III. James White-Pioneer Leader, Publisher, and Organizer

JAMES WHITE (1821-1881), ^{1Sketch based on James White, Life Sketches; Uriah Smith Funeral Discourse, In Memoriam, A Sketch of the Last Sickness and Death of Elder James White (1881); Spalding, Footprints, and Captains; “Representaive Men of Michigan’ “in American Biographical History, pp. 106, 107; Dick, Founders of the Message, chap. 4; obituary in Review and Herald, Aug. 9, 1881.} publisher of the first periodical (Present Truth] issued by the Sabbatarian Adventists, and thrice president of their General Conference-1865-1867, 1868-1871, and 1874-1880-was the son of Deacon John White of the Baptist and then of the Christian church at Palmyra, Maine. He came of sturdy New England stock, his ancestors being among the earliest settlers to come to this country. James grew up in Maine, the fifth in a family of nine. He was sickly as a child, but by the time of his teens this handicap was overcome. And he was baptized into the Christian Connection at fourteen.PFF4 1056.1

As he stood on the threshold of young manhood, he had heard some of the leading Millerite preachers present their arresting message. But for a time ambition to scale the heights in the field of education crowded religious experience far into the background. So he first spurned the doctrine of the second advent near, as he prepared for teaching at St. Albans, having to work his own way by dint of toil and economy. However, in 1841, returning home from a term of teaching, he found his parents seriously studying the advent message, yes, already well persuaded. He thought to parry the force of his mother’s new views, and turned to the Bible for countering evidence. But he soon became convinced that these teachings, and his mother, were right. The father, however, was still under the spell of the Whitbyan postmillennial philosophy, which was rampant in most of the larger churches. This delayed his acceptance of the advent hope until the next year.PFF4 1057.1

Of fine presence and sturdy character, young White was a born leader, a strong dynamic spirit of real capacity. He was unusually bold, resourceful, and farseeing. But at first, like Jonah, he ran away from his conviction of duty. One day, however, all alone out in the field he battled it out with God, and then made a partial surrender-one with a condition. So in 1842 he was still quite unsettled. About this time the powerful revival preaching of Miller, Himes, and Preble, at a camp meeting in eastern Maine, changed the whole course of his life. As White attended these meetings, he resolved to become a preacher of the advent faith. Of this vital decision he wrote in his autobiographic sketch:PFF4 1057.2

“I had neither horse, saddle, bridle, nor money, yet I felt that I must go. I had used my past winter’s earnings in necessary clothing, in attending Second Advent meetings, and in the purchase of books and the [“1843”] chart. But my father offered me the use of a horse for the winter, and Elder Policy [a Christian minister] gave me a saddle with both pads torn oft, and several pieces of an old bridle.” ^{2James White, Life Sketches, p. 49.}PFF4 1057.3

Mending the saddle and bridle, and taking his Bible, his “1843” chart, and some literature, he started out. He had a silvery tenor voice, characteristic of the Whites, his father having been a teacher of vocal music. This valuable gift James used constantly in his public work. Erelong a thousand people would listen with rapt attention, with many moved to tears. Often he would enter the pulpit impressively singing some moving advent hymn likePFF4 1058.1

“When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
I’ll bid farewell to ev’ry fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.”PFF4 1058.2

White had the happy gift of carrying people along with him. He was enthusiastic, and possessed a grace and a dignity that kept every enterprise with which he had to do on a high spiritual level. ^{3Spicer, Pioneer Days, p. 147.} His first meetings started a revival. Following along the Kennebec River to Augusta, Maine, he began a series in a community that was predominantly Universalist. A rough element that had gotten into the hall proceeded to heckle the young speaker with howls and catcalls and to pelt him with snowballs and other missiles.PFF4 1058.3

But they failed to drown him out. He launched into a vivid description of the judgment day, his voice rising above the roar of the crowd. He called upon them to repent and turn to God for mercy and pardon. Soon the noise subsided, and before long the turbulent crowd was subdued and a revival broke out. But a sullen mob was waiting outside for the dismissal. As he was leaving, a total stranger stepped up, and linking arms with him, guided him through the still menacing mob-and disappeared! White turned to thank his protector, but none was there. He wondered, but was exceedingly grateful.PFF4 1058.4

White went on to the Eastern Maine Christian Conference. This section and this particular group had already been deeply affected by Millerism. Invited into the desk to speak on his new-found faith, he preached on the second advent, closing with the song, “You will see your Lord a-coming,” which was punctuated with approving exclamations from the sympathetic, while the opposing party were chilly and critical. Times were tense and the conflict very real.PFF4 1058.5

James White first met Ellen Harmon at Orrington, Maine, where she was bearing her testimony in February, 1845. And their association in service for the saving of souls culminated in their marriage in August, 1846. It was a happy and successful union, and together they comprised a remarkable team. White’s character was cast in the heroic mold and his life was of the patriarchal pattern. His thinking was bold, clear, and logical, and he was an able disputant. He infected others with his zeal and persuaded them with his convictions. He had marked executive ability, and was calm and collected when others lost their bearings. In the formative period of the new movement, when conflicting positions were frequently advanced, he found anchorage in the unassailable facts and sound principles of the preceding Millerite movement. There was too much evidence of the clear leading of God for it to be renounced as largely erroneous. He had a good sense of values, and emphasized fundamentals:PFF4 1059.1

White was progressive, independent, and strong in his planning. He had an acute perception of right, and would never yield to discouragement, whether pinched by poverty or plagued by opposition. He saw that their future needs called for organization, and helped to arrange for a legally incorporated and effective organization through which the business of the church should be conducted, as well as formulating a wise church polity. He bore the earmarks of a wise builder, and was the father of church order among the Sabbatarians. He exerted a molding influence in framing the basic platform of Seventh-day Adventist belief and practice. And he gave form and solidity to the growing movement. But, like all strong leaders, he had enemies and opposition. However, the slander of the detractors melted under investigation. ^{4See Defense of Elder James White and Wife, Vindication of Their Moral and Christian Character (1870, 112 pages).}PFF4 1059.2

White had a statesmanlike vision of the future. He was the founder and promoter of most of the early key enterprises. He fostered their first humble printing plant-with modern counterparts now operating on all continents. Then he promoted the first Health Reform Institute—now succeeded by a chain of sanitariums and hospitals extending out to the ends of the earth. And he had to do with the founding of their first college—this too developing into an entire denominational system of elementary and intermediate schools and academies and colleges that now belt the globe, and with strong graduate institutions as well.PFF4 1060.1

When the new transcontinental railway was opened up, he advocated pushing the work of the church to the West Coast. He wrote the first Sabbath school lessons in 1852. He promoted the church’s first overseas foreign missionary venture—sending John N. Andrews to Europe in 1874—and today Adventists operate one of the most extensive foreign mission enterprises in the world. White’s writings are therefore thoroughly representative of the early leadership. (On Andrews see p. 1093.)PFF4 1060.2