Interference and Hostilities

When Bourdeau asked Malan on Friday whether he would print some handbills to announce Ellen White's talk in Torre Pellice for the next afternoon, he flatly refused. They went ahead anyway, but because of the lack of announcements, only twenty-five people were present and only three or four of these were non-Adventists. She spoke for some time on the importance of obeying God and walking in the light, regardless of the opinions or course of the world.EGWE 141.1

As she was about to finish her talk, Malan, who had been in the audience taking notes, leaped to his feet. He demanded to know whether keeping the Sabbath was necessary to salvation, and wanted a “yes” or “no” answer.EGWE 141.2

“She tried five or six times to answer it,” wrote Mary K. White to Willie the next evening, “but he would spring to his feet every time and in a fury of passion demand an answer, ‘yes or no.’”—M. K. White letter, November 29, 1885.EGWE 141.3

Ellen White attempted to explain that such an important question called for more than a yes-or-no answer, and in between Malan's outbursts tried to tell him that if a person had light on the Sabbath he could not be saved while rejecting it.EGWE 141.4

Malan took out a paper he had written, and began to read something to the effect that one could observe the Sabbath without abstaining entirely from labor. A. C. Bourdeau tried desperately to translate so Sister White could understand, but Malan rushed ahead. Finally she told Malan courteously but firmly she would reply in writing, and the Sabbath afternoon meeting closed. Then Malan's distraught wife, who was still faithful to the Advent message, came forward and begged Sister White to excuse her husband. It was a tearful time for her.EGWE 141.5