Commendation From A Literary Point Of View

This review must end with but one more citation. It is from a teacher of literature who speaks from a literary viewpoint only. It is worth while hearing one word on that side. One of our members in Massachusetts reported having taken some university extension work there. Abbreviated, our student’s story is this:SPIAM 48.1

“One day our teacher, who had just returned from an extended study of literature in Europe, asked each member of the class to come next day with three quotations from a favorite author. The name was not to be given, and the class was to be asked to name the author by the selection read.SPIAM 48.2

“I was the first one called on, and although there were forty-eight in the class, no one else was called upon. The entire time was taken up in discussing the three quotations I presented—passages from ‘The Desire of Ages.’ No one could name the author. Then to my happy surprise, the teacher said:SPIAM 48.3

“‘Well, class, that is from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White.’ She spoke at length, saying she knew nothing of the author’s religion, but she felt able to declare herself as to literature; and she said it was a pity Mrs. White’s writings were not better known in the literary world. She said she was going to make a strong statement, but she meant every word. Of all the writings she knew, outside of the Bible, there were none so full of beauty, so pure, and yet so simple, as the writings of Mrs. E. G. White.”SPIAM 48.4

It is not as literature that we treasure these writings. Yet the spiritual truths, that are the vital thing, are expressed in language fitting to the high themes continually presented.SPIAM 48.5

The writings of the Spirit of prophecy carry their own credentials.SPIAM 48.6