Chapter 5—Mrs. White’s Copyists and Secretaries

At the very first of her writing out testimonies to individuals, she made two copies, one to be kept as a record of what she had written, and one to be sent to the person for whom the message was given. As this work became heavy, she sometimes sent the testimony to the person addressed, asking that the recipient make a copy for himself and return to her the original. Unwilling to have it made known what Sister White had been shown, some refused to make a copy or to return to her what she had written. Thus some testimonies were lost. And when, as sometimes happened, misrepresentations were made regarding what was in the testimony, she had no written proof as to what the testimony actually said.HEWBW 20.3

In 1860 she received some help in copying from her housekeeper, Lucinda Abbey. In 1861, she employed Adelia Patten to be copyist and to teach her three boys in a home school.HEWBW 21.1

In 1863 Adeline Howe, her cook, found time to do much copying. In 1867 and 1868, Julia Burgess did considerable copying. In 1869 and 1870, after moving back to Battle Creek from Greenville, when copy of Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, was being prepared, Miss Emma Sturges, and Miss Annie Hale were employed as copyists.HEWBW 21.2

In the autumn of 1872, Mother visited Colorado, and became acquainted with her niece, Mary Clough, and in 1874 and 1875, Miss Clough assisted in preparing copy for Spirit of Prophecy, Volumes Two and Three. She also accompanied Elder and Mrs. White in their camp meeting labors and acted as reporter for the public press. In so doing, she was the first publicity agent regularly employed by the denomination, and may be looked up to as the grandmother of our Press Bureau.HEWBW 21.3

Her college education, her experience as a newspaper reporter, the confidence that she thus gained, and the praise that was heaped upon her work, unfitted her for the delicate and sacred work of being copy-editor for Review articles, and the chapters for The Great Controversy, Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. Four. In a vision of the night it was presented to Mother that she and Mary were looking at some wondrous development in the sky.HEWBW 21.4

What they saw meant much to Sister White, but to Mary it seemed to mean nothing. The angel said, “Spiritual things are spiritually discerned.” He then instructed Sister White that she should no longer employ her niece as her book editor. Similar instruction was given her years later in regard to Fannie Bolton.HEWBW 22.1

After the death of Elder James White in 1881, Sister White employed Sister Marian Davis. She had been for some years a proof-reader in the Review and Herald office, and Sister White received assurance through revelation that Sister Davis would be a conscientious, faithful and trustworthy helper.HEWBW 22.2

Later on, Sister Eliza Burnham was employed by Mother, and at one time Mrs. B. L. Whitney and Miss Fannie Bolton were employed at Battle Creek as helpers when there was much work to do. Sister Davis was with Sister White in Europe in 1886 and 1887, and was also her principal helper in Australia, also from 1900 to 1904 at “Elmshaven,” St. Helena. The last work done by Sister Davis was the selection and arrangement of the matter used in Ministry of Healing.HEWBW 22.3

Miss Sarah Peck was an efficient helper in Australia, and St. Helena. She bore the chief burden of arranging the matter in Testimonies for the Church, Volume 6.HEWBW 22.4

Clarence. C. Crisler was a valuable helper, as a reporter of sermons and interviews, and the copyist of many letters. He also assisted in the preparation of periodical articles, and in the arrangement of the matter comprising Acts of the Apostles and Prophets and Kings.HEWBW 22.5

Several times instruction was given in vision to Sister White regarding those who should be her helpers in the household and in the preparation of her writings for publication. Especially were Sisters Lucinda Abbey Hall and Marian Davis specified as helpers that she needed, and persons in whom she could implicitly trust.HEWBW 23.1

This sketch of the workers does not claim to be complete. It was never considered by me or by any of Mother’s helpers that the personnel of her working force was of any primary interest to the readers of her books.HEWBW 23.2