Book: General Conference Committee, A Statement Refuting Charges Made by A. T. Jones Against the Spirit of Prophecy and the Plan of Organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination (Washington, DC: General Conference Committee, 1906). HTML, Scan.
Contents: Refutes charges made by A. T. Jones after he had united with J. H. Kellogg in undermining the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Chapter 10: Five Thousand Dollars for Nashville
Further evidence cited by Elder Jones in proof that the General Conference Committee are not loyal to the Testimonies, is the question of providing five thousand dollars for the work in Nashville. He says:—
“Sister White says that in the time of the General Conference of 1905, at Takoma Park, Washington, she was shown in the night the needs of the South, and that five thousand dollars must be given immediately to the brethren—Butler and Haskell—for it. So plain was this and so urgent, that she said to Brother Haskell the next morning, ‘Have faith in God. You will carry five thousand dollars from this meeting’ for the work in the South. Then the Testimony proceeds: ‘But Willie said’ that Brother Daniells was very much perplexed with the conditions in Battle Creek, and the money could not be sent just then; and, ‘I said no more about it.’ This Testimony you have there in Washington.
“Now, did she see that night, as she says that she did, the needs of the South and so urgent that five thousand dollars should be carried from that very meeting for it? If she did, then how much loyalty to the Testimonies was there in ‘Willie’s’ setting it all aside so effectually that for full two months nothing at all was done in that direction, and when after full two months something was done, it was only because Testimonies were sent to the South as well as to Washington that would brook no more delay. And one of these said:—
[p. 48]
“‘This matter has been presented to me three times, and I was instructed that five thousand dollars ought to have been placed in Elder Haskell’s hands before he left the Conference grounds.’
“That is exactly the instruction that she says that she had on the Conference grounds, in the time of the Conference. She gave ‘instruction,’ at least to Brother Haskell and to ‘Willie.’ But ‘Willie’ simply and promptly set it aside. Now was that instruction from the Lord, or was it not? If it was, how much did ‘Willie’ care for it? Allowing what he said about conditions in Battle Creek, is it not possible that r the Lord knew of this, and knew as much about it as ‘Willie’ did? Or, is it true that ‘Willie’ is the supreme source of knowledge and understanding in the work of the Lord—even above and against the instruction of the Lord?. Or did ‘Willie’ believe a particle in that instruction’s having come from the Lord? If it was from the Lord, then how much loyalty to the Testimonies had ‘Willie’ when he set it aside? If it was from the Lord, and yet he did not believe that it was from the Lord, then how much loyalty to the Testimonies was there in what he did? Or shall it be said that it was not from the Lord, and was not Testimony, till it came out in writing on July 19, 20, full two months afterward? But if it was from the Lord when it was written out two months afterward, then was it not equally from the Lord when it was spoken to ‘Willie’ at the time? And in any case where in ‘Willie’s’ course in that matter does there appear any faintest suggestion of any real loyalty to the Testimonies?
“By the way, Brother, why haven’t you printed those two Testimonies of July 19, 20, 1905, in full; full names and all, in the Review and Herald or in some ‘Series A, B, or Z, No.’ something? For all the people to have those Testimonies, just as they are, would do a lot of good to the work in the South; why not print them?
“Now, please, Brother Daniells, am not involving [p. 49] you in ‘Willie’s’ course in the foregoing matter. I am perfectly willing to believe that he did not allow that word to get to you, as to the five thousand dollars going with Brother Haskell from that General Conference. The point that I make upon it is this: that is the course which ‘Willie’ took on that; the Testimony says so. Now since he can do such things as that, and at the same time is heartily and companionably fellowshipped by you as ‘loyal to the Testimonies,’ how is it that you can not just as heartily fellowship men who have far more respect for the Testimonies than that, but who possibly can not near as loudly urge upon other people ‘loyalty to the Testimonies’?”
The following statement concerning this matter is given by Elder W. C. White:—
Some Facts Concerning Sister White’s Request That $5,000 of the Overflow of the Washington Fund Be Sent to Nashville
“During the last days of the General Conference, and for several days after its close, mother’s time and strength were severely taxed.
“There were present at the Conference many old friends and fellow laborers from distant fields, whom she wished to see before their return to foreign lands. And there were many, from far and near who were asking for interviews with her.
“At the same time, mother was carrying on her heart the burden of the Loma Linda proposition, and the burden of the great needs of the Southern field.
“Early in the morning she would begin to write out some counsels for the church, and would sometimes express her anxiety to complete the writing before other matters pressed in to divert her mind, but only occasionally was she permitted to have the early morning hours undisturbed. I had a long list of requests for interviews, and [p. 50] I pressed them in just as fast as her strength would permit.
“On Tuesday, the day following the close of the Conference, May 31, mother wrote a brief note to. Elder Daniells, asking that five thousand dollars be placed in the hands of Elder Haskell before he left the meeting, to be used in purchasing the Nashville meeting-house.
“Some time Tuesday or Wednesday this note was handed to me with the request that I read it, and hand it to Elder Daniells. This note had been hastily written, and was difficult to read, and I could not then get it copied. I asked permission to delay till it could be copied. Afterward I told mother some of the perplexities that were upon us regarding money matters, such as the many pressing needs of the South for means, the argument that the General Conference ought to help several sanitariums, and the feeling on the part of the treasurer, that we should call a halt in institutional expenditures. I also told her that a subcommittee was working out propositions in behalf of the whole Southern field, and that I wished that we could avoid asking for so large a sum to be paid out in advance for the meetinghouse. I told mother that it seemed evident from Elder Haskell’s statement, that $1,000 paid down would secure the meeting-house. I also called attention to the fact that we were planning to call for gifts from our people everywhere to pay for the Nashville meeting-house, and that it would seem to take the strength out of the appeal if the meeting-house was fully paid for in advance.
“After hearing of our perplexities and our plans, mother told me I need not deliver the note to Elder Daniells.
“Near the close of the General Conference, probably the night of May 30, a scene was presented to mother, as described in her letter to Elders Evans and Washburn, of July 19, 1905, in which after a council meeting, it was announced that the Washington Fund was made up, and that there were several thousands of dollars overflow. [p. 51] Then a praise service was held, and after this arrangements were made for $5,000 of the overflow to go to the meeting-house in Nashville.
“In the light of this vision mother had a long talk with Elder Haskell, and told him that he would no doubt carry $5,000 with him from the meeting. She also had a talk with Elder Butler, and told him she intended to have a plain talk with the officers of the General Conference, regarding their duty toward the Southern field.
“But the demands upon mother’s time and strength, in the farewell interviews of the Conference closing were so taxing, that she evidently forgot her promise to Elder Butler, and the interviews which she planned to hold with the brethren regarding the Southern work were never held.
“It is probably for the same reason, that mother never mentioned to me or to any of us, as far as I can ascertain, except to Elder and Mrs. Haskell, what had been shown her about the sending of $5,000 to Nashville.
“Sunday morning, June 5, Elder Haskell asked me to present to the General Conference Committee his request for money to secure the Nashville meeting-house. I consented, and suggested that he put the request in writing. This he did, and when I saw the request was for $5,000, instead of $1,000 as I had understood it to be, I objected to presenting it, and Elder Haskell rearranged his plans so as to be able to present it himself. Elder Haskell seemed to be confident that he ought to have, and would have, $5,000.
“How it happened that he did not tell us what mother told him, I never understood. Probably he took it for granted that mother had told us or written it out.
“Five or six weeks later, mother wrote out the whole matter clearly in her letters of July 19 and 20 to Elders Evans and Washburn, and to the General Conference Committee.
“As soon as I saw these letters, I encouraged our [p. 52] brethren in Washington to act upon the counsel without delay, and although the Review and Herald was sorely in need of the funds, its board of trustees quickly turned over $5,000 to the Southern Union Conference for the Nashville work.
“In my letter to Professor Prescott, written August 11, 1905, I referred to this matter as follows:—
“‘When mother began to write about the matter here in California, I was greatly surprised. At first I could not understand it, but as she continued to write, the matter cleared up, and I am prepared to stand firmly with you and share the responsibility of doing what we are bidden to do, that is, to send the first $5,000 overflow to Nashville.
“‘I can understand the disappointment and perplexity this will bring to you and to your associates on the Review and Herald Board, if you look at it from a business standpoint. I am inclined, to believe, Brother Prescott, that it would be right for us to look at this as we do at the action of the widow who was going out to gather two sticks to bake a cake for herself and her son, and was told by Elijah to bring him a little cake first. And I believe with all my heart that if we receive this request and act upon it as the widow did, we shall receive the blessing of obedience. I know that it is in the power of God to work for us today as he worked for the widow in Elijah’s day.
“‘You and I know that in the past some very singular requests have come from mother to the Battle Creek Sanitarium and the Review and Herald to assist our work in Australia. To me these requests seemed strange at the time, but later on we were told that they were tests, and we have seen the two institutions which refused to respond to these requests pass through strange experiences. Brother Prescott, long to see our institutions enjoying the opposite experiences, and it is my belief that cheerful obedience to the calls of God in the face of opposing surroundings [p. 53] will open the Way for him to work for us and to save us from all our fears.
“‘I have always felt that it was right for the Washington Fund, in behalf of the sanitarium, school, and General Conference buildings, to be closed with the $100,000. I have always felt that it was right for $15,000 of the overflow to go to the Review and Herald. I am still of that opinion. But when we are plainly told that the first $5,000 should go to Nashville, I must cheerfully accept that as the better plan and higher wisdom than any of my own, and when I accept that, I also believe that God is able to make up to us the $15,000 for the Review and Herald in his own time and in his own way.’
“(Signed) W. C. White.”
These statements show clearly that Elder W. C. White does believe the Testimonies, and that the General Conference Committee and the members of the Review and Herald Board believe them, and act upon them promptly. The fact that the money was sent as soon as the Testimony was received is good evidence of what would have been done at the close of the General Conference, if all had then fully understood the matter. The charges made by Elder Jones, which, if true, would in no way invalidate the truthfulness of, the Testimonies, are shown to be utterly groundless.
The sarcastic and belittling manner in which Elder Jones refers to Elder W. C. White, a brother in the gospel ministry, is undignified, belittling to himself, and is wanting in common Christian courtesy, and deserving of rebuke. The relation which Elder White bears to the one whom the Lord has chosen as his instrument of communication with his remnant people is an important one. The Lord has plainly indicated, through the Testimonies, that he has called him to occupy this responsible and difficult position. For this reason, if for no other, he should be treated with respect and kindness by his fellow laborers.
[p. 54]