J. H. Kellogg to E. G. White, May 27, 1892

FROM J. H. KELLOGG
May 27, 1892
Dear Sister White:

Your letter [Lt 18, 1892] referring to Dr. Waggoner and Dr. Paquin received, having been forwarded to me from Battle Creek, and I hasten to reply while waiting here for a train. I have been away from home now nearly three weeks and must start home today. I am quite well again.MMM 191.1

I fear I did not make myself understood in my letter referring to Dr. Waggoner’s review of Dr. Paquin’s book. I do not defend Dr. Paquin’s views of religion. They are all wrong, and he himself admitted the same when I talked with him. He wanted the Good Health Publishing Company to publish his book, but I would not. The thing I regret in Dr. Waggoner’s reply is the unfair and harsh spirit shown toward Dr. Paquin, whom he attacks personally as well as his views. I have never liked the harsh and sarcastic way in which Dr. Waggoner and Elder Jones deal with our opponents, and have expostulated with Elder Jones about their way of doing.MMM 191.2

Some of Dr. Waggoner’s views I do not and cannot condone. The doctrine of righteousness by faith is a precious Bible doctrine. I think that Elder Jones and Dr. Waggoner have done a grand work in bringing this truth before our people. I have never heard them preach on the subject, but have obtained a knowledge of the subject from your articles in the Review, the Testimonies, “The Christian Secret of a Happy Life,” and Steps to Christ, and the help which it has given me has been worth world’s to me. It has given me a hope and faith and trust in God which I never had before for lack of a correct understanding of God’s plan and work in saving souls. I have lived and worked for more than 20 years in the cause to the utmost of my ability, without daring to hope that God cared enough for me to save me, and the privilege of hoping in God and trusting in His promises is a blessed one to me. I am not opposing Dr. Waggoner and shall not. We have always been good friends. But when he preaches and writes that “right habits are not a means but an end,” I cannot believe him to be right. He looks at the matter narrowly and from one side only. Right habits are both a means and an end. If right habits have nothing to do with the formation of a good character, then why does the Bible inculcate so constantly the duty of parents to train up their children properly. I am sure you do not believe this, and your writings do not teach this doctrine, but the very contrary. I recognize that the Lord is using Dr. Waggoner to do a good work, but is he infallible in all of his teaching? If he is, then there is nothing left for the rest of us, or some of us, but to be classed as skeptics, or to believe blindly, and utterly throw away our own convictions respecting right principles.MMM 191.3

I have had no little perplexity in consequence of fanatical conduct growing out of the teaching of Jones and Waggoner on the subject of the exercise of faith in behalf of the sick. One woman has been placed in our hands at the Sanitarium insane (violently so), another nearly insane, and several more in a most pitiable condition. Three persons have died, whose lives might have been saved, apparently at least, by the proper use of means, and which they were encouraged to believe were unnecessary and could not be used without a denial of their faith. I have the most positive evidence that the teaching of Elder Jones has led directly to this unfortunate result, and suppose that Dr. Waggoner’s teaching is the same, but have no positive knowledge.MMM 192.1

I make no charges against these excellent brethren. I know they are doing a good work. The principles which they teach are certainly in the main sound. They have done the people much good and have done me good, and I hope will do me more good, but some positions they take seem to me to be untenable, unreasonable and utterly at variance with the teaching of your own writings both old and recent. Dr. Neal became a fanatic and was lost to our work in consequence, greatly to my distress and no small inconvenience. Patients under care of our physicians and under my own care have been snatched out of our hands and have gone down into the grave apparently as the result of imprudence through bad advisement and the belief that faith was the only thing needed. Must we sit silently by and make no protest? I cannot believe it right or manly to do so, and shall not.MMM 193.1

I shall not wage any war against Dr. Waggoner or Elder Jones, but I am willing that all who know me should know that I do not sanction their conduct in regard to the sick. I could tell you of circumstances that fully justify my position, but will not occupy your time unnecessarily. There seems to be a sort of lull in the fanatical spirit which has been dominant for some months, and hence I have nothing to say and am saying nothing. I hope we shall see no more of it.MMM 193.2

The nature of the error, from my standpoint, is the same when the sick are instructed that after being prayed for they need not and cannot consistently make further use of means for relief of the disease which they have asked the Lord to heal, and when Dr. Waggoner says that right habits are not a means but an end. Your own teaching that we should pray and work both has always seemed to me most sensible and reasonable. The fact that we may have neglected to pray with our work as much as we should in the past, does not, it seems to me, require that now we should pray and not work in our care for the sick. A large and important part of our work, as I have supposed, at the Sanitarium, is to educate people in right habits. If the principle announced by Dr. Waggoner is correct, this is all useless and wrong. We should labor simply to get our patients converted and then the right habits will come without instruction.MMM 193.3

It seems to me he errs in looking only at one end of the subject. Right habits will not save a man, of course, but they will help to bring him and keep him in a condition favorable to his being saved. Is it not easier to convert a well trained and decent young man or woman than a drunkard or a highway robber? If not, then why need parents and teachers be out so much trouble in the rearing of children? Why not leave all for the Lord to do, trusting to conversion to undo the mischief of years of neglect. It seems to me that in all this matter there are two extremes, both of which are wrong, and a middle ground which is right, and which is most clearly pointed out in your testimonies and writings.MMM 194.1

I am somewhat perplexed to know what you refer to in what you say about my teaching of science. Since your letter sent me at the Rome [New York] General Conference I have done nothing consciously, said nothing that I am aware of, and written nothing, which could lay me open to a charge of exalting science. I have no faith in any science which leave out God and faith and the Bible. I have very little confidence in the theories of scientists. I would not for the world cast my influence on the side of false science and against true religion. I have tried and am trying to do what I can to build up the religious work of the Sanitarium, and believe there is no institution, either publishing house or college in which there is to be found today so large a number of young men and women who are interested in the truth, in Bible study, in religious work, and in missionary work, as at the San. And I must say, that you are almost the only living person who has given us any assistance whatsoever in this direction. I am anxious above all else on earth to see our work on just the right basis. I have been much confused sometimes because of the neglect of our people to recognize and obey the principles of health reform, and the opposition of Elder Butler and others in authority to this work. It has been a pretty hard struggle to keep up the standard with so many putting it down and trampling it in the dust.MMM 194.2

I have tried to do my best, with the small talents the Lord has given me, but have felt all the time like a pigmy struggling with a giant’s load. It has seemed often as though my life and reason would be crushed out of me by the perpetual pressure of care, medical, financial, literary work, lecture, etc. I have begged and plead for young men and women to educate for the work, but it has been exceedingly difficult to obtain even a few. If my work has been a dismal failure, it is not because I have put my whole soul into it, but because I did not know how to obtain the superhuman strength needed for the better accomplishments of the work.MMM 195.1

I must not close without thanking you for your kind letter and counsel, and for the letters to the General Conference Committee which have had a mighty influence with them, and which I trust will lay the foundation for greater prosperity in health and temperance work. If our people could only get into their hearts the broad spirit which pervades your own writings, the spirit of broad philanthropy, of human sympathy and benevolence, we would see more interest in the medical missionary work. I feel encouraged by the help your letters have given this branch of the cause.MMM 195.2

I have been the round of the Pacific Coast conference meetings and am on my way to the Minneapolis meeting, trying to interest the brethren in medical missionary work and the orphan home work. I am not asking for money, only trying to create an interest in “doing good,” as Christ did. We are taking back with us two little orphans from Oakland, the children of a poor, sick mother, a widow. We have now nearly fifty children, and no home for them. Are not our people so zealous in our sectarian work that they forget some of the most essential of Christian duties as pointed out in the 58th chapter of Isaiah and all through the Bible.MMM 196.1

My letter is too long, I fear, and hastily written. I hope it will find you in better health.MMM 196.2

With kind regards and respect.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) J. H. Kellogg
transcribed 8/25/87
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