The First Interview
After another eight months of apparent silence, Davis tracked down Ellen White in Sydney, on Thursday, August 5, at the Summer Hill Health Home, where she was staying. In her diary entry for that day there may be an inkling as to one reason (apart from no message from the Lord) she had not written the man earlier:GVEGW 111.4
“I am not able to write. My head will not work. I am compelled to let it rest. Devoted some time to visiting Sister Semmens and Brethren Davis and Semmens.” 14Ms 175, 1897, p. 4.GVEGW 111.5
In a letter to her son, W. C. White, later that day, Ellen referred to this visit with Davis, mentioning that “he has worked very interestedly to get the petitions before the [local municipal] council”—though the council subsequently rejected them. 15Letter 195, 1897, p. 1. But there was not a hint as to any other matters discussed between them.GVEGW 111.6
Three days later, on Sunday, August 8, Ellen visited again with Davis before returning by train to Cooranbong, three hours distant. For the first time we begin to understand from her pen something of the deeper nature of Davis’ problems. For she confided to her diary:GVEGW 111.7
“I had a long conversation with Brother Davis this morning. Poor man, he is in trouble. He once dabbled with spiritualism and theosophy, and its dark influence has shrouded him ever since. Although he sees the truth and believes the truth, yet there seems to be a bondage to this power that is hard for him to break. I could only bid him ‘Look and live.’ An uplifted Saviour will heal the serpent’s bite, and although its poison has been diffused through his entire being, I could say to him, ‘Look and live.’ Satan has indeed tempted him and desired to sift him as wheat [Luke 22:31, 32], but Christ is a living Saviour and Advocate in the courts of heaven in his behalf. May the Lord deliver him from the cruel power of Satan is my prayer.” 16Ms 175, 1897, p. 6.GVEGW 112.1
Nothing if not persistent, Davis wrote Mrs. White a few days later to tell her that he had been able to reenter the colporteur work, but that he still owed the astronomical (for that day) sum of £250. The publishing house was giving him only 10 percent of his normal commission, applying the remainder to the debt on his outstanding account. Thus, “the yoke of debt that remains on us seems to be simply intolerable.”GVEGW 112.2
“When I reentered the canvassing work I feared the result. I told them plainly at the office that I had no confidence in myself; fear and pride prevented me from stating why, and the end is just such as the whole was and has ever been....GVEGW 112.3
“We cannot go on as we are at present.... The difficulty now is that I am perfectly nonplussed. I want to do right and to honorably discharge all my liabilities.... I want to overcome my vile traits of character and honor my Saviour by my life. But how I am to do it, what course I ought to pursue and what step I ought to take now, I cannot see....GVEGW 112.4
“I am a failure and I fear lest that fact will lead me to utter ruin.” 17Nathaniel Davis to Ellen G. White, Aug. 12, 1897, pp. 1, 2.GVEGW 112.5