Lt 26, 1850

November 1, 1850, Paris, Maine1EGWLM 248.1

Letter to
Reuben and Belinda Loveland.¹

Most likely the recipients of this letter are Reuben and Belinda Loveland, of Johnson, Vermont. There appear to have been no other Lovelands among Sabbatarian Adventists in this period. Up to the end of 1852 all nine references to “Loveland” in the Review are prefixed “Reuben” or “R” or “B.” Confirming the identity is another letter to “Brother and Sister Loveland” from Ellen White written some weeks later, on December 13, 1850, in which she specifically locates them in Johnson (“Are you free in Johnson?”) and goes on to send “love to your eldest daughter” and “much love to the one at home.” This greeting is very similar to that of the present letter, which sends “much love to your daughter who is not at home” and “love to the next oldest.” As seen in note 11 below, the eldest daughter of Reuben and Belinda had in fact married and left home by this date.

See: Search term “Loveland” in Words of the Pioneers; Ellen G. White, Lt 30, 1850 (Dec. 13); 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Reuben Loveland,” Vermont, Lamoille County, Johnson, p. 64.

1EGWLM 248.2

This letter is published in entirety in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 15, pp. 210-213.

Letter to personal friends with news and spiritual encouragement.1EGWLM 248.3

Dear Brother and Sister Loveland:

We received your very kind letter here at Paris [Maine] yesterday, enclosing the ten, for which we thank you.²

This letter is not in the White Estate archives. According to one source, the Lovelands became Sabbathkeepers in 1850, so their acquaintance with the Whites was quite recent. Their first meeting could well have been four months earlier when Ellen and James White attended a conference in Johnson (July 6, 7, 1850). The enclosed $10 is part of a pattern of generous giving by the Lovelands. Mrs. Loveland's obituary states that she and her husband “sacrificed their home farm for the advancement of the message, and moved onto a back lot.”

See: W. [James White], “Our Tour East,” Advent Review, August 1850, p. 15; obituary: “Belinda Loveland,” Review, Mar. 22, 1906, p. 23; Belinda Loveland, “From Sister Loveland,” Review, June 11, 1857, p. 46.

1EGWLM 248.4

We are all enjoying quite good health and have had some sweet seasons of late. How good it is to have a God that we can go to, and tell our wants to Him; and He like a tender parent supplies our wants, and in sickness He is our Physician and will undertake our case and heal us every whit. Should we not rejoice and glorify our God?1EGWLM 248.5

Since we last wrote you³

This letter is not in the White Estate archives.

we have been to Fairhaven [Massachusetts] to attend a conference there. Brother Bates was present. We had quite an interesting meeting. James baptized two.4

Held October 19-20, 1850. See: “Conferences,” Advent Review, November 1850, p. 72.

Both were filled with the Holy Spirit.1EGWLM 248.6

Monday we returned to Dorchester [Massachusetts] where our dear Brother Nichols [Otis Nichols]⁵

Identity: The Dorchester address clearly identifies “Brother Nichols” as Otis Nichols.

See: Search term “Nichols” in Words of the Pioneers.

and family live. There in the night God gave me a very interesting vision, the most of which you will see in the paper.6

Ellen G. White, “Dear Brethren and Sisters,” Present Truth, November 1850, pp. 86, 87.

God shewed me the necessity of getting out a chart.7

Reference to charts showing prophetic symbols from Daniel and Revelation together with time calculations. The statement here should not be understood as meaning that no prophetic charts had been made or used by Sabbatarian Adventist preachers prior to this. Two months earlier, in August 1850, Ellen White had mentioned a chart made by Samuel W. Rhodes. However, the vision of October 1850 reported here seems to have led directly to the first publication of a prophetic chart. Prepared by Otis Nichols, an edition of 300 copies was ready for distribution by January 1851.

See: Ellen G. White, Lt 12, 1850 (Aug. 15); “The Chart,” Review, January 1851, p. 38. For a general historical overview of the production of the first chart, see Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White: The Early Years, pp. 184, 185.

I saw it was needed and that the truth made plain upon tables8

The expression “plain upon tables” was taken from Habakkuk 2:2, 3 and had been applied earlier by Millerites to their use of prophetic charts.

See: Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 392.

would effect much and would cause souls to come to the knowledge of the truth.1EGWLM 249.1

Thursday we left Dorchester for Topsham, Maine. Friday, Brother Howland's [Stockbridge Howland]⁹

Identity: The mention of Ellen White's “little boy” in connection with “Brother Howland” leaves no doubt that Stockbridge Howland, in whose home Henry White stayed in early infancy, is referred to here.

family and my little boy [Henry Nichols White] went with us to Gorham [Maine] to spend the Sabbath with our parents [Robert and Eunice Harmon]. Found them strong in the faith. We had a good season with them. We parted with them Sunday sorrowful, because we were obliged to part, but rejoicing that we were of one faith and that soon we should meet, if faithful, never more to part.1EGWLM 249.2

You write of trials. We should be glad to know what they are that we may understand your cases and may know how to sympathize with you. We love you and your little band and should love to see you much, but do not expect to at present. We shall stay here at Paris some little time. James is now getting out a paper here. It is an excellent place to get out the paper.1EGWLM 249.3

Now do write and tell me if there is anything in your place that prevents your rising. God wants His people to rise and get the victory over the powers of darkness.¹⁰

This may be an allusion to the problems facing the young movement in Vermont. According to James White, writing three months earlier, some Adventists (not Sabbatarians) were spreading “corrupt views” in Johnson and other places in Vermont about the necessity of a celibate lifestyle. Ellen White described a meeting in Johnson with “two females” from this faction, “with white linen dresses to represent the righteousness of the saints,” and tells of the dramatic exit of “these fanatics” as “the power of God filled the room.”

See: Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 131, 132; W. [James White], “Our Tour East,” Advent Review, August 1850, p. 15.

Be free and free indeed, the fountain is full and free. Let us drink and do not let the enemy prevent us from drawing sap and nourishment from Jesus, the living vine. Let us not rest unless we know that our lives are hid with Christ in God. We must have daily the full assurance that we are accepted of Him. If we have, all is well. We then can come to a throne of grace with holy boldness and draw strength and glory from the sanctuary and be triumphant in God. I do long for the mind that was in Christ. Day after day I discover my unlikeness to the meek and lovely Jesus. I want His fashioning hand to be laid upon me, for I would reflect the lovely image of Jesus.1EGWLM 249.4

At times I feel the power of God even in my flesh and yet I am not satisfied. I want to plunge deeper and deeper in the ocean of God's love and be wholly swallowed up in Him. Be strong in God. Do not sink. My vision comes up before me and the words of the angel even now seem to ring in my ears, “Get ready, get ready, get ready. Time is almost finished, almost finished, almost finished. Cry, cry, for the arm of the Lord to be revealed, for the arm of the Lord to be revealed. Time is almost finished. What you do, ye must do quickly!”1EGWLM 250.1

Much love to all of your dear band. Much love to your daughter who is not at home.¹¹

Anne D. Loveland, aged 18, had married Orange Bailey sometime before the summer of 1850 and lived on a neighboring farm.

See: 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Orange Bailey,” Vermont, Lamoille County, Johnson, p. 64; obituary: “Ann D. Bailey,” Review, Oct. 16, 1856, p. 191.

Tell her she will have to wade through deep waters, but God is with her and He will strengthen and uphold her, and though she passes through deep waters they will not overflow her.1EGWLM 250.2

Love to the next oldest.¹²

Florinda Loveland, aged 16. See: Obituary: “Florinda Loveland,” Review, Dec. 27, 1855, p. 103.

(I cannot remember the names of either.) Tell her for me that she has a part to act in the cause of God, and if she would be saved she must overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of her testimony. Tell her not to hold back and get barrenness to her soul, but take a part in your little social meetings and she will get great strength to her soul and will not be a clog in the meetings. Tell her to be strong and faint not by the way.1EGWLM 250.3

Much love to dear Brother and Sister Heath.¹³

No firm identification has been made. Several persons by the surname “Heath” are found in the Review in the early 1850s, but none identified as coming from Johnson, Vermont, or vicinity. However, one of Reuben Loveland's neighbors in Johnson in 1850 is “Joseph W. Heath.” Perhaps he is the “J. W. Heath” mentioned in the Review for January 1851, and the person, together with his wife, referred to here.

See: 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Reuben Loveland,” “Joseph W. Heath,” Vermont, Lamoille County, Johnson, p. 64; “Letters Received Since Dec. 24,” Review, January 1851, p. 31.

I should love to see them much, and talk over the glorious hope that we have and of soon coming into possession of a far more and exceeding eternal weight of glory. Tell them to be valiant for the truth and keep up good courage and all of your little band. It is as the garden of Eden before us and a desolate wilderness behind us. Tell them to press, press their way to the Kingdom.1EGWLM 250.4

James [James Springer White] would write some but he is now writing at the same table for the paper. He sends love to Brother and Sister Loveland and your children and all of the band. I have written this in great haste.1EGWLM 251.1

In hope of the speedy redemption at the voice of [God].1EGWLM 251.2

Write Often!!!

E. G. White

We have received an excellent letter from Brother Rhodes [Samuel W. Rhodes].¹⁴

This letter is not in the White Estate archives. The only “Rhodes” appearing in the Review of the early and mid-1850s was the traveling preacher Samuel W. Rhodes.

See: Search term “Rhodes” in Words of the Pioneers.

He is valiant for the truth and God has been making him mighty. Many souls have been brought into the truth through his labors. Today we received an excellent letter from Brother Bates [Joseph Bates].15

Identity: The Fairhaven location of Bates identifies him as Joseph Bates.

See: Search term “Bates” in Words of the Pioneers.

He is still in Fairhaven [Massachusetts].1EGWLM 251.3