Alleged errors of Ellen White

[djconklin]

It is frequently alleged that EGW made all sorts of mirtakes that disqualify her from being a prophet.

One whopper told about her is that she was a millionaire.

In fact, all of the assets at the time of her death were valued at about $90,000 (all figures are rounded)--so, that's not a million and we haven't even subtracted her debts to get her net worth yet! When the debts are subtracted she ends up being $20,000 in the hole. Bankers and financial experts will tell you that there is no way you can be a millionaire when you are in the hole.

For more details see: http://www.brainerdsda.org/egw/Egwfinance.html

Now, what the critics typically do here is simply change their argument to "Didn't she tell us to not be in debt?". They don't admit that they were wrong before. They'll never admit that they didn't know what they were talking about.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

It is frequently alleged that EGW made all sort so mirtakes that disqualify her from being a prophet. One whopper told about her is that she was a millionaire.

Quick question--who has alleged that Mrs. White was a millionaire?

God bless,
BFA

 

[RC_NewProtestants]

Alleged errors of Ellen White

It is frequently alleged that EGW made all sort so mirtakes that disqualify her from being a prophet.

One whopper told about her is that she was a millionaire.

The second line does not seem to have anything to with the first line and the subject. Unless you mean that it was an error to be a millionaire, but the rest of the post says she was not a millionaire so I still don't know what this has to do with EGW errors.

 

[djconklin]

Quick question--who has alleged that Mrs. White was a millionaire?

God bless,
BFA

Hmm, shouldn't be too hard to search the web to find examples.

I first heard of it on a now defunct forum. The EGW Estate has a web page on it because people have said it.

1) http://www.truthorfables.com/The_Desirer_of_Wages.htm

2) http://www.ellenwhite.org/egw25.htm

 

[djconklin]

The second line does not seem to have anything to with the first line and the subject. Unless you mean that it was an error to be a millionaire, but the rest of the post says she was not a millionaire so I still don't know what this has to do with EGW errors.

It is simply one of the many claims made against EGW. We'll start with a simply one and work our way up. Of course, that's assuming that the critics will even take the time to look at the evidence. I already know that most of the critics have never even looked at the studies and Dr. Veltman and I have done on the plagiarism claim.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

Hmm, shouldn't be too hard to search the web to find examples.

I first heard of it on a now defunct forum. The EGW Estate has a web page on it because people have said it.

1) http://www.truthorfables.com/The_Desirer_of_Wages.htm

2) http://www.ellenwhite.org/egw25.htm

I had never seen either of these sites. Thank you for posting them. They present some interesting information for all to read.

You seem to find fault with these sites because you believe that Mrs. White died in debt. Yet, these links focus on moneys she made while she was still alive. Each of the points made in these links is supported by statements made by James or Ellen White. With which of the points made in these links do you take issue?

God bless,
BFA

 

[djconklin]

Others apparently either had seen the sites or picked up the claim second-hand.

You seem to find fault with these sites because you believe that Mrs. White died in debt.

I do not believe anything about whether or not EGW died in debt--I am simply going by the facts which at least one of the web sites states as a fact.

Yet, these links focus on moneys she made while she was still alive. Each of the points made in these links is supported by statements made by James or Ellen White. With which of the points made in these links do you take issue?

I am only interested in the claim that she was a millionaire. If she had been then it should have showed up in her estate. Since they are wrong on the one point why should I waste time looking at the rest?

 

[Byfaithalone1]

If she had been then it should have showed up in her estate.

Are you suggesting that every person who ever made a substantial amount of money dies with a substantial amount of money?

Do you deny that she brought in substantial amounts of money at certain points in her life? If so, why?

God bless,
BFA

 

[djconklin]

Are you suggesting that somehow every one who makes lots of money they die in debt?

Money is only one asset among many.

As EGW noted while she was alive when people were "talking" about all the mony she was "making" from the sale of "her" books she gave lots of it away to help others. You still can't be a milionaire when you do that.

"You have made reports in reference to me being rich. How did you know I was? For about ten years I have been working on borrowed property. Should I sell all that I have in my possession, I would not have sufficient to pay my outstanding debts.
"Where have I invested this money? You well know where. I have been the bank from which to draw to carry forward the work in this country. . . .
"I have borrowed money to do the work which must be done. Not one shilling of the donations sent me, from the least sum to larger amounts, has been used for myself. Our good Sister Wessels made me a present of a silk dress, and made me promise I would not sell it. But I thought that had she placed in my hands the amount the dress was worth, it would have been used in the cause of God.
"I see debts on our meetinghouses and it hurts my soul. I cannot but feel distress over the matter. I have invested money in the Parramatta church, in the Prospect church, in the Napier church, in the Ormondville church, in the Gisborne church, and in the education of students. I have sent persons to America that they might be fitted to return and do work in this country. If this is the way to become rich, I think it would be well for others to try it.
"All the royalty on my foreign books sold in America is sacredly dedicated to God for the education of students, that they may be fitted for the ministry. Thousands of dollars have been thus expended. Is this the way to accumulate money? The old story that Canright and others have circulated, that I was worth thirty thousand dollars, all fiction. It has increased to thirty thousand pounds, by report, since I came to Australia.
"I do not know where it is. I am using up my means, just as fast as it comes in, to carry forward the work in this country. If I had thirty thousand pounds, I would not have sent to Africa for the loan of one thousand pounds on which I am paying interest. If I could, I would get a loan of another thousand pounds, so that we might be able to put up the main school building.
"I have not thirty thousand pounds. I only wish I had a million dollars. I would do as I did in Sydney. I would put men in the field to labor, defraying their expenses from my own funds. We need one hundred men where we now have one in the field" (Letter 98a, 1897).

 

[Byfaithalone1]

Are you suggesting that somehow every one who makes lots of money they die in debt?

Money is only one assey among many.

As EGW noted while she was alive when people were "talking" about all the mony she was "making" from the sale of "her" books she gave lots of it away to help others. You still can't be a milionaire when you do that.

Agreed. And yet you have not disputed the assertions of the links you provided that Mrs. White brought in substantial amounts of money at various points in her life.

God bless,
BFA

 

[djconklin]

I was editing my post while you made yours.

I told you before that I am not going to deal with the rest of the web page--they already have one fact wrong--why should I deal with the rest? It seems like you are trying to avoid admitting that the claim she was a millionaire was a lie.

 

[DarylFawcett]

Here is what seems to be a good web site for critics of Ellen White to look at:

http://www.ellen-white.com/

 

[honorthesabbath]

ah--why should we worry about EGW--seems many in this forum have themselves a new 'prophet' by the name of Desmond Ford!! hehe

 

[Adventist Dissident]

I don't think the argument is that she was a millionarie, I think the argument is that she lived like she was rich and died in debt and left it to other to figure out how to pay it off.

 

[honorthesabbath]

I'm curious. Can someone show me the texts that being wealthy disqualifies ones from being a prophet or even being a servant of God? I must have have over-looked it somewhere.

 

[djconklin]

I don't think the argument is that she was a millionarie

If it was then they wouldn't have made it.

I think the argument is that she lived like she was rich and died in debt and left it to other to figure out how to pay it off.

1) She didn't live rich in the first place. 2) She noted that used the money she earned to help people in need. 3) It wasn't that hard to pay off the debt--royalties from her books saw to that.

 

[djconklin]

I'm curious. Can someone show me the texts that being wealthy disqualifies ones from being a prophet or even being a servant of God? I must have have over-looked it somewhere.

Very astute observation. The critics are just making things up as they go along hoping that one or more of their whoppers will stick.

 

[Adventist Dissident]

If it was then they wouldn't have made it.



1) She didn't live rich in the first place. 2) She noted that used the money she earned to help people in need. 3) It wasn't that hard to pay off the debt--royalties from her books saw to that.

conklin have you been to elmshaven? I have. I used to live right near it. Elmshaven is nice even by todays standard. back when electricty was not readily avialiable, It was in elmshaven. that is pretty nice. Elmshaven is an estate. I would live there in an heart beat. She was not poor or sturggling. she lived above the middle class. she was not a commoner at death. She was a world traveler, world famous and very well off.

 

[djconklin]

conklin {sic} have you been to elmshaven?

Nope, what's your point?

I have. I used to live right near it.

Lots of proof for that.

Elmshaven is nice even by todays {sic} standard.

How many square feet? Did they have hopt and running water back then? Indoor plumbing? Or, an outhouse? How big is it compared with the place she lived in at, say, Battle Creek?

Why didn't you mention that it was 15 years old when she bought it?

back when electricty was not readily avialiable {sic}, It was in elmshaven{sic}. that is pretty nice. Elmshaven is an estate.

I'm checking into that.

She was not poor or sturggling.{sic}

Who said she was? This is a red-herring.

she lived above the middle class.

Hmm, and yet she was $20k in the hole at the time of her death, very interesting.

she {sic} was not a commoner at death.

True, she was $20K in the hole. Why the half-truth?

She was a world traveler, world famous and very well off.

Oh wow, just because she's been to Europe and Australia she's a "world traveler." I suppose you proved that she was world famous by going to every nook and cranny and asking if they knew her, right? "very well off"?!? and yet $20K in the hole at death, I doubt it.