Establishing the Publishing Work

As noted in the fourth article of this series, the leading points of doctrine were unitedly found and accepted by group study at the Sabbath conferences of the summer of 1848. Up to this time little had been done in publishing lines. Now that the Sabbathkeeping Adventists were in possession of a quite well-defined body of essential truth, familiarly known to them as the “third angel’s message,” it was fitting that they should take appropriate steps to herald this message to the world. Shortly after the Sabbath conferences, while Ellen White was in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in November, 1848, she was “given a view of the proclamation of the sealing message, and of the duty of the brethren to publish the light that was shining upon our pathway.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 125.EGWMR 47.9

Disappointed during the succeeding eight months in his efforts to find financial support for the paper that was called for, James White contemplated securing work in the hayfield to furnish means with which to print it. But at this juncture Ellen White was shown that her husband “must write, write, write, and walk out by faith.”—Spiritual Gifts 2:115. (Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 126.)EGWMR 47.10

The first issue of the Present Truth, printed at Middletown, Connecticut, July, 1849, was sent out largely to former fellow believers in the advent movement. Of its reception we learn that “very soon letters “came bringing means to publish the paper, and the good news of many souls embracing the truth.”—Spiritual Gifts 2:116. Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 127.) At the outset, however, James White had no thought of the magnitude of the work he was undertaking. In an early number he states: “When I commenced the Present Truth, I did not expect to issue more than two or three numbers.”—Present Truth, December, 1849, p. 47.EGWMR 47.11

In full harmony with the prediction of the vision that the paper would receive financial support, James White writes: “While publishing the four first numbers in Connecticut, the brethren sent in more means than was necessary to sustain the paper.”—Ibid.EGWMR 49.1

However, all did not continue to go well, and by January, 1850, it seemed to the editor-publisher that it would be best to cease publishing. Writing on January 3, he stated in a personal letter: “As for the poor little paper, it has so little sympathy, and (I fear) so few prayers that I think it will die.... : think I shall hang all up for the present.”—James White Letter, Jan. 3, 1850. Record Book I, p. 50. And one week later the outlook was still dark : “Brother Bates discouraged me about the paper, and I gave it up forever.”—James White Letter, Jan. 10, 1850. Record Book I, p. 51.EGWMR 49.2

The Lord had called for this work, however, and it was not to be abandoned. Just at the time of deepest discouragement, the voice which had many times testified was heard. Writing the next day, James White tells of God’s providential interposition:EGWMR 49.3

“Last night [Jan. 9, 1850] ... Ellen had the following view in relation to the Present Truth: ‘I saw the paper, and that it was needed, that souls were hungry for the truth that must be written in the paper. I saw that if the paper stopped for want of means and those hungry sheep died for want of the paper, it would not be James’ fault, but it would be the fault of those to whom God had lent His money... I saw that God did not want James to stop yet, but he must write, write, write, write, and speed the message and let it go. I saw that it would go where God’s servants cannot go.’”—Id., pp. 51, 52.EGWMR 49.4

As he continues with the story, note his confidence in the acceptance of the vision by some who had misunderstood:EGWMR 49.5

“My way now seems to be made plain and I hope all my brethren will do their duty, and no more nor less.... I do not doubt for a moment Brother Bates’s good will and kindness toward us, still he does not see everything correctly at one glance. I shall write him this vision, which will, no doubt, make him see a little differently on some things. I hope to be humble and faithful in my work. I need all your advice and prayers.”—Id., pp. 52, 53.EGWMR 49.6

At the conference held at Paris, Maine, in November, 1850, the paper was enlarged, and the name changed to Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald.EGWMR 49.7