|
Autobiographical Sketch of Ellen G. White
Chapter 13: Removal to Michigan
Turnaround
 |
 |
Review and Herald Publishing building,
Battle Creek, Mich.—White Estate. |
|
From the time we moved to Battle Creek, the Lord began to turn our captivity. We found sympathizing friends in Michigan, who were ready to share our
burdens and supply our wants. Old, tried friends in central New York and New England, especially in Vermont, sympathized with us in our afflictions, and
were ready to assist us in time of distress. At the Conference at Battle Creek in November, 1856, God wrought for us. The minds of His servants were exercised
as to the gifts of the church. If God's frown had been brought upon His people because the gifts had been slighted and neglected, there was a pleasing prospect
that His smiles would again be upon us, that He would graciously revive the gifts, and they would live in the church to encourage the fainting soul, and to
correct and reprove the erring. New life was given to the cause, and success attended the labors of our preachers.
The publications were called for, and proved to be just what the cause demanded. The Messenger of Truth soon went down, and the discordant spirits who had
spoken through it were scattered. My husband was enabled to pay
all his debts. His cough ceased, the pain and soreness left his lungs and throat, and he was gradually restored to health, so that he could preach three times
on the Sabbath and on first day with ease. This wonderful work in his restoration was of God, and He should have all the glory.
When my husband became so feeble, before our removal from Rochester, he desired to free himself from the responsibility of the publishing work. He
proposed that the church take charge of the work, and that it be managed by a publishing committee whom they should appoint, and that no one connected with
the office derive any financial benefit therefrom beyond the wages received for his labor.
Though the matter was repeatedly urged upon their attention, our brethren took no action in regard to it until 1861. Up to this time my husband had been the
legal proprietor of the publishing house, and sole manager of the work. He enjoyed the confidence of the active friends of the cause, who trusted to his care the
means which they donated from time to time, as the growing cause demanded, to build up the publishing enterprise. But although the statement was frequently
repeated through the Review, that the publishing house was virtually the property of the church, yet as he was the only legal manager, our enemies took
advantage of the situation, and under the cry of speculation, did all in their power to injure him, and to retard the progress of the cause. Under these
circumstances he introduced the matter of organization, which resulted in the incorporation of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, according to
the laws of Michigan, in the spring of 1861.
(Testimonies for the Church, pp. 100-101)
|
