I have but a few moments to write, so must be brief. We are prospering in the Lord and are of good courage. For a time after we arrived here James's health was very poor,²

The Whites had returned two weeks earlier, on June 21, from a one-month tour of Michigan, their first visit to that state. According to Ellen's account in Spiritual Gifts, on their return James “was troubled with aching head and cold feet. He could sleep but little.”

See: James White, [Notice], Review, June 23, 1853, p. 24; Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], p. 183.

his lungs were much affected, but we had some powerful seasons of prayer for him and the Lord in mercy has drawn near and condescended to answer our petitions. He is much better than he has been, and is of good courage.1EGWLM 377.4

Last Sabbath the power of God settled upon me. I was taken off in vision and saw many things of great interest to us. I have scribbled off the vision. It covers 24 pages,³

Although the full 24-page account of the July 2 vision has not been preserved, this letter, and also Manuscripts 3 and 4, 1853, relate parts of the vision. Six months later, in January 1854, these parts were included in Supplement to the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White.

See: Ellen G. White, Ms 3, 1853 (July 2); Ms 4, 1853 (July 2); idem, Supplement to the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, pp. 14, 22, 23, 35, 38, 45 (Early Writings, pp. 95, 96, 114, 115, 117, 118, 124, 125).

many things were explained to us which we did not understand and which were necessary for us to know. I saw that we must have the truth got out oftener—that the only paper in the land owned and approved of God should come out oftener than once in two weeks, while papers that are full of error come out weekly and some oftener than that.^{4
The idea of publishing the Review weekly rather than twice monthly had been raised in its columns several times during the previous two years and had been generally well received. No decision had been taken because of the financial implications and, as R. F. Cottrell pointed out, there was the question of whether sufficient quality articles would be submitted to sustain a weekly. It seems that the confirmation provided by this July 2 vision caused James White, as editor, to decide to go weekly. A few days later, in the July 7, 1853, Review, James White declared: “we are fully satisfied that the time has come when it [the Review] should be issued [weekly]. … We shall probably be able to commence about the first of August, if our readers send the means to commence with.”
See: “The Review Weekly,” Review, July 7, 1853, p. 32. For examples of the discussion over having a weekly edition, see: “The Paper,” Review, June 9, 1851, p. 104; “The Review and Herald,” Review, Mar. 2, 1852, p. 104; R. F. Cottrell, “A Weekly Paper,” Review, July 7, 1853, p. 29.} I saw that the way was opening for us to extend our labors. I saw something about things west.1EGWLM 377.5

I saw that there has been a cruel denying of the power of God by some in Jackson [Michigan]. The course of Brother Russell [Charles P. Russell]⁵

Identity: The indications given here of a “Brother Russell” who is implicated in the problems at Jackson and who faces possible disfellowshipping leave little doubt that Charles P. Russell is being referred to. According to early sources, C. P. Russell was disfellowshipped some weeks later.

See: “The Advent Harbinger,” Review, July 4, 1854, p. 173; A. N. Seymour, “The Shut Door Sabbatarians,” Advent Harbinger, June 3, 1854, p. 395.

and a few connected with him is very dark, and if he pursues such a course still he must be cut off from the fellowship of the saints. He has had such a good opinion of himself that it looks impossible that God should show that he was wrong; and he has been closing his eyes to himself and doubting what God has shown concerning him. He is deceived and is suffering himself to be deceived, and I greatly fear will be given up to his own ways to be filled with his own doings.^{6
Ellen White had alluded to problems with Charles P. Russell, one of the leading members of the Jackson group, already one year earlier (Lt 2, 1852 [June 2]). By June 1853 Russell was deeply involved in an imbroglio involving Abigail Palmer in which he showed great severity. A vision given Ellen White June 2, 1853, rebuked Russell for his harshness, a rebuke that he refused to accept. The worsening situation led some weeks later to his separation from the Sabbatarian Adventists.
See: EGWEnc, s.v. “Messenger Party”; Ellen G. White, Lt 2, 1852 (June 2); Ms 1, 1853 (June 2). For a survey of the Palmer case, see Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White: The Early Years, pp. 276, 277; also J. N. Loughborough, Rise and Progress of the Seventh-day Adventists, pp. 188-190.}1EGWLM 378.1

Dear Brn., you must move united and shoulder to shoulder if you would have the error and mismoves, which have eaten in the church like the canker, removed and a healthy influence exerted in the church. I saw that God had taken hold to assist you in Jackson⁷

Probably a reference to the reproofs and appeals to the Jackson band contained in Ellen White's visions of May 1852 (Lt 2, 1852 [June 2]) and June 1853 (Ms 1, 1853 [June 2]). These visions pointed out weaknesses and internal dissension in the group, as well as problems relating to its leaders.

and now you must take hold and help yourselves in the fear of God and work diligently to wipe away the reproach that has been brought upon the cause by the unwise moves of some. Those who are on the Lord's side will be with you and those on the side of Baal and confusion will be against you. God is sifting you with a sieve and if there is any among you that rebel, God will separate him from you that you may move on. I saw that things in Jackson had not been held up in their wrong light. Oh, no, but if Brn. in Jackson could see these things as God sees them and could see how His frown has been upon Jackson for these wrongs, they would ever feel a grateful thankfulness to God that He had not taken His Spirit utterly from them and left them in darkness and error. I mean those who have been in the wrong who have brought sorrow and mental anguish on all the church. I saw that it had been the work of the enemy through false teaching to cause the Brn. to be in haste to dispose of their means, and not leaving them free to act, leaving them for God to teach, to direct, and guide by the operation of the Spirit upon the heart when they shall sell, and how much, and when to give and how much.^{8
The question of the propriety of Jackson members’ selling their property to support traveling preachers had become an important concern by 1853, and was central to Ellen White's vision of June 2, 1853. As early as 1849 Ellen White had reproved Joseph Bates for advising members to sell their property immediately, even at a loss, to support the work. In the June 2 vision a prominent preacher, Samuel W. Rhodes, was admonished for giving similar extreme counsel. “Wrong impressions were given [by Rhodes] concerning the brethren's property, as though it was a burden to them, and they must get it off their hands as soon as possible.”
See: Ms 14, 1850 (Sept.), note 5; Ellen G. White, Ms 1, 1853 (June 2).}1EGWLM 378.2

The messengers, some of them, have taken this burden upon themselves when they had no authority for so doing. Instead of those who have means looking to their Brn. for direction, they must look to God, for they are His stewards and God knows just how much means will be wanted and when. But men know not and Satan has worked to help the means away from the true object, and when the time has come when publishments must come out more frequently, there are means that have been wasted⁹

While not mentioning specific names here, the June 2 vision, one month earlier, had in particular reproved a leading Jackson member and traveling preacher for wasteful spending. Hiram Case had “lived extravagantly, in his travels laid out money here and there … [saying] to others and in his own heart, to himself, there is means enough in Jackson, more than can be used up before Jesus comes.” Waste of that kind would make it more difficult to meet pressing financial needs such as financing a weekly edition of the Review (i.e., the “publishments”).

See: Ellen G. White, Ms 1, 1853 (June 2).

which will be needed, and the lack is felt. God's ways are not as our ways, nor His thoughts as our thoughts. Those who have means often have been made to feel that they were stewards of men instead of stewards of God, and have looked to men for light and teaching instead of God. These evil, I saw, must be remedied.1EGWLM 379.1

But I must be in haste. We have not forgotten your kindness to us. We remember the kindness of Bro. Smith's¹⁰

Identity: The difficulty in identifying “Bro. Smith's family” of Jackson lies in the fact that several different Smiths from that vicinity and during that period are mentioned in printed sources. Apart from the well-known Cyrenius Smith family (including his wife, Louisa, and son William) there are references to “E. Smith,” “L. Smith,” and “Eliza Smith” in Jackson. Ellen White mentions a Smith family in Jackson in four letters written between July and December 1853 in a way that suggests that in all four she is referring to the same family. The only hint as to its full identity is found in the December letter. “Tell Sister C. Smith I thank her for her present. Much love to her and all that family.” This may well be a reference to Sister Cyrenius Smith and gives some reason for identifying “Bro. Smith” here as Cyrenius Smith.

See: A. N. Seymour, “The Shut Door Sabbatarians,” Advent Harbinger, June 3, 1854, p. 395; [C. P. Russell], “Forgive One Another,” Messenger of Truth, Oct. 19, 1854, pp. [1, 2]; search terms “Smith,” and “Jackson” in Words of the Pioneers; Ellen G. White, Lt 6, 1853 (Aug. 3); Lt 7, 1853 (Aug. 24); Lt 9, 1853 (Dec. 5).

family with gratitude; thank them for me. Brother Dodge, I remember your kind attentions and the interest you manifested for us.^{11
No doubt Ellen White is here referring to her recent visit, with James to Michigan and to Jackson in particular, where they would have met the Dodge family. James White later wrote appreciatively of “Bro. A. A. Dodge, who kindly took us from place to place” during their travels in Michigan.
See: “Western Tour,” Review, July 7, 1853, p. 28.} You all seem very near to me. Give my love to each member of the family and to the Brn. and sisters. Tell them to be faithful, and have no communion with the unfaithful works of darkness.1EGWLM 379.2

Bro. Dodge, look up, be of good cheer, the Lord is our God. We shall be overcomers in a little while.1EGWLM 380.1

E. G. White

[Variant copy of vision:]1EGWLM 380.2

I saw that it had been the work of the enemy through false teachings to cause brethren to be in haste to dispose of their means, and not leaving them free to act, not leaving them for God to teach, direct, and guide by the operations of His Spirit upon the heart, when they shall sell, and how much, and when to give and how much. The messengers, some of them, have taken this upon themselves when they had no authority for so doing. Instead of those having means looking to their brethren for direction, they must look to God, for they are His stewards and God knows just how much means will be wanted, when and where; but men know not, and the enemy has worked to keep the means away from the true object. And when the time has come that the work of God is to be more extensive, when publications, tracts, and papers must come out more frequently, means that have been wasted and carelessly disposed of will be needed, and the lack will be felt. God could rain down money from heaven, but it is not His plan. Everything is arranged here on earth so as to move like clockwork in the cause of God, and when this is thrown out of order the cause must suffer in consequence. And the one who has caused the jargon¹²

“Jargon” used here perhaps in the sense of “confusion.”

must suffer loss, if he enters the kingdom of God. I saw that God's ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts as our thoughts. Those who have means often have been made to feel that they were stewards of men instead of stewards of God, and have looked to men for light and teaching instead of God. These evils I saw must be remedied.1EGWLM 380.3

Picture: Cyrenius Smith and his wife, Louisa. Courtesy of the Center for Adventist Research.1EGWLM 381

Picture:1EGWLM 381

Ms 4, 1853

Ms 5, 1853