See: “Business,” Review, Dec. 4, 1855, p. 80; J. N. Loughborough, J. Hart, E. Everts, “Tent Meetings,” Review, May 28, 1857, p. 32; Ellen G. White, “A Warning,” Review, Apr. 15, 1858, p. 174; search term “Everts” in Words of the Pioneers.

1EGWLM 521.2

Portions of this letter are published in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 6, p. 130.

Admonition to an Adventist preacher to sell a portion of his large farms and “lay up treasure in heaven.” Instructions regarding tent meetings.1EGWLM 521.3

Dear Brother Everts:

I was shown while at Lancaster, Mass.,²

Very likely a reference to Ellen and James White's visit to tent meetings in Lancaster, Massachusetts, six weeks earlier, at the end of May 1857.

See: J. W. [James White], “Eastern Tour,” Review, May 28, 1857, p. 36; idem, “Eastern Tour,” Review, June 25, 1857, p. 61; E. L. Barr, “From Bro. Barr,” Review, Aug. 13, 1857, p. 118.

that the work of God was progressing in the West, and that you must be narrowing down your large farms. Do not talk your faith. Sell that ye have and give alms, says the angel. Not moving fast enough, said the angel. Cut loose, cut loose from your treasures here; lay up a treasure in heaven.^{3
The radical challenge Ellen White here gives to Elon Everts would not be new to him. Already by the end of 1855, about the same time the Everts family moved out to Illinois from Vermont, she had issued a general warning and an appeal to the growing numbers of Adventists moving westward. There was a real danger of their becoming engrossed in the material pursuits of buying and developing lands to the neglect of their spiritual mission. Articles sounding the same warning in the Review had followed, reinforced by the Laodicean message which was beginning to be preached in 1856 (see “Laodicean Message” in EGWEnc). Although Everts himself felt convicted to give some of his assets for evangelistic work, his wife and daughter apparently were implacably opposed. Of Everts's wife, Maria, Ellen White reveals that “three times she was reproved by vision” on this issue, but without relenting. After Maria died in November 1856, Everts's daughter, Matilda, continued to oppose her father's plans, and when he himself died two years later “nothing was bestowed upon the cause of God,” with the whole estate passing to the daughter.
See: Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 118; E. Everts, “Communication From Bro. Everts,” Review, Jan. 1, 1857, p. 72; Ellen G. White, “A Warning,” Review, Apr. 15, 1858, p. 174; idem, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], p. 215.}1EGWLM 521.4

I saw that as you go with the tent, be not in haste to take it down after there is an interest awakened; remain until they decide; bring them to the point to decide; press upon them the necessity of decision. I have seen that there is too much haste in moving the tent from place to place, and staying long enough in a place.⁴

In memoirs written in the 1880s John Loughborough recalls that during the summer of 1855 the New York tent was pitched 14 times in eight towns with meetings mostly held for only two or three days on each occasion. He goes on to add that “before the summer's campaign closed, Sr. White told that us [sic] she had been shown that we would see greater results from our tent-meetings if we visited a less number of places with our tents, and continued our efforts longer in each place.” The earliest published comment by Ellen White on this issue is from 1857.

See: J. N. Loughborough, “Recollections of the Past—No. 13,” Review, Mar. 24, 1885, p. 186; Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 148.

1EGWLM 522.1

I have seen that the work would spread and increase in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. The Lord is moving upon the people, and the servants of God should keep pace with the opening providence of God and with the work of the third angel's message.1EGWLM 522.2

Tell Brother John [John Norton Loughborough],⁵

Identity: During the summer of 1857, when this letter was written, Elon Everts was engaged in tent meetings with John Loughborough and Josiah Hart in Wisconsin and Illinois. It therefore seems likely that the “Bro. John” he is asked to convey the message to is John Loughborough and that “Mary” is his wife, Mary Loughborough.

See: J. N. Loughborough, J. Hart, E. Everts, “Tent Meetings,” Review, May 20, 1857, p. 32.

[that] before we left this state for the East, I sent a letter to Mary [Mary J. Loughborough] and there was something in it I wished you to see, so I sent it to you. There were two dollars in it, a little present I sent her. Did you receive it?1EGWLM 522.3

In love.1EGWLM 522.4

Ms 1, 1857

Lt 8, 1857