The Battle Creek Conference

Because James White was eager to have the largest possible representation present for the consideration of plans for the financial support of the growing church, he placed several notices in the Review to believers “east, west, north, and south” to attend a conference at Battle Creek, Friday, June 3, to Monday, June 6, 1859. He was especially eager for a good attendance, for it was his plan to promote Systematic Benevolence.WV 69.7

The people were told to make provision for their own entertainment. “It will be impossible,” he wrote, “to supply all with beds, or all their horses with stable room. Our sleeping rooms will be given up to females to be made as comfortable as possible, in camp meeting style. The brethren will have the next-best chance in our barns, in the tent, or on unoccupied floors in our houses. Blankets and buffalo robes will be in good demand” (Ibid., April 21, 1859).WV 69.8

James White called for a business session to convene immediately after the Sabbath. Joseph Bates chaired the meeting. The address from the Battle Creek church, prepared in January setting forth the broad plans for Systematic Benevolence, was read and freely discussed. Waggoner declared he had seen the plan in operation, and “it worked well.” Andrews said he heartily approved the plan. Steward compared it to taxes that people pay, even when they are increased. Cornell declared that “nothing could be brought against the position taken.” Byington remarked that God is a God of order, and he thought it was a good plan. Rhodes had only one objection: “The ... amount called for by the system was too small.”WV 70.1

The record of the meeting stated: “Moved by Brother Loughborough that the address be adopted by the conference. Unanimously carried” (Ibid., June 9, 1859). This marked another step toward organization by the emerging church.WV 70.2

Ellen White was ill and discouraged and too feeble to attend this meeting. She did go to the tent meeting the following Sunday, but was too miserable to enjoy it. She soon wrote of the experience in introducing the pamphlet Testimony No. 5. Here she mentioned that her disease of the heart had a tendency “to depress” her spirits and “destroy” her “faith and courage.” Often as she retired at night she felt that her life might be cut short at any moment. She reported that it was at this point that she fainted at midnight on this occasion, presumably Sunday, June 4.WV 70.3

Brethren Andrews and Loughborough were sent for, and offered earnest petitions to God in her behalf. She was taken off in vision. The heavy weight and depression were lifted from her heart and she was shown a number of things to present to the church (Testimonies for the Church, 1:185).WV 70.4

First, she was instructed in regard to her personal experience. She saw “that Satan had tried to drive me into discouragement and despair, and to make me desire death rather than life” (Ibid.).WV 70.5

She also saw that the Laodicean message applied at the present time, and “the message would not accomplish its work in a few short months. It is designed to arouse the people of God, to ... be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel” (Ibid., 1:186).WV 70.6

Then the vision turned to the topic the conference had been considering that very evening. Of this she wrote:WV 70.7

The plan of systematic benevolence is pleasing to God. I was pointed back to the days of the apostles, and saw that God laid the plan by the descent of His Holy Spirit, and that by the gift of prophecy He counseled His people in regard to a system of benevolence. All were to share in this work (Ibid., 1:190).WV 70.8

The records indicate that this vision marked a turning of the tide in Ellen White's health.WV 71.1