Letter to 17-year-old Arabella Hastings, eldest of six children whose mother had recently died. It contains news, accounts of several visions, and encouragement to the bereaved family.1EGWLM 211.3

Dear Sister Arabella:

This is the first opportunity I have had to write you since we left you. We have been traveling just as fast as we could go since we left your place. We have not allowed ourselves time to rest or hardly time to sleep. We have felt that the King's business required haste, that what we did must be done quickly. God gave us a victorious time on our journey. The truth triumphed. I will not write the particulars of our journey for you will have it in the paper.²

James White reported on “Our Tour East” in The Advent Review of August 1850. During their 10-week itinerary starting from Oswego, New York, on May 15, the Whites had traveled some 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) through Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Canada East. Somewhere during the second half of June they had visited the Hastings family in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Ellen White's pleasure at the results of the trip are matched in the words of James in a letter to a friend: “I saw tenfold more accomplished than I looked for in Vt. and C.E.”

See: W. [James White], “Our Tour East,” Advent Review, August 1850, pp. 14, 15; James White to Leonard Hastings, July 21, 1850; Ellen G. White, Life Sketches, pp. 132, 133. For further reading on this visit and the expansion of Adventism in Canada, see Denis Fortin, Adventism in Quebec, esp. pp. 61, 62.

1EGWLM 211.4

The Lord showed me that he, James [James Springer White], must take the testimonies that the leading Adventists published in 1844 and republish them and make them ashamed.³

The date of this vision is not known, but James White had mentioned it in a letter already two weeks earlier, on July 21, 1850.

See: James White to Leonard Hastings, July 21, 1850.

He is now doing that work.^{4
During August, September, and November of 1850 James White published several issues of The Advent Review. It contained mostly reprints of articles by prominent Millerite leaders such as William Miller and J. B. Cook written in 1844 and 1845 supporting the prophetic significance of October 22, 1844. Articles on the Sabbath and sanctuary by Cook and O.R.L. Crosier also were included. The overall effect was to demonstrate that in several ways leading Millerites had departed from the faith they had held in the mid-1840s.
See: Advent Review, August-November 1850; Advent Review [Extra], September 1850.} Then the Lord showed me we must go east again. Last Monday evening while at Brother Lillis's [Henry Lillis, Jr.]^{5
Identity: It is very likely that Ellen White is here speaking of Henry Lillis, Jr., of Oswego, New York. There are two indications that this is the case. First, it is clear that “Brother Lillis” lived in Oswego, since we know that Ellen White was in Oswego on that “Monday evening” (i.e., July 29, 1850—see Ms 5, 1850). Second, we are told that the meeting took place in the Lillis home. There is some evidence that Henry Lillis's home was used for meetings.
See: O.R.L. Crosier, “Brief Tour: Oswego-Auburn-Seneca Falls-Geneva,” Advent Harbinger and Bible Advocate, Aug. 16, 185, p. 70; [James White], “The Cause Wounded,” Review, Aug. 19, 1851, p. 11.} (Brethren Rhodes [Samuel W. Rhodes], Lillis, Edson [Hiram Edson] and Harris [William Harris] present) I was greatly distressed for some in Israel. The burden was heavy. The brethren prayed the Lord to roll off the burden, and I was taken off in vision, a little of which I will write you.^{6
For Ellen White's first account of this vision, see Ms 5, 1850, headed “A Vision the Lord Gave Me in Oswego, July 29, 1850.”}1EGWLM 211.5

I saw the powers of darkness were rising. Satan has come down in great power, knowing that his time is short. Said the angel, as he pointed to Israel, “Art thou rising? Thou art upon the enchanted ground.⁷

An allusion to the allegorical “Enchanted Ground” found in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Of all the dangers awaiting Christian pilgrims on their journey, none are greater than those facing them in the Enchanted Ground, where the very air makes travelers drowsy, inviting a sleep from which there will be no awakening.

See: John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress, p. 209.

Dost thou not see it? Awake and arise and put on the strength of the Lord.” I was pointed back to the children of Israel in Egypt. I saw when God worked through Moses before Pharaoh the magicians came up and said they could do the same. I saw the same work was now going on in the world and among the professed churches similar to the work of the magicians anciently. I saw the power of the magicians has increased tenfold, within a few months, and it will still be on the increase and spread, and unless Israel is rising and increasing in power and strength and is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, the powers of darkness will get the victory over them.^{8
It is likely that in this paragraph Ellen White is referring to the recent and rapid rise of spiritualism. The language is very similar to that of her report of a vision given three weeks later on August 24 (Ms 7, 1850) which makes explicit mention of the “rappings” and of spiritualism. The rappings in the house of the Fox sisters in Hydesville, near Rochester, New York, had first started on March 31, 1848. Ellen White's first extant warning concerning them was her March 24, 1849, vision (see Ms 1, 1849). It was not until November 1849, however, when the first public demonstration of spirit contact took place in Corinthian Hall, Rochester, that spiritualism began to sweep the country “like a prairie fire.” This would harmonize well with Ellen White's statement here that “the power of the magicians has increased tenfold, within a few months.”
For one account of the rapid spread of spiritualism in 1849 and the early 1850s, see Paul Kurtz, The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal, pp. 322-325.} I saw we must be constantly rising and keep the ascendency above the powers of darkness. I saw singing to the glory of God often drove the enemy, and shouting would beat him back and give us the victory.^{9
See cautions against “unhealthy and unnecessary” excitement in the vision of December 25, 1850 (Ms 11, 1850). See also Appendix article “Ellen White and Religious Enthusiasm in Early Adventist Experience”; EGWEnc, s.v. “Ecstatic Experiences.”} I saw there was too little glorifying God in Israel and too little child-like simplicity.1EGWLM 212.1

I asked the angel why there was not more power in Israel. Said he, “Ye let go of the promises of God too quick. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by faith. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.” I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord and at last the cloud was seen. I saw we had doubted and wounded the lovely Jesus by unbelief. I saw enchantment was all around us, and if Satan could get us to slumber he was sure of his prey. Said the angel, “Have faith in God.” I saw some tried too hard to believe. Faith is so simple, ye look above it. Satan tried to deceive some of the honest children and had got them looking to self to find worthiness there. I saw they must look away from self to the worthiness of Jesus and throw themselves, just as dependent and unworthy as they are, upon His mercy and draw by faith strength and nourishment from Him.1EGWLM 213.1

Dear sister, I have not forgotten you, although I have not written you. I have often thought of you and prayed for you and the rest of the children that you and their faith fail not. Do not mingle with the world; keep separate from them. If you mingle with them you will surely lose strength. Seek to live near to God and to hold sweet communion with Him. Be diligent to make your calling and election sure. I believe God loves you and will save you if you hold fast whereunto you have attained. Everything and everyone is coming to naught but those who have this truth in them, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Remember, sister, if you would come off victorious you must overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. We are in a glorious cause that will triumph and that will never come to naught. Eternal life we are striving for. It is not for any riches or honor in this world, but it is for a home in glory, an enduring substance the beauty of which will never wear away and its glory will never vanish. Remember the Master of the house became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. We must be willing to be despised and trodden under foot here. We are soon to be exalted to a home in glory, a treasure in the heavens. Praise the Lord, we will go through and behold Him whom our souls admire. Press, press, dear sister, to the mark of the prize. Have faith in God. Endure trials; be patient in tribulations. Pray, pray much; keep the victory above the powers of darkness.1EGWLM 213.2

Much love to your dear father and to your sisters and brother. Tell them to be faithful to serve God. I have often prayed for them. Tell them to pray much that their sins may be confessed upon the head of the scapegoat and borne away into the land of forgetfulness. A little longer and Jesus’ work will be finished in the Sanctuary. Kiss the babe for me. Tell Charles to be a good little boy that he may meet his mother at the appearing of Jesus.¹⁰

See: Note 1 above on Arabella Hastings’ family.

My little one [James Edson White] is with me; he knew me when I got home. I had been gone from him two months. He first looked at me, then flung his little arms around my neck. He is now very feeble, but we have prayed for him. He will be healed, I believe.^{11
Edson, who had turned 1 year old just a week earlier, had been looked after by Clarissa M. Bonfoey at the home of Ira Abbey in Brookfield, New York, during his parents’ long absence. His sickness mentioned here turned into a full-blown crisis within the next few days (see Lt 12, 1850 [Aug. 15]).
See: Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 127, 132; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Ira Abbey,” New York, Madison County, Brookfield, p. 11.}1EGWLM 214.1

In love.1EGWLM 214.2

Ms 5a, 1850

Lt 12, 1850