MR No. 483—The Spirit of 1876
A Presentation on Ellen White Geared to the Bicentennial By R. W. Olson
1—The Setting
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2—Her Work
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“It will take a clear sense of duty to call me from this work to campmeetings. I mean to finish my writings on one book before I go anywhere.... The East will not see me for one year unless I feel that God calls me to go....7MR 277.3
“The pillar of fire is here yet. When it moves I would move also. I want to follow it. I have no will of my own; I want to do God's will. At present His will is to tarry in California and make the most of my time in writing. I shall be doing more for the cause in this than in going across the plains to attend campmeetings.”—Letter 4, 1876.7MR 277.4
. “I enjoy the presence of God,” 7MR 278.1
“and yet my soul is continually drawn out for more of His salvation.... Precious subjects I am handling. The last I completed or about completed yesterday,—Jesus healing the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda. It is a great subject, the discourse of Christ, following the healing as He was accused of the Jews of Sabbath breaking.”—Letter 1, 1876.7MR 278.2
“The precious subjects open to my mind well. I trust in God and He helps me to write.”—Letter 4, 1876.7MR 278.3
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“We feel every day a most earnest desire for a more sacred nearness to God. This is my prayer when I lie down, when I awake in the night and when I arise in the morning, Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee.... My heart thirsts for the living God. I want to be a living channel of light to the world while I remain in it; and when my probation here closes, my warfare is ended, I shall have left a bright track heavenward. I love Jesus. I know this, and if I am permitted to dwell in His presence, Oh bliss, bliss indeed.”—Letter 6, 1876.
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“I have had a very depressed state of feelings today, unaccountably sad. I could not explain why I felt so exceedingly sad.7MR 278.6
“We bowed before God at the commencement of the Sabbath. I commenced to pray and my heart went out after God. I wept and prayed and I felt the consolation of the Spirit of God. Jesus seemed so precious, so very precious to me. I laid all my burdens upon my Saviour and I was relieved.”—Letter 7, 1876.7MR 278.7
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7MR 279.1
“I never felt more sensibly the especial help from God.... The hall was full. There were nearly as many outsiders as believers. I never saw so many out before. Some came and looked at first a little amused as if it was sport to hear a woman speak, and as if they were to hear some rabble that would be amusing to them, but they soon wore very serious faces and many shed tears. Most I had never seen in the hall before. I do not speak smooth things to the people.”—Letter 18, 1876.7MR 279.2
3—Home Life
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“Both [are] in good condition, especially [the] horse who exhibited his balky propensities yesterday morning before Mary Clough. He was disposed to go every way but the one he should go. Willie will sell him for what he can get. The Tribune men have used him to carry their forms back and forth; paid three dollars each week. He has been used in drawing lumber and for different purposes, so that he has paid his way. But I am going to watch for an opportunity and interest others to get me a good team not so very expensive, but manageable, that Mary and I can use to ride out where and when we please.”—Letter 4a, 1876.7MR 279.5
“I shall ride every day after dinner. My health demands it.” (Letter 21, 1876). “I must stop a day or two in the week and go somewhere or my head will break down.” (Letter 9, 1876). “I ... shall take a day now and then for a change, ride or go to Healdsburg, not for their good but my own.” (Letter 11, 1876).7MR 280.1
. “Yesterday,” 7MR 280.2
“we spent in the mountains and enjoyed it very much. Sister Rice and I lay down to rest on blankets and buffaloes. When we awoke, for we slept, our children and Addie and Mary were gone. We looked for them and saw them on the high mountain peaks throwing down stones. They enjoyed climbing the mountain where they had a view of the scenery, the ocean, Golden Gate, and towns and villages. They enjoyed this much. Willie came down the mountains with flowers in his coat that Addie and May had tied in so he looked like one immense bouquet.
“We went up beyond Fountain farm about five miles, took our dinner and strawberries and cream which we were favored with obtaining at a farm house close by. We had a real rest. I was satisfied to ride and lie down. I had no disposition to climb. We rode about thirty miles in all.”—Letter 22, 1876.7MR 280.3
. “Yesterday,” .7MR 280.4
“Brother Chittenden took out a number of us on the water in his boat,—Sister Chittendon, Waggoner, Loughborough, and wife, Mary Clough, Edson, Emma, Frank, Willie Jones, Bro. O. B. Jones, Charles Jones, myself and the little girls. We remained on the water and beach all day. Sailed out of the Golden Gate upon the ocean. There was no wind to take us out of the harbor. Charlie employed a steam tug to take us out. One of his friends managed the steam boat. Mary and Emma were seasick. I was not sick at all. The waves ran high and we were tossed up and down so very grandly. I was highly elevated in my feelings, but had no words to say to any one. It was grand. The spray dashing over us. The watchful captain giving his orders, the ready hands to obey. The wind was blowing strong and I never enjoyed anything so much in my life.
“I was today to write upon Christ walking on the sea and stilling the tempest. Oh, how this scene was impressed upon my mind. Brother Chittenden says Sister White looks just happy, but she does not say a word to any one. I was filled with awe with my own thoughts. Everything seemed so grand in that ocean, the waves running so high. The majesty of God and His works occupied my thoughts. He holds the winds in His hand, He controls the waters. Finite beings mere specks upon the broad deep waters of the Pacific were we in the sight of God, yet angels of heaven were sent from His excellent glory to guard that little sailboat that was careening over the waves. Oh the wonderful works of God! So much above our comprehension! He at one glance beholds the highest heavens and the midst of the sea.7MR 281.1
“How vividly before my mind was the boat with the disciples buffeting the waves.... I am glad I went upon the water. I can write better than before.”—Letter 5, 1876.7MR 281.2
“I do not wish my mind diverted from my work to even go and select furniture.” (Letter 8, 1876). :7MR 281.3
“Last evening the two Marys went with me to Brooklyn for a few flower roots for our garden. Sister Grover gave us as many as we could carry.”—Letter 3, 1876.7MR 281.4
“We came home and I set out my things in my garden of [the] new house by moonlight and by the aid of lamplight. The two Marys tried to have me wait till morning, but I would not listen to them. We had a beautiful shower last night. I was glad then I persevered in setting out my plants.”—Letter 4, 1876.7MR 281.5
“Our hedge is growing nicely. The things we have set out in rose bushes and a few choice shrubs are doing well.” ().7MR 282.1
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“Will you send me one of my straw hats by Frank Patten? If you could dry a few peony roots and let her take them in her trunk, and send a few slips of Queen of Prairie and a few choice seeds, as summer greens and pansy seeds, I should like some of these things so much. Send me verbena seeds.... [From] our old place in the field which we sold, I wish you could send a slip of snowballs and a trumpet vine. These would take but little space and if you could send them I could have something new here which they have not.”—Letter 61, 1876.7MR 282.3
“In this hotel all are examining our bouquet. It has lost much of its loveliness, yet sufficient remaining to be the admiration of all who look upon it. It has kept preserved in water and ice and is very nice after so long a journey.” ().7MR 282.4
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“Yesterday while waiting for a train, we got off and [I] was looking for a stone or something as a memento. A lady said she picked up some specimens which she would give me. She gave me freely specimens of moss agate, petrified wood and bits of petrified sage. She said she had come to visit her sister who lived at the station and she would stay a week and could get all she wished. I thought it was certainly very kind and liberal of her to thus accommodate a stranger.”—Letter 28a, 1876.7MR 282.6
“Our lunch kept well. We have now two loaves of bread, the buns and brown loaf and fruit cake, oranges and lemons and jelly.”—().7MR 282.7
4—Her Husband
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“We women must remember that God has placed us subject to the husband. He is the head and our judgment and views and reasonings must agree with his if possible. If not, the preference in God's Word is given to the husband where it is not a matter of conscience. We must yield to the head.”—Letter 5, 1861.7MR 283.2
“While you are so happy [in the] east, I shall never ask you to cross the plains again. If you say, Stay east, thus it shall be.” (Letter 14, 1876). She suggested that they rent the new house for a brief period, and then added, “We will do exactly as you say. So advise or direct us and we will do as you say.” ().7MR 283.3
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“In regard to my independence, I have had no more than I should have in the matter under the circumstances. I do not receive your views or interpretation of my feelings on this matter. I understand myself much better than you understand me. But so it must be and I will say no more in reference to the matter.”—Letter 25, 1876.7MR 284.2
. “It grieves me,” 7MR 284.3
“that I have said or written anything to grieve you. Forgive me and I will be cautious not to start any subject to annoy and distress you. We are living in a most solemn time and we cannot afford to have in our old age [54 and 48] differences to separate our feelings. I may not view all things as you do, but I do not think it would be my place or duty to try to make you see as I see and feel as I feel. Wherein I have done this, I am sorry.
“I want an humble heart, a meek and quiet spirit. Wherein my feelings have been permitted to arise in any instance, it was wrong. Jesus has said, ‘Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.’ (Matthew 11:29).7MR 284.4
“I wish that self should be hid in Jesus. I wish self to be crucified. I do not claim infallibility, or even perfection of Christian character. I am not free from mistakes and errors in my life. Had I followed my Saviour more closely, I should not have to mourn so much my unlikeness to His dear image.”—Letter 27, 1876.7MR 284.5
“Your Ellen” (e.g. Letter 6, 1876). “It takes a little time to get settled down from the excitement of your going. You may be assured that we miss you. Especially do we feel the loss of your society when we gather about the fireside evenings. We feel your absence when we sit around the social board.” (Letter 1a, 1876). “We miss you ... very much, but we are so buried up in our writing we have no time ... to be lonesome while thus engaged; but when gathered about the fireside, then there is a great miss.” ().7MR 285.1
5—The Trip East
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“Monday morning I spoke from the words of Christ to Nicodemus. “Ye must be born again.” The spirit and power of God rested upon speakers and hearers. All present seemed to be deeply affected. The depth of feeling was more general than is usually seen. As I stood inviting those to come forward who wanted to fully dedicate themselves to God, sinners and backsliders, my heart was deeply affected. I felt indeed that souls were making decisions for eternity. I knew that if the eyes of those present could be opened, we should see angels of God walking through the congregation and although unseen by mortal eyes, their presence was felt.7MR 285.3
“Three hundred came forward for prayers. We then gave them opportunity to express their feelings and one hundred and thirty testimonies were borne. Frequently four were on their feet at once, talking and confessing with tears their sins and their departure from God. I never saw it on this wise before. As the result of the meeting, forty-eight were baptized. All went to their homes encouraged and many were signally blessed.7MR 286.1
“We are happy in this work. Many times we are disappointed in our expectations but then when we see the Lord working with our efforts, and souls coming to Christ, we forget the weariness, disappointments, and trials which we meet in connection with this work and feel honored of God to be permitted to have a part in it.”—Letter 32, 1876.7MR 286.2
(Letter 40, 1876), (Letter 41, 1876), (Letter 47, 1876), (Letter 47, 1876), (Letter 8, 1876), (Letter 30, 1876), ().7MR 286.3
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“We were just in time [for the fourth of July celebration and] to witness the procession of the birds of paradise. The leader was represented as an Indian warrior, then followed the Continentals, the signers of the Declaration of Independence dressed as they dressed, powdered hair, short breeches and leggings. Some things were really interesting and some ridiculous.—Letter 33, 1876.7MR 286.6
“We leave here Thursday for New York. Then on to the Centennial.” (Letter 34, 1876). “pleasant family.” . “Now,” “Our business is to visit [the] Centennial grounds every day, see what we can and Mary make reports. We shall take our dinner with us from our landlady.” ().7MR 287.1
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“Have been on the Centennial ground once. We are on our way today. There is much more of this than we anticipated,—representations from all parts of the world,—Swedes, Norwegians, Laplanders and some others are in life size, natural as life in their native dress. It is indeed worth seeing.”—Letter 35, 1876. [.]
“People abroad have no just idea of the greatness, gorgeousness, and perfection of the Centennial exhibition. The newspapers can't tell it.”—The Review and Herald, August 10, 1876, p 56.7MR 288.1
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(Letter 37, 1876); “most distressing headache” (Letter 30, 1876); (The Signs of the Times, July 13, 1876, p 236). :7MR 288.4
“I commenced speaking at the stand but the wind blew so hard, swaying the trees and rustling the leaves, we thought best to repair to the tent.... After speaking above one hour I called those forward who were unconverted and also the backsliders and those who felt that they had sins upon them that separated them from God. Before our effort closed sixty-five came forward. Deep feeling pervaded the meeting. There was much weeping, many confessions made, well wet down with tears. Parents were pleading for their children and youth were soliciting the youth to give their hearts to God. In speaking and entreating sinners, I stood upon my feet about four hours.”—Letter 44, 1876.7MR 288.5
“The presence of Bro. and Sr. White constituted in a large measure the life of the meeting.” (The Review and Herald, June 29, 1876). “Your Father and Mother are worked down. I am looking old and poor for the very reason that there is no rest for us.” ().7MR 288.6
6—Conclusion
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Released March 16, 1976.