October 12, 1859,1 The earliest copy of this letter bears the year 1854, but the copyist undoubtedly mistook a “9” for a “4.” The evidence for this, in part, is that James White invariably reported on longer travel itineraries in the Review, but he makes no mention of any travels in Vermont during the autumn of 1854. More telling are Ellen White's diary entries for October 10-12, 1859, that match many of the details found in this letter. For example, according to the diary for October 12, the Whites awoke at 3:00, arose at 4:00, ate breakfast at half past 4:00, left at 5:00 for Northfield, driven by Brother Howard, and continued to St. Albans, where Brother Bourdeau would meet them. All of these details are found in this letter. See: Ellen G. White, Ms 8, 1859 (Oct. 10-12 entries).
Letter to The ending of the letter suggests that the letter is directed to members of the White household.
Friends.2
Portions of this letter are published in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, p. 231.
News of travels and labors in Vermont to friends at home in Battle Creek. 1EGWLM 735.3
Dear Friends:
We have just arrived at Brother Saxby's [John Saxby],3 Identity: John Saxby, of Bakersfield, Vermont, frequently mentioned in the Review during this period. The 1860 census lists his place of origin as England and the value of his real and personal property at $3,871. See: 1860 U.S. Federal Census, “John Saxby,” Vermont, Franklin County, Bakersfield, p. 23; search words “John” or “Jno” “Saxby” in Words of the Pioneers.
We are very tired. [We] were awake this morn at three o'clock, arose at four, took breakfast half past four and were on our way to Northfield [Vermont] at five o'clock A.M. Brother Howard [Daniel Howard]4 Identity: It can with some certainty be concluded that it was Daniel Howard who drove Ellen and James White the seven miles (11 kilometers) to Northfield. In the 1860 census he is listed under Northfield, Vermont, together with “Clarissa,” age 41. About five years later the Review carried an obituary for “Clarissa, wife of Bro. Daniel Howard, aged 45 years and 8 months.” See: Obituary: “Clarissa Howard,” Review, Feb. 14, 1865, p. 95; 1860 U.S. Federal Census, “Daniel Howard,” Vermont, Washington County, Northfield, p. 220. A. C. Bourdeau lived in Enosburg township, adjoining Bakersfield township, where John Saxby had his farm. See: SDAE, s.v. “Augustin Cornelius Bourdeau”; 1860 U.S. Federal Census, “A. C. Bordeau [sic],” Vermont, Franklin County, Enosburgh, p. 43.
I will now go back to give you a little history of the meeting.6 Ellen White is here returning to the events of the previous weekend, with the meetings in Roxbury, Vermont, which had been advertised in the Review for Sabbath and Sunday, October 8 and 9. See: James White, “Appointments,” Review, Sept. 15, 1859, p. 136. Identity: According to the information given, “Brother Pierce” lives in the vicinity of Roxbury and (further on in the letter) is a powerful speaker. Stephen Pierce fits both of these specifications. He is mentioned in the Review as living in Roxbury during this period. He was also a prominent preacher and later church administrator. See: J. A. and M. A. Spofford, “From Bro. & Sr. Spofford,” Review, May 20, 1858, p. 7; SDAE, s.v. “Stephen Pierce.” Identity: Although there are a number of Sabbathkeepers with the surname “Grant” mentioned in the Review during this period, only Harrison Grant is said to live in Roxbury, Vermont. See: Search term “Grant” in Words of the Pioneers; Harrison Grant, “To the Churches in Vt.,” Review, Aug. 5, 1862, p. 80.
Sabbath morn it was very stormy. We had a snow storm and there fell above one inch [2.5 centimeters] of snow. Our congregation was quite large, and attention good. Sunday nearly all of Roxbury was out, the large courthouse was filled, and there was the deepest attention and interest. We had a good interview with old friends but so many wanted advice upon this matter and that, and I had so much writing to do to individuals, at the close of the meeting I was more exhausted than I had been to any previous meeting. My head was in a complete whirl. 1EGWLM 736.2
James had good liberty in preaching. He talked three times Sabbath, and twice Sunday. I followed in exhortation. I had great freedom in talking upon faith, that faith and feeling should not be confounded together. They are distinct as the east is from the west. In the darkest hours it is then we should exercise faith, and not suffer our feelings to govern us, but press our faith through the dark clouds to the throne of God and claim the blessing of Heaven. When our faith grasps the blessing then the blessing is ours, for our faith has got hold [of] it, and when our faith brings the blessing down to us—when the dark clouds scatter and divine rays of light from Jesus illumine our darkness—then it is no more faith; it is feeling. The evidence has come and it is feeling that has swallowed up the faith. This view of faith and feeling seemed to enlighten some minds and we had a most powerful conference meeting. Brother Pierce talked with great freedom and power, also Brother Phillips [Daniel C. Phillips].9 Identity: An obituary notice in the Review reveals a Daniel Phillips living in Roxbury in 1859, so there is some likelihood that Ellen White is writing here of Daniel Phillips. The likelihood is increased by independent evidence that Daniel Phillips used to speak at meetings. (According to census information his middle initial was “C” and there are two or three references in the Review to a “D. C. Phillips” who delivered “stirring testimonies” and had a “gift in prayer and exhortation.”) See: Obituary: “Amanda Phillips,” Review, Mar. 24, 1859, p. 143; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Daniel C. Philips,” Vermont, Orange County, Randolph, p. 243; “Report of Meetings in Ohio,” Review, Feb. 25, 1862, p. 101; obituary: “D. C. Phillips,” Review, July 11, 1882, p. 446.
Our meeting ended well, leaving a good influence. Monday we visited Brother Pierce's family but was obliged to write nearly all the time while there. 1EGWLM 737.1
Tuesday morn we parted with Brother and Sister Hutchins [Alfred S. and Esther M. Hutchins], Brother and Sister Sperry [Charles W. and Rachel Ann Sperry]10 Identities: According to James White's report of this tour, Ellen and he did not just happen to meet two couples with the names Hutchins and Sperry in Roxbury, but “brethren Hutchins and Sperry” were evidently preachers. James White reported that they “tarried after the Conference to hold more meetings in the large town-house.” In the Review, between 1853 and 1861, there are a dozen or so reports of Alfred S. Hutchins and Charles W. Sperry teaming up together to give lecture series in Vermont, Canada, and New York. See: J. W. [James White], “Eastern Tour,” Review, Nov. 10, 1859, p. 196; search terms “Hutchins” and “Sperry” in Words of the Pioneers; obituary: “Charles W. Sperry,” Review, Oct. 1, 1861, p. 143; SDAE, s.v. “Alfred S. Hutchins.” Ellen White here returns to details of their journey from Roxbury on October 12 that she had already related in the opening two paragraphs. On one or two points, such as whether they got off the train at St. Albans or Enosburg, the two accounts disagree, and this can be attributed to simple error.
Yesterday morn we came to Bro. Bourdeau's. Today we leave for Berkshire, but it rains now and we shall wait until it clears off. Excuse my scribbling, Martha [Martha Dormer Amadon (née Byington)].12 Identity: These closing sentences suggest that “Martha” was assisting in the White household. Eighteen months earlier, in March 1858, Ellen, while traveling, had written to her children about “sisters Jenny and Martha” who “care for you, that we may leave home feeling free.” “Martha” is almost certainly Martha Dormer Byington, who worked in the White household at least periodically from 1857 until her marriage in 1860. Her diary indicates that she provided private tutoring for the White boys. See: Ellen G. White, An Appeal to the Youth, p. 43; Martha Byington, 1857 diary. Martha's parents were John and Catherine Byington, who had moved to Battle Creek in 1858. Her two sisters had died in the early fifties. According to the 1860 census, Martha's brothers Luther (age 21) and William W. (age 19) were still living at home with their parents. See: 1860 U.S. Federal Census, “John Byington,” Michigan, Calhoun County, Newton, p. 244; SDAE, s.v. “John Byington.”
Write us a long letter at Lapeer14 According to the schedule of appointments published by James White in the Review, the Whites would attend a conference at Lapeer, Michigan, on November 5 and 6. See: James White, “Appointments,” Review, Sept. 15, 1859, p. 136.