The nature of the Ellen G. White manuscript file at "Elmshaven," and its various classes of documents, was considered last month. It is our desire in this article to note the specific instruction from Mrs. White to her trustees regarding the use of these files.
The question has often arisen: do the trustees have the authority and right to make use of manuscripts? Was it intended by Mrs. White that after her decease, any compilations or new publications should appear, compiled in whole or in part from this extensive source? If so, what provisions were made for the guidance of the appointed custodians of these writings?
This third phase of the trustees' work, that of custodianship of the manuscripts, was amply covered in the Ellen G. White "will," which specifically provides that to the trustees are entrusted her "general manuscript file and all indexes pertaining thereto," with provisions for "publishing" "manuscripts," and for the "printing of compilations from my manuscripts."
This instruction is very explicit, and it is readily observed that Mrs. White anticipated certain future needs, and made provision that certain manuscripts which had not been published should appear in print for the guidance of the church. Before her death, the work of the custodians of the Ellen G. White writings was several times discussed orally by Mrs. White with her associate workers, and while we have no written record of this oral instruction, yet it stands out clearly in the minds of those present during the interviews.
The trustees do not, however, rest the basis of their action merely on oral instruction. In published statements and in a number of her manuscripts are to be found definite statements, which, studied in conjunction with the "will," develop a clear outline of the work Mrs. White expected the trustees to carry forward after her decease.
Here is one statement which presents the matter in a definite way. It is to be found in a letter bearing date of November 22, 1910, and addressed to her son, W. C. White, who at that time was attending a conference in the East. Mrs. White was busy with her bookwork at "Elmshaven," and after speaking of what she had been doing, and of her desire, if it was possible, to visit the East again and bear once more her living testimony, her mind turns to the future, and she says:
"I have much written in the diary * I have kept in all my journeys that should come before the people if essential, even if I did not write another line. I want that which is deemed worthy to appear, for the Lord has given me much light that I want the people to have; for there is instruction that the Lord has given me for His people. It is light that they should have, line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. This is now to come before the people, because it has been given to correct specious errors and to specify what is truth, The Lord has revealed many things pointing out the truth, thus saying, This is the way, walk ye in it." —Mrs. E. G. White, Letter 117, 1910.
Let us analyze this statement carefully:
1. Note the date of writing, November 22, 1910, a year after the appearance of volume nine of the "Testimonies."
2. There is "much written in the diary . . . that should come before the people."
3. This was to "come before the people if essential," and it was her wish that "that which is deemed worthy" should appear. This is very important, for here we find stated the condition which should control the selection for publication of any manuscript matter. Here it is plainly implied that study would be given to the manuscripts, and selection be made for use in accordance with the needs; not all that was written was to be published.
4. This matter in her "diary" is spoken of as "instruction" that "the Lord has given" "for His people" and "light" that they should have.
5. This instruction and light "has been given to correct specious errors and to specify what is truth."
With this statement in mind indicating her anticipation of the future use of the unpublished matter, let us now turn to specific instruction which we find was recorded on the manuscripts themselves, in connection with her rereading of them.
As has previously been stated, there was kept in Mrs. White's writing room, a file of her manuscripts in addition to the office file kept in the vault. These were bound in yearly volumes, in chronological order, convenient for her use. Many of these volumes she read over from time to time, and in some cases she added interlineations. Not only this, but her mind turned to the future usefulness of these documents, which had already filled their first intended mission. In her own hand, at the top of many of the manuscripts, and sometimes signed with her name, she gave counsel regarding their future use.
An excellent illustration of this is found in the book of letters for 1908. This is the complete file for the year, and contains more than 700 typewritten pages. Opening the volume to the first letter, written December 30, 1907, but not copied until January 1, 1908, and so filed in the 1908 file and bearing the credit of D-2-1908, we find this statement written in ink, "I have looked this book through quite thoroughly, and it contains much that must come to the people. Ellen G. White." [Italics mine.] Then in pencil at the top of the sheet are the words, "Consider this article."
Turning through the book, other statements are found. The top of one page bears this message, "This I have read and accept to be placed in a book of experience. Ellen G. White." And at the head of a letter written June 17, and bearing the file number of 11-1881908, we find the words "Not publish."
In the manuscript file for 1913, we find the following statement at the head of the sheet recording an interview held December 4, 1913, bearing file credit of MS-12-1913:
"This is correctly presented, and I repeat this for the benefit of others. May the Lord help us and teach and guide us at every step in our difficulties."
A letter written January 22, 1905, and bearing file number of W-267-1905, carries the handwritten words, "Not to be published."
A letter to our "Medical Missionaries," written October 30, 1903, and bearing the file number of B-254-1903, carries this clear message:
"This is to be republished where and when it will serve the cause of truth for this time."
And then her mind turns to the one for whom she particularly intended the letter, and she says, "Your great desire to be original has led you into false paths."
Other annotations might be cited, but these are sufficient to indicate clearly that as she looked over these files of manuscripts and letters, she thought of the future service they would be to the cause.
While we cannot analyze each of these statements in detail, yet we desire to call attention to several points of importance. In the book of letters for 1908, the same page which carries the statement of her careful examination of the letters in the book, also records the words, "Consider this article," indicating that the writer expected that use would be made of those articles whose publication would be timely.
The statement that a certain letter was "to be republished where and when it will serve the cause of truth for this time," is likewise of vital importance.
The two instances cited, where the negative instruction, "Not to be published," is found, are no less significant. Both of these letters are personal and confidential. These serve to indicate that it was not Mrs. White's intention that every communication from her pen, regardless of its character, should be published for general circulation, but rather that documents dealing with subjects of a confidential nature should be handled in a manner in keeping with their content.
In connection with our study of the foregoing specific instruction, we have for consideration some cautions which Mrs. White felt constrained to record in print:
"Regarding the Testimonies, nothing is ignored; nothing is cast aside; but time and place must be considered. Nothing must be done untimely. Some matters must be withheld because some persons would make an improper use of the light given."—"The Writing and Sending Out of the Testimonies to the Church," p. 25.
These principles clearly outlined in the instruction and statements which we have presented, have been a guide to the trustees in the execution of their work as custodians of the Ellen G. White manuscripts.
As a part of their work, specific instruction, local as to place, and addressed to those carrying the work in certain fields or institutions, has in some cases been gathered together, and placed in the hands of those bearing the responsibilities of the work in that particular field in the form of typewritten compilations. Crises have been squarely met by mimeographed collections of selections from the manuscripts containing instruction given to meet similar issues in the past. New publications have appeared, presenting compilations from the manuscripts and other sources, bringing to our workers and laymen valuable instruction and counsel dealing with lines not so well covered by what has, prior to their publication, been generally available. "Medical Ministry," "A Call to Medical Evangelism," and "Gospel Temperance Work," are examples.
In the preparation of each of the documents and publications issued by the trustees, their work has been guided by the provisions made by Mrs. White in her "will," authorizing this work of "printing of compilations from my manuscripts," and the instruction that that which is "essential" in her manuscripts should "come before the people."
This work has not been undertaken without trustees have also recognized the fact that Mrs. a realization of the great care that must be White counseled with her brethren in regard exercised in the selection of that which should be published, and a consideration of the factors of "time and place" which she recognized as important in the use of the instruction. The to the use of testimony matter. This she states as follows:
"In the early days of this cause, if some of the leading brethren were present when messages from the Lord were given, we would consult with them as to the best manner of bringing the instruction before the people."—"Writing and Sending Out of the Testimonies to the Church," p. 5.
It is the aim of the trustees, in dealing with the manuscripts, to follow the principles which guided Mrs. White in the selection of matter for publication. Just as Mrs. White counseled with leading brethren regarding her work and the publication of the Testimonies, in the same way the trustees of her work are seeking to do this in carrying forward the work committed to them. They avail themselves of the best counsel obtainable in bringing their plans before the officers of the General Conference.
The trustees sense the sacred responsibility of their task as custodians of the Ellen G. White writings, and they look to God, who favored His humble servant with the privilege of bearing His messages to the church for guidance and blessing in fulfilling their work in carrying forward this important trust.
* Note—While Mrs. White kept from time to time a daily diary of her experience, yet this is not what she referred to primarily in using the term "diary." Her writing was often done in ruled blank books, more than a score of which are now in the vault, and many of the manuscripts which appear in the file are found to have been written first in these books. Some manuscripts on file bear the general heading "Diary," used in this particular sense. It will be remembered that this term is used by her in the "Testimonies" in referring to her writings in manuscript form. (See "Testimonies," Volume VIII, page 206, where she says, "In my diary I find the following written one year ago," and it is plain from what follows that she is referring to testimony matter.
