D. T. Jones to O. A. Olsen, Nov. 27, 1894

Eld. D. T. Jones,
Superintendent.
L. A. Wood, M. D.,
Resident Physician.
Medical Mission.
ESTABLISHED JAN. 1, 1894. by
S.D.A. Medical Missionary and Benevolent Assoc’n.
Home Office,
BATTLE CREEK, MICH., U. S. A.
J. H. KELLOGG, M. D.,
president.
ELD. L. MCCOY,
secretary.
Num. 109 Calle de Carmen. Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexica. Nov. 37, 1894
To Eld. O.A. Olsen
Battle Creek, Mich.
Dear Brother:—There is a matter about which I have been thinking of writing you for several months. I refer to my relations to the work and workers while living in Battle Creek and after I left there up to the last General Conference. I was aware that my course in all respects did not meet the minds of my brethren but I prided myself with being conscientious, and independent in my views, not bending in the least from what I thought to be right either for fear of punishment,, for hope of reward, or out of respect to the judgment and feelings of my brethren. The devil took advantage of my independence of character to lead me into doing things that were opposed to the best interests of the cause and work of God. I can say in all sincerity that I wanted to do right and meant to do right, and it has taken me a long time to see and realize that I really did wrong. When In Colorado I thought much over the past and asked the Lord to open my eyes to see the wrong if I had done wrong. While I was considering these things I received a letter from you from the tenor of which, and also from a quotation which it contained from a letter which you had received from Sister White, I could plainly discern that you and she thought that I had not one right and that I ought to be able to see, and willing to confess my wrong. My reply, as you perhaps remember, was that I would consider the matter prayerfully and whenever I should see that I had done wrong I would be prompt and free in confessing it. I did not let the matter drop out of my mind but kept thinking of it and praying over it. When I came to Mexico I was here alone for two months and during that time some light began to come in and I began to see wherein I had been in the wrong. As time has passed it has become clearer and clearer to me. It seems strange that I should have been in the dark so long, but so great is the deceptive power of Satan that we cannot safely trust ourselves out of the direct keeping of the Lord for a moment. Even our zeal for the cause of God when not fully sanctified to Him and done through him and in the spirit of Christ is arrayed on Satan’s side. That which I cherished as zeal was for lack of consecration, perverted into stubbornness and self-will, and self-will is the incipient stage of rebellion, and these sins are compared in 1 Samuel 15:23 to with craft, iniquity and idolatry. God has been very merciful to me in permitting me at last to see my sins and by his grace and help I shall try to avoid them in the future.

It would be impossible for me to enumerate the wrings that I did. The truth is that I got a wrong spirit; I had wrong feelings towards certain of the brethren and the whole tenor off my actions, especially towards them was wrong. In saying this I do not mean to say that they were right in every thing, but what I do say is that I was wrong, for I allowed myself to be controlled by a wrong spirit. This was especially true in my relations with Bro. Jones and Dr. Waggoner and to some extent with Bro. White and Sister White. The views which I held on the subject of royalties caused me to discount the labors of Sr. White and at one time led me so far as to almost doubt her sailing and work. In some ways Bro. White’s plans for the work seemed to me to be unpractical. But experience proves that there was wisdom in his general plans for the enlarging of the work. A General Conference Committee made up of men as conservative as myself would have kept the work bound to its great injury. If we had a century in which to work there would be more excuse for conservatism but even then it could be carried too far.MMM 278.1

I know my course was a source of grief and mortification to my brethren and especially so to Sr. White who feels more keenly than others can the importance of right motives and earnest consecrated efforts in those who are engaged in the sacred work of God. I cannot express my sorrow for having added to the already heavy burdens of the faithful servants of the Lord, but my sorrow is still keener for having hindered the progress of the work of God.MMM 279.1

To yourself personally I have no confession to make. As far as I can remember I was always faithful to you and never lost an opportunity to do all I could to stay up your hands and establish your influence. But my unfaithfulness in the general work was unfaithfulness to you also and roust have added to your already too heavy burdens. I ask your forgiveness and the forgiveness of Sister White and Bro. White and the brethren. Will you do me the favor to communicate my confession and petition for pardon to Bro. and Sr. White? You can do so in your own words or by quoting any part of this letter as you see fit. If you think best for me to make a public confession through the Review or otherwise, on account of the public position which I held at the time, I will willingly do so.MMM 279.2

Your unworthy Bro. in Christ
(Signed, Dan T. Jones)