Testimony of Mrs. White’s Translator
In the early 1880’s Mrs. White traveled in Europe. D. T. Bourdeau was her translator in certain countries, which gave him an excellent opportunity to observe her words and way of life. After a general meeting of Adventists in Basel, Switzerland, he wrote a report of the meeting that includes these paragraphs:WBEGW 67.4
“The labors of Sr. White and her son, Eld. W. C. White, were highly appreciated at this general gathering. Never was the gift of prophecy more needed, and its service more timely, than on this occasion. Errors and difficulties that had baffled human wisdom and effort were pointed out, corrected, and removed, with that tenderness, plainness, faithfulness, and impartiality which have characterized this gift during the entire period of its manifestation among us, now about forty years.WBEGW 67.5
“I can say to the praise of Him from whom all blessings flow, that I was greatly helped on points that had troubled me more or less during all my religious experience; and, with difficulties removed, and light on future plans, I feel of good courage still to go forward, battling for truth, and holding up the blood-stained banner of our dear Redeemer.WBEGW 68.1
“How interesting and wonderful it was to hear Sr. White correctly delineate the peculiarities of different fields she had seen only as the Lord had shown them to her, and show how they should be met; to hear her describe case after case of persons she had never seen with her natural vision, and either point out their errors or show important relations they sustained to the cause, and how they should connect with it to better serve its interests!WBEGW 68.2
“As I had a fair chance to test the matter, having been on the ground, and knowing that no one had informed Sr. White of these things, while serving as an interpreter, I could not help exclaiming, ‘It is enough. I want no further evidence of its genuineness.’WBEGW 68.3
“Not only does this gift reprove sin without dissimulation and partiality, as did Nathan when he said to David, ‘Thou art the man;’ but it deals in words of encouragement to help those reproved to overcome, and to inspire hope, faith, and courage to the desponding. It not only probes the wound, but it also pours in the oil, binds the wound, and hastens the process of restoration. It brings the receiver to the Bible, and earnestly endeavors to carry out the instructions it enjoins, exemplifying in a marked degree the rare graces of modesty, true humility, and self-denial. It identifies itself with those for whom it labors, bearing their burdens in earnest, persevering prayer, forgetful of self and ease, and keeping the glory of God and the salvation of souls in view, aiming to secure these at any sacrifice. It brings with it the supernatural discernment that Peter evinced in the case of Ananias and Sapphira. It brings with it the miraculous, without which, religion were a formal, heartless, lifeless, human affair, and for want of which the masses of religionists of to-day are perishing. True to its name, it deals in prophetic utterances in harmony with the Bible, to help those who fear God to properly and speedily perform the gospel work, and to safely pass through the perils of the last days.”—In The Review and Herald, November 10, 1885, p. 700.WBEGW 68.4
The only comment on Bourdeau’s report that we need to make is this: Does that describe a gossip? No, we must look deeper than that shallow explanation of Mrs. White’s singular gift for describing men’s defects. What is more, no gossip produces the results that she produced with her straight testimonies to men. But let us take another illustration.WBEGW 69.1