Will They Respond? by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 11, 1870

Will They Respond?

By James White

The position and work of Mrs. W. and myself, for more than twenty years, have exposed us to the jealousies of the jealous, the rage of the passionate, and the slanders of the slanderer. Having consciences void of offence toward God and toward men, we have kept at our work. But from our almost utter silence in the line of defense, accusers have grown impudent and bold, so that it has been thought best, for the good of the cause with which we hold so intimate connections, to meet their slanders with a plain statement of facts, which will probably appear in pamphlet form for very extensive circulation.

We have no personal feelings that we wish gratified. We have no lack of friends, or public confidence. And it is only for the general good of the cause, to put into the hands of our people a means of self-defence from miserable slanders repeated by those who are in sympathy with the dragon in his general warfare upon those who keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus Christ, that a statement of facts will be given.

Will those who know of things in the general course of Mrs. W. and myself, during the period of our public labors, worthy of exposure, or unworthy of Christians, and teachers of the people, be so kind as to make them known at this Office immediately. Have any heard unfavorable reports of us, they will please make statements of these reports, and forward them, with the names of their informants. This matter will be closed up soon. Those who respond should do so without delay.

As to my business career, it is a pleasure to me to state that I am not conscious of taking from the general treasury of our people, or from any church, or from any person, one dollar unjustly. If I have, I call upon my enemies, as well as my friends, to show when, where, and how, and I will restore four-fold.

Our confession in this matter is simply this, that we have toiled on in the cause of God for more than twenty years unselfishly, and have carried out the most rigid industry and economy, have suffered excessive weariness, cold and hunger, to save means to the cause, and have given of our scanty purses, when we should have used the means for our own necessities. We now regret that we have robbed ourselves and family to help others, and have robbed the cause of God of more efficient service, by wearing out too soon, in the exercise of too rigid industry and economy.

JAMES WHITE.