Recollections Regarding the Salamanca Vision

by E. E. Gardner ^{4Both E. E. Gardner and his brother, C. M. Gardner, were licensed ministers in Iowa at the time of the 1891 General Conference. They attended the Conference as interested church members, not as delegates. The letter quoted here was written from Modesto, California, December 3, 1915} [1861-1946]

Dear Brother White: I will now write you regarding my recollection of a morning meeting in the south vestry of Battle Creek Tabernacle, 1891. It was General Conference, I believe.SVD 79.1

My brother, Elder C. M. Gardner, and I were both in attendance at the special Bible and Church History Institute, conducted in the east vestry of the Tabernacle mostly, by Elders Jones and Waggoner, and Professor W. W. Prescott, 1891-1892, and which Institute was followed, I think, by the General Conference.SVD 79.2

As there had been considerable discussion of the “law in Galatians,” and another matter or two, Brother and I watched all Sister White’s talks with particular interest. Furthermore, I said to my brother, I have never yet seen what I am sure was a direct miracle. Many others have. I am going to be on the alert, improve every opportunity. Perchance Sister White will be given a vision and I hope to be present.SVD 79.3

When on that particular morning Sister White came in to the early five o’clock devotional meeting, Brother C. M. and I were happy to be present. We wished for our wives who were with us most of the time and who chided us for not taking them with us this time. But that was like the meeting when Thomas was absent—Who then present knew that meeting or occasion was to become memorable for extraordinary manifestation?SVD 79.4

Elder O. A. Olsen, after praying, called attention to Sister White’s being present and expressed satisfaction, and asked whether she had a message for us. She arose, stating emphatically that she had. The undivided attention of all in that room was enlisted for about half an hour or longer, I should think. Sister White related what she had seen in vision, a sharp contention over what should be, or should not be, run through the columns of the American Sentinel. If I remember, and I am quite sure I do, for I was a regular subscriber to the paper, the editors, Jones and Bollman I think, had already run pointed articles through the paper on the Sabbath question and the Second Advent, and were being severely criticized for so doing. The criticism was against anything sectarian by appeal to the Scriptures in the Sentinel, but that the paper should advocate the broad principles of civil and religious liberty, carefully avoiding any church affiliation. They argued that the paper was read and approved by men of influence in state and church, and now to offend their senses by declaring for the seventh-day Sabbath and the end of the world, would be suicidal to the interests of the American Sentinel. They were sure of that.SVD 79.5

Sister White said, “I was shown that the paper was being widely read and favorably received.” It had gathered the confidence of people to whom the full light of truth was due, and just now was the time to place the light of the Sabbath truth from a Bible standpoint. She also said she was shown that these articles, instead of lessening the list of subscribers, would increase its circulation and demand. She said, and I never shall forget the impressiveness of the occasion, “I saw one of the brethren standing before a number in council holding up a paper at the top of which I could read, American Sentinel, pointing to certain things which ought not be published in this paper, and gave reasons as he thought against such articles.”SVD 80.1

When Sister White had finished her emphatic testimony, Elder A. F. Ballenger arose and told what I didn’t know, that is, that a committee meeting had just been held that very night, and rather a stormy one, so pronounced were the opinions on both sides. “And brethren,” said he, “you know well who that man holding up the Sentinel in that committee was. I am that man. I surely thought I was right, but when the Lord speaks, that’s an end of all controversy as far as I am concerned. I shall study this matter from another standpoint.” Other brethren followed Brother Ballenger with similar import, but I only remember definitely Brother Ballenger. I was so glad for his testimony.SVD 80.2

The skeptic may say Sister White received information through natural and ordinary sources and circumstances, but I satisfied myself fully before the Conference was over that she received her knowledge of affairs touching which she spoke so positively even as she told us—at the hand of the angel of the Lord, as in Daniel’s day. And I said, this is a “reward of merit,” so to speak, for our painstaking to attend all meetings early and late, lest being absent we should lose what we greatly desired to gain. That occasion and experience has been an interesting object lesson to me from that day, 24 years ago, to the present time. E. E. Gardner.—White Estate Document File 107b.SVD 80.3