News to close friends of recent travels. Account of vision of March 24, 1849: The Sabbath as a test. Satan's attempts through mesmerism, spiritualism, and false revivals to deceive God's people.1EGWLM 164.3

Dear Brother and Sister Hastings:

I now sit down to write you a few lines and give you a little history of our journey and of the dealings of God with us since we left you.²

Although James and Ellen White had been corresponding with the Hastingses for about two years, it was during the visit here mentioned, in March 1849, that the two families first met in person.

See: Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 112, 113.

It was rather a tedious journey for me from Dorchester [Massachusetts] to Brunswick [Maine].^{3
The Whites had returned to Topsham, Maine, via Boston and Dorchester. James adds the detail that the last 16 miles (26 kilometers) from North Yarmouth to Brunswick by stagecoach took three hours, during which they were “shook up and down … in snow banks and mud sloughs.” Ellen White was about five months pregnant at the time.
See: James White to Leonard and Elvira Hastings, Mar. 22, 1849.} I stood my journey all quite well until we came to the last sixteen miles [26 kilometers]. We were obliged to take the stage from North Yarmouth [Maine] to Brunswick. The roads were very bad. I felt that I could not perform the journey and that I must stop at a private house. The stage shook us round very much. James and I agreed to unite our prayers together, and in faith believing, ask God for strength, and praise His holy name, He heard us pray. I felt a visible change for the better and was enabled in the strength of God to finish the journey without accident or harm.1EGWLM 164.4

The first Sabbath we spent in Topsham, was a sweet, interesting time. It seems that Jesus Himself passed through our midst and shed His light and glory upon us. We all had a rich draught from the well of Bethlehem. The Spirit came upon me and I was taken off in vision. I saw many important things, some of which I will write you before I close this letter. I saw Brother Stowell [Lewis B. Stowell]⁴

Identity: Although there were a number of Stowell families in Paris, Maine, at this time, the only known Sabbatarian one was the family of Lewis B. Stowell. “Brother Stowell” could, strictly speaking, be one of Lewis's sons, such as Oswald (age 21), also a Sabbathkeeper, but it is more likely that “Brother Stowell” would be reserved for the father.

See: Search term “Stowell” in Words of the Pioneers; William Berry Lapham, History of Paris, Maine, p. 738.

of Paris [Maine] was wavering upon the shut door.^{5
See: Introductory article “The ‘Shut Door’ and Ellen White's Visions”; EGWEnc, s.v. “Shut Door.”} I felt that I must visit them. Although it was fifty miles [80 kilometers] off and very bad going, I believed God would strengthen me to perform the journey. We went and found they needed strengthening. There had not been a meeting in the place for above two years.^{6
The beginnings of the group of Sabbathkeeping Adventists in Paris, Maine, can be traced to 1845.
See: Mrs. M. C. Stowell Crawford, “A Letter From a Veteran Worker,” Southern Watchman, Apr. 25, 1905, p. 278.} We spent one week with them. Our meetings were very interesting. They were hungry for present truth. We had free, powerful meetings with them. God gave me two visions while there, much to the comfort and strength of the brethren and sisters. Brother Stowell was established in the shut door and all the present truth he had doubted. Strength was given me from on high so that my journey wearied me not at all and my health has been better ever since. Thank God He gives us strength as we need.1EGWLM 164.5

After we returned from Paris, we felt that it was time to make up our minds where to go and spend the summer. We were in much perplexity and trial to know how to decide. We had been expecting God to teach in such a way that we could not mistake duty, but we were disappointed and as we had no light to go elsewhere, concluded to go to New York. James wrote them when to come for us at Utica [New York] and I signed my name to the letter after he had signed his. Soon I began to feel distressed and burdened. It seemed that I should be driven to distraction. I found relief by weeping. When in my distress James was afraid I would die, and he threw the letter in the stove, as he told me afterward, then knelt down by my bedside and prayed God to roll off the burden, and I was relieved. The next morning I awoke perfectly free and clear, all my distress was gone, and I felt assured God would open the way before us.1EGWLM 165.1

James went to the office and brought in a letter from Brother Belden [Albert Belden],⁷

Identity: Writing to Stephen T. Belden, son of Albert Belden, in 1904, Ellen White recalls the time that “the paper Present Truth was first published” (summer 1849). “We were then living at Rocky Hill, in your father's [Albert Belden's] house.”

See: Ellen G. White, Lt 293, 1904 (Oct. 17); 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Albert Belden,” Connecticut, Hartford County, Rocky Hill, p. 13.

Rocky Hill, Connecticut, giving us a strong invitation to come there and live with them; said they should consider it a privilege to administer to our wants. We felt clear to go and felt that it was the way the Lord had opened. They sent us means to go with.1EGWLM 165.2

We came to this place yesterday; found our dear Brother Nichols’ [Otis Nichols]⁸

Identity: The main clue to the identity of “Brother Nichols’” is that he lives in “this place,” i.e., Milton, Massachusetts (just south of Boston), as recorded at the top of the letter. The only Sabbatarian Nichols family living in that area during this period is that of Otis Nichols, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. It is uncertain why Ellen White implies here that Otis Nichols lives in Milton. Dorchester and Milton, however, were very close, if not adjacent to each other, so there may well be some natural reason Milton, and not Dorchester, is given as the address.

See: Search term “Otis Nichols” in Words of the Pioneers.

family as well as usual, steadfast in the faith, and strong in all the present truth. Sister Temple [Elizabeth Temple]^{9
Identity: The fact that “Sister Temple” worked in Boston is helpful in establishing her identity. The only “Temple” living in Boston mentioned in the Review during this period is “E. Temple” or “Elizabeth Temple.”
See: Search term “Temple” in Words of the Pioneers.} continues well and strong. Praise the Lord, she stands out a living monument of the healing power of God.^{10
Six weeks earlier, on March 8, 1849, Ellen White had anointed Elizabeth Temple, who was seriously ill. The Whites had returned eight days later and found her “at the wash-tub in the enjoyment of good health.”
See: James White to Leonard and Elvira Hastings, Mar. 22, 1849; Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 109, 110, 113.} Last week she earned eight dollars cleaning house in Boston [Massachusetts]. Our God is a living God; He is bringing up and reviving His people and preparing them to stand in the battle of the Lord. The work is still going on in Connecticut. The Lord has shown me in vision He was at work there and that what He was doing for His people was only a few drops before a more plentiful shower.1EGWLM 166.1

Keep up good courage, my dear Brother and Sister. I do want to hear from you very much, and should rejoice to have the privilege of being in your happy dwelling once more. How is your health, Sister Hastings? And how is your child, the babe?¹¹

Ellen and James White's visit to the Hastingses the previous month had been in part occasioned by the “wretched state of health” of Elvira Hastings, together with the affliction of her 8-week-old baby, who “cried continually.”

See: Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], p. 110.

Do let us know. We shall start for Connecticut Monday and settle down. Write us there and direct to James White, Rocky Hill, Ct.1EGWLM 166.2

I will now write you the vision God gave me on the Sabbath, the 24th of March.¹²

See: Ms 1, 1849 (Mar. 24)—a variant account of the same vision.

We had a glorious meeting. I was taken off in vision.1EGWLM 166.3

I saw the commandments of God and shut door could not be separated. I saw [that] the time for the commandments of God to shine out to His people was when the door was opened in the inner apartment of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844. Then Jesus rose up and shut the door in the outer apartment and opened the door in the inner apartment and passed into the Most Holy Place, and the faith of Israel now reaches within the second veil where Jesus now stands by the ark. I saw that Jesus had shut the door in the Holy Place and no man can open it, and that He had opened the door in the Most Holy Place and no man can shut it; and that since Jesus had opened the door in the Most Holy Place the commandments have been shining out and God has been testing His people on the holy Sabbath.¹³

On the link between the Sabbath and the sanctuary, see Ms 1, 1849 (Mar. 24), note 4.

I saw that the test on the Sabbath could not come until the mediation of Jesus was finished in the Holy and He had passed within the second veil; therefore Christians who died before the seventh month, 1844, and had not kept the true Sabbath, rest in hope, for there was no condemnation until the true light on the Sabbath came.1EGWLM 166.4

I saw that our adversaries had been trying to open the door in the outer apartment and to close the door in the inner apartment where the ark is, containing the two tables of stone on which are written the ten commandments by God's own finger.¹⁴

See: Ms 1, 1849 (Mar. 24), note 5.

I saw that Satan was now using every device in this sealing time to keep the minds of God's people from present truth and cause them to waver. I saw a covering that God was drawing over His people to protect them in the time of trouble, and every soul that was decided upon the truth was to be covered with this covering of Almighty God. Satan knew this and was also at work in mighty power. I saw that the mysterious knocking in New York was the power of Satan clothed in a religious garb to lull the deceived to more security and to draw the minds of God's people to look at that and cause them to doubt the teachings of God among His people.^{15
On this earliest extant warning by Ellen White regarding the claims of the Fox sisters of Hydesville, New York, see Ms 1, 1849 (Mar. 24), note 6.}1EGWLM 167.1

I saw that Satan was working through agents in a number of ways. He was at work through ministers who had rejected God's truth and had been given over to strong delusions to believe a lie, that they might be damned.¹⁶

Paraphrase of 2 Thess. 2:11, 12: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

I saw while they were preaching or praying some would fall prostrate and helpless, not by the power of the Holy Ghost, No, no, but by the power of Satan breathed upon these agents and through them to the people.1EGWLM 167.2

I saw that some professed Adventists who had rejected present truth, while preaching, praying or in private conversation used mesmerism to gain adherents, and the people would rejoice, thinking it was the power of God; and even those that used it (mesmerism) themselves were so far in the darkness and deception of the devil that they thought it was the power of God given them to exercise.¹⁷

See: Ms 1, 1849 (Mar. 24), note 8.

I saw that these men had made God altogether such an one as themselves.1EGWLM 167.3

I saw that some of the agents of the devil were affecting the bodies of those they could not deceive and draw from the present truth.¹⁸

See: EGWEnc, s.v. “Present Truth.”

Some of them were even trying to afflict some of the saints unto death.^{19
See: Ms 1, 1849 (Mar. 24), note 10.} (Oh, that all could get a view of it as God revealed it unto me, that they might know more of the wiles of Satan so as to be on their guard.)1EGWLM 168.1

I saw that Satan was at work in these ways to distract, draw away, and deceive God's people just now in this sealing time²⁰

See: EGWEnc, s.v. “Seal of God.”

more than ever before. I saw some who were not standing stiffly, their knees were trembling, their feet were sliding, because they were not planted firmly on present truth, and the covering of Almighty God would not be drawn over them. While they were thus trembling Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were until the sealing was over and the covering drawn over God's people, and they left out without protection in the time of slaughter. God has begun to draw this covering over His people, therefore it will very soon be drawn over all of those who are to have a shelter in the time of trouble or day of the Lord.1EGWLM 168.2

I saw that as God worked for His people, Satan would also work, and that the mysterious knocking and signs and wonders of Satan and false reformations would increase and spread. The reformations that were shown me were not reformations from error to truth, No, no, but from bad to worse, for those who professed a change of heart had only wrapt about them a religious cloak which covered up the iniquity of a vile heart so as to deceive God's people; but if their hearts could be seen they would appear as black as ever.²¹

For a study of early Sabbatarian Adventist attitudes to religious revivals, see P. Gerard Damsteegt, Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission, pp. 184-186.

My accompanying angel bade me look for the travail of souls for sinners as used to be. I looked but could not see it for the time for their salvation is past.^{22
See: Ms 1, 1849 (Mar. 24), note 13.} Dear Brother and Sister, I have now written the vision God gave me. I am tired sitting so long. Our position looks very clear. We know we have the truth, the midnight cry is behind us, the door was shut in 1844 and Jesus is soon to step out from between God and man. The sealing will then be accomplished—finished up. Oh, let us keep on the whole armor of God that we may be ready for battle at any moment. We shall have to fight every inch of ground now. Satan has come down in great power, knowing his time is short; but with the commandments of God written in our hearts and in our minds [we] will go on strong and bold, and although the sons of Anak be many and tall,^{23
Cf. Num. 13:33: “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak … : and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers.”} yet we will go on crying, The commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus.1EGWLM 168.3

Glory be to God, we shall get the victory and enter the goodly land if we keep the commandments. Oh yes, and we shall have right to the tree of life, and drink of those streams that make glad the city of our God, and we shall behold the lovely face of Jesus and be made like Him. Lift up your heads and rejoice, your redemption is nigh.1EGWLM 169.1

Arabella [Harriet Arabella Hastings],²⁴

Identity: The appeal to Arabella “and the rest of the children” clearly indicates that Arabella was a daughter of Leonard and Elvira Hastings to whom the letter is addressed. Arabella was the oldest of the Hastings children, about 16 at the time. Her name is given as “Harriet A. Hastings” in her 1854 obituary. Ellen White, in her correspondence, 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 “A” stands for Arabella. (The 1850 U.S. Federal Census for the Leonard Hastings household lists a 17-year old “Hannah A. Hastings.” It is assumed here that this is an error and that “Hannah” should be “Harriet.”)

See: Obituary: “Harriet A. Hastings,” Review, Sept. 5, 1854, p. 31; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Leonard Hastings,” New Hampshire, Hillsborough County, New Ipswich, p. 272.

the Lord is coming; are you all ready? Can you meet Him in peace and say, This is our God, we have waited for Him? Oh do take hold on the strength of God and make peace with Him, that you may stand when the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard. And the rest of the children,—I cannot call them by name,—Love God with your whole hearts and pray much that you may be sealed. It is of great importance that you secure your soul's salvation. Much love to all.1EGWLM 169.2

E. G. White

Much love to Sister Gorham [Elizabeth Gorham];²⁵

Identity: In several letters written to the Hastingses in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, Ellen White sent her warm greetings to “Sister Gorham.” A clue to her identity comes in a letter fragment from 1851, in which the writer (name unknown) says he “landed by cars at 10 a.m. at Mason Village. Found a Sister Goram [the spelling disparity is probably not significant], took dinner, and then walked five miles [eight kilometers] to Bro. Hastings, New Ipswich.” According to the 1850 census there was an Elizabeth Gorham living in Mason but no Gorham at all living in nearby New Ipswich. The probability that Ellen White is greeting Elizabeth Gorham of Mason is raised by the circumstance that the Review's only mentions of “Gorham” as a personal name during the 1850s are “E. Gorham,” “Elizabeth Gorham,” and “J. Gorham.”

See: Ellen G. White, Lt 8, 1849 (May 29); Lt 18, 1850 (Jan. 11); Lt 10, 1850 (Mar. 18); Lt 28, 1850 (Nov. 27); Lt 3, 1851 (Aug. 11); Lt 7, 1851 (July 27); (writer unknown) to “the dear disciples of Jesus in Dartmouth,” Nov. 7, 1851; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Elizabeth Gorham,” New Hampshire, Hillsborough County, Mason, p. 299; search term “Gorham” in Words of the Pioneers.

tell her, for me, to hold fast; tell her her deliverance is soon to come and she will soon, if faithful, enjoy the company of Jesus and angels. Tell her to stand stiffly, to let nothing move her from the truth. My love to Sister Eastman, although I have never seen her, and Brother Gardner.^{26
The identities of “Sister Eastman” and “Brother Gardner” have not been established.} I should love to see you all. Pray for poor, unworthy me.1EGWLM 169.3

In haste.1EGWLM 170.1

Ms 1, 1849

Lt 8, 1849