A few nights since, the Lord gave me a vision and showed me the state of things in the West. I saw it was dark, dark, dark, and that laborers were needed there. I saw that Brother Bowles [John C. Bowles]¹

Identity: One clue to Bowles's identity is the fact that he presumably lives in or near Jackson, since the letter is addressed “To the Brethren and Sisters of Jackson.” The Review has a number of references to a “J. C. Bowles,” of Jackson, Michigan, in the early 1850s. Further, no “Bowles” other than “J. C. Bowles” (or Brother Bowles) is found in the Review during the 1850s. The 1850 U.S. Federal Census gives his full name as “John C. Bowles.”

See: 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “John C. Bowles,” Michigan, Jackson County, Jackson, p. 335; search term “Bowles” in Words of the Pioneers.

had got out of his place and thought he had a great work to do when he had not. I also saw that he thought his work was of a great deal more importance than it really was. I saw that some fanciful views had been pressed by Brother Bowles that were of no special importance until some who would have received the truth have been pushed off.^{2
John C. Bowles had engaged in lay preaching as far afield as Wisconsin, and appears to have been a leading figure in the Jackson company. No information is available concerning Bowles's reaction to the reproof and admonition found in this letter or to a similar reproof a year later (June 2, 1853).
See: Search term “Bowles” in Words of the Pioneers; Ellen G. White, Ms 1, 1853 (June 2).}1EGWLM 328.6

I was pointed back and saw [that] when the trouble arose in Jackson much of it was caused by not following the Bible rule. There was too much talking over a brother's or a sister's faults among the band or church, and the brother that was thought to be wrong kept in ignorance that any trial was existing in the minds of others concerning him, until his (considered) faults had been talked over and over by nearly all the church, and he felt the coldness of his brothers and sisters and knew not the cause until it broke out all of a sudden, and he [was] made aware of what has been going on. Then the confidence that he has previously had in his brethren is shaken, his love for them has begun to be weakened, and a breach is made at once in the band that was previously united.³

The band of Sabbathkeeping Adventists at Jackson was the first to be established in the state of Michigan, in 1849. A number of positive reports and letters had been published in the Review showing the commitment of the Jackson members. Nevertheless by the summer of 1852 problems of internal dissension and gossiping as indicated in this letter were surfacing. Joseph Bates admitted publicly in the Review that the band in Jackson had “been wading through manifold trials, and buffetings of the Enemy.” The testimony and appeal of Ellen White's June 2 letter appears to have contributed to a reconciliation among the members. Bates reports that at a conference held in Jackson three weeks after her letter was sent “God in answer to prayer … endowed His children with grace, which caused love and unity to prevail throughout the church.”

See: Brian E. Strayer, “Early Advent Waymarks in Jackson, Michigan: Parts I & II”; Joseph Bates, “Jackson, Mich., Conference,” Review, July 8, 1852, p. 40.

1EGWLM 329.1

All this trouble can be saved if each one of the brethren and sisters are frank and open-hearted, and when they feel any brother errs, go to him and tell him your trials and fears; tell him in love, and perhaps he can make things that you have not understood plain, so that you will be relieved.1EGWLM 329.2

I saw there had been too much noticing little things in Jackson, that did not accord with your minds on such and such things. If Satan can get your minds off of the important work in the last days, upon little things that gender strife, his object is accomplished. All he wants is to weaken and overthrow you. I saw in the trial you had at Jackson [that] Brother Bowles saw many things in their true light, but he moved unadvisedly. He had no intention of moving wrong, but he did not look at things on every side and consider sufficiently what was the wisest course to take, but moved too much on the impulse of the moment, and then I saw all things in confusion. I saw that Brother Bowles had not that meek and childlike spirit that he ought to have. He is too much lifted up and exalted, and he must humble himself or God will humble him. I saw that Brother Case [Hiram S. Case]⁴

Identity: As with the Brother Bowles mentioned at the beginning of the letter, “Brother Case” presumably lived in or near Jackson, since the letter is addressed “To the Brethren and Sisters of Jackson.” Further, the description here given of Case suggests that he is a preacher. H. S. Case from Michigan fits this specification. He receives frequent mention in the Review as a traveling preacher in the period 1851-1853. The question is whether he lived in Jackson, Michigan, at the time of this letter, i.e., June 1852. According to the 1850 census and early reports in The Present Truth and The Advent Review, H. S. Case lived in North Plains, Ionia County, some 60 or 70 miles [97-113 kilometers] north of Jackson. There is, however, evidence that he had moved to Jackson by or before 1852. Notices in the Review from February and May 1852 speak of Brother “Case, from Jackson Mich.” and of “H. S. Case [who] writes from Jackson.” Taken together, there seems little doubt that Ellen White is writing of Hiram S. Case.

See: Search term “Case” in Words of the Pioneers; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Hiram Case,” Michigan, Ionia County, Lyons, p. 312; Bowman R. Brown, “From Bro. Brown,” Review, May 6, 1852, p. 6.

had been doing what he could, but he had not moved judiciously at all times, and had given the enemies of the truth some cause to reproach him and those who believed the truth. It was impossible for him to reach some. His testimony would do them no good. But I saw that God had worked for Brother Case because he had received the admonitions and advice of his brethren and had acted upon it, and if he was humble, God would work for him still. But he must be very careful before unbelievers how he speaks, lest he give the enemies of the truth cause to reproach Israel.^{5
Hiram S. Case, a former Millerite lecturer, had become a Sabbathkeeper in 1850. For a couple of years he traveled and preached widely in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin. This letter from Ellen White provides the first recorded intimation of problems in his ministry. Despite the appeal made to Case in this letter and the hopes expressed that he would change his course, the problems had grown into a full-scale crisis by the following summer, as revealed in a June 1853 document. By 1854 he had broken with the movement and cofounded the opposition Messenger Party.
See: Ellen G. White, Ms 1, 1853 (June 2); EGWEnc, s.v. “Messenger Party.”}1EGWLM 329.3

Dear brethren and sisters, keep self humble and in all things follow the Bible rule. Satan knows he cannot make us doubt the truth. The arguments of our enemies are powerless and effect nothing against the truth. Satan knows that his only way now is to try to separate very near friends and thereby weaken the children of God. United you'll stand. Divided you'll fall. Oh, press together; grieve not the angels of God who are watching over you. Let them not bear the tidings upward that you are disunited, each one pulling apart. Remember, now is the time that God is gathering His people into the unity of the faith. Will you not be co-workers with God, and press together?1EGWLM 330.1

I beg of you to each one of you humble yourselves before God. Let your brother's faults alone; go to God and beg of Him not to show you your brother's heart but your own heart and your own wrongs, and when each one of you humble yourself before God, let self die. There will be no trouble. You can but love one another and be united by strong cords of love and fellowship. Finally, be at peace among yourselves, and may the God of peace sanctify you wholly, and preserve you blameless unto His appearing and kingdom. I would say I have written this to the church because it is public affairs.1EGWLM 330.2

Brother Bates [Joseph Bates]⁶

Identity: The information in the next sentence that Brother Bates “is coming to see you” provides clear evidence that Joseph Bates is being referred to. The following issue of the Review, published on June 10, announces that Joseph Bates would be attending a conference in Jackson, Michigan, starting June 25.

See: Joseph Bates, “Appointments,” Review, June 10, 1852, p. 24.

is with us. He is coming to see you West. His duty is there for present. I never saw him as free as now. God is with him. James sends much love to all the church. Accept the same from me. Please write as soon as possible.1EGWLM 331.1

Nonextant

Published in RH