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Ellen G. White and Her Critics - Contents
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    The 1888-Edition Preface

    And what of the preface of the 1888 edition in which she “admits that she had taken some of her information from other authors”? It would be superfluous for her to make an admission in the preface when this edition contains numerous quotation marks that make evident that “some” material is being “taken ... from other authors.” A few facts will suggest why she wrote that preface. The 1884 edition did not contain an author’s preface. Soon, however, colporteurs began to sell the book to the world at large. With that expanded non-Adventist audience before her mind’s eye she enlarged the work and wrote a preface. Naturally she might wish to make a statement as to the principle that governed her in using quotations from various historians. We say “naturally,” because the question had been raised as to how the words of a secular writer could be incorporated in a book and still the book be viewed as “all inspired by the Holy Spirit.”EGWC 416.4

    In what appears to be Canright’s first major attack, in writing, on the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and on Mrs. White—a series of articles in the Michigan Christian Advocate in 1887 *The articles appeared in the issues of July 16, 30, August 6, 13, 20, 27, September 10, 17, 24, October 1, 8, 15. The articles from July 16 through October 1 focus on the Sabbath doctrine. The issues of October 8 and 15 discuss Mrs. White. His article in each of these issues was printed on page 2.—his only reference to her literary borrowings is this brief paragraph:EGWC 417.1

    “She often copies, without credit or sign of quotation, whole sentences and even paragraphs, almost word for word, from other authors. (Compare The Great Controversy, 96, with ‘History of the reformation,’ by D’Aubigne, page 41.) This she does page after page. Was D’Aubigne also inspired?”—October 8, 1887, p. 2.EGWC 417.2

    This statement concerning Mrs. White’s literary borrowings is significant, not only because of its brevity, but also because it does not use the word “plagiarize,” or raise the grave charge of theft. Canright here poses simply this question: “Was D’Aubigne also inspired?” and leaves the reader to conclude that neither D’Aubigne nor Mrs. White was inspired. That this kind of question had some currency is revealed by the fact that the Seventh-day Adventist Church paper, in discussing charges against Mrs. White, presents this as one of them: “She quotes sometimes from history; are all historians inspired?”—The Review and Herald, October 18, 1887, p. 649. The historical development of the charge against Mrs. White in relation to her literary borrowings is interesting to say the least. Canright, in his first book against her, published in 1889, expands his 1887 charge to three short paragraphs. The essence of the charge is still that of false claim to inspiration, inasmuch as the works of secular writers are quoted. But the third paragraph concludes thus: “This proves her guilty of stealing her ideas and matter from other authors and putting them off on her followers as a revelation from God!” In his 1919 book on Mrs. White’s life he focuses on the “plagiarism” side of the matter, discussing it at length.
        The striking change in emphasis in this literary-borrowing charge probably reflects two facts: 1. In the 1880’s, when many of the best writers borrowed with only casual credit, at most, a prime emphasis on Mrs. White’s alleged “plagiarism” would not have sounded too impressive to the reader. 2. As the years passed and literary customs and laws changed, the plagiarism charge could naturally be made to seem impressive. We might also add that the passing years had probably erased from Canright’s mind all memory of his 1878 book, The Bible From Heaven, which as we have noted, was so largely copied from a similarly named work by Moses Hull in 1863!
    EGWC 417.3

    Quite apart from critics, whom Mrs. White sometimes answered, this question of historians and inspiration might very understandably have perplexed some sincere church members. *This could have provided a shadowy foundation for the charge that “leading brethren” “protested.” And in the light of such a question, and of the fact that she was enlarging the book for wider circulation, how natural that she should provide a preface that would clarify the whole matter. Listen to her words, as we quote at length from her preface the part that is here relevant: In the 1911 edition the “Author’s Preface” becomes the “Introduction.”EGWC 418.1

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