen the danger of an exposure in your case and thereby (you have thought) save the cause of truth from being reproached.
(1LtMs, Lt 17, 1863, 4)
Satan has completely bewildered your mind. You have viewed things from a wrong standpoint. Your only hope for salvation is a true humble confession of your course, and heart repentance before God. Your course has been a great burden to the church, a hindrance to their advancement. The church was shown me in confusion through various causes. Your case has been the most trying.
(1LtMs, Lt 17, 1863, 5)
There is a great work before you. You have wronged your wife, wronged the church, and are in a state of darkness and self-deception in regard to yourself. When your wife censures or reproaches you, do not retaliate. Feel that you deserve it, and hold your peace. Do not add fuel to the fire. If instead of giving way to temper, flying into a passion and heaping reproaches upon you, she had received the truth in her heart and all her actions had been governed by the principles of truth, she would in sorrow [have] gone away alone to the great burden Bearer and laid her oppressed, wearied heart at His feet. Jesus would have strengthened her to endure her trials until you had reformed or the Lord had rebuked you for your faithlessness to her whom you solemnly vowed at the marriage altar to love, respect, and be faithful to until death. God help you to see the enormity of your sin that you may have that repentance which needeth not to be repented of.
(1LtMs, Lt 17, 1863, 6)