W. C. White to S. N. Haskell, July 13, 1900

I must add a few lines regarding the correspondence which has been passing backward and forward relating to the attitudes and the sayings of Sister Fannie Bolton. I am heartily sorry to observe that both you and Brother Irwin view in an unfavorable light what I have written about this, and if it is in my power to do so, I would like to present to you the matter as it looks to me.FBS 100.2

For many years I have been greatly perplexed and at times much grieved by Sister Bolton’s course as regards her relation to Mother’s work, her relation to the Sabbath-school work, and her relation to individuals which was often of a character to mislead and to be an occasion of stumbling to many. When I was last in America, I spent much time with her endeavoring to deal plainly and faithfully with her. She seemed to see and to understand matters in a clearer light than ever before, but I had little hope that her judgment would remain clear, because when the old spirit of ambition returns she becomes as one drunken with wine, and cannot see, hear, or speak correctly.FBS 100.3

I have little doubt but what she is saying things that give the impressions to minds, that are communicated to you and Brother Irwin and that are by you forwarded on to Mother, and I think you can see that it would be a misfortune for Mother or for me or Sister Davis or anyone else to write strong statements denying hearsay reports. It has seemed to me that it was more Christian and that it would be more effective for us to write kindly and cautiously pointing out the wrong principles which lay at the foundation of Sister Bolton’s reasoning and stating the facts, which we present in such a modest way that any investigation which you and others may give them will show that love and pity has led us to put the best possible construction on Sister Bolton’s action.FBS 100.4

If there are any questions arising in your minds regarding any feature of our dealing with Sister Bolton, or if any questions are presented to you regarding the way we handle Mother’s writings we hope you will be very free to forward them to us and we will do our very level best to present to you the facts. We desire to give you any help we can in building up the work, but as regards what we say about Sister Bolton it seems to me that after bearing patiently with her for so many years, after suffering so much as we have, it would not be consistent for us to speak the plainest truths in an unkind manner now.FBS 101.1

There is one thing that I greatly desire, and that is that you will not have occasion to mention her and her doings in all your letters to Mother. It is no doubt a relief to you to write a few lines in each letter about Sister Bolton, but unless there is some obvious good to be accomplished, something definite to be done in response to what you write, it would be much pleasanter for Mother and greatly for the advancement of her work if such unpleasant things were not mentioned. The loss of two or three nights’ sleep over such a matter may deprive Mother of the strength which might have been used in bringing out some very important general matter for the instruction of the churches. For this reason I have been pleading with Edson not to write to her about everything which comes to his attention that is perplexing, and that he thinks is wrong, unless there is something important which Mother must say or do in the letter.FBS 101.2