COLLINS, Gilbert N. (1836-1905) and Arline F. (1847-1927)

An elder of the New Bedford, Massachusetts, church for many years, Gilbert Collins also served on various New England Conference committees. At age 12, during the winter of 1848-1849, Gilbert become seriously ill with whooping cough and “wasted almost to a skeleton.” At the request of his parents, Philip and Nancy Collins, Ellen and James White came to their home in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and “earnestly besought the Lord to spare his life.” After about eight days the Whites returned to Dartmouth to find Gilbert having “gained four pounds in flesh” and “the household rejoicing in God.” Later in life Gilbert Collins became a successful manufacturer, and Ellen White encouraged him to give generously to various church projects, in particular to the New England Sanitarium in Melrose, Massachusetts. The details of Collins’ responses to these appeals are not known, except that his last will included a bequest of $1,000 to the New England Sanitarium.1EGWLM 810.4

See: Obituary: “Gilbert N. Collins,” Review, June 29, 1905, p. 23; “Arline F. Collins,” 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Massachusetts, Bristol County, Dartmouth, p. 144B; W. A. Greenough Co.’s 1927 New Bedford and Fairhaven Directory (Boston: W. A. Greenough Co., 1927), p. 203; James White to Hastings, Feb. 25, 1849; Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 108, 109; Lt 33, 1897 (June 9); Lt 6, 1902 (Jan. 3); Lt 305, 1904 (Aug.); Lt 341, 1904 (Dec. 22); Lt 29, 1905 (Jan. 1); Lt 23, 1905 (Jan. 17); A. E. Place, “Fund for the New England Sanitarium,” Atlantic Union Gleaner, Aug. 9, 1905, p. 374.1EGWLM 810.5