Lt 3, 1851

August 11,¹

The original letter bears the dateline of August 11, which was a Monday, but it is evident from the second paragraph that the letter was begun on Sunday, August 10.

1851, Saratoga Springs, New York1EGWLM 299.1

Letter to
Harriet Arabella Hastings.²

Identity: There are several indications in this letter that Harriet A. Hastings, daughter of Leonard Hastings, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, is being addressed. Most specific are the lines “We received the four dollars that your father sent. One dollar was to go for the visions. I believe three for the paper.” The following issue of the Review (Aug. 19, 1851) listed among the “Receipts” “Leonard Hastings, $3” and, under the heading “Receipts for the Pamphlet ‘Experience and Views’” “Leonard Hastings, $1.” The pamphlet “Experience and Views,” it should be noted, consisted for the most part of a reprint of earlier visions. Confirming evidence that Harriet Hastings is being addressed is found in the closing greeting, “Much love to all the children and your father,” without any mention of the mother. Elvira Hastings had died 18 months earlier, leaving her husband and six children.

See: “Receipts,” Review, Aug. 19, 1851, p. 16; W. [James White], “Our Tour East,” Advent Review, August 1850, p. 14; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Leonard Hastings,” New Hampshire, Hillsborough County, New Ipswich, p. 272.

1EGWLM 299.2

Portions of this letter are published in Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, pp. 260, 261; idem, Last Day Events, pp. 286, 287.

Beginnings of publishing in Saratoga Springs, New York; vision on the importance of the Sabbath; problems in the Paris, Maine, band.1EGWLM 299.3

Dear Sister Harriet:

I sit down by candle light to address you a few lines. We are all quite well and smart today. We have just been moving and are not settled yet. Last Tuesday we moved to Saratoga Springs [New York],³

After spending several weeks in nearby Ballston Spa at the home of Jesse Thompson.

See: “Our Tour to This State,” Review Extra, July 21, 1851, p. [3, 4]; Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], p. 152.

and the same day that we moved No. 1, Volume 2 of the paper came off4

Volume 1 had been published in Paris, Maine, the last issue coming out on June 9, 1851. Publication had been suspended for some weeks during the summer because of the Whites’ travels.

and we folded and wrapt them. Not having a table to wrap and fold on, we took a fireboard and put it on an old sink and made that answer; and by sitting up very late we got the papers into the mail next morn.1EGWLM 299.4

Yesterday, which was Sabbath, we had a sweet, glorious time. The Lord met with us and the glory of God was shed upon us and were made to rejoice and glorify God for His exceeding goodness unto us. I had a deep plunge in the ocean of God's love. It seemed that the angels of God were hovering all around. The love of God was shed abroad in my heart, my whole being was ravished with the glory of God and I was taken off in vision. I saw the exceeding loveliness and glory of Jesus. His countenance was brighter than the sun at noonday. His robe was whiter than the whitest white.1EGWLM 299.5

How can I, dear Sister, describe to you the glories of heaven, and the lovely angels singing and playing upon their harps of ten strings? Dear Sister, is not heaven cheap enough?1EGWLM 300.1

I saw that we sensed and realized but little of the importance of the Sabbath, to what we yet should realize and know of its importance and glory. I saw we knew not what it was yet to ride upon the high places of the earth and to be fed with the heritage of Jacob. But when the refreshing and latter rain shall come from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of His power, we shall know what it is to be fed with the heritage of Jacob and ride upon the high places of the earth. Then shall we see the Sabbath more in its importance and glory. But [we] shall not see it in all its glory and importance until the covenant of peace is made with us at the voice of God, and the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem are thrown open and swing back on their glittering hinges, and the glad and joyful voice of the lovely Jesus is heard, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, bidding us to enter, that we had a perfect right in the city, for we had kept the commandments of God, and heaven, sweet heaven is our home, for we have kept the commandments of God.⁵

For a complementary perspective, compare this statement with the following parallel passage found in Ellen White's first vision, “Jesus … laid hold of the pearly gate, swung it back on its glittering hinges, and said to us, ‘You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter in.’ We all marched in and felt we had a perfect right in the city” (Early Writings, p. 17).

The formulation in Lt 3, 1851, which focuses on the commandments of God, is clearly an amplification of Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (KJV). Clearly, an understanding of the teaching of the early visions on salvation and its grounds cannot be based on isolated statements but requires an integrated analysis of all relevant passages. For two recent book-length treatments, see Woodrow W. Whidden II, Ellen White on Salvation, and Gunnar Pedersen, “The Soteriology of Ellen G. White Compared With the Lutheran Formula of Concord.”

1EGWLM 300.2

Dear Sister, after I came out of vision this world looked desolate to me, the views that God has given me have spoiled this world for me. Nothing here looks lovely. I rejoice with you that you have turned your back upon the world and are laying up for yourself a treasure in heaven, an enduring substance. Praise the Lord.1EGWLM 300.3

Monday morn. You speak about going to Paris [Maine] and about our coming there again, and you meeting us in Boston [Massachusetts]. The Lord showed me about four or five weeks ago that we must not go to Paris again, that they had not appreciated our labors there, and that they would yet desire to see some of the servants of God in Paris. I saw that they had not heeded the visions that God has given them, and unless they did heed them they would pass through awful trials and judgments.1EGWLM 300.4

I saw that Brother Stevens’ [Cyprian Stevens]⁶

Identity: See note 8.

and Andrews’ [Edward Andrews]7

Identity: See note 8.

families would have to die a greater death to this world than they ever yet have died. It is impossible for me to describe to you their present state. Their letters that they write you may appear to be spiritual and interesting, but they are in a dark place. They think a great deal too much of their appearance, and are proud and are much more devoted to themselves than they are to God.8

The resentment of the Cyprian Stevens and Edward Andrews families of Paris against the leadership of the Whites and their skepticism of the visions throughout the 1850s is surveyed by Ronald Graybill in “The Family Man,” in Harry Leonard, ed., J. N. Andrews: The Man and the Mission, pp. 16-19, 25-28. For more detail, see references given in notes to Lt 8, 1860 (June 11).

1EGWLM 301.1

Do not go to Paris. If you go anywhere go to Topsham, Maine, to Brother Howland's [Stockbridge Howland],⁹

Identity: “Bro. S. Howland and family, of Topsham, Me.,” writes Ellen White in 1860, “for the period of five years had the care of my Henry.”

See: Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], p. iii.

the one that has the charge of my little boy Henry [Henry Nichols White]. You would meet a hearty reception from them, and Frances and Rebekah you could but love. Frances is 23, Rebekah is 16. It would not cost so much to go from Boston to Topsham as it would to go from Boston to Paris. You would be disappointed greatly if you should go to Paris. You had much better remain where you are. I write this to you in confidence, that you may know just how things stand in Paris.1EGWLM 301.2

You ask¹⁰

The White Estate archives contain none of the letters of the Howland family to the Whites from this period.

respecting the ages of Brother Thompson's [Jesse Thompson]11

Identity: In a letter to Harriet A. Howland and her father written two weeks earlier from nearby Ballston Spa, Ellen White told of a “Brother Thompson” (identified as Jesse Thompson—see Lt 7, 1851 [July 27], note 4) with whom they were staying. The Thompson daughters, she wrote, were ages 24, 22, 20, and 12. It is apparent that in this letter (Lt 3, 1851) Ellen White is referring to the same Jesse Thompson family, because the identical ages of the daughters are given again.

family. Betsey the eldest is 24, Sally, the next is 22, Nancy is 20, Mary is 12. They are very interesting girls and believe that we have the truth, and are willing to do all they can to help the cause.1EGWLM 301.3

Brother Cushman [Horace Cushman]¹²

Identity: The only Cushmans mentioned in the Review during this period were Horace Cushman (and his family), of West Milton, New York, and George P. Cushman, of Tunbridge, Vermont. Since Ellen White seems to be describing members living in her vicinity in this letter, it is reasonable to suppose that she is referring to Horace Cushman, of nearby West Milton. This is confirmed by the facts she gives regarding the names and ages of the children, which correspond well with information found in the 1840 and 1850 censuses.

See: 1840 U.S. Federal Census, “Horace Cushman,” New York, Saratoga County, Milton, p. 85; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Horrace [sic] Cushman,” New York, Saratoga County, Milton, p. 341; search term “Cushman” in Words of the Pioneers.

has four daughters. Two have been married and have children, but are now at home, their husbands being so opposed that they could not live with them, and they brought both of their wives to Brother Cushman's, and their children. They are very interesting women. The two youngest are 20 and 17. Margaret is 20, Anna is 17, I believe. Then he has another daughter married in the faith, and one son married and one unmarried. They are good children.1EGWLM 301.4

Sister Thompson [Maria Thompson]¹³

Identity: See 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Mariah [sic] Thompson,” New York, Saratoga, Ballston, p. 538.

reminds me of your mother; she looks much like her. Much love to Sister Gorham [Elizabeth Gorham].14

Identity: It can be assumed that “Sister Gorham” lived near Harriet Hastings, of New Ipswich, since Harriet is being asked to give greetings from Ellen White. Elizabeth Gorham, of the nearby town of Mason, is the most likely candidate. See note 25 in Lt 5, 1849 (Apr. 21), for a fuller rationale.

Tell her to trust wholly in God. He will take care of her. We received the two dollars she sent but are afraid she sent too much for her limited means. We received the four dollars that your father sent. One dollar was to go for the visions. I believe three for the paper. If this is not correct, please inform us.1EGWLM 302.1

Much love to all the children and your father. Write us soon.1EGWLM 302.2

In love.1EGWLM 302.3

Picture:1EGWLM 303

Picture: Ellen White's first book, published in 1851, described her conversion and earliest visions. 64 pp. Now found in Early Writings, pp. 11-78. Courtesy of James R. Nix.1EGWLM 303

Picture: Ellen White added two pages of explanatory notes to her first book in March 1853. See Early Writings, pp. 45, 85, 86.1EGWLM 304

Picture: A 48-page supplement was announced in the January 10, 1854, Review and Herald. Now found in Early Writings, pp. 85-127.1EGWLM 304