See: Search term “Dodge” in Words of the Pioneers; J. N. Loughborough, “Some Individual Experience,” in The Great Second Advent Movement, 1992 reprint ed., pp. 558, 559; Brian E. Strayer, “Early Advent Waymarks in Jackson, Michigan: Parts I & II,” p. 4.
1EGWLM 383.2

Portions of this letter are published in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, p. 351.

A letter containing family news and encouragement to friends in Jackson, Michigan, where the believers face a difficult church disciplinary situation.1EGWLM 383.3

Dear Brother and Sister Dodge:

We received your kind letter²

This letter is not in the White Estate archives. It is likely that it was in reply to a letter from Ellen White written one month earlier, on July 5, 1853 (Lt 5, 1853).

and were glad you wrote to us so particular as you did. I should have answered it before but have not had time. I have now written 26 pages since Sabbath. It is now Wednesday morning. I have quite a number of letters yet to write this week.^{3
None of which have been preserved.}1EGWLM 383.4

We are all quite well in body, and free in mind. James's health has been poor but we are holding on to the arm of God for him. Will you not make him a special subject of prayer? God will hear you pray. I believe He has answered our prayers in a measure; but James must realize more of the divine blessing or he will not stay with us long to carry forward the work of God. Don't forget his case.⁴

James White, writing a few days earlier, also to Abram Dodge, is more explicit: “My difficulties are in my back between my shoulders, shoulder blades, breast, and lungs, and very nervous.”

See: James White to Abram Dodge, July 31, 1853.

My health is quite good. We have some most blessed seasons around the family altar. God does manifest Himself unto us. Praise His blessed name.1EGWLM 383.5

I had a vision a few weeks ago which I will try to send to you if I can possibly get time to write it before I go East. I will send it to Brother Palmer [Dan R. Palmer]⁵

Identity: The Jackson, Michigan, setting of this letter suggests that Ellen White is referring to Dan R. Palmer. There is frequent mention in the Review, from 1851 onward, of a “D. R. Palmer,” of Jackson, with no mention of any other “Brother Palmer” in Jackson.

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

if I do.1EGWLM 384.1

I am sorry to hear some have to be disfellowshipped for not moving with the church. I am sorry for them, and sincerely pity them. May the Lord save them from ruin.⁶

Of the three persons mentioned in this paragraph and the one following, Charles Russell was probably disfellowshipped late summer 1853 and Hiram Case sometime before May 1854. Hiram Drew was disfellowshipped sometime during the winter of 1853/1854.

There were several problematic aspects to Case and Russell's relation to the Sabbatarian Adventists. But the precipitating factor that subsequently led to their expulsion seems to have been their concerted and public campaign against the visions after they were reproved in a vision in June 1853 for their severity against Mrs. Palmer. Russell later claimed that he was disfellowshipped “because I do not believe the visions,” and his supporters, such as A. N. Seymour, alleged that “the Sabbatarians made the visions of Ellen White a test of fellowship.” Yet the records suggest that Case and Russell did much more than simply disbelieve the visions; they launched a divisive campaign against the visions and against the leadership of James White. A Review editorial later maintained that “the vision [of June 1853] was not made a test of fellowship. These men were disfellowshipped on account of their unchristian conduct.”

See: “The Advent Harbinger,” Review, July 4, 1854, p. 173; A. N. Seymour, “The Shut Door Sabbatarians,” Advent Harbinger, June 3, 1854, p. 395; J. N. Loughborough, Rise and Progress of the Seventh-day Adventists, pp. 188-190; J. B. Bezzo, “Test of Fellowship,” Messenger of Truth, Oct. 19, 1854, pp. [2, 3]. For the views of those who defended Case, Russell, and Drew against all charges made against them, see J. B. Bezzo, “Test of Fellowship,” Messenger of Truth, Oct. 19, 1854, pp. [2, 3]; idem, “H. S. Case,” Messenger of Truth, Nov. 2, 1854, pp. [2-4]; A. N. Seymour, “The Shut Door Sabbatarians,” Advent Harbinger, June 3, 1854, p. 395.

Poor Brother Case [Hiram S. Case],^{7
Identity: The Jackson setting and church disciplinary context leave no doubt that Hiram S. Case is being referred to. He was finally disfellowshipped sometime between January and May 1854.
See: James White, “Western Tour,” Review, May 23, 1854, p. 142. For further details, see Lt 3, 1853 (June 29), note 3.} and poor Brother Drew [Hiram Drew].^{8
Identity: Clues to the identity of “Brother Drew” are found in the remark about his being disfellowshipped, in the way his name is coupled with those of Case and Russell, and in his location in the Jackson area. All three specifications fit well with Hiram Drew, a Sabbatarian Adventist from Jackson County who was disfellowshipped from the band in Sylvan, Michigan (15 miles [24 kilometers] from Jackson), some months later. Drew subsequently joined Case and Russell in the breakaway Messenger Party.
See: EGWEnc, s.v. “Messenger Party”; J. B. Bezzo, “Test of Fellowship,” Messenger of Truth, Oct. 19, 1854, pp. [2, 3].} I hardly know who to sympathize with the most. You must watch over Brother Drew; don't let him be deceived as to Brother Case's true state. But be careful of one thing: do not be cast down yourselves. Remember, you must not sink down if you would have any influence over others. You must keep free, believe in God, and act out your faith. Pray much to God and He will strengthen you.1EGWLM 384.2

I have scarcely any hopes of Brother Russell [Charles P. Russell].⁹

Identity: As with H. S. Case (note 7 above), the Jackson setting and church disciplinary context clearly indicate that Charles P. Russell is the person referred to. Early records seem to indicate that Russell was disfellowshipped sometime during the summer of 1853 (see note 6 above).

He has stood out against light and has had such an unbounded good opinion of himself. I fear he will never get a look into his own heart; he is completely blinded as to his situation. But I would say to the church, be free, move carefully, trusting wholly in God. We have not forgotten you, but often think of you and your kindness to us. We should be very glad to see you again.^{10
Ellen and James White had paid their first visit to the Jackson members two months earlier, June 2-5, 1853.} Much love to Brother and Sister Palmer; hope they will go forward with courage and energy. Tell them to be faithful. I meant to have written them before now; but this is as busy a house as you ever saw. We have meetings here on the Sabbath, and there is so much folding to do, and stitching, sewing, &c. it keeps us every moment employed.^{11
The Whites, together with the Review staff, had moved to a large house on Mount Hope Road on the outskirts of Rochester, New York, in April 1852, which served as living quarters as well as printing office. Some months later office space for printing the Review was rented downtown, but this letter suggests that certain tasks such as folding, stitching, and sewing were still carried out at the house.
For circumstances leading to the move to Rochester, see Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White: The Early Years, pp. 229-231.} But we are pleasantly situated away from the bustle and confusion in the midst of the city; a yard around the house for Edson to run in, and some fruit trees. But our fruit is almost an entire failure. We shall not have over 20 peaches, and apples but very few, no apricots; a few quinces and grapes we shall have; but we are disappointed as to fruit. But we thank the Lord for what He has blessed us with; we will not complain. If faithful we shall soon eat of the fruit of the tree of life and drink of its healing waters.1EGWLM 385.1

I love you all; my heart is united with yours. Be of good courage and endure toil and trial a little longer and we shall see the King in His beauty. Much love to Brother Smith's¹²

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; “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. We love them and want to see them; tell them to write us, we want to hear from them often. We have been expecting a letter from Brother Rhodes [Samuel W. Rhodes]^{13
No doubt Samuel W. Rhodes. No other Rhodes is found in the Review in the early 1850s.
See: Search term “Rhodes” in Words of the Pioneers.} for some time, have received none as yet since the conference. How it will turn with him I cannot tell. Perhaps he will receive it, and it may be he will sink down beneath it.^{14
In a vision given two months earlier, on June 2, Samuel W. Rhodes's “overbearing spirit” and severity had been pointed out together with the harmful effect this had had on the congregations he visited. In addition he was reproved for his extreme teaching that members with lands and houses should sell as soon as possible in order to support the young movement. It seems that in these closing lines Ellen White is wondering how Rhodes had reacted to this testimony of reproof. Would he “receive it” positively, or would he, like Case and Russell, “sink down” and reject the testimony? James White, writing a few days earlier, on July 31, also to the Dodges, hoped that “Brother Rhodes will make straight work confessing. … He has only admitted the vision to me.” The August 11 issue of the Review did in fact carry a public confession from Rhodes. “I see some things … which call for a confession on my part, which indeed is humiliating but shall be freely and frankly made. … I have not at all times possessed enough of the mind of Christ and have been left to a hurried, overbearing, oppressive spirit, and to deal out rebukes sometimes that were not dictated by the Spirit of the Lord.” Some months later (Dec. 28) James wrote that “Brother Rhodes … is trying to get right.”
See: Ellen G. White, Ms 1, 1853 (June 2); James White to Abram Dodge, July 31, 1853; S. W. Rhodes, “Letter From Bro. Rhodes,” Review, Aug. 11, 1853, p. 55; James White to Abram Dodge, Dec. 28, 1853.}1EGWLM 385.2

Pray for us.1EGWLM 386.1

In love.1EGWLM 386.2

Ms 5, 1853

Published in RH