ABOUT THIS PAMPHIZT In 1933# only 18 years after Ellen White's death, W. C. White and D. E. Robinson prepared the statement embodied in this pamphlet. Elder Vtiite was Mrs. White's son and Secretary of the Ellen G. White Estate; Elder Robinson was for many years one of Ellen Itiite's secretaries, and in the early 1930's assisted Elder Vtiite at the Elmahaven office. Thou£i the document was issued nearly 50 years ago, it sounds as current as today's newspaper, for it takes up and deals with many of the same questions that are being raised today about Ellen Vtiite's literary work. The 27-page typewritten dociment was offered for sale for 25 cents, ikist how many copies were produced and sold is not known. Apparently there was little demand for it, hence it dropped out of sight; but its existence has a bearing on the charge that the church has tried to cower up facts or suppress information. In only one respect does the document need updating: The authors underestimated the amount of material in Sketches From the Life of Paul that shows a likeness to the Oonybeare and Rownon book. Life and Epistles ofthe Apostle Paul. But this in no way undercuts the thrust ot the very candid, remarkable statement produced and circulated nearly half a century ago. Herein is reproduced this timely and ever looked treatise in its entirety without change, except for the deletion*of a long paragraph from Ellen Itiite's Introduction to The Great Controversy cn page 7. Tb conserve space the material has been typed with single spacing rather than double spacing as in the original, so two sets of page numbers are given one as in the original, and the other in brackets to correspond with this pamphlet, Punctuation and grammar have been left essentially unchanged. In the current milieu of discussion, the document may be read with profit.—The Trustees of the Ellen G. ttiite Estate, Hay 7, 1981. BRIBP SlMBBfrS PBGABDDC THE WRHTNGB OF EUfll G. WHITE Prepared by W. C. Vtiite and D. E. Robinson How Did They Oome Into Existence? What Has Been the Influence of Mrs. Itiite's Writings? Are fes. Itiite's Writings Wbrthy of Confidence? Page 1 [ 2] " 4 [ 4] " 5 [ 5] (The Charge of Plagiarism) The Story of a Njch Loved Book •13 [8] ("Sketches from the Life of Paul") The Case in Brief Regarding Changes of wording in later Editions The Responsibilities of a Messenger for God • 17 [11] " 20 [12] " 23 [14) 27 Pages — Price 25j "Elmshaven” Office St. Helena, California August, 1933 2 BRIEF STATEMENTS REGARDING TOE WRITINGS OF ELLQJ G. WHITE How did they come into Existence? What has been their Influence? Are they worthy of our Confidence? In the month of December 1844, about fifty days after the great disappointment of the Adventist people, a heavenly vision was given to Ellen Gould Harmon of Portland, Maine. This vision was of great import to the Adventist band in Portland and other places %*iere it was related, because it confirmed their faith in their past experience which had been very precious to them, and at that time was hard to be understood. About a week later, the Lord gave her a second vision, in which she was commanded to go and relate to others the things that had been revealed to her. She was then only seventeen years old, snail for her age, and very frail in health. She prayed earnestly that the work might be given to some other person. But the words of the angel resounded in her ears, "Make knowi to others what I have revealed to you." After much hesitation and distress of mind, she undertook to obey the command, and in so doing she experienced spiritual and physical blessing from heaven. After fa time the command came to her to write the things that were revealed to her. This experience she has described as follows: "Early in ay public labors I was bidden by the Lord, 'Write, write the things that are revealed to you.' At the. time this message came to me, I could not hold ny hand steady. My physical condition made it impossible for me to write. But again came the word, 'write the things that are revealed to you.' I obeyed; and as the result it was not long before I could write page after page with comparative ease. Who told me what to write? Who steadied my right hand, and made it possible for me to use a pen?—It was the Lord. • . • "The light that I have received, I have written out, and mud) of it is now shining forth frcm the printed page. There is, throughout my printed works, a harmony with my present teachingfc Some of the instruction found in these pages was given under circumstances so remarkable as to evidence the wonder-working power of God in behalf of His truth. Sometimes while I was in vision, ny friends would approach me, and exclaim, 'Why, she does not breathe I' Placing a mirror before ny lips, they found that no moisture gathered on the glass. It was while there was no sign of any breathing, that I kept talking of the things that were being presented before me. "These messages were thus given to substantiate the faith of all, that in these last days we might have confidence in the Spirit of prophecy. I thank God that He has preserved my voice, which in my early youth physicians and friends declared would be silent within three months. "The God of heaven saw that I needed to pass through a trying experience in order to be prepared for the work He had for me to do. For the past half century my faith in the ultimate triwph of the third angel's message and everything connected with it, has been substantiated by the wonderful experiences through vtfuch I have passed. This is why I am anxious to have my books pub- 3 lished and circulated in many languages.t I know that the light contained in these books is the light of heaven."—Review and Herald, June 14, 1906. In 1890, she wrote as follows regarding the basis of her confidence, and regarding the attacks that would be made upon her work: "I testify the things which I have seen, the things which I have heard, the things which my hands have handled, of the Word of Life. And this testimony I know to be of the Father and the Son. We have seen and do testify that the power of the Holy Ghost has accompanied the presentation of the truth, warning with pen and voice, and giving the messages in their order, lb deny this work would be to deny the Holy Ghost, and would place us in that company who have departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. "The enemy will set everything in operation to uproot the confidence of the believers in the pillars of our faith in the messages of the past, which have placed us upon the elevated platform of eternal truth, and vhich have established and given character to the work. The Lord God of Israel has led out His people, unfolding to them truth of heavenly origin. His voice has been heard, and is still heard, saying. Go forward from strength to strength, from grace to grace, from glory to glory. The work is strengthening and broadening, for the Lord God of Israel is the defense of His people.”—Life Sketches, p. 430. In 1905, she wrote, — "Tbday we nust rehearse the instruction that God has given to us as a people. The warfare between the forces of light and darkness is going on. Those vho think that the powers of evil are asleep are very much mistaken. The enemy is constantly seeking to bring in things that will unsettle the confidence of God's people. These things may appear very inoffensive, but they contain grave errors and dangers which must be met. Me must take our stand firmly in defense of the truth given us after the passing of the time. The Holy Spirit gave us an understanding of these truths."—MS-113-1906. HOW DOES SHE KNOW? "The question is asked. How does Sister White know in regard to the matters of which she speaks so decidedly, as if she had authority to say these things? I speak thus because they flash upon my mind when in perplexity like lightning out of a dark cloud in the fury of a storm. Some scenes presented before me years ago have not been retained in my memory, but then the instruction then given is needed, sometimes even when I am standing before the people, the remembrance comes sharp and clear, like a fla^i of lightning, bringing to mind distinctly that particular instruction. At such times I cannot refrain from saying the things that flash into ny mind, not because I have had a new vision, but because that which was presented to me perhaps years in the past, has been recalled to my mind forcibly."—MS-33-1911. In 1902, looking over fifty years of unremitting labor, she said: "In the night season many things are passing before me. The Scriptures, full of grace and richness, are presented before me. The word of the Lord to me is, 'Look on these things, and meditate on them. You may claim the rich grace of truth, which nourishes the 9oul. Have naught to do with controversy and dissension and strife, which bring darkness and discouragement to your soul. Truth is clear, pure, savory. Avoid all council-meetings where there is dissension, and where men will neither credit my words and obey my lessons, nor heed your 4 counsel. Speak the truth in faith and love, leaving the result with God. The work is not yours, but the Lord's. In all your ocranunications, speak as one to whom the Lord has spoken. He is your authority, and He will give you His sustaining grace."—W-l86-1902. Regarding the wording of her writings, she says: "Although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing ny views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own, unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks of quotation."—Review and Herald, October 8, 1867. Let this statement be kept in mind. It is in perfect harmony with her later utterances, and if remembered will help in the study of her work. What has been the Influence of Mrs. White's writings Regarding the character and influence of the writings of Mrs. Vtoite, we extract a few paragraphs from an extended statement made by Rider Uriah Smith, many years editor of Review and Herald: "Their fruit is such as to show that the source from which they spring is the opposite of evil. "1. They tend to the purest morality. They discountenance every vice, and exhort to the practice of every virtue. They point out the perils throuc^i which we are to pass to the kingdom. They reveal the devices of Satan. They warn us against his snares. They have nipped in the bud scheme after scheme of fanaticism which the enemy has tried to foist into our midst. They have exposed hidden iniquity, brought to light concealed wrongs, and laid bare the evil motives of the false-hearted. They have warded* off dangers from the cause of truth upon every hand. They have aroused and rearoused us to greater consecration to God, more zealous efforts for holiness of heart, and greater diligence in the cause and service of our .Master. "2. They lead us to Christ. Like the Bible, they set Him forth as the only hope and only Saviour of mankind. They portray before us in living characters His holy life and His godly example, and with irresistible appeals they urge us to follow in His step6. "3. They lead us to the Bible. They set forth that book as the inspired and unalterable word of God. They exhort us to take that Word as the man of our counsel, and the rule of our faith and practice. And with a compel ling power, they entreat us to study long and diligently its pages, and became familiar with its teaching, for it is to judge us in the last day. "4. They have brought comfort and consolation to many hearts. They have strengthened the weak, encouraged the feeble, raised up the despondent. They have brought order out of confusion, made crooked places straight, and thrown light on what was dark and obscure."—Life Sketches, 469-470. The more complete rehearsal of the statement made by Elder Smith, will be found in the last chapter of the book "Life Sketches of Ellen G. Vbite." 5 Are Mrs. White*3 Writings Worthy of Confidence? There are men who assert that the writings of Mrs. White are not worthy of confidence, because she has copied from other writers. Let us study this matter in a thorough and fair minded way. When in the early days of her public labors, Ellen Vtiite was bidden to write the things that had been revealed to her in heavenly vision, it appeared to her to be an impossibility. The views were amazing in their character. Many things were presented in figures and many things in panorama. Spiritual truths were presented in a brilliancy that human language oould hardly describe, and historical events were vividly pictured, sometimes with clear geographical and chronological setting, and sometimes without such setting. What an overwhelming task! How could she find courage to make a beginning? Her command of language was inadequate,—What oould she do? Much of her time was occupied with traveling and preaching, and much time was demanded for personal labor with individuals. Nevertheless, the burden was constantly pressed ipon her to write, write, write for publication. % She must study the Bible and church history to find the correct geographical and chronological setting of some of the scenes and events revealed to her. She must strive to iaprcve her language, both in speaking and in writing. She must endeavor to give proper expression to the deep spiritual truths vividly revealed to her in vision. She oust battle with weakness and disease, that she might have power to successfully minister. By faith she battled, battled, battled with difficulties, with sickness in the family, with a wayward and backslidden church, with an unbelieving world. Time and again she was told by physicians that she had but a few months to live and then in a most marvelous way, she was snatched from the edge of the grave in answer to prayer. Steadily she advanced in knowledge, and by the blessing of God, in power for service. The one who gave her the wonderful views told her to write them. He told her whom she could trust to copy and prepare them for publication and He gave her counsel regarding the plan of her books. In her early experience when she was sorely distressed ever the difficulty of putting into human language the revelations of truths that had been imparted to her, she was reminded of the fact that all wisdom and knowledge comes from God and she was assured that God would bestow grace and guidance. She was told that in the reading of religious books and journals, she would find precious gems of truth expressed in acceptable language, and that she would be given help from heaven to recognize these and to separate them from the rubbish of error with vrtiich she would sometimes find them associated. In her writings regarding the events of ancient and modem history, and especially the history of the great reformation of the sixteenth century, she sometimes made quotations from historians. These were usually enclosed in quotation marks, but without giving specific credit to the historians frem %*iich they were taken. Vfriere the historian stated what she desired to present but in language too extended for her use, she would in some cases paraphrase the statement, using some of the words of the book and seme of her own words. In this way she was able to present forceful and comprehensive statements in a brief way. 6 Regarding this use of matter which she copied from reliable authors, she said, — •The great events which have marked the progress of reform in past ages, are matters of history, well known and universally acknowledged by the Protestant world; they are facts which none can gainsay. This history I have presented briefly, in accordance with the scope of the book, and the brevity which must necessarily be observed, the facts having been condensed into as little space as seemed consistent with a proper understanding of their application. In sore cases where a historian has 90 grouped together events as to afford, in brief, a oonprehensive view of the subject, or has siximarized details in a convenient manner, his words have been quoted; but except in a few instances no specific credit has been given, since they are not quoted for the purpose of citing that writer as authority, but because his statement affords a ready and forcible presentation of the subject. In narrating the experience and views of those carrying forward the work of reform in our own time, similar use has occasionally been made of their published works."—Introduction to Great Controversy, pp. 11,12, printed in 1888. Mrs. ttiite never claimed to be an authority on the details of history. She never wrote to correct historians. She never wrote history merely for the entertainment of her readers. She regarded a knowledge of history as helpful to a proper understanding of the great conflict going on in heaven and earth over the eternal destinies of men. She regarded the records of the conflicts and victories of men in past days, as intended for our instruction upon whcm the ends of the earth have acme. She recognized that there was a difference of opinion among historians regarding seme historical events and was not surprised or perturbed tften she was told that in some detailed description she had used statements from the pen of seme writers which were disputed by other historians. How Shall We Regard Her Writings? A candid study of the experience and writings of Mrs. White show them to be the earnest, persistent and conscientious effort to present to the diurch and the world, a clear and impressive view of the things revealed to her in heavenly vision,—an effort to present them in the very best language that she aould find. Thousands of the readers of her books longing for spiritual help, feel that her writings appeal to their hearts as do no other writings outside of the Bible. There are some persons who, after sharing the blessings which accompany the study of these writings and enjoying the conviction that the truths presented are the voice of inspiration, have been shaken in their confidence in the heaven-sent truths, because the writer presented the divine thoughts in imperfect language. And others have lost confidence because the writer in her intense desire for the best forms of expression sometimes clothed the thoughts in language previously used by other writers. By some this feature of her writings has been criticized,—the extent of her use of others' phraseology is greatly exaggerated, and the use of expressions borrowed from others, held up to contempt as plagiarism. 7 One who freely appropriates the writings of another without giving credit is called a plagiarist. If this is done with the intent to deceive or to increase financial gain, it is plainly censurable. An unprejudiced consideration of all the facts bearing upon the work of Mrs. White in writing out for the people the wonderful things revealed to her, permits the charge of Plagiarism, as a shadow cn her work, to sink into insignificance. That this was not the case in Mrs. White's work may be easily discerned, for when 9ome questioned her use of historical matter from other authors, she herself made a statement explaining the use she had made of such matter. This appears in the introduction to "Great Controversy" 1888 edition and all subsequent editions. The statement follows: [Great Controversy, pp. 11, 12 is quoted. See above, p. 6, where the identical passage appears. ] The Pioneers in the Seventh-day Adventist Work Regarded Truth as Common Property The fundamental doctrines constituting what we speak of as Present Truth, were the result of much concerted study, following prayerful individual study. It is interesting to observe the way in which the early workers in the Seventh-day Adventist cause regarded the use of one another's writings. then tracts and pamphlets were published, the expositions of truth therein presented, frequently represented the results of united, concerted study, and the forms of expression by the several writers were very similar and sometimes identical. All felt that the truths to be presented were common property and wherever one could help another or get help from another in the expression of Biblical truths, it was considered right bo do so. Consequently there were many excellent statements of present truth copied by one writer from another. And no man said that aught which he wrote was exclusively his own. In the process of time many things thich Sister Vtiite wrote and said were used by others without credit, and she in turn vhen dealing with prophetic exposition or doctrinal statements felt free to use without credit the statements and teachings of leading writers among the pioneers when she found in their writings the exact thought that ^ie wished to present. Vie might point out that this class of matter formed only a small part of the writings of Mrs. Vtiite, the great ness of her writings being on a different plane than that of other writers, consisting chiefly of spiritual exhortation, messages of encouragement and reproof, and divine prediction of future events. Vtien she was writing "Great Controversy," Volume IV, in 1882-1884, she was instructed regarding the general plan of the book. It was revealed to her that she should present an outline of the controversy between Christ and Satan as it developed in the first centuries of the Christian era, and in the great Reformation of the sixteenth century, in such a way as to prepare the mind of the reader to understand clearly the controversy as it is going on in our day. Vtiile Mrs. Vtiite was writing this book, many of the scenes were presented to her over and over again in visions of the night. The vision of the deliverance of God's people, as given in Chapter XL, was repeated three times; and cn two 8 occasions, once at her heme in Healdsburg, and onae at the St. Helena Sanitarium, members of her family, sleeping in nearby rooms, were awakened from sleep by her clear, musical cry, "They cane! They ocme!" (See Great Controversy, page Several times we thought that the manuscript of the book was all ready for the printer, and then a vision of seme iiqportant feature of the controversy would be repeated, and she would again write upon the subject, bringing out the description more fully and clearly. Thus the publishing was delayed, and the book grew in size. Some Questions Considered The question may be asked: "Can the descriptions of scenes and events copied from other writers, find a proper place in the inspired writings of a messenger of God?” Me find that writers of the Bible used the language of other Bible writers without giving credit and the fact that in the writings of one who gives abundant evidence of being a chosen messenger of God, we find phrases copied from the other writers constitutes an answer in the affirmative. When in the early days inquiries came to Mrs. White regarding the passages in her books that she had copied from historians, they were presented as questions regarding the authenticity of the statements. The inquiry was: "Are these passages that which had been shown her in vision, or were they what she had learned by the reading of histories?" She dismissed these questions with few words, stating that that she had presented in her books was a delineation of that which had been presented to her in vision, and that her copying from historians was a matter of convenience, and not a matter of necessity. In later years when Mrs. Vtiite became aware that some of the readers of her books were perplexed,over the question as to whether her copying from other writers was an infringement on somebody's rights, the inquiry was raised, "Who has been injured?” No injustice or injury could be named. Nevertheless, she gave instruction that, lest anyone should be offended or led to stunble ever the fact that passages from historians had been used without credit, in future editions of her book "Great Controversy," a faithful effort should be made to search out those passages that had been copied from historians which had not been enclosed in quotation marks, and that quotation marks should be inserted vdierever they could be used. This instruction was conscientiously followed. How Mrs. White Regarded Her Books With great satisfaction Mrs. White looked upon the results of her labors in bringing out her writings during the fifteen years of her residence in St. Helena. Much of the time during the last five years of her life, a small stand, loaded with her more recent books stood near her writing chair. These she read and reread from time to time and often when her son entered her roan she would say, "Willie, I have been reading again what I have written in these books. It is published just as I want it to be. How glad I am that 90 much is in print!" The Story of a Much Loved Book One of the best loved books written by Mrs. White was "Sketches Frcm the Life of Paul." 9 This book, in its thirty-two chapters, comprises 334 pages. It was printed in 1883, and was advertised and sold by Review and Herald and Pacific Press, through all their agencies for more than twelve years. Thus two or three editions were exhausted, and when in the later nineties the Manager of Review and Herald asked Mrs. White's consent to print another edition, she said, "No; that book contains only a part of what I desire to present, and I wish you to wait until I can write out the natter more fully." This she did later, in her book "Acts of the Apostles." Wien it was learned by our brethren that another edition of this book would not be printed and that the supply in the hands of our Tract Societies was exhausted, advertisements appeared in the Review, asking that anyone having a copy to spare, should send it in that those wishing to secure a copy might be supplied. A few copies thus changed hands. In 1911, "Acts of the Apostles” was published and that took its place. The fact that oopies of "Sketches from the Life of Paul" were advertised for in Review and Her add together with the fact that there are in the book some pas-sages which are copied from, and others which parallel very closely statements to be found in Gonybeare and Howson's "Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul," has opened the way for criticism and many wild runors. One reckless critic has asserted that almost the entire book is the product of other authors. Another has declared that the book has gone out of circulation because of threatened prosecution by the American publishers of "Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul," and that Mrs. Vtiite and the publishers in order to avoid prosecution, had to work lively to recall the oopies of the book which had been sold. If this were true, it would be very serious. But it is not true. It is assumption, gross misrepresentation and falsehood. Here are some facts. There never was a lawsuit instituted or threatened by the publishers of Gonybeare and Howson's "Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul.” Furthermore, no publisher in any land has ever brought suit against Mrs. Vtute's books, on the ground that rights of publishers or authors had been infringed upon. There never was an effort Bade by the author or the publishers of "Sketches from the Life of Paul" or by any of their agents, to call in oopies of the book that they might be kept away from the people. Here is the simple story of this little book, now thirty-five years out of print. During the years 1881 and 1882, our Sabbath-school lessons were on the life of Christ. In connection with these lesson studies, we used for reference "Spirit of Prophecy," Volumes II and III, al9o Geikie's "Life and Words of Jesus.” We offered Geikie's book as a premium with the "Signs” and handled about three thousand oopies. It was planned that the Sabbath-school lessons for 1883 should be upon the Acts of the Apostles. Therefore, we offered "The Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul" by Gonybeare and Howson as a premium with the "Signs" and disposed of about two thousand copies. Thus many of our ministers, Sabbath-school teachers and other studious persons were supplied with this wonderful book. Then Sabbath-school teachers and 10 laymen complained that this work was too voluminous and too heavy, and that the writings of Mrs. Vhite, in their simplicity, would be much more acceptable to the majority of our people; and it was urged that Mrs. White bring out a book that could be used as a lesson help. The publishers requested that copy be furnished very 900n because they wished to publish the book while our people were studying the life of Paul in the Sabbath-school lessons. At that time, Mrs. Vtoite's manuscripts had not been so classified and arranged that she could readily find all that she had previously written upon a given subject. Nevertheless, in response to the appeal, she undertook to do quickly that which was requested. In her search for material to be used that she had written in past years, she found in "Spirit of Prophecy," Volume III, 117 pages that exactly suited her purpose. Some of what was needed was found in her manuscripts. She found, however, that some important links in the history needed to be supplied with new matter. This she did and there was added to %*iat had appeared in "Spirit of Prophecy" Volune III, 227 pages. In her former writings, she had used Conybeare and Howson's "Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul," as a help in the description of Paul's movements, and in her new chapters she continued to use passages from this book that were in perfect harmony with those things that had been revealed to her. Mrs. Vtiite made no effort to conceal the fact that she had copied from other writers, statements that exactly suited her purpose. And in her handwritten manuscripts, most of the passages that she had oopied word for word, were enclosed in quotation marks. But there were also many passages that were paraphrased. These paraphrased passages were usually shortened by the use in part of her own words. This brought the descriptive passages into briefer form. The question arose, How shall these passages be handled? Much time would be required to study each passage and mark it consistently. The printers were waiting for copy, and the public were waiting for the book. Then it was decided to leave out quotation marks entirely. And in that way the book was printed. Regarding the amount of matter oopied or paraphrased from or even paralleling the thoughts of Conybeare and How9on, a greatly exaggerated idea has been set forth by our critics. In the list of paraillei passages printed by them are to be found six citations, involving 31 lines, or a little less than one page of the book. We are convinced by our own comparison of the two books that many hours were spent by these critics in finding these parallelisns to support their charge of "plagiarism." An exhaustive study may show that the amount of matter thus oopied or paralleled would amount to five or ten pages, which is, however, only a snail part of the entire book of 334 pages. Fbr the spiritual lessons drawn from the experiences of the apostle Paul, Mrs. White was not dependent on any human author. And it is this phase of her writings that puts them in a class of themselves, and gives them untold value to the Christian reader,—not the few descriptive passages copied from other writers. 11 "Sketches from the Life of Paul" became popular among our people, and sold well for twelve or thirteen years. Then the manager of Review and Herald asked Mrs. White's consent to their printing another edition. She was in Australia closing her work on the life of Christ, and hoped to soon begin writing on the Acts of the Apostles. Therefore, she replied, "Do not print another edition of 'Sketches from the Life of Paul.' I have much to write on the Acts of the Apostles which will fiake a book to take its place." It was after this decision of Mrs. White's not to reprint "Sketches from tne Life of Paul," that she was informed that a letter had been received by the Review and Herald from the T. Y. Crowell Publishing Company of Boston asking regarding their plans for the reprinting of this book. This letter was written in a kindly spirit. It contained no threats of prosecution, nor any complaints as to plagiarism from Conybeare and Howson's "Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul." Reply was made that further editions were not contemplated and there the correspondence closed. The Case in Brief In conclusion, let us briefly summarize a few important features of Mrs. White's work as herein presented. It was at the command of God, and in the face of insurmountable difficulties that she undertook to write for the church and for the world. Through the years the work grew and multiplied beyond all expectations. In addition to many messages of counsel and reproof and exhortation to the church, there were opened to her mind nany graphic scenes connected with the age-long controversy beginning in heaven, and continuing till the final restoration of all things. Mrs. White read such books as she considered would be helpful to her in acquiring skill in presenting in clear, forceful language the instruction she had to give. Here was not, however, a case of one-void of the thoughts she wished to present, and consulting books for the purpose of finding themes upon which she might write. Oh the contrary abundant light had been given her and she was looking for helpful and concise forms of expression and for gems of truth tersely expressed. This she did with the divine assurance that she would be guided in distinguishing the true from the false. In some instances she copied or paraphrased statements that exactly suited her purpose from historians of good repute, especially descriptive passages where she found them to be in exact accord with vtfiat had been revealed to her. In some instances these sentences were enclosed in quotation marks and in some instances they were not, especially vdiere she paraphrased the wording to better express her thoughts. Mrs. Vtiite's copying from others was not a necessity, but was done chiefly to conserve time and in the interests of brevity and forcefulness. She acted without knowledge of the literary standards that would count a moderate use of others' writings as unfair or worthy of condemnation. Moreover, it is a fact that the present literary standards are not in all respects what they were a half century ago when the matter in question was written. We should do injustice to many an author who wrote fifty years ago vere we to measure his work by the rules and standards of today. 12 We must also recognize the fact that there is no evidence of intention on the part of Mrs. Vhite to deceive her readers. Had she been largely dependent upon the writings of others for her thoughts, and had she endeavored to use as her own their ideas, and to keep this as a secret, she would not have chosen standard books such as D'Aubigne's "History of the Reformation," Wylie's "History of Protestantism," and Conybeare and Howson's "Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul," which were and are in wide circulation, and many of whidi she knew to be in the libraries of the prospective buyers of her books. Not only have Mrs. White's critics given a greatly exaggerated idea as to the quantity of matter found in her books that closely parallels the writings of other authors, but they have drawn most unwarranted conclusions therefrom. We feel assured that those who are familiar with the nature of Mrs. Vtiite's writings as a whole and who candidly consider the facts herein set forth will not lightly accept as against her the charge that she was a "plagiarist,” as that teem is generally understood. We should point out more clearly the fact that the class of natter written by Mrs. White, in which she used the writings of others, is comparatively snail, when considering the vast field covered by her writings. It is in the delineation in prophetic and doctrinal exposition that we find that she used the words of others or had closely paraphrased them. In the vast field covering thousands of pages of messages of encouragement, reproof, and spiritual instruction, she worked independent of all other writers, also in her divine prediction of future experiences through which the church must pass. This is very evident by the nature of the matter written. Her use of historical matter was a means to the greater end,—to bring into brief form the indisputable facts of history, so as to enqphasize the thoughts revealed to her, and to lay the foundation for the understanding of future events. Truly it will be a great misfortune if any reader shall allow the question of her use of some passages from the writings of others, to blind his mind that he cannot appreciate the great truths which are invaluable to the church and the world today. REGARDING CHANGES OF WORDING IN LATER EDITIONS Much criticism has been brought to bear against Mrs. Ellen G. White and her writings because in later presentations of the subjects covered in some of her earliest volumes, 9cme of vhich are now out of print, some changes in the wording has been made. Her critics say, If the first writing was a correct statement of what was shown her, what right had she to change the wording? All will agree that if the matters revealed to Mrs. Vhite in vision, were all presented as word for word statements that she was to repeat, and continue to repeat without variation, expansion, or abbreviation, she would not be justified in making any changes in the wording. But this is not the way in which the revelations were given to her. No one associated with her held such a view of her work, and her own clear statements were to the contrary. In 1867, she stated through the Review and Herald, the facts regarding this matter in the following words: "Although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own, unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks of quotation."—Review and Herald, October 8, 1867. 13 In 1889, Mrs. White wrote about the manner in which revelations were nade to her an same occasions, thus: "The question is asked, How does Sister Vtiite know in regard to the matters of which she speaks 90 decidedly, as if she had authority to say these things? I speak thus because they flash upon ray mind when in perplexity like lightning out of a dark cloud in the fury of a storm. "Same scenes presented before me years ago have not been retained in my memory, but when the instruction then given is needed, sometimes even when I am standing before the people, the remembrance comes sharp and clear, like a flash of lightning, bringing to mind distinctly that particular instruction. At such times I cannot refrain from saying the things that flash into my mind, not because I have had a new vision, but because that which was presented to me perhaps years in the past, has been recalled to my mind forcibly."—MS-33-1911. As we study the writings of Mrs. White with this understanding of how the revelations of truth were imparted to her, we can more easily aomprehend her motive in changing words and forms of expression. This was sometimes done to remove grammatical errors. It was often done to enable her thought to be more clearly understood. She viewed with sorrow the imperfections of expression in some of her writings. These imperfections incident to her lack of experience and scholarship she counted it her privilege to correct. Therefore in many passages she so changed the wording for the future editions as to present the identical thought in better language. Moreover in a few passages where she saw that same of her statements were misunderstood or misconstrued, she endeavored to present the matter as revealed to her by a more accurate or fuller statement in tiiich her view of the matter under consideration could be clearly understood. Vhen the question of her naking grammatical corrections in the printed volunes of the "Testimonies to the Church" came before the General Conference of 1883, the delegates took action as follows: "32. WHEREAS, Some of the bound volunes of the 'Testimonies to the Church' are out of print 90 that full sets cannot be obtained at the office: and "VtffiREAS, there is a constant and urgent call for the reprinting of these volumes; therefore,— "RESOLVED, that we recommend their republication in such a form as to make four volunes of seven or eight hundred pages each. "33. WHEREAS, many of these testimonies were written under the most unfavorable circumstances, the writer being too heavily pressed with anxiety and labor to devote critical thought to the grammatical perfection of the writings, and they were printed in such haste as to allow these imperfections to pass un-oorrected; and,— "WHEREAS, we believe the light given by God to His servants is by the enlightenment of the mind, thus imparting the thoughts, and not (except in rare cases) the very words in which the ideas should be expressed; therefore,— 14 "RESOLVED that in the re-publication of these volumes, such verbal changes be made as to remove the above-named imperfections, as far as possible, without in any measure changing the thought."—See Review and Herald, November 27, 1883. In harmony with this, she authorized the changes of wording which appear in later editions of some of her earliest books, and in a few places, v