Ellen White Desires to Remain in Australia

While on several occasions Olsen urged Ellen White to return to the United States, this she declined to do. “I shall write to you,” she told him in her letter of May 31, 1896, “but should I return to Battle Creek and bear my testimony to those who love not the truth, the ever-ready words would arise from unbelieving hearts, ‘Somebody has told her.’” And she added, “Even now unbelief is expressed by the words ‘Who has written these things to Sister White?’”—Letter 81, 1896.4BIO 257.3

It was in this connection that W. C. White on May 29, 1896, wrote to F. M. Wilcox, secretary of the Foreign Mission Board:4BIO 257.4

Mother feels more and more the fact that she has but a short time to work, and she is very desirous of getting out her books.... Yesterday I had a long talk with her, and she expressed very emphatically the opinion that the Lord had permitted her to come over here, and make a home in a quiet place, that she might be free to present in writing what the Lord has shown her, without personal conflict with those whose course is an offense to God and who are so persistent and determined in their opposition to the instruction God has given His people, but which is contrary to their feelings and plans.—9 WCW, p. 493.4BIO 257.5