Untitled article by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1868

CONVERSATIONS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS. NO. 4.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.

Min. Good evening, brethren. Now we will resume our conversation. I think of nothing special myself, but if any one has anything on his mind, speak on.

Bro. D. Has sister White ever had a testimony for you, personally?

Min. She has not, though I am acquainted with many individuals for whom she has had testimonies. Many of them have been very striking indeed. I have been in this section some time, and have become pretty well acquainted with individuals and things. When sister White came she had testimonies for different individuals. She bore these testimonies without asking questions of any one, whether the things she was about to say were correct or not. She has invariably told facts in the case plainer than any one else who was familiar with the person and circumstances could have told them. This has not been once or twice. She has repeatedly had testimonies and delivered them to persons in public meetings the first time she ever saw them, and even before she knew their names.

Bro. D. But has she never made any mistake? Has she never applied to one individual what belonged to another?

Min. No; for if she had, this would be one great evidence that her testimonies were not of the Lord. Think of it a moment. She has had visions for twenty years, or more, and has borne her testimonies in public and in private, by word and by writing to hundreds and even to thousands of individuals, all through the Northern States. She has reproved public sins and secret sins. She has had these testimonies for friends and foes; yet in all these times and numberless testimonies no one has ever convicted her of making a wrong statement. We must suppose her to be a wonderful person indeed, to do all this without the help of the Lord.

Bro. D. Yes, I have thought of this, and it has had a good deal of weight on my mind.

Sr. G. Sister White had a testimony for me, which I bear witness is every word of it truth; yet she had no opportunity of knowing with regard to it. I have the strongest faith that her testimonies are from the Lord. She has reproved me for wrongs, and her reproof has done me good, and drawn me nearer to God, and made me a better Christian. I ask, brethren, if Satan would do this kind of work? Would not Satan rather rejoice to see us go on in wrong? Does he reprove people for doing wrong? Does he not rather speak smooth things, and cover up errors?

Sr. P. I can heartily endorse all that Sr. G. has said. Sr. White had a very cutting reproof for me, yet I now thank God for it, and believe that it has done me more good than anything else could have done.

Bro. L. I can bear the same testimony with these sisters. Her testimonies have been of great value to me. Not because they have flattered me, and led me to be self-exalted, but on the contrary, have pointed out to me my wrongs, and by the grace of God enabling me, I mean to put them away.

Bro. R. Now brethren, it is very evident to us all that Satan does not do this kind of work. What, but a love of the truth and the fear of God could lead sister White to reprove and rebuke her best friends as she often does at the risk of making them her enemies. False prophets always flatter and praise their followers so as to get influence; but those who are sent from God have an opposite work to do.

Bro. R. I have also thought of this idea, namely, that from the very beginning sister White has written out and published, and scattered abroad to friends and foes, her visions and testimonies. If she had been a designing woman, then if she had made up these testimonies herself she would not have dared to do this; for it would have been dangerous to commit her visions to print, for then there soon would have been contradictions between different testimonies, and her enemies would have readily discovered it. But she manifestly has no fears in this respect. This is not the way imposters do.

Min. Well brethren and sisters, we have had a pretty free talk about this matter, and I have felt a deep interest in it. For my part I am satisfied that they cannot be separated from the work of God in these last days. Whoever has attempted it has invariably lost the love of the truth out of their hearts. My experience has been, that when I had the most confidence in the visions then I had the most confidence in the work, and enjoyed most of the blessing of God. Thus others testify. I hope, therefore, that all will consider this thing carefully and prayerfully, and move in the fear of God. If this is a part of the work of God we want to know it. If it is it will not do for us to fight against it.

Bro. J. I should like to ask some questions with regard to the health reform.

Min. Very well, we will have a short intermission and then will consider that subject.