Lt 3, 1854

July 12, 1854, Rochester, New York1EGWLM 432.1

Letter to
Alfred B. and Adaline Pearsall.¹

Identity: It can safely be concluded that the addressees are Alfred B. Pearsall and his wife, Adaline Pearsall, partly because during the period 1852 to 1858 no other Pearsalls are mentioned in the Review. In addition there is the fact that Alfred and Adaline Pearsall lived in Grand Rapids and the opening sentence assumes that the Pearsalls were acquainted in some way with “the vision at Grand Rapids.” In fact, the Whites had attended tent meetings in their hometown less than one month earlier, June 16-18, 1854, and Ellen White had had a vision there. “On the evening of June 18,” writes John Loughborough, who accompanied the Whites, “Sr. White had a vision at the house of Bro. Fitch. The vision was full of instruction, reproof, and counsel, for the church present.”

See: 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “A. B. Pearsoll” [sic], Michigan, Kent County, Grand Rapids, p. 373. For full name, “Alfred B. Pearsall,” see 1880 U.S. Federal Census, “Alfred B. Pearsall,” Michigan, Calhoun County, Battle Creek, p. 63; search term “Pearsall” in Words of the Pioneers; J. N. Loughborough, “Recollections of the Past—No. 11,” Review, Feb. 24, 1885, p. 122.

1EGWLM 432.2

This letter is published in entirety in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, p. 208.

A warning to a prominent layman against improper familiarity with female church members.1EGWLM 432.3

Dear Brother and Sister Pearsall:

In the vision at Grand Rapids [Michigan] I was shown something of your case. I saw that Brother Pearsall had not abstained from all appearance of evil, had been too familiar with the sisters, and had not always behaved with discretion and comeliness with his own wife in the presence of others. These things have brought a reproach upon the cause.²

Judging by frequent mentions in the Review, A. B. Pearsall was a prominent layman in the Grand Rapids church, a liberal donor to church causes and an agent for the Review in his area. His prominence added to the “reproach upon the cause” that his indiscretions were bringing.

See: “Receipts,” Review, July 22, 1852, p. 48; “Agents,” Review, Feb. 3, 1853, p. 152; “To Correspondents,” Review, Aug. 4, 1853, p. 48.

Dear Brother Pearsall, you have been indiscreet in practicing the salutation3

The “salutation,” or “holy kiss,” was practiced by early Sabbatarian Adventists. Ellen White supported the practice on the basis of Paul's instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:26 but warned against its misuse. Improperly practiced, the holy kiss had the potential of causing public scandal and charges of fanaticism, as had happened when it was practiced among some Millerites in 1845-1846.

See: SDAE, s.v. “Foot Washing”; Ellen G. White, Supplement to the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White, p. 38; Joseph Bates, A Vindication of the Seventh-day Sabbath, p. 71; George R. Knight, Millennial Fever, pp. 251, 252.

and have made but little difference as to the time and place, whether you were surrounded by unbelievers or not, and had been ready to practice it too frequently, and no good but evil has resulted from it.1EGWLM 432.4

I saw that you had dwelt too much upon little things, nonessentials; had entered too largely into others’ business and affairs, and were too precise to bring them to your views and ideas, and the result has been bad. You have been too severe upon others, noticed their faults too much and dwelt upon them, have dwelt too much on articles of dress &c., &c. I saw that you had done very wrong, and been exceedingly unguarded in taking sisters upon your knees. God's Word does not allow it, and you have no right to do it, and you have sinned in so doing. I saw that you could not be too careful and reserved with the sisters. No married man has any right to sit another woman upon his knee, or allow it in a woman, but his own wife. You must be more judicious, more guarded, and watch your … [The remainder is missing.]1EGWLM 433.1