Roman Ruins in Nimes

On Sunday, Mrs. White and her friends took a walk into the heart of Nimes. The market activities were as busy as on any other day of the week. She was especially impressed by the Roman antiquities for which the city is famous. She visited the Maison Carree or “Square House,” a perfect little pillared stone temple dating from the days of Augustus Caesar.EGWE 231.5

At Nimes Sister White met Mr. Guilly, an evangelical preacher and preceptor of a school for orphans and fallen women. She took a large interest in the charitable work he was doing for Christ.EGWE 232.1

For two weeks she remained in the city and the kindly Mr. Guilly did all he could to make her stay as pleasant as possible. One day he took her to the Tour Magne, the Great Tower, another impressive Roman ruin on a hill north of the city. After a long climb up the hillside they reached the tower of the old castle and gradually ascended its narrow stone steps.EGWE 232.2

Ellen White wrote to her sister, Mary Foss:EGWE 232.3

“We ... were richly rewarded for our toil in the magnificent view.... We could overlook Nimes and the olive groves abounding in and about Nimes, presenting a very beautiful picture. I thought while so high up of the temptation of Christ when He was beset by Satan. He was placed on the pinnacle of the temple and then invited ... and taunted to evidence that He was the Son of God by casting Himself down from the dizzy height....EGWE 232.4

“From this eminence we had a broad extended view. But nothing that was in comparison to the view of the kingdoms of the world spread out before the Son of God in most bewitching loveliness and richness.”—Letter 108, 1886.EGWE 232.5

Near the end of her stay she took dinner with Mr. Guilly at Bourdeau's house. The next day she toured his school and orphanage.EGWE 232.6

On Sabbath, October 30, she spoke twice in the afternoon and in the evening. Mr. Guilly, his wife, the directors of the asylum that he managed, and fifty of his students attended the services. Sister White said, “We hope this acquaintance may be in the providence of God a blessing to them and to us” (Ibid.).EGWE 232.7