November [27],1 The handwritten original bears the date of November 7, which may have been when Ellen White began the letter. The date, November 27, is inferred from the later statement in the letter, “Nov. 20, one week ago …”
Letter to Identity: The letter is addressed “Leonard Hastings, New Ipswich, N.H.”
the Church in Brother Leonard W. Hastings'2
This letter is published in entirety in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, pp. 206-209.
News to family friends of the Whites’ move to Paris, Maine, recent conferences attended, death of Sister Foey, etc. 1EGWLM 252.3
To the Church in Bro. Hastings’ house,
Dear Friends:
I have neglected writing you for some time. I will now give my reasons. First, I had no time to write for weeks after I received Sister Arabella's [Harriet A. Hastings]3 Arabella's identity is hinted at by her association in these opening lines with “Bro. Hastings’ house.” Arabella was the oldest of the Hastings children, about 17 years old. Her name is given as “Harriet A. Hastings” in her obituary. Ellen White sometimes referred to her as “Arabella” and sometimes as “Harriet” (cf. Lt 5, 1849 [Apr. 21], and Lt 10, 1850 [Mar. 18], with Lt 7, 1851 [July 27], and Lt 3, 1851 [Aug. 11]). Presumably the middle initial stands for “Arabella.” See: Obituary: “Harriet A. Hastings,” Review, Sept. 5, 1854, p. 31. This letter is not in the White Estate archives.
James’ [James Springer White] and my health is quite good now. Our home is in Paris [Maine] at Brother Andrews’ [Edward Andrews]5 Identity: In a letter to E. P. Butler in 1861 James White goes into some detail about the rent and other payments made to Edward Andrews while the Whites boarded with the Andrews in 1850/1851. See: James White to E. P. Butler, Dec. 12, 1861. The Whites arrived in Paris at the end of October 1850 and moved to Saratoga Springs, New York, in August 1851. See: Ellen G. White, Lt 26, 1850 (Nov. 1); James White to “Brethren in Jackson,” Aug. 4, 1851. Edward Andrews's occupation is listed as “labourer” in the 1850 census. Charles Stevens, a contemporary, speaks of “a small wooden house occupied jointly by Brother and Sister White and Edward Andrews and family.” See: 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Edward Andrews,” Maine, Oxford County, Paris, p. 190; Charles F. Stevens, [memory statement], n.d., Center for Adventist Research, Andrews University. Subsequently the Whites paid “$1.00 per week for board … and two-fifths of the rent of the whole house.” See: James White to E. P. Butler, Dec. 12, 1861. Identity: See Lt 5, 1849 (Apr. 21), note 25.
Our conference at Topsham10 The sequence of events mentioned in this section can all be dated thanks to James White's report in the Review and Ellen White's letter of November 1: Conference at Topsham—Oct. 12-13; conference at Fairhaven—Oct. 19-20; vision at “Brother Nichols’”—Oct. 21, 1850. See: “Conferences,” Advent Review, November 1850, p. 72; Ellen G. White, Lt 26, 1850 (Nov. 1).
Sunday the power of God came upon us like a mighty rushing wind. All arose upon their feet and praised God with a loud voice; it was something as it was when the foundation of the house of God was laid. The voice of weeping could not be told from the voice of shouting.11 A few weeks later, in a vision received on December 24, Ellen White received cautions against “unhealthy and unnecessary excitement” (Ms 11, 1850). See also: Appendix article “Ellen White and Religious Enthusiasm in Early Adventist Experience”; EGWEnc, s.v. “Ecstatic Experiences.”
Our next Conference was in Fairhaven [Massachusetts]. Brother Bates and wife [Joseph and Prudence M. Bates]12 The special mention of Joseph Bates's wife may be of significance. In his published account of this Fairhaven conference, James White added that for years Prudence Bates had rejected the Sabbath and Joseph had kept it alone. But “now she and her husband are walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.” See: “Conferences,” Advent Review, November 1850, p. 72. Identity: In an earlier parallel account, Ellen White adds the information that they had traveled to Dorchester, “where our dear Brother Nichols and family live.” The reference here is clearly to Otis Nichols, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. See: Ellen G. White, Lt 26, 1850 (Nov. 1); search term “Otis Nichols” in Words of the Pioneers. A reference to prophetic charts. In a letter citing the same vision, written a few weeks earlier, Ellen White wrote, “God shewed me the necessity of getting out a chart. I saw it was needed and that the truth made plain upon tables would … cause souls to come to the knowledge of the truth.” The expression “plain upon tables” was taken from Habakkuk 2:2, 3 and had been applied by Millerites earlier to their use of prophetic charts. See: Ellen G. White, Lt 26, 1850 (Nov. 1); idem, The Great Controversy, p. 392.
I also saw it was as necessary for the paper to be published as for the messengers to go, for the messengers need a paper to carry with them, containing present truth to put in the hands of those that hear, and then the truth would not fade from the mind, and that the paper would go where the messengers could not go. Other things I saw which will appear in the paper.15 Ellen G. White, “Dear Brethren and Sisters,” Present Truth, November 1850, p. 87. Ellen White showed added concern for the Hastings family, especially the children, after the death of Mrs. Elvira Hastings in February 1850. The Whites subsequently visited the bereaved family in June 1850, at which time the four eldest children were baptized by James White. See: Ellen G. White, Lt 10, 1850 (Mar. 18); W. [James White], “Our Tour East,” Advent Review, August 1850, p. 14.
Nov. 20, one week ago, Brother Henry Nichols [Henry O. Nichols]17 Identity: Son of Otis Nichols of Dorchester, Massachusetts. According to one source, Henry Nichols “assisted” in the “editorial work” in Paris. See: Charles F. Stevens [memory statement]. Identity: Surprisingly there is no trace of the name “Foey” in the Review. Neither is there any person by that name in all the state of Maine in the 1850 census. The probability therefore is that there is a spelling discrepancy here. It is likely that Ellen White is referring to John Green Foy, of Brunswick, Maine. Brunswick is just across the Androscoggin River from Topsham, which corresponds with Ellen White's account that they “hastened over the river one mile [1.6 kilometers]” from Topsham. Ellen White later in life reminisced about “Brother Foy and his family of Brunswick” who had “accepted the Sabbath truth” together with the Stockbridge Howland family of nearby Topsham “a few years” after 1844. According to John Foy's obituary in 1861, his wife had died earlier, leaving him with six children. The fact of his wife's prior death fits well with Ellen White's account. The only discrepancy is that Ellen White in this letter gives the number of the Foy children as three, whereas the obituary and the 1850 census mention six children. On balance, however, the evidence in favor of the proposed identity seems to outweigh the discrepancy over the number of children. See: Search terms “Foey” and “Foy” in Words of the Pioneers; Ellen G. White, Ms 86, 1903 (Aug. 9); obituary: “John G. Foy,” Review, Feb. 26, 1861, p. 119; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “John B. [sic] Foy,” “Dorcas Foy,” Maine, Cumberland County, Brunswick, p. 231.
Friday morning, Brother Henry came to Paris for James to shave him to attend the funeral. We had a very solemn interesting time. The Lord did not leave us but let His Spirit rest upon us. Sister Foey's last days were decidedly her most spiritual and best days. Brother Foey has this to console him, that she died a Christian. He bears up well. God gives him grace to endure the affliction. Oh, how good it is to have a hope in God that will sustain in all scenes of trial and affliction. Praise God for a hope, a good hope. What would you, any of you, give for your hope? 1EGWLM 254.3
Hold fast the faith. Be strong in God and lean upon His everlasting arm. It will never fail you but will bear you up under every affliction. I hope you will all grow stronger and stronger in the truth. Do not falter but press your way to the kingdom. 1EGWLM 255.1
One week ago, last Sabbath, we had a very interesting meeting. Brother Hewit19 Identity: It is possible that “Brother Hewit” was the “Oren Hewitt” (or Hewett), of Dead River, Maine, who sent several letters to first-day Adventist papers during the latter 1840s. Whether there is any connection between that Oren Hewitt and the “Oren Hewett” of New York State mentioned in the Review in the early 1850s cannot be established on the basis of present evidence. See: “Brother Oren Hewett Writes From Dead River,” Advent Herald, May 8, 1847, p. 111; “Bro. Oren Hewet, Dead River, Me.,” Bible Advocate, Apr. 24, 1847, p. 111; obituary: “Oren Hewett,” Review, May 1, 1855, p. 222; search terms “Oren Hewett” and “O. Hewett” in Words of the Pioneers. An allusion to “that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess” (Rev. 2:20).
We told him of some of his errors in the past, that the 1335 days were ended21 A reference to the 1335-day prophecy of Daniel 12:12. The united position of Sabbatarian expositors during this and subsequent stages was that the 1335 day/year period had ended in 1843/1844. Ellen White's statement here, however, if taken on its own, is rather ambiguous and could be taken as denying that the 1335 days had ended (and affirming that its fulfillment was still future). Some have cited this Ellen White letter to support the idea of a future literal 1335-day period just preceding the Second Advent. Such an interpretation of the vision, however, runs counter to Ellen White's caution given just one month earlier “that God had not made a test of time since 1844, and that time never again will be a test” (Ms 15, 1850 [Oct. 23]). Therefore the alternative reading of the passage seems preferable, viz.: “We told him … that the 1335 days were ended.” This reading is confirmed if, in fact, “Brother Hewitt” is Oren Hewett, of Dead River, Maine (see note 19 above). Oren Hewett (Hewitt) wrote several supportive letters to The Bible Advocate in 1847, an Adventist paper that repeatedly set new times for the Second Advent, times often held to coincide with the ending of the 1335 days/years (see, e.g., Blakeslee, Wilcox, and Bates below). It would therefore be understandable for Hewett, coming from The Bible Advocate background, to see the 1335 days stretching beyond 1844, and for Ellen White and the Sabbatarians to oppose him on this point. See: Ellen G. White, Ms 15, 1850 (Oct. 23); E. S. Blakeslee, “Time of the Advent,” Bible Advocate, Sept. 2, 1847, p. 34; L. Wilcox, “Brother L. Wilcox's Letter—Concluded,” Bible Advocate, Apr. 13, 1848, p. 58; Joseph Bates, A Vindication of the Seventh-day Sabbath, pp. 51, 52. For a general survey and critique of a futurist interpretation of this vision and of the 1335 days of Daniel 12, see Alberto R. Timm, “The 1,290 and 1,335 Days of Daniel 12.”
I felt that I must say a few words. In the name of Jesus, I got up and in about five minutes the meeting changed. Every one felt it at the same instant. Every countenance was lighted up. The presence of God filled the place. Brother Hewit dropped upon his knees and began to cry and pray. I was taken off in vision and saw much that I cannot write. It had a great effect on Bro. Hewit. He confessed it was of God and was humbled in the dust. He has been writing ever since that meeting and is now writing from the same table renouncing all his errors that he has advanced. I believe God is bringing him up and he is calculated to do good, if God moves through him. 1EGWLM 256.1
Much love to Dear Sister Gorham. Tell her to be strong. God is with her and He will not leave her. Much love to you all. I hope the children will not get sleepy, but will be interested in the truth and be diligent to make their calling and election sure. Write, be sure and write, and do not do as I have done. I love you, all of you. Write. 1EGWLM 256.2
Picture: Ellen White's letter to the “Church in Bro. Hastings’ House,” November 7, 1850 (Lt 28, 1850), with a closing note by James White 1EGWLM 257
Picture: 1EGWLM 258
Picture: 1EGWLM 259
Picture: 1EGWLM 260
