Outstanding among the very first of the publications of the Adventists who were commencing to herald the third angel's mes sage, is A Word to the "Little Flock," published by James White at Brunswick, Maine, on May 30, 1847. This time-worn pamphlet of twenty-four crowded pages is truly a venerable document, as it reveals the sane, sound, careful work of certain of the pioneer laborers during that very distressing period shortly after the great disappointment of October 22, 1844. To appreciate the full significance of this pamphlet one must place himself back in the time of the disappointment, with the world in general scoffing because of the seeming failure in the fulfillment of what was termed "Miller's prophecy" ; with the larger part of the former advent believers denying that they were led of God in their experience, repudiating the integrity of the October 22 termination of the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14, casting aside their interpretations of the message of the second angel of Revelation 14, concertedly rejecting the message of the third angel which had begun to sound, and with some advocating many strange and discordant views. In such a setting the clear thinking, the confident tone, and the hopeful message of A Word to the "Little Flock" shines forth as a beam of light piercing the darkness.
It was near the close of that critical four-year period preceding the memorable Sabbath Conferences of 1848 that this pamphlet was sent forth on its mission. The names of three early workers, James White, Ellen G. White, and Joseph Bates appear as those responsible for the various utterances which its pages carried, but the pamphlet was primarily a James White publication, devoted to the setting forth of his views on unfulfilled prophecy. His seven principal articles were prepared for publication in The Day-Dawn, one of the short-lived Adventist periodicals of the time, issued by O. R. L. Crosier at Canandaigua, New York. But when the contributions were ready, the paper had ceased to exist, so Elder White, after taking counsel, decided to issue them in pamphlet form.
The titles of the seven articles are: "The Seven Last Plagues," "The Voice of God," "The Time of Trouble," "The Time of Jacob's Trouble," "Thoughts on Revelation 14," "The Temple of God," "The Judgment."
When these articles on prophecy were penned by James White, there were evidently not more than one hundred Sabbathkeeping Adventists in the United States. As a youthful minister of twenty-five, he worked almost alone in setting forth the views he had formulated up to that time. This was a full year before the five Sabbath conferences convened, at which time those whom we today revere as our spiritual forefathers met together and with open minds and hearts searched the Word of God to better understand its truths. This study resulted in the clarifying and binding together of the essentials of the body of teaching which forms Seventh-day Adventist doctrine.
With a full understanding of the historic setting of A Word to the "Little Flock," the reader will not be disturbed by finding that in a few instances positions set forth by Elder White on some points were modified by him in later years, as more mature and joint study revealed a clearer view of such truths. This document primarily presents a picture of one worker's attempt to cheer and aid those about- him through a dissemination of light which was beginning to unfold. To one familiar with the many contemporary voices that were heard advocating discordant views and extreme positions, the clarity of reasoning and the essential correctness of perspective and purity of teaching of these articles is remarkable. James White held before his readers that as they advanced, light would come, which should be welcomed and cherished. Note his sound reasoning on this point, set forth in the very heart of this pamphlet:
"As we travel onward toward the Holy City, our burning lamps discover new objects : but we cannot see all at once. If we reject a little light, because we can not see the whole clearly at once, it will displease our heavenly Leader ; and we shall be left in the dark. But if we cherish the light, as fast as it is our Lord's will to open it to us, He will increase the light; and our souls will feast upon the opening truths of the blessed Bible."—A Word to the "Little Flock," p. 6.
Ellen G. White Communications
Of special interest in the heart of this early publication, are the three communications written by Mrs. E. G. White. Significantly, these, too, depicted the experiences yet before the people of God;
The first is a letter addressed to Eli Curtis, in reply to his request for Mrs. White's comments on his prophetic positions as presented in articles in The Day-Dawn. In this published answer Mrs. White refers to his views on such points as the two resurrections, the Holy City, the cleansing of the sanctuary, etc. It is at the close of this letter that Mrs. White endorses the views on the sanctuary question as set forth so clearly by O. R. L. Crosier. We give her statement here:
"I believe the sanctuary, to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days, is the New Jerusalem Temple, of which Christ is a minister. The Lord showed me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light, on the cleansing of the sanctuary, etc.; and that it was His will, that Brother C. should write out the view which he gave us in the Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel fully authorized by the Lord, to recommend that extra, to every saint."—Id., p. 12.
This published letter addressed to Mr. Curtis was not reprinted, as the full presentation of other views on the subjects treated obviated the necessity of its being repeated.
The second communication from Mrs. White is an account of her first vision, which appears under the title, "To the Remnant Scattered Abroad." In introducing this, Elder White devotes a full page to a statement setting forth the Scriptural justification for the last-day appearance of the gift of prophecy. He then states that he presents a reprint of the vision which had been published earlier, and to which he had appended certain Scripture references. The account of the first vision which then appears was written by Mrs. White on December 20, 1845, as a personal letter to Enoch Jacobs, editor of the Day-Star published at Cincinnati, Ohio.
As this Adventist paper came to her home in Portland, Maine, Ellen Harmon noticed that the editor was wavering in his confidence in the integrity of their October 22 experience, and in her effort to help him she wrote out a brief account of the revelation and sent it to him. Although a postscript to the communication stated that "this was not written for publication ; but for the encouragement of all who may see it, and be encouraged by it, E. G. W.," Mr. Jacobs published it as a "Letter From Sister Harmon," in the issue of January 24, 1846. In an accompanying note he stated that "the vision of Sister Harmon in the present number, is published at the request of many friends that have heard it read."—Day-Star, Ian. 24, 1846. In a subsequent communication to Editor Jacobs, which she requested him to publish, Ellen Harmon on February 15, expressed her surprise at seeing her first letter in print, in these words :
"My vision which you published in the Day-Star was written under a deep sense of duty, to you, not expecting you would publish it. Had I for once thought it was to be spread •before the many readers of your paper, I should have been more particular."—Day-Star, March 14, 1846.
On April 6, 1846, this account of the first vision, together with the vision described in her letter of February 15, 1846, was reprinted on a large single sheet twelve by sixteen inches in size, bearing the title "To the Little Remnant Scattered Abroad," and in this broadside form was sent out by James White and H. S. Guerney, with the expense shared jointly. The records indicate that 250 copies were printed and distributed. The statement of the first vision as given in A Word to the "Little Flock" embodies the full account of the vision as first printed.
The third Ellen G. White communication is a reprint of a letter addressed to Joseph Bates, in which she describes what she was shown in a vision which was given at the Howland home at Topsham, Maine, on April 7, 1847. In this vision Mrs. White was seemingly conducted to the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, and viewed the tables of stone bearing the law of God, with a "halo of glory" about the fourth commandment. Then with the importance of the Sabbath emphasized, she was seemingly carried into the future, and viewed the events connected with the final conflicts and victory of the church. On receiving this handwritten letter, Elder Bates arranged for its publication in broadside form, to which he appended his remarks setting forth the basis of his confidence in the revelations given to Mrs. White. This statement accompanies the vision as it was reprinted in A Word to the "Little Flock." Scripture references were also added by James White to this third E. G. White communication as it went into the pamphlet.
These two connected presentations of important visions have been largely reprinted again and again by Mrs. White in her books. That some words, phrases, and sentences which appeared in these early accounts were left out by her in later printings has been a source of concern to some and has opened the way for various conjectures as to the reasons for these omissions. This will be dis cussed in a subsequent article.
Worthy of special note in connection with the very early statements of both James White and Joseph Bates, when speaking of the visions of Mrs. White and the present-day manifestation of the Spirit of prophecy, is their very sound position on the question of spiritual gifts. In concluding his brief discussion of the last-day appearance of the prophetic gift, James White declares:
"The Bible is a perfect, and complete revelation. It is our only rule of faith and practice. But this is no reason, why God may not show the past, present, and future fulfillment of His Word, in these last days, by dreams and visions; according to Peter's testimony. True visions are given to lead us to God, and His writ ten Word ; but those that are given for a new rule of faith and practice, separate from the Bible, cannot be from God, and should be rejected."—A Word to the "Little Flock," p. 13.
Indeed this little pamphlet does give us an in sight into the experience and thinking of our spir itual forefathers and their earnest efforts to dis cover their position and work, and to ascertain what the future held for the believers and the world.
