Vol. 5, No. 3 (PDF)
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VOL UME 5 THIRD QUARTER, 1995 N UMBER 3 ADVENTIST PIONEER LIBRARY "We have nothing to fearfor the future, except as we shallforget the way the Lordhas led us, andHis teaching in ourpast history. " LS 196 UALIFIE ________for the Jab :By 'Iud:Bi.Jwff ames S. White possessed formal studies. His firstrecorded both the assets and the li leadership role was before age J abilities ofa true leader. A 20. "He was especially success review of these and of his ful in school government, reduc experiencesprovides encourage ing to an orderly and studious ment and caution alike to those conditionschoolswhichhadbeen who are called to lead today and notorious for their unruly and to those who are called to follow, unmanageable character.'? whether it be in a family or in a church. The ability to lead men and women to Christ. Chosen by God. His next leadership experi "God has selected my hus ence came at age 21, after he bandand givenhimspecial quali heard William Miller and Joshua fications, natural ability, and an V. Himes speak in September, experience to lead out His people 1842. During the winter months in the advance work."! of 1842-1843, "traveling with a borrowed horse and a patched Early signs ofleadership. up bridle and saddle,"3 James led James White had a lifetime over 1000 men and women to total ofjust 29 weeks offormal Christ. This work of spiritual education. Therefore,his breadth Photo: Courtesy E. G. White Estate leadership continued after the of understanding and literary Lorna Linda Branch Office passing ofthe time, as he worked ability came more from his ex to encourage the advent believ posure to the practical duties of life and his per ers and combat fanaticism. sonal application to study and investigation than to continued on page two LEST WE FORGET, 1995 FEATURES: JAMES SPRINGER WHITE & ELLEN GOULD HARMON WHITE This issue: James and his leadership role in the Seventh-day Adventist church. PAGE 2 3rd Quarter, 1995 LEST WE FORGET social enjoyment with his fam i1y. In his devotionto the causehe has frequently endangered his Qualified for the Job Continuedfrom page one health and life. He has been so much pressed with the burden of this work that he has not had suit ollowing God's leading. church properties.'? In May of . able time for study, meditation, "In the early clays of 1863 the General Conferencewas and prayer. God has not re F our ...work the Lord did organized with six states repre quired him to be in this position, designate Elder James sented. James White was unani even for the interest and progress White as one who, in connection mously elected president but de of the publishing work at Battle with his wife, and under the clinedthe position,not wanting it Creek. There are other branches Lord's special guidance, was to to appear that he had worked for ofthework,other interests ofthe take aleadingpartin the advance church organization in order to cause, that have been neglected ment of this work,'" "Through be its head. throughhis devotiontothis one.?" the Testimonies ofHis Spirit, He (emphasis supplied.) had imparted to him great light. An instrument for justice. He had cautioned, warned, re "...[James] had elevated Disease and discouragement proved, and encouraged...."5 views ofthe Lord's claims upon from overwork. When God through visions all who profess His name-s-of "[James]...has done, single givenhis wifeinstructedJames at their duty to stand in defense of handed,the work ofthree men."!" age 27 "to publish the light that the widow and the fatherless, to "Here is where the mistake was shining upon ourpathway,'" be kind to the poor, to help the has been made by his brethren in he soon began printing Present needy. He wouldjealously guard urging him, and by himself in Truth. Leaders are often called the interests ofhis brethren, that consenting,to standunderthe bur to start out small and selflessly. no unjust advantage should be dens and responsibilities that he James White clearly manifested taken ofthem."!' had borne alone for years. "15 this levelofcommitment,and the "Nature has been outraged work was "carried forward at a Often misunderstood and not time and again. While his breth great sacrifice of strength and appreciated. ren have found fault with him for means."? "I was shown that the posi doingso much,they have not come tion of my husband has been a up to take their share of the re Building up new endeavors. very difficult one. A pressure of sponsibility, but have been too "The earnest efforts of my careand laborhas beenupon him. willing to make him responsible husband to build up the institu His brethren in the ministry have for everything.?" tions in our midst I also saw reg not hadthese burdensto bear,and isteredin the LedgerofHeaven."8 they have not appreciated his la God-given gifts offidelity, bors. .. I was shown that his energy, and insight. Bringing order and stability. relation to the people ofGod was Ellen White saw on the judg At age 28 James beganto call similar, in some respects, to that ment ledger in heaven "underthe for the support oftravelling min of Moses to Israel. There were head of 'Fidelity,' was the name isters, and "appealed for the be murmurers against Moses, when ofmy husband."?" lievers to move in gospel order."? in adverse circumstances, and James had "ready judgment His first carefully developed se there have been murmurers andcleardiscerrunent,whichhave ries ofarticles on "GospelOrder" against him. "12 been gained through training and he published in the Review when exercise.?" she said. "God has he was 32 while living in New Tempted to neglect other given him the power to form and York, in December, 1853. needs. execute plans with the needed In 1860, at age 39,he led out "[My husband] has devoted firmness.becausehedidnotrefuse in the decision to incorporate the his interest almost entirely to the to exercise these qualities ofthe publishing association legally, building up ofthe cause ofGod, mind, and to venture in order to choose a church name, and orga regardless of his own personal advance the work ofGod. "19 nize the local churches to own interests and at the sacrifice of continued on page seven LEST WE FORGET 3rd Quarter, 1995 PAGE 3 TREAMS OF LIGH The Publishing Work Cy cRi.ah.a.J {!oofu-' n May 5, 1949, a centennial issue ofThe comprising a three-shilling pocket Bible, Cruden's AdventReview and Sabbath Herald was Condensed Concordance, and Walker's old dictio . published. F. D. Nichol included in his nary, minus one ofits covers. Destitute ofmeans, Oeditorial Ellen G. White's words, "We our hope ofsuccess was in God." (RH6-17-1880.) have nothing to fear for the future, except James had 1,000 copies ofthe first edition of as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and Present Truth published. He did not have enough His teaching in our past history." .God's leading in money to pay the printer to fold them. He took them the development ofthe publishing work is remark home where other believers helped fold and bundle able. James White, the man He chose to begin this them for mailing. Trips to the post office and printer work, did not hesitate to go forward once he re were 16-mile, round-trip walks for James, no easy ceived the divine mandate. task for one who walked with a limp at the best of The years immediately following the Great times. When believers learned ofthe need for Disappointment were a time ofintense activity for money to support the publication, the response was the pioneers. They travelled extensively toencour swift and generous. age the shaken believers to shore up their faith, and One can only stand in awe ofthe energy and they continued searching the Scriptures for greater determination ofJames White and the other pio light on the sanctuary and the real significance of neers. With so few workers they simply had to mix October 22,1844. The pioneers were young, travelling and speaking with the publication dead energetic, enthusiastic, and mostly quite poor. lines. They shared an unshakeable faith in a soon-coming Ellen White commented on this to Brother and Savior. Some method was necessary to more Sister Collins, "We should have written you before efficiently extend their efforts. but we have had no certain abiding place, but have James and Ellen White attended a meeting in travelled in rain, snow and blow with the child from Dorchester, Massachusetts in November, 1848, place to place. 1could not get the time to answer where Ellen received a vision about the proclama any letters and it took all ofJames' time to write for tion ofthe sealing message. As Ellen came out of the paper and get out the hymn book." (1MR3!.) vision, she turned to her husband and said, "I have By November, 1850, eleven issues ofPresent a message for you. You must begin to print a little Truth had been printed in Middletown, New York paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small and Paris, Maine. Working with Joseph Bates, J. N. at first; but as the people read, they will send you Loughborough, S. W. Rhodes and J. N. Andrews, means with which to print, and it will be a success James began publishing the Review, to affirm and from the first. From this small beginning it was clarify the key truths accepted by the believers. The shown to me to be like streams oflight that went magazine started as an 8-page journal published on a clear round the world." (LS125.) bi-weekly basis.