Wrong Use of the Visions
In Testimony No. 9, published in January, 1863, Ellen White devoted a chapter to the wrong use of the visions. In it she refers to the counsel quoted above from Number 8. She writes of some who were misusing the visions in Iowa, and of the patience and care that should be exercised in leading new believers into an understanding of the place of the visions in the church. At the same time, she gave counsel on dealing with dissident elements among those who had been long in the message:2BIO 28.5
Some of our brethren have had long experience in the truth and have for years been acquainted with me and with the influence of the visions. They have tested the truthfulness of these testimonies and asserted their belief in them. They have felt the powerful influence of the Spirit of God resting upon them to witness to the truthfulness of the visions. If such, when reproved through vision, rise up against them, and work secretly to injure our influence, they should be faithfully dealt with, for their influence is endangering those who lack experience.—Ibid., 1:382, 383.2BIO 29.1
She declared:2BIO 29.2
Ministers should have compassion of some, making a difference; others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. God's ministers should have wisdom to give to everyone his portion of meat and to make that difference with different persons which their cases require.
The course pursued with some in Iowa who are unacquainted with me has not been careful and consistent. Those who were, comparatively, strangers to the visions have been dealt with in the same manner as those who have had much light and experience in the visions.—Ibid., 1:382.2BIO 29.3
Through this experience the church was finding its way in dealing with a very sensitive and yet very vital matter relating to its welfare. [See appendix A, “relation to church fellowship,” for a significant statement by F. M. Wilcox. He was a longtime editor of the Review and Herald and one of the five trustees appointed by Ellen White to care for her writings.]2BIO 29.4
In one of the chapters published in May, 1862, in Testimony No. 8, Ellen White told how she was shown, in regard to James and herself, that Satan had sought in various ways to destroy their usefulness and even to take their lives:2BIO 29.5
He had laid his plans to remove us from the work of God; he had come in different ways, and through different agencies, to accomplish his purposes; but through the ministration of holy angels he had been defeated.2BIO 29.6
I saw that in our journeying from place to place, he had frequently placed his evil angels in our path to cause accident which would destroy our lives; but holy angels were sent upon the ground to deliver.... I saw that we had been the special objects of Satan's attacks, because of our interest in and connection with the work of God.—Ibid., 1:347.2BIO 30.1
One way the great adversary sought to cripple the work of James White was in the circulation of rumors and falsehoods regarding his business integrity and honesty. Such criticism centered in northern Wisconsin, influenced by T. M. Steward (see Ibid., 1:311-323). But criticisms were being heard from other areas where organization had been resisted. In early 1863 the Battle Creek church took steps to halt the malicious criticism. They recognized that James White's reputation was not only of great value to him but also to “those who may be connected with the cause.” At a business meeting convened on Sunday, March 29, actions were taken to clear his name:2BIO 30.2
Resolved, That we, the church of Seventh-day Adventists of Battle Creek, deem it our duty to take measures to ascertain the grounds of the charges, complaints, and murmurs that are in circulation, that they may be sustained, and action taken accordingly, or may be proved to be groundless, and the envenomed mouth of calumny and slander be effectually stopped.2BIO 30.3
Resolved, That we appoint Brethren U. Smith, G. W. Amadon, and E. S. Walker, a committee to take this matter in charge.—The Review and Herald, March 31, 1863.2BIO 30.4
The breadth of the proposed investigation is seen in the next action taken by the church:2BIO 30.5
Resolved, That we hereby earnestly request all those far and near who think they have any grounds of complaint against Elder White, all who have handed to him means that he has not appropriated as directed, all who think that he has wronged the aged, the widow, and the fatherless, or that he has not in all his dealings in temporal matters manifested the strictest integrity, probity, and uprightness, to immediately report their grievances, and the grounds upon which they base them, to Uriah Smith, chairman of the above named committee, that they may be received previous to the middle of May next.—Ibid.2BIO 30.6
Testimonials were solicited from all who had had dealings with James White since the beginning of his public ministry. These were to be laid before the coming General Conference session, called for late May.2BIO 31.1
In a last-page note in the next issue of the Review, White called attention to the action of the Battle Creek church. He stated:2BIO 31.2
The church deemed it necessary, for the good of the cause, that there should be an investigation of our business career connected with the cause, and a printed report made. If flying reports be true, we should be separated from the cause. If an open and critical investigation proves them false, a printed report in the hands of the friends of the cause with which we have been connected may, in some instances at least, paralyze the tongue of slander.—Ibid., April 7, 18632BIO 31.3
He urged a prompt response “for the sake of the cause.”2BIO 31.4