Chapter 2—The Special Work of Ellen G. White
Seventh-day Adventists accept that Mrs. White was called to a special work—that of serving as a prophet. But her work was broader than this. She says:HUT 28.3
“My commission embraces the work of a prophet, but it does not end there. It embraces much more than the minds of those who have been sowing seeds of unbelief can comprehend.”—Selected Messages 1:36.
In an article in the Review and Herald, the same year she penned the words quoted above, Ellen White outlined in considerable detail the broad work to which she was called. The account is found in Selected Messages 1:33, 34. We quote one item:HUT 28.4
“I was charged not to neglect or pass by those who were being wronged.... If I see those in positions of trust neglecting aged ministers, I am to present the matter to those whose duty it is to care for them. Ministers who have faithfully done their work are not to be forgotten or neglected when they have become feeble in health. Our conferences are not to disregard the needs of those who have borne the burdens of the work.”
This placed a heavy burden on Ellen White. As a denominational worker, she knew from experience what it meant to face illness in the family with no provision for financial assistance. She knew what it meant when James White, while serving as president of the General Conference, was stricken with paralysis and she had to pull up the carpets from the floor, the rag rugs of her own making, and sell them, as well as the furniture, to secure means for the care of her husband. So the instruction that in a special manner she was to watch out for ministers who might be in need was significant to her.HUT 29.1
And not only was she to be alert to the needs of faithful workers, but her attention was often called through vision to the cases of ministers or their families who were being neglected. In many cases she gave financial assistance from her own income, or from funds in her control, for at times her personal resources were inadequate. Her son, Elder W. C. White, wrote of this experience, making reference to her request that certain neglected workers be given assistance from her income:HUT 29.2
“When we pleaded with her that her income was all consumed in the work of preparing her books for publication, she said, in effect:
“‘The Lord has shown me that the experience which your father and I have passed through in poverty and deprivation, in the early days of our work, has given to me a keen appreciation and sympathy for others who are passing through similar experiences of want and suffering. And where I see workers in this cause that have been true and loyal to the work, who are left to suffer, it is my duty to speak in their behalf. If this does not move the brethren to help them, then I must help them, even if I am obliged to use a portion of my tithe in doing so.’
“In harmony with this, Mother has many, many times made request of our conference officers to give consideration to the necessities of humble but faithful workers whose needs were by some means overlooked.
“In many instances her requests have been responded to, and the needed help given. But in some cases the lack of funds and the absence of appreciation of the worthiness and the necessities have left the needy workers without help, and have left her to face the burden. Then she has said to me or to the bookkeeper, ‘Send help as soon as you can, and if necessary take it from my tithe.’ In many cases we found it possible to respond to her requests by gifts from her personal funds, and in some cases a portion of her tithe has been used.
“These experiences relate mostly to the years we were in Europe and Australia, and to the years 1900 to 1906, in behalf of the work in the Southern States.
“During the greater part of the time since my connection with Mother’s business in 1881, a full tithe has been paid on her salary to church or conference treasurers. Instead of paying tithe on the increase from her books, there has been set apart an amount greater than a tithe from which she has made appropriations from time to time in accordance with the instruction mentioned above.
“In view of the extraordinary and exceptional responsibilities placed upon her as a messenger of God having special light and special responsibility in behalf of the needy and the oppressed, she says she has been given special and exceptional authority regarding the use of her tithe. This authority she has used in a limited way as seemed to be for the best interests of the cause.”—W. C. White in a statement, “Regarding the Use of the Tithe.”