Dear Brother ___________,

Thankk you for contacting the Ellen G. White Estate. I'll be glad to try to answer your questions.

After surfing your website, I became confused to one particular statement concerning the reading of Ellen White's writings from the pulpit, especially when I compare your statement to Evangelism pg 256, Prophets and Kings, page 626 and Selected Messages (3) pages 30. On your website you stated the following:

Using Testimonies in the Pulpit. A purported Ellen G. White statement credited to "Proper Use of the Testimonies," pages 4, 5, to the effect that her writings should never be read from the pulpit, is unauthenticated.

However, I have come across the following quotes:

(1) The testimonies of Sister White should not be carried to the front. God's Word is the unerring standard. The Testimonies are not to take the place of the Word. Great care should be exercised by all believers to advance these questions carefully, and always stop when you have said enough. Let all prove their positions from the Scriptures and substantiate every point they claim as truth from the revealed Word of God.--Letter 12, 1890. {Ev 256.2}

The reference appears in Evangelism. Mrs. White here was urging our people to preach the Bible in their evangelism, not trying to demonstrate the truth of their message to non-Adventists by appealing to her writings. This statement is not addressing the same situation as a reference in a Sabbath sermon in and Adventist church.

(2) The words of the Bible and the Bible alone, should be heard from the pulpit. But the Bible has been robbed of its power, and the result is seen in a lowering of the tone of spiritual life. (PK 626)

Does this exclude everything else? If so, nothing but the words of Scripture should be spoken in the pulpit. Mrs. White herself did not follow such a practice nor do we have record of her ever recommending it to anyone else. In its context, the statement calls for preaching of the Bible as opposed to "the religions of fable and tradition." I have copied for you the paragraph in question and the one before it, just below my signature.

(3) In public labor do not make prominent, and quote that which Sister White has written, as authority to sustain your positions. To do this will not increase faith in the testimonies. Bring your evidences, clear and plain, from the Word of God. A

30 "Thus saith the Lord" is the strongest testimony you can possibly present to the people. Let none be educated to look to Sister White, but to the mighty God, who gives instruction to Sister White.--Letter 11, 1894. {3SM 29.3}

"Public labor" refers to preaching to the public in an evangelistic setting. Yet even in the church setting, this counsel is valid. We should be prepared to support our messages from Scripture, not relying on Mrs. White to prove our points. Yet even this statement does not forbid the use of her writings in preaching, if it is done judiciously, as supporting material, not primary evidence. She calls for Scripture to be our primary evidence, the authority to sustain our positions.

I would like to have further explanation, perhaps I am mistaken in my understanding that her writings should not be read from the pulpit.

On another note, could you please send me "A female Oracle," Minneapolis Tribune, (Oct. 21, 1888) quoted in Gerald Wheeler, "The Historical Basis of Adventist Standards, " Ministry, 62 (October, 1989)p.10. In this article, it apparently states that Ellen White wore a "heavy metallic chain which hung suspended near her waste." I want to be able to verify the authenticity of this statement. My church is currently divided on the issue of jewelry, namely wedding bands.

Thank you very much.

God bless,

___________

Sorry, I don't seem to have a copy of "A Female Oracle." I suggest you contact Gerald Wheeler for it. I don't have an email address handy for him, though you try sending email to [email protected] and ask for the message to be forwarded to him. Otherwise, you could try regular mail or phone. The SDA Yearbook lists his address as 9937 Old National Pike, Hagerstown, MD 21740.

I looked up Wheeler's article. After quoting the article as stating that Mrs. White wore "a heavy metallic chain which hung suspended near her waist," Wheeler suggests that this "would no doubt be an accessory, a purely decorative element of her costume." But isn't this an assumption on his part? The description made me think it was a chain for her pocket watch. And just what is a "heavy metallic chain"? Something like Jacob Marley carried in "A Christmas Carol"? ;-) I have seen pictures of Mrs. White with a cord or chain that seems to attach to her pocket watch, and these were common in those days. Without a good picture of what the reporter saw (which is highly unlikely), I doubt that either case--decorative or functional--can be demonstrated. This makes Wheeler's "no doubt" a bit optimistic, in my view.

I hope this helps. God bless!

--------
William Fagal, Director
Ellen G. White Estate Branch Office
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI 49104-1400 USA
Phone: 269 471-3209
FAX: 269 471-2646
Website: www.WhiteEstate.org or www.egwestate.andrews.edu
E-mail: [email protected]

Between the laws of men and the precepts of Jehovah will come the last great conflict of the controversy between truth and error. Upon this battle we are now entering--a battle not between rival churches contending for the supremacy, but between the religion of the Bible and the religions of fable and tradition. The agencies which have united against truth are now actively at work. God's Holy Word, which has been handed down to us at so great a cost of suffering and bloodshed, is little valued. There are few who really accept it as the rule of life. Infidelity prevails to an alarming extent, not in the world only, but in the church. Many have come to deny doctrines which are the very pillars of the Christian faith. The great facts of creation as presented by the inspired writers, the fall of man, the atonement, the perpetuity of the law--these all are practically rejected by a large share of the professedly Christian world. Thousands who pride themselves on their knowledge regard it as an evidence of weakness to place implicit confidence in the Bible, and a proof of learning to cavil at the Scriptures and to spiritualize and explain away their most important truths.

626 {PK 625.2} Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they should make by diligently studying the word of God and striving to conform their lives to its precepts. The tremendous issues of eternity demand of us something besides an imaginary religion, a religion of words and forms, where truth is kept in the outer court. God calls for a revival and a reformation. The words of the Bible and the Bible alone, should be heard from the pulpit. But the Bible has been robbed of its power, and the result is seen in a lowering of the tone of spiritual life. In many sermons of today there is not that divine manifestation which awakens the conscience and brings life to the soul. The hearers cannot say, "Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?" Luke 24:32. There are many who are crying out for the living God, longing for the divine presence. Let the word of God speak to the heart. Let those who have heard only tradition and human theories and maxims, hear the voice of Him who can renew the soul unto eternal life. {PK 626.1}