Loading...
Larger font
Smaller font
Copy
Print
Contents

W. W. Prescott and the 1911 Edition of The Great Controversy

 - Contents
  • Results
  • Related
  • Featured
No results found for: "".
  • Weighted Relevancy
  • Content Sequence
  • Relevancy
  • Earliest First
  • Latest First
    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents

    58: Page 273

    It is stated that “Bibles were collected and publicly burned with every possible manifestation of scorn;” and on pages 286 and 287, reference is made to a decree passed in 1793, prohibiting the Bible, and the rescinding of the same decree three years and a half later. Both of these statements appear to have been taken directly from Thoughts on Revelation; and the statement concerning the decree suppressing the Bible, as found in Thoughts on Revelation, is taken verbatim, but without credit, from an article by George Storrs, one of the early Adventist writers.WWPGC 20.10

    Two or three of us have made a very careful search of all the histories of the French Revolution to be found in the Congressional Library, in an effort to find some authority for this statement concerning this decree suppressing the Bible; but thus far we have been utterly unable to find any reference to any such action. Of course, if this cannot be established, it will affect quite a number of paragraphs based upon this statement.WWPGC 20.11

    Response: The challenge of the criticism was accepted. Considerable careful research in the libraries in both Europe and America did yield supporting evidence for the The Great Controversy statement in its broader terms, but did not yield a specific action of the French Assembly in 1793, edicts abolishing the Bible, and then three and a half years later restoring it to favor. Painstaking research failed to disclose such specific legislation, but edicts were found that did so in effect. C. C. Crisler, Ellen White’s leading secretary working on the 1911 edition of The Great Controversy, found that one of the British lords, in a debate in Parliament, as it opened in January, 1794, declared after reading at length from French documents, that “the Old and New Testament were publicly burnt, as prohibited books.”WWPGC 20.12

    1888 book read: “The atheistical power that ruled in France during the Revolution and the reign of terror, did wage such a war upon the Bible as the world had never witnessed. The Word of God was prohibited by the national assembly. Bibles were collected and publicly burned with every possible manifestation of scorn. The law of God was trampled under foot. The institutions of the Bible were abolished.”WWPGC 20.13

    1911 edition reads: “The atheistical power that ruled in France during the Revolution and the Reign of Terror, did wage such a war against God and His holy word as the world had never witnessed. The worship of the Deity was abolished by the National Assembly. Bibles were collected and publicly burned with every possible manifestation of scorn. The law of God was trampled under foot.”WWPGC 20.14

    Pages 286, 287:WWPGC 21.1

    1888 book read: “It was in 1793 that the decree which prohibited the Bible passed the French Assembly. Three years and a half later a resolution rescinding the decree, and granting toleration to the Scriptures, was adopted by the same body.”WWPGC 21.2

    1911 edition reads: “It was in 1793 that the decrees which abolished the Christian religion and set aside the Bible, passed the French Assembly. Three years and a half later a resolution rescinding these decrees, thus granting toleration to the Scriptures, was adopted by the same body.”WWPGC 21.3

    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents