IN 1926 the Index to the Writings of Mrs. E.G. White was published. Although the Ellen G. White books were standard reading and reference works for the denomination, up to that time there had been no central index that would aid the workers to turn quickly to desired subject material or to comments on Scripture texts. The Index, which had been eight years in preparation, was heartily welcomed, and it has served as a handbook on the study table of every English-reading worker.
"Index" not a Concordance
As a subject index this reference work has served well. However, it soon developed that workers wished to put it to a use for which it was never intended—that of a concordance. It was inevitable that some would remember a choice phrase or sentence they had read somewhere and needed immediately for a sermon or an article. Many times the Index did not help them. From time to time it has been suggested that a concordance to the writings of Mrs. E. G. White should be prepared. Consideration of this suggestion soon revealed that such an undertaking would not be justified. So we have continued with the Index, which has served so well for nearly thirty years.
New Books Complicated Matters
During these past thirty years the trustees of the Ellen G. White Publications, in harmony with the instruction given to them by Mrs. White and by authorization of her will, have gathered from Ellen G. White sources not commonly available the material comprising such helpful compilations as Messages to Young People, Medical Ministry, Evangelism, Counsels on Diet and Foods, Welfare Ministry, The Adventist Home, and so forth. These books now constitute an important part of the Spirit of prophecy library of our workers and our people.
If one turns to the Index, however, to find quickly some important material, he often overlooks the fact that the books published subsequent to the Index could not be recognized in it. Consequently the Index does not make a sizable portion of the E. G. White material readily available to the workers, who should have it at their finger tips. The trustees of the Ellen G. White Publications have studied this matter from time to time, and just before the Autumn Council of 1954, final plans for a new and revised Index to the Writings of Mrs. E. G. White were developed. And when submitted to the Autumn Council they were approved.
"Index" Editor
Provision was made for the preparation of the manuscript for the new Index, and an editor for that particular task was chosen. We are therefore beginning the preparation of the manuscript. To head this work, we have called an evangelist and pastor of long experience in the United States and overseas, and one who has served as book editor in several of our publishing houses. R. L. Odom, as Index editor, brings to the task a broad background of experience that fits him well for this unique work.
A New Feature
The new Index will comprise three features covering all the current E. G. White books: (1) an enlarged subject index, (2) an enlarged Scripture index, and (3) a new feature, a catalog of choice and oft-used Ellen G. White quotations and phrases.
In addition to the great help that will come to our workers in a complete Index to all the current Ellen G. White books, with a better coverage of the material, the catalog of choice phrases will be a feature of special service. Although this will not be a concordance, we hope to assemble the larger part of the choice and oft-used quotations and list them under the key words that would be first thought of, and thus provide a feature that will serve in a large degree the need that a concordance would fill.
It is planned that in this particular feature the choice phrases would appear alphabetically, listed under the key word that would first come to mind in connection with the quotation, thus:
Argument—"a Christlike life is the most powerful argument in favor of Christianity" 9T 21
Cup—"not the empty cup that we have difficulty in carrying; it is the cup full to the brim" PK 59-60
Usefulness—"There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside" DA 250-1
We Need Your Help
This new feature will be enriched by the suggestions you and your fellow workers send to us. You have marked in your books such choice quotations and phrases, and many of them you have listed in your notebooks. Your help in bringing to our attention at this juncture the choice phrases and quotations you would wish to see listed in this third feature of the new Index will be of great service to us.
We recognize that this will call for some time on your part. We need these suggestions without delay. Will you please give us this assistance by listing the phrases and references? Send them to R. L. Odom, Index Editor, General Conference, Washington 12, D.C.
In listing your choice passages, do not bother to copy them in full or to spell out in full the title of the books in which they are found. It will suffice for us to find them if you indicate them briefly after the following manner:
"the empty cup" PK 59-60
"greatest want" Ed 57
"death before dishonor" 5T 147
"furnish Him the instruments" 9T 107
"a thousand ways to provide" DA 330
It may be that there are some choice Ellen G. White phrases or statements which you remember having read but cannot find, and for which you have been diligently searching. We would be pleased to have you list these also, so that the Index may present the materials our workers need.
As we begin our work in the new Index, we will welcome your suggestions and counsel, for we wish to make this reference book as useful as possible to you.
