Lt 4, 1850

[February 18, 1850, Oswego, New York]¹

The day, month, and place of writing are derived from the postmark on the letter, which reads “Oswego, N.Y. Feb. 18.” The year, 1850, can be inferred in different ways. The fact that the letter is written in Oswego in February and discusses the continued publication of The Present Truth points unambiguously to 1850 because The Present Truth was published in Oswego only between December 1849 and May 1850.

1EGWLM 197.1

Letter to
Philip and Nancy Collins.²

Identity: The letter identifies the addressee as “Phillip [sic] Collins, New Bedford, Mass.” The name of Philip's wife, Nancy, can be obtained from the 1850 census and other sources.

See: 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Nancy Collins,” Massachusetts, Bristol County, Dartmouth, p. 442.

1EGWLM 197.2

Portions of this letter are published in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p. 31; vol. 5, p. 91; vol. 6, p. 339.

News to friends of recent travels, of publishing work, and of their move to Oswego, New York.1EGWLM 197.3

Dear Bro. and Sister Collins:

We were very glad to hear from you³

None of the letters from Philip and Nancy Collins to the Whites has been preserved. Six letters from either James or Ellen White to the Collins family are on file, dating back to 1846.

See: James White to Philip and Nancy Collins: Aug. 26, 1846; Sept. 8, 1849; Jan. 28, 1850; Feb. 18, 1850. Ellen G. White, Lt 7, 1849 (Sept.); Lt 4, 1850 (Feb. 18).

that you were striving to be overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Be bold in the cause of God. Do not falter. God loves bold soldiers and they will get the victory. Oh how good is the Lord to us! Can we doubt His goodness for a moment? No, no. His watchful care has been over us or we should have fallen out by the way.1EGWLM 197.4

We do not want you to feel, Brother Collins, that you cannot write us unless you can send us some money. No, no. Write us. We are just as glad to hear from you as though you sent us ever so much money. The way is now fully open for James to go forward in publishing The Present Truth.⁴

The first issue of The Present Truth was published by James White in July 1849. Although financial contributions from readers had at first more than covered costs, by the end of the year the periodical was in debt. Further, his close coworker, Joseph Bates, opposed the whole project; “Brother Bates discouraged me about the paper and I gave it up forever.” The turning point that turned James White from his discouragement was Ellen White's vision of January 9, 1850. He wrote on January 10: “Last night we had a wonderful, powerful time here at Brother B. C. Stoors. … Ellen had the following view in relation to the ‘Present Truth.’ I [Ellen] saw the paper, and that it was needed. … I saw that God did not want James to stop yet; but he must write, write, write, write, and speed the message and let it go.”

See: Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], p. 116; James White, “The Paper,” Present Truth, December 1849, p. 47; James White to Leonard Hastings, Jan. 10, 1850; EGWEnc, s.v. “Present Truth.”

We love you and love to hear from you. We should have written you before but we have had no certain abiding place, but have traveled in rain, snow and blow with the child from place to place.5

From the time James Edson White was 6 weeks old he had traveled with his parents from place to place in New England and western New York during the autumn and early winter of 1849. In late November or December 1849 they settled in Oswego, New York. “We rented a house in Oswego, and borrowed articles from our brethren, and commenced house-keeping.”

See: Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 116-122.

I could not get time to answer any letters and it took all James’ time to write for the paper and get out the hymn book.6

Hymns, for God's Peculiar People, That Keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus, compiled by James White, was first advertised for sale the following month in the March 1850 issue of The Present Truth. It contained the words for 53 hymns and sold for 12 1/2 cents.

See: James White, compiler, Hymns, for God's Peculiar People; “Hymns for God's Peculiar People … ,” Present Truth, March 1850, p. 64.

We do not have many idle moments. Now we are settled, I can have more time to write.1EGWLM 197.5

Do not let the suggestions of Satan hold you down. Be of good cheer. The Lord is coming to reward His faithful children. Be diligent to make your calling and election sure.1EGWLM 198.1

Let us not rest unless we have the abiding witness that our ways please God. Souls are coming out upon the truth all around here. They are those who have not heard the Advent doctrine and some of them are those who went forth to meet the Bridegroom in 1844, but since that time have been deceived by false shepherds until they did not know where they were or what they believed.⁷

Sabbatarian Adventism in western New York, where the Whites were located at this time, was experiencing remarkable growth. Writing three months earlier, James White enthusiastically reported that “in Western N.Y. the number of Sabbath keepers is increasing fast. There are more than twice the number now than six months ago.” Of particular interest here is the observation that some of the new believers “are those who have not heard the Advent doctrine.” This indicates a broadening view of the scope of mission as compared to earlier evangelism, which focused on reaching other Adventists who had passed through the Millerite movement.

See: James White to “Brother Bowles,” Nov. 8, 1849; introductory article “The ‘Shut Door’ and Ellen White's Visions”; EGWEnc, s.v. “Shut Door.”

1EGWLM 198.2

Much love to the children and yourselves.1EGWLM 198.3

James has gone to the Office.1EGWLM 198.4

In haste.1EGWLM 198.5