Years in Europe—1885-87

A request from the European Missionary Council to the General Conference to arrange for Mrs. White to spend some time visiting the European mission, resulted in her sailing from Boston in August, 1885. Her first stop was in London; however, she soon went to Basel, Switzerland, the headquarters of our European work. This served as her headquarters during the next two years, while she visited various European countries and preached and counseled with Adventist leaders.APAY 237.2

The European Missionary Council, meeting for two weeks soon after Mrs. White’s arrival in Europe, gave her an opportunity to become acquainted with the progress of the work as it was reported by representatives from Scandinavia, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland. Methods of distributing Seventh-day Adventist literature came in for a large share of discussion. Some of the leaders had come to the conclusion that literature sales by colporteurs were destined to failure; but Mrs. White repeatedly assured the discouraged colporteurs that “it had been shown her that books could be sold in Europe in such a way as to give support to the workers, and bring to the publishing house sufficient returns to enable it to produce more books.” Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 285. Her words encouraged the book salesmen to try again. Training schools for colporteurs were held in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, and the sales for 1886 in that territory rose to nearly $9,000, compared to a little more than $1,000 in 1885.APAY 238.1

Three times during her European stay Ellen G. White visited the Waldensian valleys of northern Italy, for Seventh-day Adventist work in Italy had its beginnings in these valleys. On her first visit, in 1885, she spent most of her time with the members at Torre Pellice, and spoke to them ten times. She recounted many incidents in the lives of the Waldensians and their missionaries that had been revealed to her in vision. After visiting these spots she was able to write more vividly of the incidents that had taken place there centuries before.APAY 238.2

At the urgent request of the Adventist leaders, she made three visits to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The task was difficult, but she encouraged the workers to increase their consecration, and she made suggestions as to how the work might be built up more effectively.APAY 238.3

On this trip to Europe, Mrs. White was accompanied by her son William and his wife. W. C. White’s experience in the publishing work was helpful to those making a beginning in new lands. Their united labors did much to give permanence and stability to the cause of God during its difficult beginnings in Europe. Mrs. White’s travels and talks are recounted in Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of Seventh-day Adventists and in reports to the Review and Herald. Like her other sermons and her instruction given in writing, these messages contain counsel, encouragement, and reproof. They were readily accepted by leaders and believers to whom she spoke. Her visit helped to bring greater unity among the workers of various nationalities. A strengthened work, an encouraged leadership, and a closer fellowship resulted from Ellen White’s two years of association with the Seventh-day Adventists in Europe.APAY 238.4