Mother has permitted me to read your letter to her [March 16, 1900], in which you speak of the report that has been circulated in Battle Creek, that Fannie Bolton has claimed large responsibilities, regarding certain testimonies which mother sent to Bro. A. R. Henry. FBS 96.4
I am sure that there is no ground for such a statement as you mention, and I very much doubt if Fannie ever made it in the form that it came to you. There are many ways in which an incorrect statement may be exaggerated and made more incorrect, and I think that if you ask Fannie about this, that you will get quite another version. FBS 96.5
I have been very familiar with mother’s work for many years, and with the work that is required of her copyists and editors, and I never knew of any such request being made by mother, or of any such work being attempted by any of her workers. I do not know of anyone who has ever been connected with her work, but would as quickly put their hand into the fire and hold it there, as to attempt to add any thoughts to what mother had written in a testimony to any individual. FBS 97.1
Your own personal knowledge of mother’s work, and how it is done, is certainly sufficient to enable you to refute such a report. In His own time and manner, the Lord reveals to her precious truths and facts regarding the movements and dangers, and privileges of the church, and of individuals. These things she writes out as she has time and strength, often rising at a very early hour, that she may write while the matter is fresh in her mind, and before there is liability of interruption in her work. FBS 97.2
As many matters are presented to her in a very short space of time, and as these matters are sometimes similar, and sometimes different; so she writes them out, sometimes many pages upon one subject, and sometimes dealing with many subjects in a few pages. In her eager haste to transfer to the written page the thought[s] that have been pictured to her mind, she does not stop to study grammatical, or rhetorical forms, but writes out the facts as clearly as she can, and as fully as possible. FBS 97.3
Sometimes, when mother’s mind is rested and free, the thoughts are presented in language that is not only clear and strong, but beautiful, and correct; and at times when she is weary and oppressed with heavy burdens of anxiety, or when the subject is difficult to portray, there are repetitions, and ungrammatical sentences. FBS 97.4
Mother’s copyists are entrusted with the work of correcting grammatical errors, of eliminating unnecessary repetition, and of grouping paragraphs and sections in their best order. If a passage is not fully understood, the copyist asks its full meaning and proper connection. When corrected and plainly copied with the typewriter or the pen, the manuscripts are all carefully examined by mother, and corrected, wherever correction is required, and then copied again, if the corrections are numerous. This is done with many manuscripts, not only because corrections are made in the work of the copyist, but because mother sees a way to express the thought a little more clearly, or more fully. FBS 97.5
Often mother writes out a matter the second time, because she feels that it is very difficult to put in writing the scene, or events as they are presented to her. FBS 97.6
Mother’s workers of experience, such as sisters Davis, Burnham, Bolton, Peck, and Hare, who are very familiar with her writings, are authorized to take a sentence, paragraph, or section, from one manuscript where the thought was clearly and fully expressed, and incorporate it with another manuscript, where the same thought was expressed but not so clearly. But none of mother’s workers are authorized to add to the manuscripts by introducing thoughts of their own. They are instructed that it is the words and thoughts that mother has written, or spoken, that are to be used. FBS 97.7
Those who have been entrusted with the preparation of these manuscripts, have been persons who feared the Lord, and who sought Him daily for wisdom and guidance, and they have shared much of His blessing, and the guidance of His Holy Spirit in understanding the precious truths that they were handling. I, myself, have felt the same blessing, and heavenly enlightenment in answer to prayer for wisdom to understand the spiritual truths in these writings, that I have in studying the Bible. This was a sweet fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit as a teacher and guide, in understanding the word. And in answer to prayer, my memory has been refreshed as to where to find very precious statements amongst mother’s writings, that brought in connection with the manuscript in hand, would make a useful article. FBS 97.8
However thankful the copyist may be for this quickening of the mind and memory, it would seem to me to be wholly out of place for us to call this “inspiration,” for it is not in any sense the same gift as that by which the truths are revealed to mother. FBS 98.1
It is right here that Sr. Bolton is in great danger of being deceived and of leading others astray. The blessing of a clear mind and an active memory, she has called an inspiration, and the unwise use of the term has led those who know less of the work than she has done, to come to wrong conclusions about what she has done. FBS 98.2
Sr. Fannie Bolton has all along been tempted to desire praise and admiration for her talent and her work. This has sometimes unfitted her for her work, and sometimes led [her] to say things about the work which exalted the human garb in which divine truths were clothed, and diverted from the truths themselves, and from the God of truth the honor which was His due. FBS 98.3
Do not permit the thought to prevail that Mother would withhold from Sr. Bolton any credit and praise that more might be given to herself. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Mother takes no credit to herself, and wishes no praise. She wishes the divine truths to be recognized as coming from God, although clothed with human form. Is it not reasonable to believe that if mother should seek praise for the expression of truths which God has mercifully revealed to her for the benefit of others that He would remove from her the gift? It certainly would be a fearful thing for her to seek personal praise or honor. FBS 98.4
When I was last in Battle Creek, I talked freely with Sr. Bolton about these things, and she confessed that all through the years of her connection with mother’s writings, that she had been dwelling upon the human garb in which the truths were clothed, instead of thinking chiefly of the purity and beauty of the truth, and acknowledging its divine origin, although clothed in human form. All through the years in which she was employed in this work there have been times when she would humble her heart before the Lord, and enjoy much of His grace, and other times, when through her connection with the Sabbath School work, or Missionary work she would receive praise and flattery, that she would become intoxicated with the praise, and lose her balance, and say and do things that greatly injured the cause. FBS 98.5
We have hoped that it would never be necessary to speak of [the] injudicious course she took at times in this country, but the memory of these experiences ought to lead her to see the frailty of human nature, and the lack of balance in her mind, when not under the control of the Lord. FBS 98.6
[Remainder of letter missing] FBS 98.7