A TRIBUTE TO THE E. G. WHITE BOOKS

A Learned Rabbi Testifies about the book 'Patriarchs and Prophets' 

Tribute to the book 'Education' by an expert.

Teachers College

Columbia University

New York, NY

"Recently the book, Education, by Ellen G. White has been brought to my

attention. Written at the turn of the century, this volume was more than

50 years* ahead of its time. And I was surprised to learn that it was

written by a woman with but three years of schooling.

"The breadth and depth of its philosophy amazed me. Its concept of

balanced education, harmonious development, and of thinking and acting on

principle are advanced educational concepts. 

"The objective of restoring in man the image of God, the teaching of

parental responsibility, and the emphasis of self-control in the child

are ideals the world desperately needs. 

"Mrs. White did not necessarily use current terms. In fact, she did not

use the word "curriculum," in her writing. But the book "Education" in

certain parts treats all important curriculum principles. She was

concerned with the whole learner--the harmonious development of the

physical, mental and spiritual powers.

"Many today are stressing the development of the intellect. But feelings

and emotional development are equally important. In our changing society,

the ability to act on thought and in terms of principle in central. It is

this harmonious development that is so greatly needed, yet so generally

neglected today.

I am not surprised that the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

hold the writings of Mrs. White in great respect and make them central in

developing the educational programs in their schools." 

Florence Stratemeyer 

Professor of Education

* Written in the 1950's

That Author is Inspired!

These were the words of an influential lady after she had been persuaded to read "Desire of Ages," while visiting our England sanitarium. She returned from her reading all aflame with interest and exclaimed:

Why, a little people like you ought not to have this book! It should be in the hands of the great London publishers so it could be brought to the attention of all."

Naturally she began to read other books by the same author as "Desire of Ages" and was amazed at their wonderful teaching. "That author is inspired," she declared, and she wrote out this testimonial:

"After a lifetime of studying the religions of the world--the efforts of the human soul to get into contact with the Infinite--I have come across a book by Ellen White, the very name of which describes its motive, 'The Desire of Ages.' Since reading this truly wonderful book my most ardent wish for this suffering, distraught world is that every man and woman should become, through its pages, familiar with its supreme Subject, and that the mind of every child should be nourished on it. I can imagine no gift to mankind that could help humanity more really to live, for in it are, indeed, the words of Eternal Life." --C. E. Weaks in North Pacific Union Gleaner, July 13, 1937.

"First for Spiritual Discernment and Practical Application

To select five or six books on the life of Christ from the more than 10,000 written in English in the last 300 years, to say nothing of those in other languages, and say that they are unqualifiedly the best, is no small task. Happily you have eased the task by asking me to make my personal selection.

My preference or choice would be guided by what I wished to get from the book or books to be read. Let me put it this way: I would put Desire of Ages by Ellen White first for spiritual discernment and practical application.

I will say that the Desire of Ages is well thought of in the Library of Congress. --Excerpt from a Letter from W. E. Bement, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C., Dec. 11, 1946.

No Writings So Perfect, Pure and Simple Outside the Bible

Now in regard to the incident you inquired about;

When nursing in Oakland and Melrose after we were married, I took some University extension class work conducted in the Chauncey Freemont High School, Melrose.

One day in the Literature class the teacher, Miss E. McMillan, who had just returned from an extended trip and study of literature in Europe and who was our teacher, asked us to come next day prepared to give three quotations from our favorite author and let the rest of the class members have a test on telling the author by discerning the style of language used by the author. As it so occurred, I was the first one called on the next day and although there were about 48 in the class, not another one was called upon and the whole time was taken up in discussion of the author I quoted.

After quoting a passage from "Desire of Ages," the whole class failed to name the author, and to my happy surprise the instructor said, "Well, class, those are words from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White." She made a long speech saying she knew nothing of the religion, but had read many of Mrs. White's books merely to study her works as an author, not to study them from the standpoint of religion. She stated that she was unblushingly able to declare herself an authority on literature, and that it was a pity Mrs. White's writings were not better known in the literary world. Then she stated that she was going to make a bold statement, but that she meant every word of it and that was that "Of all the writings, ancient, medieval, or modern, there are no writings so full of beauty, so perfect in every way, so pure" and yet so simple, outside of the Bible" as the writings of Mrs. E.G. White."

Needless to say I was proud to be a Seventh day Adventist.

Sincerely your brother in the Master's service,

 (Signed) Harold N. Williams -April 29,1930, 106 Freshwater Road, St. John's, Newfoundland.

CFRB Book Review

And so we come to a book titled "The Desire of Ages" whose story is a concentrate of the inspiration of the Easter season, and everything for which the great Christian Festival stands. "The Desire of Ages." Its author, Ellen White was born about a century and a quarter ago in the United States. Devoted a lifetime of work, 70 years to religious study and writing, with a concentration on the life of Christ. "Desire of Ages" is a very large book containing 863 pages, and I would estimate text of about 350,000 words. Mrs. White during her lifetime wrote some 25 full size books and a number of smaller ones. These have been printed by the millions, in many languages and distributed in most countries of the world. This in spite of the fact that, as a result of an accident at nine years of age, she was unable from then on to attend school.

It is of course well known that some of the world's most inspirational literature has been fashioned on the anvil of pain and personal suffering. So it was that Ellen White penned the "Desire of Ages" at a time when she was largely confined to bed, or made use of a specially constructed chair with a fitted rest to support an arm pain-wracked with inflammatory rheumatism. This book is the life story of Jesus.

Countless books have been written on the subject before, many of excellent caliber, many of the elaborate essays on chronology and history combining the teachings of Christ with the events which took place between Nazareth and Calvary. Most of these books naturally have stemmed from the basic word pictures of the four Gospels, and have been supplemented by research into the customs and historical circumstances which surrounded the Holy Land of those days. In the preface of  The Desire of Ages" it is explained that it was not, however, the purpose of the author to set forth a harmony of the Gospels, or even to give in strictly chronological order the important events of the life of Christ. Rather it was Ellen White's purpose to present the love of God as revealed in His Son, and NOT to satisfy the desires of the merely curious, nor answer the questionings of critics.

In the preparation of the manuscript for "The Desires of Ages" Mrs. White did not write the book straight through, chapter by chapter in chronological sequence. During the preceding years she had already accumulated many hundreds of pages on the theme. She, therefore, proceeded to expand on certain sections, and with the aid of helpers probe beneath the physical and literal forms of fact and circumstance, into the more inspirational facets of interpretation. The result is a book, basically biographical, fundamentally historical of the events of a long past age, which, however, lifts the story of the life of Christ out of that distant era and places it in this modern twentieth century, not merely as a factual story, but as an inspirational motif for more objective thinking directed to a world full of selfishness and intolerance, a world in which crime and tragedy make the principal headlines. It expresses, in other words, the essential message of the Easter Season, the desire in the hearts of all mankind, of devious races and stations in life, for a greater peace of mind, a transition from a vogue of selfish prejudice and suspicion into a world of large hearted knowledge and understanding--the culmination and fruition of the hopes of all the ages for that something better they talk about but do not now possess nor know how to go about possessing.

"Desire of Ages" is the sort of book one does not read, but rather studies--and ponders. If you wish to obtain a copy of this book I would suggest you get in touch with the Book and Bible House, 7th Day Adventists, 3 Awde, A-W-D-E Street in Toronto. Its title again "The Desire of Ages. --Rex Frost, Easter Sunday, March 25, 1951.

"Patriarchs and Prophets" in Japan's Prisons

We called on the chief officer of the prison department of Japan, and gave him a brief description of "Patriarchs and Prophets," suggesting to him that it would be a good book for the prison libraries. He said that he would have to talk the matter over with the other authorities, but would let us know in a few days.

When I called on him again a few days later, he said they would take ninety-five copies of the book, distributing them to all the prisons of Japan. It was rather difficult for me to keep from praising the Lord audibly right there. We are all very glad for this large order, and especially so since these books will go to all the prisons of Japan, where they will no doubt do a great deal of good. --E. J. Kraft in article "Japan Prison Libraries" in Review and Herald, Dee. 29, 1927.

"Desire of Ages in a Texas Prison

[Addressed to "Voice of Prophecy]

The Desire of Ages was delayed a few days, but finally it came. How shall I describe to you my joy--the sensation and sentiments that it awakened from its very first pages, while reading this gem? This lady possesses the words of life! It seemed as if God Himself was speaking to me, and my tears freely and spontaneously came to my eyes.

Jesus transformed water into wine. Mrs. White has completely transformed my life. I was highly nervous, nearly neurotic, timid, fearful, and my heart was continually full of self-pity. There have been days, in which my imprisonment was considered a terrible affliction, but now it has ceased to be so; and although I am surrounded by the most ugly circumstances of life, I assure you, dear teacher, that I live in an atmosphere of love. I feel myself in agreement, resigned, content, and while I am reading the Desire of Ages even happy.

Before, even the idea of the possibility of dying here nearly made me go insane. How different it is now! If man considers himself stronger than death he has nothing to fear.

Upon entering this institution a thousand moral injuries oppressed me, as great or more painful than physical injuries. Jesus was far from my heart, not only as far as distance is concerned, but also mentally. Your precious lessons, afterward Mrs. White with Steps to Christ, and now the Desire of Ages, have been the marvelous ointment. My sores now do not bleed; they are scarred and are disappearing.

Is it therefore strange that I should live thankful to you as well as profoundly enamored of such an inspired lady? Yes, my dear teacher, the name of Ellen White is pronounced with unspeakable love as an invocation, almost as a prayer. While reading her words full of exceedingly lovely fraternal and even maternal expressions, I find it difficult to control my desire to "devour the book; at other times I am as a child that eats a delicious cookie one crumb at a time and does not wish it ever to end, I read Desire of Ages very slowly, repeating pages and chapters before deciding to go ahead with the book. Furthermore, at other times I console myself with the knowledge that the theme of Desire of Ages, together with the easy flow of words and inimitable style of Mrs. Whites writing, makes it one of those rare volumes which can be read one hundred times with the surety each time of a better understanding, and that greater will be the delight, inspiration, instruction, and blessings which its reading will convey.

Many thanks, therefore, for the high honor you have given me to be the happy owner of such a beautiful book; and reaffirming to you that I very prominently mention my dear teacher in my prayers, I remain, as always,

Your devoted and thankful disciple,

Cha. Snipe, Texas, R.S.F., C.H. Axtle