A Reasonable Conclusion

Now a mentally disturbed or neurotic person—as critics most commonly like to explain away Mrs. White—is not the kind of person deeply concerned with so matter-of-fact a thing as organization. We believe it wholly reasonable to see in her forthright advocacy of church order a further strong reason to believe that her counsels were inspired of God. Or to state the case most conservatively: Her advocacy of organization should forever make senseless the easy charge that she was simply a poor self-deluded neurotic. More than that, this advocacy throws grave suspicion on the charge that she was a designing woman who artfully sought to advance her selfish ends. Such persons generally thrive in a world of disorder, not a world where responsible leaders keep a steady hand on everything. It may be added right here that James White declined the presidency, though it was urged on him when organization was effected. No dark scheme here by the Whites to take over and control.WBEGW 40.1

Now, Mrs. White’s appeal for organization—before there was any tide in that direction—provides good evidence against the easy explanations that critics offer for her unique counsels through the years. Hence may we not reasonably accept her explanation that God gave her inspired guidance for the church? How quick would present-day critics denounce her as a fraud if her counsels in those formative 1850’s had been against organization!WBEGW 40.2