Ellen White Begins Work In Melbourne

The conference session closed on January 3, but the program continued for another week in devotional meetings and “An Institute for Instruction in Christian Work.” Mrs. White devoted this week to house hunting. She and her office family needed to have a place to live and work. The overall plan was that she would make Melbourne her headquarters for six months and write on the life of Christ. From there she would visit the principal churches and spend two months in New Zealand in connection with their conference session.WV 279.4

On Sunday morning, January 3, Stephen Belden drove Ellen White in his carriage five miles (eight kilometers) north to a suburb known as Preston. She was pleased with the country atmosphere and with the area generally, but the cottage they went to see was not large enough for the group that had to work together. Tuesday morning they were back in Preston, this time with better success. She noted in her diary:WV 279.5

We found a nice brick house with nine rooms which, with a little squeezing, would accommodate Elder Starr and his wife and our workers. There is a beautiful garden, but it has been neglected and is grown up to weeds (Manuscript 28, 1892).WV 279.6

Wednesday they were in Preston again, this time to make arrangements to rent the unfurnished house for six months. The next two days were spent in buying furniture, dishes, and other household necessities. Sunday morning Ellen White was up early packing and getting ready to move into their new home. By noon they were in their new quarters and quite content with the prospects: a large lot, pure, invigorating air; a yard full of flowers “of fine rich quality”; and good soil.WV 280.1

Because the new “home” was five miles (eight kilometers) from the city and the publishing house, she purchased a horse and carriage, a double-seated phaeton in which she could ride with comfort. They bought a good healthy cow to provide milk, and built a stable to accommodate the horse and cow (Letter 90, 1892). A girl, Annie, was employed to assist with the housework. May Walling did the cooking. Because their plans called for only a six-month stay, they bought secondhand furniture and improvised somewhat with packing boxes. Some of the old carpeting used in packing the goods shipped from America served as floor covering. Economy was the watchword.WV 280.2

The women helpers took the yard work under their care, and the garden responded well. Wrote Ellen White:WV 280.3

The girls went to work in the garden, pulling weeds, making flower beds, sowing seeds for vegetables. It was very dry, so we bought a hose, and Marian [Davis] was chief in the flower garden. With water, the flowers sprang up. Dahlias, the richest beauties, are in full bloom, and fuchsias flourish. I never saw them blossom as they do here; the geraniums, Lady Washingtons, in immense bunches of the richest colors to delight the eye (Manuscript 4, 1892).WV 280.4

Just before the conference closed, Mrs. White was stricken with a severe illness. For 11 months she suffered from malarial fever and inflammatory rheumatism. During this time of extreme suffering she continued her writing only under great difficulties.WV 280.5

I am now writing on the life of Christ, and I have had great comfort and blessing in my writing. It may be I am a cripple in order to do this work so long neglected (Letter 90, 1892).WV 280.6

As her physical condition worsened she could not stand to speak, but she would not give up; she spoke while sitting in a chair on the platform. Finally it worsened to the point that she could no longer meet speaking appointments.WV 280.7

One happy event during this period was the arrival in the mail from America of a copy of Steps to Christ, published by Fleming H. Revell and Company of Chicago. It was announced on the back page of the Bible Echo for April 1.WV 280.8

The reception of the book in the United States was phenomenal, as indicated by another back-page note that appeared two months later. An announcement from the publisher, Revell, was reproduced under the title “A Remarkable Book”:WV 281.1

It is not often that a publisher has the opportunity of announcing a third edition of a new work within six weeks of the first issue. This, however, is the encouraging fact in connection with Mrs. E. G. White's eminently helpful and practical work, Steps to Christ. If you will read this work, it will ensure your becoming deeply interested in extending its circulation.WV 281.2

Steps to Christ is a work to guide the inquirer, to inspire the young Christian, and to comfort and encourage the mature believer. The book is unique in its helpfulness.WV 281.3