The Public Press

Newspaper notices and articles of various lengths appeared throughout the United States, from the Bay Area, where San Francisco and Oakland papers gave good space, to New York, where a respectable item was published in the New York Times. The careful work done well in advance of her death bore fruit, for the leading newspapers had materials, prepared largely at Elmshaven, in hand when they received telegraph notice of her death.WV 549.5

Ellen White's hometown newspaper, the St. Helena Star, on its front page printed a large photograph and gave 33 column inches (84 centimeters) to tell the story of her life, work, and death. The San Francisco Chronicle and the Oakland Tribune each gave 15 column inches (38 centimeters), selecting materials from the sheets furnished from Elmshaven. The Mountain View Register-Leader was perhaps the most generous, with 147 column inches (373 centimeters) devoted to the story, together with a two-column picture of Ellen White. The Detroit News-Tribune gave seven inches (18 centimeters).WV 549.6

The Battle Creek papers gave full coverage to the story.WV 550.1

The St. Helena Star, July 23, 1915, reported:WV 550.2

Leader of Adventists dead. Mrs. Ellen G. White Passes Away After Over Seventy Years of Christian Labor.WV 550.3

At 3:40 o'clock last Friday afternoon, at her home, “Elmshaven,” near St. Helena, Mrs. Ellen Gould White, leader and one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, passed from this life to that reward promised the followers of Jesus Christ (DF 758).WV 550.4

Then followed a biographical account and a résumé of denominational accomplishments: in membership, nearly 100,000; 37 publishing houses; 34 sanitariums; 70 intermediate schools, academies, and colleges; and 510 elementary schools scattered all over the world. Mrs. White's work as an author was mentioned, noting that some of her writings had been translated into 36 languages. The report concluded:WV 550.5

The prevailing sentiment of the speakers who addressed the congregations at St. Helena and at Richmond was that Mrs. White's most enduring monument, aside from her godly life and conversation, was her published works, which tend to the purest morality, lead to Christ and to the Bible, and bring comfort and consolation to many a weary heart.”She hath done what she could,” and now “being dead, she yet speaketh.”WV 550.6