The following are two letters by Dr. David Paulson: the first was written to W.
C. White, the second was written the same day to Ellen White in response to her testimony
asking for perplexities and objections.
Of the four respondents to Ellen White's 3/28/06 testimony, whose letters we
give here --
Paulson,
Sadler,
Stewart,
Jones,
-- Dr. Paulson is the least informative and the least interesting.
Yet, his two letters, between the lines, do reveal some things that test Ellen
White's claims to inspiration.
His letter to W. C. White, for example, shows how thoroughly WCW was
misinformed about how Paulson stood regarding the testimonies. This might not seem
to mean much because the misinformed person was WCW and not EGW. But when one
realizes how closely WCW worked with his mother as manager and personal secretary, and how
often his mother claimed to be shown the secret doings and counsels in Battle Creek, one
sees that such misinformation on the part of WCW is in fact quite revealing.
His letter to Ellen White inadvertently brings out a very basic problem with
her claim to being the Lord's messenger, and that is one of demarcation. In other
words, if Ellen White was the messenger of the Lord, then where does the Lord leave off
and Ellen White begin? On the one hand there are tens of thousands of pages of
writings, ranging from books, through articles, to manuscripts, letters and diaries.
On the other there is Ellen White's claim to having been the Lord's messenger, and her
claim that she wrote by divine inspiration. Before we read her pages, the most basic
and fundamental thing we need to know -- the thing that a genuine messenger would
have been explained to us with unmistakable clarity -- would be: what in
these pages is from the Lord, and what is from Ellen White? What in the writings is
true and reliable, because it's from the Lord, and what in the writings is "just Mrs.
White"? Dozens of statements, scattered through the writings, imply that her
followers are to take every line in her published writings as reliable and inspired.
Yet even here, these statements are hit and miss, and leave things in a fog. Surely
David Paulson's confusion in the matter, and his asking for enlightenment, should have
called forth, even at the late date of 1906, a complete and clear statement such as should
have been made at the start. Instead, we turn to her reply to Paulson (1SM 24-31)
and find such evasiveness (in other words, just such further fogginess) as this:
To some of your questions you have asked, I am not to answer Yes or
No. I must not make statements that can be misconstrued. [As if she had to
give her answer in a single word, and as if she were baffled, despite aid from God
Omniscient, to frame an answer that couldn't be "misconstrued."] I see and
feel the peril of those who, I have been instructed, are endangering their souls at times
by listening to deceptive representations regarding the messages that God has given
me. Through many twistings and turning and false reasonings on what I have written,
they try to vindicate their personal unbelief. I am sorry for my brethren who have
been walking in the mist of suspicion and skepticism and false reasoning.
This is not at all the sort of thing that would come from one whom "the
Lord will help" in answering perplexities.
What follows are David Paulson's two letters. They're worth a look.
Letter from David Paulson
to W. C. White
1906 |
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Hinsdale Sanitarium, Hinsdale, Ill.
April 19, 1906
W. C. White,
Sanitarium, Calif.
Dear Brother, --
I am receipt of your letter of April 11, and was glad to hear from you. I am
quite sure that I have never made any such statement as you say I am reported to have made
regarding your mother's visit in Chicago, for I have no recollection of ever believing she
said anything of the kind. I can remember rather feeling convinced that your mother
was satisfied our work was carried on under humble conditions, and it is entirely probable
I took occasion to call attention to the great difficulties under which we were carrying
on the work in contrast to the stories that were current at that time concerning our
work. I have taken occasion to ask Brother Sadler if he ever heard or knew of my
making any such statement, and he says he does not. And when I asked him he said
that reminded him of a statement made to him the other day by someone who had it on the
"best of authority" that I was teaching my helpers from [sic] Sabbath
afternoons from Tom Paine's book, Age of Reason.
In reference to my going up to Battle Creek to help persuade the helpers at the
Sanitarium that the Testimonies were unreliable, that reminds me of the fact that one of
the Hinsdale Sanitarium workers was told while he was home on his vacation, that I was
present at one of the readings of the Testimonies in the Tabernacle, and when nearly half
through left in anger and disgust. Brother Sadler received word from quite a
different quarter stating the same thing. When the real facts were that I came up to
Battle Creek that night not knowing that there were any Testimonies to be read (that being
the night when the church bell rang toward evening announcing the fact that the
Testimonies had arrived which Elder Daniel's [Daniells] had been telegraphed to wait
for). I came up to meet something like fifteen of the greatest leading scientists in
this country, an opportunity I would not have missed for a great deal, but after learning
that there were Testimonies to be read in the church, I had the hack take me there
instead. I took a seat up in the gallery, but when half through I slipped downstairs
where I could get over a register, as I had become thoroughly chilled on my trip from
Chicago, and I remained there all through the remainder of the meeting, and felt I was
blessed by what I heard read.
As to my having undermined the Testimonies in the talks I gave to the workers, I am
willing to let the Lord decide that, and I am willing to meet that charge in the
judgment. I take for granted that that idea is widespread, for this very day Brother
Hoyt received a letter from Prof. Prescott in which he makes that statement in a most
emphatic way.
I saw in that sanitarium family a great opportunity for spiritual work, and I labored
earnestly every hour I was awake to get men and women to see how each of them might get
help personally from what was read, so as each one of them might get their own souls saved
instead of simply nodding approval, as many of them were doing, at how closely it fit
other people's cases.
In reference to my sending my nurses up to Battle Creek, [I] will say: our work has
grown so fast here that we have needed more competent help constantly than we have
had. Brother Kelsey is a good hearted boy, but at times he gets upset, and at such
times does not leave the right impression on the patients' minds. I have prayed and
labored earnestly with him about it, and twice intimated that perhaps it would be just as
well for him to go home to his parents, but he said he promised his father when he went
away that he would not come home until he had made a man of himself.
A couple weeks ago I got a good man who was a graduate of St. Helena, and I put him in
charge of the gents bath room, where Kelsey was working, and I explained to Kelsey, who
had been largely doing the work alone for a week or so, that I would now arrange for him
for a few days to put in a good share of his time raking the lawn, as it would be good for
his health and that I would not need both of them putting in full time until more patients
came in. I supposed I was doing him a kindness, but he did not take that view of it,
and he complained to some of the patients that he had been taken out of the bath room to
be made a scrub man, and they came to me and commented unfavorably on his talk. I
had to labor earnestly with him, and I did tell him that if he proposed to act up that way
every little while he might as well be up in Battle Creek. He evidently took my
suggestion literally, for I heard a few days later that he had sent in an application to
them. Since then, however, Kelsey has made a thorough repentance that I trust he
will not need to repent of.
I do not now recall of having encouraged anyone to go to Battle Creek since the fire
except Elder Santee's daughter. She is home now nursing a sick mother, and making
good use of what she learned. There has occasionally been some nurses who wanted to
go there and get a few weeks special work in some directions, and I have not discouraged
them from going. What your mother has written has been indicating that there were
certain persons whom it was proper to work in the Battle Creek Sanitarium and some it was
not. The only reason I have not been sending people to Battle Creek is because I
have not been coming across the kind of folks I thought were really qualified to wrestle
with the situation as it has been there the last couple years. Our nurses' committee
in Battle Creek have had good reason to know that I am telling the literal truth in what I
am just writing.
I have personally and in my letters endeavored to set before Dr. Kellogg where I have
felt that he was weaving into his work principles that would not abide the storm, as a
perusal of my letter files for the last three years would, I should think, satisfactorily
convince any honest soul on that point. I have done the same with others connected
with the work in Battle Creek. I have earnestly labored with those who have felt it
their duty to remain there to be the men and women that God was willing to make them,
instead of remaining mere children in the things of God, as is the case with so many.
Brother White, God has not laid the burden upon me to take the same attitude toward the
Battle Creek Sanitarium that some of my brethren have felt called upon to take, and until
God does lay that upon me as He is pressing upon my soul other burdens, I shall simply
have to leave it alone, and am willing to abide the consequences. I trust that I
fear God rather than man.
During the past two years a few of us have endeavored by God's help to raise a monument
for Him here. We have kept out of the storm; no voice of controversy has been heard
in our work. We have endeavored to teach the truth as God has given it to this
people, and God has given us souls for our hire. We have endeavored to build up
loyalty to the Testimonies as far as it was possible to do under existing circumstances,
and we have some tangible evidence that God has accepted the spirit of our labors.
Every step I have taken at this critical time through which we have been passing the
last few years, I have endeavored to take in prayer. I have sense enough to know
that every false step would have to be retraced. For the life of me it has seemed as
though some on both sides of this controversy were ready to sink not only their usefulness
here but their salvation hereafter if they could only win out. I have made plenty
errors, but I believe God will give me credit for having made them from the head and not
from the heart.
I am sending to your mother in this mail a response to the communication to those in
perplexity regarding the testimonies concerning the medical missionary work. I am
Your brother in the work,
David Paulson
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Letter from David Paulson
to Ellen G. White
1906 |
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April 19, 1906
Mrs. E. G. White,
Sanitarium, Cal.
Dear Sister:
I am in receipt of your communication of April 2 addressed personally to Mrs. Paulson
and myself, and also a communication addressed to those who are perplexed regarding the
Testimonies relating to medical missionary work, and I will do the best that I can to
respond to the invitation contained therein.
As far as I know, my father and mother were the first Sabbath- keepers in Dakota.
I was from my childhood taught implicit faith in the Spirit of Prophecy. As I grew
up I began to undertake a deeper study of the Testimonies. In Testimony #31, page
63, I read more than twenty years ago these words: "I do not write one article
in the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me
in vision -- the precious rays of light shining from the throne." From
this and somewhat similar statements I was led to conclude and most firmly believe that every
word that you ever spoke in public or private, that every letter you wrote under any
and all circumstances, was as inspired as the ten commandments. I held that
view with absolute tenacity against innumerable objections raised to it by many who
were occupying prominent positions in the cause. A little over six years ago a
difference arose between me and a very dear friend of mine on this very point, for I saw
he did not take absolutely this view. I wrote him an eight-page letter; told him
that he and I would have to part company, as I stood absolutely on this ground.
I had been for years collecting everything from your pen that was in print, as well as
a vast amount of unpublished matter, until I presume there are few in this denomination
who have a more complete collection.
I lacked a few of your articles written for the Review in the 50's and
60's. I found a man who had nearly all these. He would not sell them for less
than fifty dollars, and although I was then in Chicago working without a salary, I
borrowed the fifty dollars and secured these articles. It was just then I wrote this
eight-page letter while on my way to the Indiana camp-meeting. Having just secured
these front-page articles, after mailing this letter I took out a few of them to read
while on the train. The very first article I read was one of your answers to
a man who asked you to explain how it could be that in one place you said the reform dress
should come below the top of the shoe and that in another place it should be nine inches
from the floor. The reply was that the distance was not given you in inches.
You saw in vision a woman having on the reform dress reaching below the top of the shoe,
and you wrote this out to the people. But then some of the folks began to press you
to give the distance in inches that it should be from the floor, so you dressed up a woman
with the reform dress as nearly like what you had seen in vision as possible, and measured
the distance and found it was nine inches, and then you gave it as nine inches in the
second communication on the subject. You then went on to add that the Lord showed
you these things in vision, but you had to employ your human words to write them out.
I am only restating this in a general way, as I do not now have the original before me,
for by an accident it was destroyed, but I could easily find the article from the Review
and Herald files.
This thing came to me like a thunder-bolt out of a clear sky. Here I had
abandoned one of my best friends in order to maintain that there was absolutely no human
side to the Testimonies. This statement seemed to come to me just as that statement
came to Abraham after he had been willing to kill his son, to show me that I was
contending for a position that you yourself had never warranted. I afterwards read
other statements from your pen which seemed to clearly indicate that you yourself did not
claim to be infallible or inspired in every thought, word, and action.
I did not come to this conclusion regarding the Testimonies because I had been reproved
and was therefore soreheaded. I came to it after I had voluntarily abandoned,
because of this question, one of the best friends I had on earth. I was forced to
this position out of matter that I had sacrificed even necessary clothing in order to
procure. I have ever since thought, and still think that God in His providence,
knowing that I was sincere, gave me further light on this subject, which He saw I
would need sooner or later in order to continue to maintain faith in the Testimonies.
Now this is the question I would like to ask. Should I believe today what I did
believe six years ago as firmly as I believed my own existence, viz., that every word you
speak, that every word you write, regardless of circumstance, place, or manner, is as verbally
inspired as the ten commandments or the sermon on the mount? I have never in any way
made an issue on this question. In a few instances, when some honest brother or
sister has come to me in the deepest trial and trouble in reference to the Testimonies,
saying, "Paulson, tell me, how do you look upon this question?" I have
earnestly, prayerfully and conscientiously set down and showed them the view I had of it,
with the result in every instance, as far as I know, that they have gone away with renewed
courage in their hearts for the Testimonies. I have not gone up and down the land to
undermine faith in the Testimonies, and God knows it. I could of course not build
the people up on the same view of the Testimonies that I had more than six years
ago. The question is, Ought I to do it? The ordinary difficulties that so many
people speak of with reference to the Testimonies have never troubled me up to this time.
Personally I have never questioned but that you were a prophet just as much as Isaiah,
Jeremiah, or any other of the prophets of olden times, and I have taken it for granted
that when God's providence gathered together these men's writings and sayings to put them
into the Bible, He who was all-wise left out those things which He Himself knew He had not
directly inspired, and if there were to be future generations, and God were to make a
Bible out of your writings, letters, talks, conversations, etc., that He would do the same
thing, and He would know how to do it right. But as I am only a poor erring mortal,
not gifted with such discernment, it would be presumption for me to draw the line and to
say, "This is human, while this is divine." Yet at the same
time I have not felt, and I do not now feel, that when some brother takes some particular
statement and reads it and says, "Now that is the word of the living God," that
until I had spread the thing out before the Lord and asked Him just what I was to get out
of it, that I could take it just in the same sense as the ten commandments or the sermon
on the mount. The question is, Am I right or wrong?
I have treated no statement from your pen lightly, and God knows it, whether any other
human being does or not; but I can not take it in just the same sense until I have laid it
out before the Lord, as I would have done seven years ago; and a number of statements I
have heard you make yourself publicly in the last few years have led me to believe that
you take a similar view of it yourself. Am I right or wrong?
Again, John saw the holy city coming down out of heaven; it has not come
down yet. He saw the dead standing before God. They are not
standing there yet, as we all know, and yet we do not disbelieve John's prophecy. I
have insisted when you wrote things that some of us knew definitely had never yet taken
place, that instead of that being an evidence that you were not led of the Lord it ought
to be taken as a warning, and that if the circumstances change, like they did in Ninevah,
it never would take place. Several of the brethren have said to me when I have
expressed myself thus, that that was enough evidence that I did not believe the
Testimonies. If that is so, then do they believe the Bible when it speaks of things
as though they were when they have not yet taken place? But I did not take this
position until you yourself had taken the same position in reference to something you had
written. I have never taken a position regarding the Testimonies that I did not
conscientiously believe I was taught to take by the Testimonies themselves, and I believe
that you will give me credit for writing sincerely and honestly.
I have got sense enough to know that there is a day of judgment coming, and though I
might successfully deceive you and my brethren, I certainly could not deceive the
Lord. It has seemed to me in some of these controversies that some people have acted
as though they could afford to lose their souls provided they could only win out.
But I expect to triumph with this work and message. I expect to wear the overcomer's
crown, and I do not propose to let any man take it from me. I am undoubtedly making
mistakes, but they are mistakes of the head, and not the heart. I have been trying
to follow the Pillar of Cloud: I am still trying to follow it. It has never been
entirely out of my sight for a moment since I started out on this race.
I am teaching the Ministry of Healing to the workers in this family every
Sabbath afternoon, and the Spirit of God is present to influence human hearts. If I
have ever said anything or done anything to turn people away from the Testimonies, God
knows it has not been done intentionally. I expect to meet my Judge some day.
Sister White, I have written you candidly. I would have done it long ago,
only I have felt there were enough people pouring these things into you. God has
known my position. I have tried to be square. You have invited me to write my
perplexity. I have written you freely, and I will now leave it to the Lord.
Yours in the Master's work
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