Chapter 9—The Wisconsin Experience
The second experience involving spurious ecstatic exercises took place in central Wisconsin in 1860 and 1861. Involved were T. M. Steward and his wife, early believers in that State, who had come to some position of leadership, and a certain Solomon Wellcome family.CEESDAH 9.8
The Wellcome family, first-day Adventists from Maine, had settled in Wisconsin in the late 1840’s. In the mid-1850’s two sons accepted the Sabbath truth and began preaching their new convictions. Solomon Wellcome soon made the acquaintance of T. M. Steward. From the beginning it was clear that Wellcome entertained spurious views in regard to sanctification:CEESDAH 9.9
“I was shown that Elder K [Solomon Wellcome] was upon dangerous ground. He is not in union with the third angel.... He has brought along with him a theory of Methodist sanctification, and presents that in front, making it of the highest importance. And the sacred truths applicable to this time are by him made of little consequence.... Satan has controlled his mind, and he has done great injury to the cause of truth in northern Wisconsin.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:335.
Precisely what was involved in this false sanctification Ellen White did not disclose. There is an interesting historical record describing exercises taking place in a Methodist church in that area at about that time:CEESDAH 9.10
“Someone begins to sigh here, now there—an ‘AH!’—an ‘Oh, oh!’ escaped many a breast. Ever more numerously and louder became these ‘Ah’s!’ and ‘Oh’s!’ till finally all quiet and order seemed to be broken up. I must have had least 30 eyes and ears in order to see all these gestures and to hear all these pious groans.... A woman tore her hat from her head, threw it away, and rumpled her hair.... Here a woman gazed heavenward, clutched her bosom as if nothing less than spiritual emotion would be found in it and uttered the words: ‘Come, my Jesus, come my dear Jesus, my dear lover,’ etc. Here and there again one uttered merely the syllable ‘Ji! Ji!’ springing up from his seat each time as if a wasp had stung him.... One ran forward and fell on the floor and several danced about him as if they were possessed and cried out: ‘The Spirit has overcome him! He has received the Holy Spirit,’ etc.”—Wisconsin Magazine of History, June, 1942, pp. 463-465.
After learning of the growing fanatical spirit in Wisconsin, James White left his wife with a newborn son, John Herbert, in Battle Creek to visit Mauston and other church groups. He was not well received; his report of his misgivings for the future of the church in Wisconsin is significant:CEESDAH 9.11
“We think it our duty to state something of the appearance of this work here, which is called by some ‘The Reformation,’ but to us it looks more like a deformation....
“While we were preaching, a sister broke out in an opposition shout, so we waited some time for her to get through. It was with difficulty that we finished the discourse....
“This reformation, as it is called, has passed some very important decrees. It is said that one or more have the spirit of prophecy, and that they have seen things of the deepest interest. For instance, the body of Sabbathkeepers sustaining the REVIEW have been seen branded as follows—‘Advent,’ ‘Babylon,’ ‘Fallen,’ ‘Organization.’ This is too significant to need comment. Also that Sister White’s writings, excepting the first tract, were all wrong.... We leave these dear, mistaken friends with our pity and our prayers.”—The Review and Herald, November 13, 1860.
At first Steward and his close associates responded only partially to James White’s reasoning and appeals. But before long it became clear that what had been attributed to God originated with the great adversary. The Review and Herald, January 22, 1861, (Page #?) carried a statement entitled “A Delusion Confessed” written by T. M. Steward:CEESDAH 9.12
“To all the dear saints scattered abroad:
“As the question has often been asked by my correspondents, ‘What is the nature of the work at Maustom?’
I would now like to give you my views in regard to it. Further, I feel it my duty to do so; I feel I am fully prepared to do it; and my prayer is that the Lord will save us from all the delusions of Satan in these last days.CEESDAH 10.1
“You are well aware that the work had just begun when Brother White was here, and of course I was not decided. I begged of them to let me alone until we had investigated the subject to our satisfaction. I had reasons for doubting, but I wanted to give it a thorough testing.
“The reason I advocated it, was not because I was established in it, but because I could not see anything trampled under foot regardless of feelings. So I watched it with intense anxiety. At times I detected faults, but then I was answered with, ‘It shall all be made plain by and by,’ which made me look for plainer demonstrations.”