The Response to Earnest Testimonies

At first there was no response, and then finally a break came. On September 23, Elder Reaser wrote at length to Ellen White. The letter was written in his own hand and read:6BIO 154.1

Dear Sister White: I have received several communications from you of late, but have not considered that you desired a reply from me in answer to all of them. However, I am impressed that it is due you that I give you, at least, one general answer to all of these kindly communications.6BIO 154.2

I find, by a careful reading, that they all contain excellent instruction and lay down splendid principles which are well worthy of application in my life and work. I find, however, some statements that I do not fully understand. I presume that this is not a strange thing.6BIO 154.3

The conference president then reviewed a number of points of history relating to his connection with the medical interests of the conference, and particularly Loma Linda. He reported that he had offered to resign his official connections with the sanitarium work, and intended to do so at the next large council meeting. He added that Elder Burden and others connected with the sanitarium work had urged him not to do so.6BIO 154.4

Then he made a significant and enlightening statement:6BIO 154.5

From my childhood up I have had almost a horror of heavy indebtedness, and I supposed that I was acting fully in harmony with the Spirit of Prophecy and from communications that I have personally received when I opposed, what seemed to me, the extreme debt policy at Loma Linda.

After discussing a number of points where there had been friction between him and Elder Burden, he stated:6BIO 154.6

I will say in conclusion that if the Lord clearly leads in that direction, I am not only willing to resign from the medical work but from the conference work in southern California and go exactly where He leads.6BIO 155.1

Two weeks after penning this letter, Elder Reaser, on Sabbath afternoon, October 5, was in Ellen White's living room at Elmshaven for an interview with her and her son, Elder W. C. White. Elder Burden was there, as well as Clarence Crisler, who made a stenographic report of the interview. Both Reaser and Burden had in mind two main questions they wanted resolved: (1) Did Ellen White write the messages of counsel to Elders Burden and Reaser and the conference committee on the basis of what W. C. White reported to her? and (2) In the light of recent testimonies, should Elder Reaser continue connections with the medical work in southern California?6BIO 155.2