PROPHET OF THE END
CHAPTER SEVEN
ANTICIPATING SCIENCE
The
writings of Ellen White contain a treasure house of scientific insights,
and leading researchers are discovering it. This includes the fields of
health, nutrition, medicine, narcotics, hypnosis, physiology, plant
science and geology.
The
late Clive McCay, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Cornell University in
Ithaca, New York, discovered her health writings quite by accident, and
was astounded by them.
Here
is one of his statements:
"In
1915 at the ripe age of 88 died one of the most remarkable women that
America has produced. Her name was Ellen White. Although she had only a
few months of formal schooling when a child, her list of books even today
numbers about 60. Some of these are books about her or compilations from
her lectures . . The writings of Ellen White . . provide a guide to
nutrition that comprehends the whole body. Much of this wisdom of the past
is not understood today. . Ellen White died before modern biochemistry. .
and the composition of foods [was understood] ,—but if people followed
her plan even today they would be far better fed than they are in their
attempts to eat bad diets and then compensate by miracle foods. She
advocated simple, natural diets, low in fat, low in salt, well prepared
and modest in amount. Gradually she became a vegetarian,. . [and] taught
the importance of good food for health and the essentiality of a healthy
body if we are to have a good soul"
—Clive M. McCay, in a lecture
before a large assembly in Memphis, Tennessee, March, 1958.
Clive
McCay was not particularly religious as far as we know, nor a member of
any church body, but, he was an expert in his field, and as such was
fascinated to know how Ellen White had acquired such advanced
nutritional knowledge, which others in her time generally lacked.
"We
stayed overnight at Dr. McCay's home. . We soon discovered to our delight
that though he was a specialist in the field of nutrition, his active
interest and reading extended over a remarkable range. More than once
during the evening he returned to the question: 'How do you explain the
fact that Mrs. White, with very little formal education and no special
training in nutrition, so accurately set forth nutrition principles that
are only now scientifically established?' He ruled out as wholly
unsatisfactory the answer sometimes casually given: 'Mrs. White simply
borrowed her ideas from others.' He observed that such an answer simply
raises another question: 'How would Mrs. White know which ideas to borrow
and which to reject out of the bewildering array of theories and health
teachings current in the nineteenth century?' Dr. McCay did not attempt to
answer such questions. As a scientist he was interested in the phenomenon
of her singular knowledge in advance of scientific discovery and
experiment."—"Explanatory Note" to a series of three
articles by C. M. McCay in "Review and Herald," February
12,19,26, 1959.
"To
sum up the discussion: Every modern specialist in nutrition whose life is
dedicated to human welfare must be impressed in four respects by the
writings and leadership of Ellen White:
”In
the first place, her basic concepts about the relation between diet and
health have been verified to an unusual degree by scientific advances of
the past decades. Someone may attempt to explain this remarkable fact by
saying: 'Mrs. White simply borrowed her ideas from others.' But how would
she know which ideas to borrow and which to reject out of the bewildering
array of theories and health teachings current in the nineteenth
century? She would have had to be a most amazing person, with knowledge
beyond her times, in order to do this successfully!
"In
the second place, everyone who attempts to teach nutrition can hardly
conceive of a leadership such as that of Mrs. White that was able to
induce a substantial number of people to improve their diets.
"In
the third place, one can only speculate about the large number of
sufferers during the past century who could have had improved health if
they had accepted the teachings of Mrs. White.
"Finally,
one can wonder how to make her teachings more widely known in order to
benefit the overcrowded earth that seems inevitable tomorrow with the
present rate of increase of the world's population. .
"In
spite of the fact that the works of Mrs. White were written long before
the advent of modern scientific nutrition, no better over-all guide is
available today."—Clive M. McCay, in Review and Herald, February 26,
1969.
Ellen
White lived in a time of abysmal ignorance of healthful living, nutrition,
and medicine. The two great interests in her time were bleeding sick
patients to death in order to make them well, and poisoning them to death
with extracts made from toxic plants or poisonous minerals. Dr. Gallup led
the fight for bleeding people to death, and Dr. Tully stood in the
forefront of the crusade for poisoning them to death. Those were times
that could kill strong men such as George Washington. He awoke one morning
with a simple streptococcal infection in his throat. First, one man
drained a cup of blood from his veins, "to get him well." Then
Dr. Craik, his personal physician arrived and declared the illness to be
”inflammatory quinsy" and bled him again. By now it was afternoon
and two more physicians came and again Washington was bled. Between
bleedings and poisonous doses of calomel, he finally pled, late in the
afternoon, to be let alone to die in peace. At 10 p.m. that night he
passed away.
During
her lifetime, Ellen White wrote, not only in the field of nutrition, but
also in the science of medicine and the recovery of the ill.
"The
Spirit of Prophecy [the writings of Ellen White] is medically up to
date. Before starting medicine I was well acquainted with the health ideas
found in the writings of Mrs. E.G. White. Since finishing medical school I
have been in practice for nineteen years. I have not had to change one medical
idea that I have gotten from the writings of Mrs. E.G. White, but all my
medical books have had to be replaced with up-to-date versions based on
more modern medical research. . The books "Counsels on Diet and
Foods," "Counsels on Health," "The Ministry of
Healing," "Medical Ministry," and "Temperance"
are as current as ever. As medical science advances, I find these guides
do not become outdated, but are still ahead of modern medical research on
many health subjects.
"When
medical science disagrees with the Spirit of Prophecy, given a little more
time, medical research comes to the same conclusions.. This has happened a
number of times in the past nineteen years. Considerable research of the
medical literature shows that today the majority of the health principles
and information given by Mrs. White have scientific backing.
"I
am confident that the health information of the Spirit of Prophecy that is
yet unproved can be accepted by faith with no danger that such faith will
have been misplaced when scientific corroboration becomes
evident."—Statement by Jackson A. Saxon, Washington
D.C. area
physician.
Paul
Harvey, the noted syndicated writer and news reporter, has spoken a number
of times about the amazing predictions and scientific insights of Ellen
White. Here is one of his statements:
"Once
upon a time, a hundred years ago, there lived a young lady named Ellen
White. She was frail as a child, completed only grammar school, [actually,
only three grades of education], had no technical training, and yet she
lived to write scores of articles and many book’s on the subject of
healthful living..
"Perhaps
we should reread what she has taught: 'The oil, as eaten in the olive, is
far preferable to animal oil or fat.' Today we know about cholesterol. She
knew: 'Fine flour white bread is lacking in nutritive elements to be found
in bread made from whole wheat. . She wrote: 'Do not eat largely of salt.'
Now we know we should keep the sodium intake low. We have come to accept
the wisdom of such advice so completely that it is difficult for us to
realize how revolutionary her theories were almost a century ago. . She
urged: 'Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise.' She wrote:
'Tobacco is a slow, insidious, but most malignant poison. It is all the
more dangerous because its effects are slow and at first hardly
perceptible.' Ellen White was indeed ahead of her time. Are there
additional recommendations, which this remarkable woman urged upon us,
which we have, so far, ignored? Speaking about the times in which she
lived, Paul Harvey adds: "Remember, this was in the days when doctors
were still bloodletting and performing surgery with unwashed hands. This
was in an era, of medical ignorance bordering on barbarism."
—Paul
Harvey, in Reading, Pennsylvania, Times, August 11, 1960, reprinted in
"Today's Health in 1960."
Drs.
Calvin and Agatha Thrash, a husband and wife pathology team, happened upon
the writings of Ellen White while Agatha was teaching in the University of
Georgia School of Medicine. Both had been atheists, but their study of
Ellen White's writings led them to the Bible and to Christ. Their
scientific training well qualified them to evaluate the health and medical
validity of Ellen White's writings.
"Calvin
nor I had ever believed in anything of a supernatural nature, feeling
that anything that is unexplained would eventually be explained on the
basis of natural phenomena. How carefully we scrutinized the matter of
divine inspiration of Mrs. White. In every field in which Calvin or I had
sufficient competence to tell that we would make adequate judges of the
material which she wrote, we made careful examination.
"In
the fields of health and nutrition we have come to recognize that there is
not, even in the present day, anything that approaches the scientific
accuracy of the body of information which she has set down as guidelines
for good health and good nutrition. When one considers the superstition,
ignorance, error, and inattention to obvious health rules of that day,
it is all the more remarkable that every single item which Mrs. White
wrote in the fields of nutrition and health are consistently supported
by the newest scientific information."—Statement by Agatha Thrash,
M.D., Seale, Alabama:
"Among
writers of the past century. . those who are concerned with the betterment
of human health must pay tribute to the writings of Ellen G, White because
she understood the importance of the selection of proper foods and the
relation of the test of the regime of living to proper nutrition and sound
health. These notes have been prepared by a biochemist who specializes
in nutrition in the hopes that others may gain a broader appreciation of
the genius of this pioneer nutritionist, Ellen White. Whatever may be
the religious belief of a reader, he or she cannot help but gain much guidance
in a better and healthier way of life from reading the major works of
Ellen White." From the university nutrition class lecture notes
of Dr. Clive McCay, April 9.1958.
It
all began in the early summer of 1863. On the evening of June 6, Ellen
arrived in a carriage at a humble pioneer cabin on the outskirts of
Otsego, Michigan, the home of Aaron Hilliard and his family. It was
planned that the next morning she would speak at meetings in Otsego. After
supper, as twilight neared, all knelt in prayer, to begin family worship,—when Ellen was taken off in vision.
It
only lasted forty-five minutes, yet it was destined to change the lives
of thousands, for during that time Ellen received the basis of her
knowledge of health, hygiene, nutrition, and medications. All of her
writings in these fields stem from this basic vision, given in the year
that Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation..
"God
is the author of science. Scientific research opens to the mind vast
fields of thought and information, enabling us to see God in His created
works. . True science contributes fresh evidences of the wisdom and power
of God. Rightly understood, science and the Written Word agree, and each
sheds light on the other. Together they lead us to God by teaching us
something of the wise and beneficent laws through which He works.”
—Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, page 426.
"The
Bible is not to be tested by men's ideas of science, but science is to be
brought to the test of this unerring standard. When the Bible makes
statements of facts in nature, science may be compared with the Written
Word, and a correct understanding of both will always prove them to be in
harmony. One does not contradict the other."—Ellen White, in
"Signs of the Times," March 13. 1884.
Here
are some of Ellen White's scientific statements, made long before
science was to verify them:
FATS
AND HEART—AND BLOOD—VESSEL DISEASE
Ellen
White wrote that we should not eat the blood and the fat of animals
(eating either is prohibited in the Bible), because it would "make
a diseased current in the blood." 1. And she warned that certain
overweight individuals were "liable to acute attacks of disease, and
to sudden death," 2. and that part of the problem was due to their
eating of flesh foods. 3.
Modern
research in the past forty years has unearthed a mass of material on
this subject. It is now known that the average level of blood cholesterol
raises with any increase in the average daily intake of animal fats."
and that "No fat commonly eaten in large amounts causes so much a
rise as butter fat." 4.
It
is recognized today that the foods most dangerous in this respect are
meat, margarine and butter. Yet Ellen White carefully warned against the
use of meat and butter 5. (margarine did not exist in her day). "A
vegetarian diet can prevent 90 percent of our thrombo-embolic diseases
[clots in the veins and arteries] and 97 percent of our coronary
occlusions." 6 . And yet these two conditions account for more deaths
than all other causes combined in North America, with the exception of the
deaths due to legalized abortion. Dr. William B. Kannel, of the National
Heart Institute, after studying the blood cholesterol levels of more than
5,000 people, stated that there is no better way to predict future
coronary disease—than by determining total serum-cholesterol levels. 7
PRENATAL
INFLUENCES
Back
in the days when "prenatal influence" was declared to be old
wives' tales,. Ellen White declared that the habits, emotional
temperament, morality and diet of the mother would affect her unborn
child. 8
"The
well-being of the child will be affected by the habits of the mother. Her
appetites and passions are to be controlled by principle. . But if the
mother unswervingly adheres to right principles, if she is temperate
and self-denying, if she is kind, gentle, and unselfish, she may give
her child these same precious traits of character;" 9 "If she
chooses to eat as she pleases and what she may fancy, irrespective of consequences,
she will bear the penalty, but not alone. Her innocent child must suffer
because of her indiscretion." 10
Dr.
Ashley Montagu, writing in 1954, was one of the first researchers to
uncover scientific evidence linking the mother's emotional habits during
pregnancy, with the emotional temperament of her child after it is born.
"Mothers undergoing periods of severe emotional distress during
pregnancy frequently have infants which exhibit evidences of irritable and
hyperactive nervous systems. " And he added, "It is largely up
to her, and to those surrounding her during her pregnancy, whether her
infant will be born a happy, healthy, sweet-tempered individual or an
ill adjusted neurotic." 11 Two years later, Drs. Lyon P. Strean and
Lyndon A. Peer attributed a hormonal imbalance, triggered by the
negative emotions; as the cause of the problem. "The intangible
factor of emotional stress suffered by a woman between the eighth and
twelfth weeks of pregnancy may be a precipitating factor in causing
harelip and cleft-palate defects."
"Strean
and. . Peer studied 228 cases of Cleft palate . . During the critical
weeks of pregnancy—when the two halves Of the upper jaw normally fuse in
the palatal arch—the doctors found that 23 percent had been ill or
injured, and no less than 68 percent recalled emotional disturbances. . Strean and Peer reason that severe emotional disturbance of whatever kind,
stimulates the adrenal glands to pump out extra hydrocortisone; this
checks the formation at connective tissue between the two sides of the
palate or may actually dissolve tissue already formed." 12 Leland H.
Scott, in 1967, added yet more information to the rapidly growing
evidence, linking prenatal influence to emotional or organic damage to the
young: "There is growing evidence that chemical irregularities in the
mother's blood brought about by endocrine [hormonal] imbalance, dietary
deficiencies, or ill health may have serious effects. . [Including]
childhood abnormalities, such as rickets, nervous instability, epilepsy,
and cerebral palsy." 13 William S. Kroger, gynecologist at the
Chicago Medical School did landmark work on this emotion-caused damage and
reported it at the A.M.A. Convention in 1953. 14 Bret Ratner M.D. of New
York, also linked diet during pregnancy 'to fetal injury 15 More than
emotions are thus involved. Dr. Jesse D. Rising of the University of
Kansas, after detailed research, reported in 1958 that "a doctor
treating a woman during pregnancy with anesthetics, X ray, ACTH or
cortisone-type hormones, may subject the fetus to oxygen shortage or
some other threat. The result: physicians now face the horrible
possibility of responsibility for many developmental defects." 16
Rising considered such defects to include abnormal heart, cleft palate,
one eye; Siamese twins, and Mongolism. 17 Thus medicinal drugs taken
during pregnancy—can be very dangerous. In further research, Thomas M.
Rivers, M.D., cited large doses of alcoholic beverages as yet another
cause of child-birth malformations. 18
"THE
BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF SUNLIGHT
In
1865, Ellen White commented that "rooms that are not exposed to light
and air become damp. . The atmosphere in these rooms is poisonous, because
it has not been purified by light and air." 19 "Death producing
germs abound in dark, neglected corners." 20 The solution given was
"perfect cleanliness, plenty of sunlight, careful attention to
sanitation' 21 and "thorough ventilation and plenty of sunlight. Let
there be a current of air and an abundance of light in every room in the
house.” 22.
It
was eighty years later that Dr. Lawrence P. Garrod, professor of
bacteriology at the University of London performed studies on the effect
of light on bacteria in the dust of sickrooms. His surprising disclosure
came as a bombshell to the medical world: Dust on the floor near the beds
of patients suffering from an infectious disease contained many of the bacteria
that produced the disease. And this was also true of the dust under the
bed and in every dark place in the room. But an analysis of dust near the
window, on the windowsill, and on the window itself contained no
disease-producing bacteria. And Dr. Garrod found this to be true even in
rooms that never had direct sunlight, due to a northern exposure.
Additional research revealed that these facts remained consistent even in
winter when less light was available, and it had to penetrate two layers
of glass." 23. "It must now be recognized that ordinary diffuse
daylight, even on a cloudy day and even in winter in England, can be
lethal [deadly] to bacteria, and that glass is no absolute bar to this
effect." 24
THE
PERILS OF MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL HYPNOSIS
In
the mid1950s, a concerted effort was made to convince the general public
of the great value of medical hypnosis, but within a relatively short time
doubts were beginning to arise. In "Psychiatry," for August,
1962, the question was asked in regard to it, "Does the end justify
the means?" But Ellen White sounded the warning even more clearly
over a century before. Writing about hypnosis to a physician, she said.
"No
man or woman should exercise his or her will to control the senses or
reason of another, so that the mind of the person is rendered passively
subject to the will of the one who is exercising the control. This
'science' may appear to be something beautiful, but it is a science which
you are in no case to handle. . There is something better for you to
engage in than the control of human nature. No individual should be
permitted to take control of another person's mind, thinking that in so
doing he is causing him to receive great benefit The mind cure is one of
the most dangerous deceptions which can be practiced upon any individual.
Temporary relief may be felt, but the mind of the one thus controlled is
never again so strong and reliable." 25
It
is well-known that an individual who has submitted to hypnosis is more
easily hypnotized again.
Never
let anyone control your mind. In her day, medical hypnosis was often
called "mind cure", In 1902 she wrote: "The 'mind cure is a
satanic science. Already you have gone far enough in it to endanger seriously
your future experience." 26 Thus hypnosis is dangerous both to the
one who uses it as well as to the one it is used upon!
“Men
and women are not to study the science of how to take captive the minds of
those who associate with them. This is the science that Satan teaches. We
are to resist everything of the kind. We are not to tamper with mesmerism
and hypnotism—the science of the one who lost his first estate, and
was cast out of heaven." 27
Although
not often perceived, psychology and psychiatry are partially linked to the
principles upon, which hypnosis operates: strong mental suggestion,
separate from Christian experience and Biblical counsels.
“In
these days when skepticism and infidelity so often appear in a scientific
garb, we need to be guarded on every hand. Through this means our great
adversary [Satan] is deceiving thousands, and leading them captive
according to his will. The advantage he takes of the sciences, sciences
which pertain to the human mind, is tremendous. Here, serpent like, he
imperceptibly creeps in to corrupt the work of God. This entering in of
Satan through the sciences is well devised. Through the channel of
phrenology, psychology, and mesmerism [hypnotism], he comes more directly
to the people of this generation, and works with that power which is to
characterize his efforts near the close of probation." 28
It
has not been until very recently that research scientists have fully
grasped the dangers to be found in medical and non-medical hypnosis. A
weakening of the ability to resist immoral and incorrect suggestions has
been noted. The scientist, J.A. Whieldon, M.D., presented a paper at the
Institute of Mental Hygiene, meeting in Worthington, Ohio, on November
12-15, 1956: "Psychic hypnosis is . . in many instances a harmful
procedure which can in reality undo the very thing those in psychotherapy
are trying to most to accomplish, the growth of the individual to
emotional independence and personal responsibility. . Often the men who
use hypnosis have an unconscious need to dominate—to exert themselves
over others, doing hypnosis often is little more than satisfaction of a
person's narcissism. Psychic hypnosis is, then, an understandable
phenomenon and can be performed because all people are suggestible.
Hypnosis does not cure—and actually may be dangerous" or a hindrance
to the recovery of the patient." 29 Floyd L. Ruch, writing in
"Psychology and Life," commented: "Hypnotic suggestion. .
removes the danger signal of pain without curing the organic
disease." 30 Interestingly enough, not much more is known about how
hypnosis operates than when Dr. Mesmer first introduced to the medical
world two centuries ago. 31 But practicing spiritualists recognize it to
be an occult science used in devil worship.
DANGERS
IN LIVING YEAST
Ellen
White recommended raised (leavened) and unleavened bread. But she
specified that, if yeast was used, the loaves should be small, well
baked—so that the leaven would be entirely killed before it was eaten.
"Bread should be light and sweet. Not the least taint of sourness
should be tolerated. The loaves should be small, and so thoroughly baked
that, so far as possible, the yeast germs shall be destroyed." 32
What
a strange idea! Why would it matter whether the yeast germs were killed
before the bread was eaten? As late as the 1930's, the use of live bread
yeast was recommended by nutritionists for the B vitamins it contained.
Back in those days, people were urged to eat a cake of baker's yeast every
day. But now it is known that the live yeast cells are capable of passing
through the acid in the stomach and making yeast growths within the
intestines. Bogert's book, "Nutrition and Physical Fitness," is a standard
college nutrition textbook. Here is what we know now: "Live yeast cells. .
take up B vitamins from the food material
in the intestine, thus making them unavailable for the body. If the
effect of B vitamins in combating; constipation is desired, it is better
to take dried [killed] brewer's yeast or wheat germ." 33
It
should be mentioned here that powdered or flaked "nutritional
yeast" (brewer's yeast) which you purchase in a health food store
is now used as a source of the vitamin B complex. Nutritional (Brewer's)
yeast is composed of dead yeast cells.
ELECTRIC
CURRENTS IN THE BODY AND PLANTS
Writing about the human body, Ellen White
Wrote: "Whatever disturbs the circulation of the electric currents
in the nervous system lessens the strength of the vital powers, and the
result is a deadening of the sensibilities of the mind." 34
"This class [physical laborers who use the brain powers very little]
fall more readily if attacked by disease; the system is vitalized by the
electrical force of the brain to resist disease." 35 It was in the
year 1929 that Hans Berger, a German psychiatrist, first published a
series of irregular curved lines. "In the quarter of a century since
then the study of his little wavy lines has grown into a new department of
science called electro-encephalography. Today several hundred
laboratories in the United States, and a similar number in Europe are
recording and interpreting charts of the electrical discharges of human
brains. Their total annual output of charts would girdle the earth."
36 It was not until five years., after Berger first announced his
discovery that Charles Mayo, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic, first supported
his discovery. Now we know that "the little wavy lines." reveal
the activity of the micro-electrical generators within our nervous
systems." "These wonderful waves exist in the human body, and
are the vital-force of the heart and the nerves." 37
But
Ellen White also wrote about electricity within plants: "There is
life in the seed, there is power in the soil; but unless an infinite power
[the power of God] is exercised day and night, the seed will yield no
returns. The showers of rain must refresh the thirsty field; the sun
must impart warmth; electricity must be conveyed to the buried seed. The
life, which the Creator has implanted, He alone can call forth. Every seed
grows, every plant develops, by the power of God." 38 She said that
in the year 1900. In 1959, Dr. H.S. Burr of Yale University, in a symposium
held at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, was
quoted as saying: "Periodic, predictable electrical rhythms exist not
only in humans but in trees arid other forms of life. . Dr. Burr . .
said the vigor and growth rate of plants already have been successfully
predicted by measurement of the electricity in cotton seeds." 39 It
was for reasons that included this, that she strongly urged the eating of
plant foods, —for in so doing we eat living tissue with the electricity
still in it. The eating of animals as food is the eating of dead food.
ANTICIPATING
SCIENCE
We
have noted but a very few of the scientific insights that were given to
Ellen White. Many more could be mentioned; enough in fact to quite fill
this book. For example: Cancer is caused by a germ, and can be contracted
in a number of specified ways that many are not aware of. Children are not
physically and nervously ready to begin formal schooling until the age of
eight to ten. Dangerous effects of X-Rays. Salt must only be used in very
moderate amounts, but it should not be entirely discarded. The use of
coffee and tea is responsible for a number of otherwise unexplained
illnesses. The mind as both a causative and preventative factor in
disease and illness. The close relationship between the use of too much
sugar and a liability to disease. The damage that alcohol has on the
brain. The relation of harmful drugs to birth defects. The close
interrelationships between mind and body in a number of significant ways.
Concepts
such as these, with their ramifications, hardly grasped a hundred years
ago, are only now beginning to be explored scientifically.
David
Paulson, M.D., about the year 1913, reported a conversation that he had
with Dr. John Harvey Kellogg a number of years earlier. Introductory to
the following statement, it should be mentioned that in the late
nineteenth century, John H. Kellogg, M.D., was recognized as a world
leader in several areas of medical practice:
"Dr.
Kellogg asked me in New York City twenty-two years ago if I knew how it
was that the Battle Creek Sanitarium was able to keep five years ahead
of the medical profession. I did not know. Then he told me.
"He
said when a new thing is brought out in the medical world, he knew from
his knowledge of the spirit of prophecy [the writings of Ellen White]
whether, it belonged in our system or not If it did, he instantly adopted
it and advertised it while the rest of the doctors were slowly feeling
their way, and when they finally adopted it he had five years the start on
them.
"On
the other hand when the medical profession were swept off their feet by
some new fad, if it did not fit the light we had received he simply did
not touch it. When the doctors finally discovered their mistake, they
wondered how it came that Dr. Kellogg did not get caught" —Document
File 45, referred to by Richard A. Schaefer in "Legacy," page
60.
1.
EGW, Counsels on Diet and Foods, pages 393-394.
2.
Ibid.
3.
EGW, Testimonies, Volume 2, page 61.,
4.
W. Dock, M.D., "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," Volume
5, pages 674-675. (1957).
5.
Meat: EGW, Counsels On Diet and Foods, pages 373-418. Butter:
EGW;
Counsels on Diet and Foods, pages 349-353. Grease: EGW, Counsels on Diet
and Foods, pages 353-355.
6.
W. A. Thomas, M.D., in "Journal of the American Medical Association,"
June 3, 1961, page 783.
7.
"Medical World News," November 22,1963, page 57.
8.
EGW, Adventist Home, pages 255-259.
9.
EGW, Ministry of Healing, pages 372-373.
10.
EGW, Testimonies, Volume 2, pages 382-383. n. Dr. Ashley Montagu,
"Ladies Home Journal," February, 1954, page 43."
12.
Dr. Lyon P. Strean and Dr. Lyndon A. Peer, "Time," September
17,1956.
13.
Leland H. Scott, Child Development: An Individual Longhudinal Approach,
pages 371-372. 1967.
14.
Associated Press news release, dated June 3, 1953, under the title,
"Unborn Baby May be 'Marked' by Mother's Emotions."
15. Dr.
Ashley Montagu, "Ladies Home Journal, "February, 1954, page 43.
16.
Dr. Jesse D. Rising, "Drugging" During Pregnancy,” in
"Time,” October 27,1958.
17.
Ibid.
18.
Thomas M Rivers, "Radiation, Strong Drugs and Alcohol," in
"The National Foundation.".
19.
EGW, How to Live, page 62. (1865) (Republished in Selected Messages,
Book 2, page 462."
20.
EGW, Ministry of Healing, page 276.
21.
Ibid.
22.
EGW, Ministry of Healing, page 274.
23.
Dr. Lawrence P. Garrod; in "British Medical Journal," 1 :247.
(1944)
24.
Ibid.
25.
EGW, Medical Ministry, 113-116.
26.
EGW, Selected Messages, Book 2, pages 349-351. (1902)
27.
EGW, Medical Ministry, 110-111 (1905).
28.
EGW, "Signs of the Times," November 6, 1.884 (Selected Messages,
Book 2: pages 351-352).
29.
J.A. Whieldon, M.D., "The Peril of Hypnosis," a paper presented
at the Institute of Mental Hygiene, Worthington, Ohio, November
12-15,1956.
30,
Floyd l. Ruch, Psychology and Life,1948, page 516.
31.
"Journal of the A.M.A.," June 16,1962, Volume 180, November 11
32.
EGW, The Ministry of Healing, page 301 (1905)
33.
L. Jean Bogert, Nutrition and Physical Fitness, 7th edition page 406.
34.
EGW, Testimonies, Volume 2, page 347. (Also in Education, page 209.)
35.
EGW, Testimonies, Volume 3, page 157.
36.
"The Scientific American," June, 1954, page 54.
37.
Ernst Weber, President.' Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, New York, quoted
in "This Week," December 30, 1962.
38.
EGW, Christ's Object Lessons, page 63. (1900)
39.
Dr. H.S. Burr, quoted at symposium, College of William and Mary,
Williamsburg Virginia, November 22, 1959. Quoted in Washington
"Post," November 22,1959, page A-1.
CHAPTER EIGHT
RECOGNIZED
BY OTHERS
A
number of years ago the Minister of Education of a certain southern
European country came to America to do post-graduate work at Columbia
University
in New York. Although he already had several doctorates, he wanted to
obtain still further information,—the very best of information to take
back home to the people of his country.
Arriving
home, he published a full-length book in his own language. It was to be
the standard of public education for the people of his nation. And,
indeed,
it was widely agreed to be a masterpiece, in its thoroughness and
practicality.
The
book was a word-for-word translation of Ellen White’s book,
"Education." The only changes were to be found in the final
chapter and in the authors name: he listed himself as the author.
The
present writer recalls an incident that took place about thirty years ago
in another European country; A high-level church official took the
beautiful
book, "Steps to Christ" by Ellen White, and reprinted it in
his own language—under his own name. The people loved it. And they had
reason to. It provided a clear description of how to come to Christ.
George
Wharton James, writer, lecturer and contemporary of Ellen White, in his
authoritative volume on California, "California-Romantic and
Beautiful," said this about Ellen, who at that time was a resident of
that State:
"This
remarkable woman, also, though almost entirely self-educated, has written
and published more books and in more languages, which circulate to a
greater extent than the written works of any woman in
history."—George Wharton James, "California—Romantic and
Beautiful," pages 319-320.
And,
we might add, she turned out far more written material than most men in
history, also. But there was a reason, an impelling reason. Men and women
all around her needed to be helped. And God gave her guidance in
preparing letters, articles, and books that would meet that need.
It
is significant that over 78,000 Bible references and quotations are to be
found in her writings. That which she wrote not only agreed with
Scripture; it was filled with Scripture. And over the years, these
writings were discovered by many people, who found in them that which they
had been looking for.
Here,
briefly, are some of the things that others have said about the life,
personality and ministry of Ellen White:
"As
a speaker, Mrs. White is one of the most successful of the few ladies who
have become noteworthy as lecturers, in this country, during the last
twenty years. Constant use has so strengthened her vocal organs as to give
her voice rare depth and power. Her clearness and strength of articulation
are so great that, when speaking in the open air, she has frequently, been
distinctly heard at the distance of a mile. Her language, though simple,
is always forcible and elegant. When inspired with her subject, she is
often marvelously eloquent, holding the largest audiences spellbound far
hours with out a sign of impatience or weariness."—American
Biographical Dictionary, under topic “White, Ellen G."
"Mrs.
White was probably one of the best-known \/Women in the world. She had
traveled extensively, had lectured to large audiences in many countries,
and her writings had been published in various languages carrying to
people of nearly all tongues [not quite: translations were made into over
forty languages] the message she felt called upon by God to deliver.
"The
life of Mrs. White is an example worthy of emulation by all. Though of
limited education, for the greater part of her long life in poor health,
she never faltered, but far seventy-two years carried and preached the
message of Jesus Christ, as understood by her, to the furthermost corners
of the earth. She was a humble, devout disciple of Christ and ever went
about doing good. Her writings have been published in books, papers and
periodicals and from her prolific pen has came writings on many religious
topics. She was. . honored and respected by all who appreciate, noble
womanhood consecrated to unselfish labor far the uplifting and betterment
of mankind. Her. . almost ninety years were full to overflowing with kind
deeds, kind wards and earnest prayers far all mankind. This good
Samaritan will surely be greatly missed. Her reward will be commensurate
with the great goad she has done."—St. Helena, California,
"Star," July 23, 1915.
"Her
Christian life was marked by deep personal piety; she had great faith in
prayer, and was zealous in her spiritual devotions. Her charities were
liberal beyond her means; she was ever impoverishing herself by her gifts
to the cause she loved and by her care far the poor and needy.'
"She
believed in the divine inspiration of the Bible. Of this Word she was a
constant student all her life; to her it was the voice of God. . She
exalted Christ as the sinner's only hope. She loved the Savior, and did
what she could to bring others to a knowledge of Him."
—I. H. Evans, quoted in "Review and Herald," July
29,1915.
At
the time of her death, two large American newspapers commented as follows:
"Here
is a noble record, and she deserves great honor . . She showed no spirited
pride and she sought no 'filthy lucre.' She lived the life and did the
work of a worthy prophetess."— Editorial, "The New York
Independent," August 23, 1915.
"Mrs.
White was a remarkable woman in many ways. She was deeply religious, and
none who knew her intimately had any doubt, as to her sincerity.
"—Editorial, Detroit "News-Tribune," July 25,1915.
D.
M. Canright said the following about Ellen White, ten years before he
suddenly turned against her and wrote articles attacking her as a vicious
person:
"As
to the Christian character of Sister White, I beg leave to say that I
think I know something about it. I’ve been acquainted with sister White
for eighteen years, more than half the history of our people. I have been
in their family time and again, sometimes weeks at a time. They have been
in our house and family many times. I have traveled with them almost
everywhere; have been with them in private and in public meeting and out
of meeting, and have had the very best chances to know something of the
life, character, and spirit of Brother and Sister White.
"I
know Sister White to be an unassuming, modest, kindhearted, noble woman.
These traits in her character are not simply put on and cultivated, but
they spring gracefully and easily from her natural disposition. She is not
self-conceited, self-righteous, and self-important, as fanatics always
are. I have frequently came in contact with fanatical persons, and have
always found them to be full of pretensions, full of pride, ready to give
their opinion, boastful of their holiness, etc. But I have ever found
Sister White the reverse of all this. Anyone, the poorest and the
humblest, can go to her freely for advice and comfort without being
repulsed. She is ever looking after the needy, the destitute, and the
suffering, providing for them, and pleading their cause. I have never
formed an acquaintance with any persons who so constantly have the fear of
God before them. Nothing is undertaken without earnest prayer to God.
She studies God's Word carefully and constantly.
"I
have heard Sister White speak hundreds of times, have read all her
testimonies through and through, most of them many times, and I have never
been able to find one immoral sentence in the whole of them, or anything
that is not strictly pure and Christian; nothing that leads away from the
Bible, or from Christ; but there I find the most earnest appeals to obey
God, to love Jesus, to believe the Scriptures, and to search them
constantly. I have received great spiritual benefit times without number,
from the testimonies. Indeed, I never read them without feeling reproved
for my lack of faith in God, lack of devotion, and lack of earnestness in
saving souls. If I have any judgment, any spiritual discernment, I
pronounce the, testimonies to be of the same Spirit and of the same tenor
as the Scriptures.
"
. . One thing I have remarked, and that is, that the most bitter opponents
of the visions of Sister White admit that she is a Christian. How they can
now make this admission is more than I know. They try to fix it up by
saying that she is deceived. They are not able to put their finger upon a
single stain in all her life, nor an immoral sentence in all her writings.
They have to admit that much of her writings are excellent, and whoever
would live out all she says would be a good Christian, sure of Heaven.
This is passing strange if she is a tool of the devil, inspired by Satan,
or if her writings are immoral or the vagaries of her own
mind."—Written by the man who later turned on Ellen White as her most
fervent enemy: Dudley Marvin Canright, Review and Herald, April 26, 1877.
The following statement tells of Canright at her funeral in 1915,
twenty-eight years after he first declared her to be of the devil:
"Even
the bitterest critic—one who had left the movement and turned to write
many attacks upon the work of his former associates, and especially upon
the Spirit of prophecy in the church—paid tribute to a noble Christian
life. He came to Mrs. White's funeral. His brother. . told us of D. M. Canright's emotion as they walked together past the casket, with others of
the.. congregation, at the close of the funeral service. They came back to
their pew, and stood while the great congregation was still filing past.
'Then. . my brother [D. M. Canright] suggested that we go down again, to
take one more look. We joined the passing throng, and again stood by the
bier. My brother rested his hand upon the side of the casket, and with
tears rolling down his cheeks, he said brokenly, ‘There is a noble
Christian woman gone!"'—W. A. Spicer, quoted in Spirit of Prophecy
Treasure Chest, page 186.
Ellen
White wrote in many fields. One of these was education. Her book,
"Education," was her best-known volume dealing with this
subject. Schools and colleges have been founded upon the principles
contained within those books.
In
1959, a leading educator and faculty member of the Department of Education
at Teachers' College. Columbia University, in New York City, happened upon
'the book, "Education," by Ellen White. Dr. Florence Stratemeyer,
an authority in her field, had this to say about that book:
"Recently
the book 'Education' by Ellen White has been brought to my attention.
Written at the turn of the century, this volume was more than fifty
years ahead of its times. And I was surprised to learn that it was written
by a woman with but three years of schooling.
"The
breadth and depth of its philosophy amazed me. Its concept of balanced
education, harmonious development, and of thinking and acting on principle
are advanced educational concepts..
"The
objective of restoring in man the image of God, the teaching of parental
responsibility, and the emphasis on self control in the child are ideals
the world desperately needs.
"Mr.
White did not necessarily use current terms. In fact, she did not use the
word curriculum in her writings. But the book "Education" in
certain parts treats of important curriculum principles. She was
concerned with the whole learner—the harmonious development of mental,
physical, and spiritual powers.
"Today
many are stressing the development of the intellect. But feelings and
emotional development are equally important. In our changing society,
the ability to act on thought and in terms of principle is central. It is
this harmonious development that is so greatly needed, yet so, generally
neglected today."—Dr. Florence Stratemeyer, Professor of Education,
Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, quoted in
"Review and Herald," August 6, 1959.
Thomas M. Elliott, editor of the prestigious "Atlanta Constitution," wrote
a key editorial in his paper on October 9, 1950, endorsing two books
written by Ellen White:
"Among
the many hundreds of books I have studied on the subject of religion that
inspire heart warmth and enriched faith, none have been of greater help
than Ellen White's two books—'Patriarchs and Prophets' and 'Prophets
and Kings.'
"Those
books were written, not for literary fame or financial reward, but to
help heart-hungry humanity learn of God. They make God's dealings with man
clear to the most simple-minded reader without bias or sectarianism, I
commend these books to all seekers after a clearer knowledge of the
righteousness of God."—Thomas M. Elliott, editorial in "The
Atlanta Constitution," October 9, 1950.
The
above two books, "Patriarchs and Prophets" and "Prophets
and Kings" provide a detailed description of the Old Testament
story. They have encouraged many folk. The present writer recalls the
story of an older man, who when asked the name of his favorite book by
Ellen White, said, "I value them all, but—" and then his voice
faltered, "it is 'Patriarchs and Prophets' that I appreciate the
most—for that is the book that brought me back to God."
"Another
volume, cherished by many, is "Desire of Ages," a graphic
description of the life of Christ as portrayed in the Four Gospels of the
New Testament.
Several
years ago, one who had come to love that book was attending, summer school
at a state university in Massachusetts, when the following incident
occurred:
“One
day our teacher, who had just returned from an extended study of
literature in Europe, asked each member of the class to come next day with
three quotations from a favorite author The name was not to be given,
and the class was to be asked to name the author by the selection read.
"I
was the first one called on, and although there were forty-eight in the
class, no one else was called upon. The entire time was taken up in
discussing the three quotations I presented —passages from 'The Desire
of Ages,' No one could name the author. Then to my happy surprise, the
teacher said:
”Well,
class, that is from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White.” She spoke at length,
saying she knew nothing of the author's religion, but she felt able to
declare herself as to literature; and she said it was a pity Mrs. White's
writings were not better known in the literary world. She said she was
going to make a strong statement, but she meant every word. Of all the writings
she knew, outside of the Bible, there were none so full of beauty, so
pure, and yet so simple, as the writings of Mrs. E.G. White."—Quoted
in The Gift of Prophecy, by DA Delafield, page 34.
The
curator of the religious book section of the Library of Congress in
Washington D.C., the largest library in the world, was asked if he would
name the book that, in his opinion, was the finest book on the life of
Christ, in print or out of print. An expert in his field, and
well-acquainted with the holdings and accessions of the Library of
Congress dealing with biographical works on the life of Christ, he
replied without hesitation, "The book, 'Desire of Ages,' by Ellen White is the most beautifully written book on the life of Christ in the
Library of Congress."
And
yet this was the writer who, when asked about the authorship of her books,
humbly said:
"I
walk with trembling before God. I know not how to speak or trace with pen
the large subjects of the atoning sacrifice. I know not how to present
subjects in the living power in which they stand before me. I tremble for
fear lest I shall belittle the great plan of salvation by cheap words. I
bow my soul in awe and reverence before God and say, 'Who is sufficient
for these things?' "—Letter 40, 1892.
And
this was the author who said:
"Sister
White is not the originator of these books. They contain the instruction
that during her lifework God has been giving her. They contain the
precious, comforting light that God has graciously given His servant to be
given to the world. From their pages this light is to shine into the
hearts of men and women leading them to the Saviour."—Colporteur
Evangelist, page 36.
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