Chapter 7—Ellen White Not Our Criterion

One of the most sensible things Ellen White ever wrote on the subject of health reform was the following:EWV 25.5

Those who understand the laws of health and who are governed by principle, will shun the extremes, both of indulgence and of restrictions. Their diet is chosen, not for the mere gratification of appetite, but for the upbuilding of the body. They seek to preserve every power in the best condition for the highest service to God and man....

There is real common sense in dietetic reform. The subject should be studied broadly and deeply, and no one should criticize others because their practice is not, in all things, in harmony with his own. It is impossible [in matters of diet] to make an unvarying rule to regulate everyone’s habits, and no one should think himself a criterion for all. ^{1The Ministry of Healing, 319, 320}

Not only did Ellen White not wish to be a criterion for church members, but neither did she wish to be a criterion for the members of her immediate family (“I do not hold myself up as a criterion for them”). ^{2Letter 127, 1904 (Jan. 18); cited in Counsels on Diet and Foods, 491, #22.}EWV 26.1

Just prior to the opening of the 1901 General Conference Session, Ellen White met with a handful of denominational leaders in the library of Battle Creek College, where she spoke concerning those who made her their criterion in their dietary practice. Here are her remarks as recorded by Clarence C. Crisler, her secretary:EWV 26.2

How it has hurt me to have the [road] blocks thrown in the way in regard to myself.

They will tell [you],...“Sister White ate cheese, and therefore we are all at liberty to eat cheese.”

Well, who told them I ate cheese?...I never have cheese on my table.

There was but ...one or two times I have tasted cheese [since I gave it up]. That is a different thing from making it a diet, [an] entirely different thing....

But there was a special occasion in Minneapolis where ...I could get nothing, and there were some little bits of cheese cut up on the table, and the brethren were there, and one of them had told me, “If you eat a little of that cheese, it will change the condition [of your appetite?],” and I did. I took a bit of that cheese. I do not think that I touched it again the second time....

Sister White has not had meat in her house or cooked it in any line, or any dead flesh, for years and years.

And here is [what] the health reform [fanatic says:] “Now I have told you Sister White did not eat meat. Now I want you not to eat meat, because Sister White does not eat it.”

Well, I would ...not care a farthing, for anything like that. If you have not got any better conviction—you won’t eat meat because Sister White does not eat any—if I am the authority, I would not give a farthing for your health reform.

What I want [is] that every one of you should stand in your individual dignity before God, in your individual consecration to God, that the soul-temple shall be dedicated to God. “Whosoever defileth the temple of God, him will God destroy.” Now I want you to think of these things, and do not make any human being your criterion. ^{3Manuscript 43a, 1901; a verbatim transcript by Clarence C. Crisler, Mrs. White’s personal secretary. (For other transcripts with slight variations, cf. Mss. 43, 43bI, 43bII, and 43bIII.)}