Do you not see why one would get suspicious as to the source of all these statements that allegedly came from the pen of Mrs. White in regard to Dr. Kellogg's pantheistic views at the time when A.G. Daniells was determined to bring Dr. Kellogg to his terms, that he would rule over him or ruin him.(T.M.360) I believe that he and Prof. Prescoot were able to pull this off with the help of W.C. White who misinformed his mother by lying about Dr. Kellogg. sky
You accuse a Godly man of our church of lying to his own mother and provide no proof? These things did not "allegedly" come from Ellen White's pen, they did come from her pen, and thats why some see it needful to call me a spiritual dwarf or other such things when I bring them up.
For one, of many examples, your use of TM 360 here to "prove" what you say re AG Daniells is patently false and misleading at best. There is nowhere on that page that even mentions the man's name, or insinuates it is in application to him. Here is the page:
"Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me" [SPECIAL TESTIMONIES TO MINISTERS AND WORKERS (SERIES A, NO. 9, 1897), PAGES 16-21.]
Granville, Australia, September, 1895.
I do not find rest in spirit. Scene after scene is presented in symbols before me, and I find no rest until I begin to write out the matter. At the center of the work matters are being shaped so that every other institution is following in the same course. And the General Conference is itself becoming corrupted with wrong sentiments and principles. [SEE APPENDIX.] In the working of plans, the same principles are manifest that have controlled matters at Battle Creek for quite a length of time. {TM 359.1}
I have been shown that the Jewish nation were not brought suddenly into their condition of thought and practice. From generation to generation they were working on false theories, carrying out principles opposed to the truth, and combining with their religion thoughts and plans that were the product of human minds. Human inventions were made supreme. {TM 359.2}
The holy principles that God has given are represented as the sacred fire, but common fire has been used in place of the sacred. Plans contrary to truth and righteousness are introduced in a subtle manner on the plea that this must be done, and that must be done, "because it is for the advancement of the cause of God." But it is the devising of men that leads to oppression, injustice, and wickedness. The cause of God is free from every taint of injustice. It can gain no advantage by robbing the members of the family of God of their individuality or their rights. All such practices are abhorrent to God. He inspires no such practices as have been entered into by your councils in regard to the publication of books. {TM 359.3}
The Lord accepts no such transactions; prosperity will not attend these moves. Men connected with His work have been dealing unjustly, and is time to call a halt. Let men deal with men upon the principles of the Ten Commandments, and not ignore these principles in business transactions. False propositions are assumed as truth and righteousness, and then everything is worked in such a way as to carry out these propositions, which are not in accordance with the will of God, but are a misrepresentation of His character. {TM 360.1}
The great and holy and merciful God will never be in league with dishonest practices; not a single touch of injustice will He vindicate. Men have taken unfair advantage of those whom they supposed to be under their jurisdiction. They were determined to bring the individuals to their terms; they would rule or ruin. There will be no material change until a decided movement is made to bring in a different order of things. {TM 360.2}
Let no plans or methods be adopted in any of our institutions that will bind mind or talent under the control of human judgment; for this is not in God's order. God has given to men talents of influence which belong to Him alone, and no greater dishonor can be done to God than for one finite agent to bring other men's talents under his absolute control, even though the benefits of the same be used to the advantage of the cause. In such arrangements one man's mind is ruled by another man's mind, and the human agency is separated from God and exposed to temptation. Satan's methods tend to one end--to make men the slaves of men. And when this is done, confusion and distrust, jealousies and evil surmisings, are the result. Such a course destroys faith in God and in the principles which are to control, to purge from guile and every species of selfishness and hypocrisy. {TM 360.3}
You presume to do what you tell us not to do and rule our minds as to what we can believe from Ellen White's writings, and what we cannot? There is nothing in the above quote of TM, pg 360 that would justify anything you have accused Ellen White or any of our other leaders of. There is a reason she did not name who she was talking about. She wanted to avoid just what you are doing here on this forum. And you are demanding that we follow you only by agreeing with whatever you say is inspired or not inspired of Ellen White's writings? Where is the logic in all this?
Through the 1890's Elder A. T. Jones was much in Battle Creek. He attended all sessions of the General Conference from 1888 to 1905, and often presented important addresses. Ellen White had occasion in April, 1893, to caution Elder Jones regarding extreme views in his presentations of the relation of faith and works (1 SM 377-380), and a few months later to reprove him for giving wholehearted support to Anna Rice Phillips who claimed the gift of prophecy (2 SM 85-95).
From time to time Ellen White counseled him to exercise caution in his manner of speaking and writing so as to avoid giving offense. On October 5, 1897, he was elevated to the position of leading editor of the REVIEW AND HERALD. It was announced that with this arrangement Elder Jones "instead of speaking to comparatively few of our people at annual gatherings, he will address all of them every week. This will give to our churches and scattered brethren everywhere, the privilege of receiving, each week, the words of faith, hope, courage, and good cheer that have been a means of so much blessing to many all over both America and Europe." -- REVIEW AND HERALD, Oct. 5, 1897, p. 640. Uriah Smith served as associate editor.
This arrangement continued until May 14, 1901, when an adjustment was made, and Elder Uriah Smith was returned to the position as editor in chief of the REVIEW AND HERALD and Brother Jones was freed for evangelistic work in the field.
At the General Conference session held February 19 to March 8, 1897, at College View, Nebraska, Jones was elected a member of the General Conference Committee.
He served in this capacity until, in a most unusual action, he resigned some time prior to the General Conference of 1901. Concerning this it should be noted that subsequent to the General Conference session held in February, 1899, efforts were made to right certain wrongs pointed out by the testimonies, and it is reported:
"The efforts of the Committee in this direction did not in every instance meet with that hearty co-operation that might be expected. This caused Elder Jones to lose sight of the dignity of his position to the extent of allowing, as the Testimony says, 'an evil spirit to cast drops of gall into his words,' and, forgetting the warning given him of God, 'he pressed his brethren into hard places.' When mildly reproved by the president of the General Conference for his course, and counseled to make the matter right with the brethren by apology, he resigned from the 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, pp. 15, 16 (96-page pamphlet published in May, 1906, by the General Conference Committee).
At the General Conference session held in Battle Creek in April, 1901, as presented in chapters 17 and 18, the work of the church was reorganized, which reorganization resulted in the drawing in of a number of men to carry responsibilities.
The field was divided into union conferences and provision was made for the organization of General Conference departments. Jones was again elected to the General Conference Committee, a position which he held until the session of 1905.
In the summer of 1901 he was assigned to general work in the field, and attended certain camp meetings. He took the position that we should have no "kings", that is, we should not have conference presidents. This sentiment prevailed in the writing up of a new constitution at the General Conference of 1901. The result was that a General Conference Committee was elected, with the committee authorized to appoint a chairman and other officers. A. T. Jones gave strong support to this plan. As he entered the field,attending camp meetings in 1901, his work took him to the West Coast, first to the Pacific Northwest and then to California. At the California Conference session in June
he was elected president, and oddly enough,
accepted the office. His harsh and domineering spirit soon cost him the confidence of many of those with whom he worked.
In the summer of 1903, at a time when affairs at the conference were most uncomfortable, he had an interview at Elmshaven with Ellen White, in which he told her that at the request of Dr. J. H. Kellogg he was planning to go to Battle Creek to teach Bible in the American Medical Missionary College. He hoped to be able to help Dr. Kellogg. She counseled him not to go. He promised Sister White that he would be guarded. She had been warned in vision that such a move on his part would lead to his downfall. She wrote of it thus:
"In vision I had seen him [A. T. Jones] under the influence of Dr. Kellogg. Fine threads were being woven around him, till he was being bound hand and foot, and his mind and his senses were becoming captivated."--Letter 116, 1906.
Then, comments Ellen White, as she reported this to Brother Jones just before he went to Battle Creek, she could see "that his perceptions were becoming confused, and that he did not believe the warning given. The enemy works in a strange, wonderful way to influence human minds."--Ibid.
But Jones was sure that he would not fall away. He was a man with too much self-confidence.
In 1904, still a member of the General Conference Committee, he was invited to assist in meeting some religious liberty crises in Washington, D.C. But in a few months he was back in Battle Creek. Ellen White endeavored to draw Elder Jones away from Battle Creek into evangelistic work, and this would doubtless have saved the man. On February 26, 1905, she wrote:
"Elder A. T. Jones, God calls upon you to go out into the cities, and give the last message of warning. Look to God for your support as you go. Call the people together, and you will certainly not work in vain. Let the truth go forth as a lamp that burneth. No longer confine your efforts to one place. Let there be held, right where you are, a solemn convocation. Let there be a renunciation of self to God. Hold fast the beginning of your faith unto the end. Let not your faith waver. Go forth in faith . .
" There are those who have never heard the message of mercy and warning. In the name of the Lord I say, Delay not. Proclaim the gospel message in the cities of America. Scatter the seeds of truth throughout these cities. Take with you reliable men, who with pen and voice will act their part in proclaiming the message of present truth to the world." -- Letter 187, 1905.
But he continued in Battle Creek under influences he was no match for. He was soon in bitter opposition to his brethren and to the Spirit of prophecy. He issued a number of tracts and pamphlets in defending his course.
A number of enlightening statements made by Ellen White in communications to him or in which reference is made to him between the time he joined Dr. Kellogg in Battle Creek until her last message to him in 1911 are most revealing. There unfolds the picture of the progressive steps in the experience of a man, self-confident, flaunting warning messages, and deliberately placing himself under influences that finally captivated him and led to his spiritual destruction.
There follows in chronological order excerpts from several Ellen G. White documents:
