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    Chapter 2—Editorial Assistance

    Even though she was inspired in the fullest sense, Ellen White did not always use perfect grammar, spelling, punctuation, or sentence and paragraph construction in her writing. She felt this shortcoming strongly throughout her entire life. In 1873, she lamented, “My heart is inexpressibly sad.... I am not a scholar.... I am not a grammarian” (Entries for January 10 and 11, 1873, pp. 10-11). 1Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this statement are to the attached document, “Exhibits Relating to the Writing of The Desire of Ages. Twenty years later she again mourned over her inadequacy when she declared, “I lay down my pen and say, Oh Lord, I am finite, I am weak and simple and ignorant. Thy grand and holy revelations I can never find language to express” (See Exhibit 63).HDAW 1.5

    Feeling as she did, it is quite understandable that Ellen White should seek skilled literary help in the preparation of her manuscripts for publication. When working on the Spiritual Gifts series, from 1858 to 1864, she was assisted by her husband who was a qualified schoolteacher. (See Selected Messages 1:50). In the 1890’s, when The Desire of Ages was finally taking shape, her major editorial assistant was Marian Davis.HDAW 2.1

    Ellen White’s copyists were entrusted with such tasks as correcting grammar and spelling, eliminating unnecessary repetition, grouping material in paragraphs, and transferring sentences or paragraphs from one manuscript to another “where the same thought was expressed, but not so clearly” (See Exhibit 81). At times, however, a few other key individuals were given additional leeway to make improvements in her writings. For example, Mrs. White was quite willing to have J. H. Waggoner criticize her manuscript and offer suggestions for improvement (See Exhibit 15). She, in fact, expressed displeasure with Waggoner when he failed to change or improve one of her manuscripts when given an opportunity to do so (See Exhibit 15).HDAW 2.2

    Dr. David Paulson was also called upon for this kind of service. In 1905, Mrs. White’s son, W. C. White, sent the manuscript for The Ministry of Healing to Dr. Paulson with the request, “I wish that in all your reading you would note those places where the thought is expressed in a way to be especially criticized by medical men and kindly give us the benefit of your knowledge as to how to express the same thought in a more acceptable way.” 2W. C. White to David Paulson, February 15, 1905, W. C. White Letter File.HDAW 2.3

    It was Ellen White’s understanding that some Bible writers also had needed editorial assistance, for she wrote concerning the book of Acts, “At that time it was customary for a writer to send his manuscript to someone for examination and criticism. Luke chose Theophilus, as a man in whom he had confidence, to perform this important work.”—SDA Commentary, Volume 6, p. 1051HDAW 2.4

    Since it is clear that Mrs. White did at times permit, and even seek, help which resulted in the changing of some of her words, a question might be raised about her statement, “The words of someone else would not rightly represent me” (See Exhibit 79). This comment, it should be noted, was made with reference to one of her copyists in particular and did not include the technical improvements which all of her copyists were supposed to make. It should be emphasized though that Ellen White’s copyists and editors did not contribute to the actual writing of her books. Marian Davis made note of this fact when, in response to the publisher’s appeal for immediate completion of The Desire of Ages manuscript, she wrote W. C. White, “There is one thing... that not even the most competent editor could do—that is to prepare the manuscript before it is written” [i.e., Marian Davis could not do her editorial work until Ellen White had written the manuscript] (See Exhibit 69).HDAW 3.1

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