A Response to an Urgent Testimony
By Doctor Charles Stewart
15
Facts About Mrs. White's Book "Sketches From The Life of Paul"
The foregoing refers entirely to your testimonies, but there is one other point upon which I would like some information, and that is with reference to your books. I have been told that several of your works contain material very similar to that of other authors, and it has been stated by those who have worked with you and others familiar with your work that you consulted these freely in the preparation of your books, and have felt free to appropriate many of their sayings and ideas without giving credit for the same. This, of course, gives one the impression that you are the author of all. Are your books, such as "Great Controversy," "Desire of Ages," and the "Life of Paul," entirely original matter, and are they, as is always claimed so far as I know, what God has revealed to you?
From the preface of your book, "Life of Paul," published in 1883, I quote:
"The writer of this book, having received especial help from the Spirit of God, is able to throw light upon the teachings of Paul and their application to our own time as no other authors are prepared to do. She has not suffered herself to be drawn aside to discuss theories or to indulge in speculation. No extraneous matter is introduced. Consequently much that is contained in other books, which is interesting to the curious, and has a certain value, but which is, after all, little more than theory, finds no place in the work."
After looking through this book carefully and comparing it with the book entitled "Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul," by Conybeare and Howson, the third edition of which was published in 1855, 1 find over two hundred places in your book which correspond very closely to passages in the book by Conybeare and Howson. I find upon inquiry that your work "Sketches from the Life of Paul," is no longer in print and can not be had. In conversation with a gentleman who was formerly a member of the Review and Herald Board, I found upon making inquiry that he was of the opinion that the publishers of the Conybeare and Howson's book requested that the Review and Herald stop publishing your book for the reason that it contained so much material which was identical with and similar to that contained in Conybeare and Howson's book. Whether or not this is a fact, I am not prepared to say, but this I do know, that the book is no longer published and that it is very difficult to obtain a copy.
From the Review and Herald of 1883, "The largest Prophetic journal in America" relative to your book, "Sketches from the Life of Paul," we quote as follows:
"It is divided up into thirty-two convenient chapters, and so far as Seventh-day Adventists are concerned, will be an end of all controversy in reference to many theological difficulties which have perplexed the church for ages."
Review and Herald, Aug. 28, 1883, p. 550: "Sketches from the Life of Paul."
"Having lately had the privilege of reading 'Life of Paul, by Sister White, I would like to say to the readers of the Review that I have been greatly benefited. I have truly become more acquainted with the great apostle. He seems more like a dear brother, who, with all the talents, learning, and divine grace, longed for love and sympathy like one of us. Oh, how thankful we ought to be for the previous light given through 'Spirit of Prophecy.' —Aurora, July 25. L. JOHNSON."
At the time this book was published, Elder Uriah Smith was the Editor of the Review and Herald, and that he was thought well of by you is evidenced by what you wrote concerning him to Elder Haskell in 1902, which we quote: "I feel very tender toward Elder Smith:
My life interest in the publishing work is bound up with his. He came to us as a young man, possessing talents that qualified him to stand as an editor. How I rejoice as I read his articles in the Review—so excellent, so full of spiritual truth. I thank God for them. I feel a strong sympathy for Elder Smith, and I believe that his name should always appear in the Review as the name of the leading editor. Thus God would have it. When some years ago his name was placed second, I felt hurt. When, it was again placed first, I wept and said, Thank God. May it always be there, as God designs it should be, while Elder Smith's right hand can hold a pen. And when the power of his hand fails, let his sons write at his dictation."
For months the Review and Herald, under the editorship of Elder Smith, contained the statement with reference to "Sketches from the Life of Paul:
"It. . . . so far as Seventh-day. Adventists are concerned, will be an end of all controversy in reference to many theological difficulties which have perplexed the church for ages."
As further proof that this was considered one of the most important denominational books of the time (1884) we quote as follows from the denominational Year Book of 1884, p. 48:
"S. Whereas it is very important that our leading books be widely circulated, and public libraries present one of the best avenues of circulation, therefore—
"Resolved, That we recommend "Sketches from the Life of Paul," The United States in Prophecy," and "The Sanctuary" to be placed in these libraries. . . .and that the Society furnish these volumes to the State Societies for this purpose, at one-fourth the retail price."
"Adopted by International Tract and Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists, Nov. 14, 1883, as presented by the Committee on Resolutions. W. C. White, Chairman."
It would seem from this that it contained great light, even in advance of that contained in the Bible, because it settled difficulties which had perplexed the church for years. As other evidences that it contained advanced light, the Review and Herald published the statement from Mr. L. Johnson in which he wrote concerning this, as follows:
"Oh, how thankful we ought to be for the precious light given through the Spirit of Prophecy."
Why was this great and precious light which was given through the "Spirit of Prophecy" and which was of such vital importance that it settled controversies over theological difficulties which had perplexed the church for ages so effectively suppressed? It is now nearly a quarter of a century since this book was suppressed. Do you sanction the suppression of the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy?
In order to make clear what I mean with reference to the similarity in the two books, I will arrange some of the matter in parallel columns.
"SKETCHES FROM THE LIFE OF PAUL" |
"LIFE AND EPISTLES OF THE APOSTLE PAUL" |
"The judges sat in the open air, upon seats hewn out in the rock, on a platform which was ascended by a flight of stone steps from the valley below." p. 93. |
"The judges sat in the open air, upon seats hewn out in the rock, on a platform which was ascended by a flight of stone steps immediately from the Agora." p. 308. |
"Had his oration been a direct attack upon their gods, and the great men of the city who were before him, he would have been in danger of meeting the fate of Socrates." p. 97. |
"Had he begun by attacking the national gods in the midst of their sanctuaries, and with the Areopagites on the seats near him, he would have been in almost as great danger as Socrates before him." p. 310. |
"An extensive and profitable business had grown up at Ephesus from the manufacture and sale of these shrines and images." p. 142. |
"From the expressions used by Luke, it is evident that an extensive and lucrative trade grew up at Ephesus from the manufacture and sale of these shrines." p. 432. |
"Only their reverence for the temple saved the apostle from being torn in pieces on the spot. With violent blows and shouts of vindictive triumph, they dragged him from the sacred enclosure." p. 216. |
"A furious multitude rushed upon the apostle, and it was only their reverence for Holy Place which preserved him from being torn to pieces on the spot. They hurried him out of the sacred inclosure and assailed him with violent blows." p. 547. |
"In their excitement they flung off their garments as they had done years before at the martyrdom of Stephen and threw dust into the air with frantic violence. This fresh outbreak threw the Roman captain into great perplexity. He had not understood Paul's Hebrew address and concluded from the general excitement that his prisoner must be guilty of some great crime. The loud demands of the people that Paul be delivered into their hands made the commander tremble. He ordered him to be immediately taken into the barracks and examined by scourging that he might be forced to confess his guilt." p. 220. |
"In their rage and impatience they tossed off their outer garments (as on that other occasion when the garments were laid at the feet of Saul himself) and threw dust into the air with frantic violence. This commotion threw Lysias into new perplexity. He had not been able to understand the apostle's Hebrew speech and when he saw its results he concluded that his prisoner must be guilty of some enormous crime. He ordered him therefore to be taken immediately from the stairs into the barracks and to be examined by a torture in order to elicit a confession of his guilt." p. 557 |
"Among the disciples who ministered to Paul at Rome was one Onesimus, a fugitive slave from the city of Colosse. He belonged to a Christian named Philemon a member of the Colossian church. But he had robbed his master and fled to Rome." p. 284. |
"But of all the disciples now ministering to Paul at Rome none has for us a greater interest than the fugitive Asiatic slave Onesimus. He belonged to a Christian named Philemon, a member of the Colossian church. But he had robbed his master and at last found his way to Rome." p. 640. |
This is not an isolated case. In your book, "Great Controversy," we make the following comparisons between it and Wylie's "History of the Waldenses," and also between your book and D'Aubigne's "History of the Reformation":
GREAT CONTROVERSY |
HISTORY OF THE WALDENSES |
"The bull invited all Catholics to take up the cross against heretics. In order to stimulate them in this cruel work, it absolved them from all ecclesiastical pains and penalties, it released all who joined the crusade from any oaths they might have taken; it legalized their title to any property which they might have illegally acquired, and promised remission of all their sins to such as should kill any heretic. It annulled all contracts made in favor of the Vaudois, ordered their domestics to abandon them, forbade all persons to give them any aid them any aid whatever and empowered all persons to take possession of their property." |
"The bull invited all Catholics to take up the cross against the heretics and to stimulate them in this pious work it absolved from all ecclesiastical pains and penalties, general and particular, it released all who joined the crusade from any oaths they might have taken; it legitimatize their title to any property they might have illegally acquired; and promised remission of all their sins to such as should kill any heretic. It annulled all contracts made in favor of Vaudois, ordered their domestics to abandon them, forbade all persons to give them any aid whatever, and empowered all persons to take possession of their property." |
GREAT CONTROVERSY, pp. 91-92 |
D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation, p. 3 |
"In the gloom of his dungeon, John Huss had foreseen the triumph of true faith. Returning, in his dreams to the humble parish where he had preached the gospel, he saw the pope and his bishops effacing, the pictures of Christ which he had painted on the walls of his chapel. The sight caused him great distress; but the next day he was filled with joy as he beheld many artists busily engaged in replacing the figures in greater numbers and brighter colors. When their work was completed, the painters exclaimed to the immense crowds surrounding them, 'Now let the popes and bishops come! They shall never efface them more!" Said the reformer as he related his dream, 'I am certain that the image of Christ will never be effaced. They have wished to destroy it, but it shall be painted in all hearts' by much better preachers than myself.' |
"One night the holy martyr saw in imagination from the depths of his dungeon the pictures of Christ that he had painted on the walls of his oratory, effaced by the pope and his bishops. "The vision distressed him; but on the next day he saw many painters occupied in restoring these figures in greater numbers and in brighter colors. As soon as their task was ended, the painters, who were surrounded by an immense crowd, exclaimed, 'Now let the popes and bishops come! they shall never efface them more!' . . . 'I am no dreamer,' replied Huss, 'but I maintain this for certain that the image of Christ will never be effaced. They have wished to destroy it, but it shall be painted afresh in all hearts by much better preachers than myself.' " |
GREAT CONTROVERSY, p. 76 |
History of the Waldenses, pp. 15-16 |
"The Waldenses felt that God required more of them than merely to maintain the truth in their own mountains; that a solemn responsibility rested upon them to let their light shine forth to those who were in darkness; that by the mighty power of God's word they were to break the bondage which Rome had imposed. It was a law among them that all who entered the ministry should, after taking charge of a church at home, serve three years in the missionary field. As the hands of the men of God were laid upon their heads the youth saw before them not the prospect of earthly wealth or glory, but possibility a martyr's fate. The missionaries begun their labors in the plains and valleys at the foot of their own mountains, going forth two and two, as Jesus sent out his disciples. These co-laborers were not always together, but often met for prayer and counsel, thus strengthening each prayer and counsel, thus strengthening each other in the faith. "To make known the nature of their mission would have insured its defeat; therefore they concealed their real character under the guise of some secular profession, most commonly that of merchants or peddlers. They offered for sale silks, jewelry and other valuable articles, and were received as merchants where they would have been repulsed as missionaries. All the while their hearts were uplifted to God for wisdom to present a treasure more precious than gold or gems. They carried about with them portions of the Holy Scriptures concealed in their clothing or merchandise, and whenever they could do so with safety they called the attention of inmates of the dwelling to these manuscripts. When they saw that an interest was awakened, they left some portion with them as a gift." |
"To maintain the truth in their own mountains was not the only object of this people. They felt their relations to the rest of Christendom. They sought to drive back the darkness, and reconquer the kingdom which Rome had overwhelmed. They were an evangelistic as well as an evangelical church. It was an old law among them that all who took orders in their church should, before being eligible to a home charge, serve three years in the mission field. The youth on whose head the assembled bards laid their hands, saw in prospect not a rich benefice, but a possible martyrdom. The ocean they did not cross. Their mission field was the realms that lay outspread at the foot of their own mountains. They went forth two and two, concealing their real character under the guise of a secular profession, most commonly that of merchant or peddlers. They carried silks, merchant or peddlers. They carried silks, jewelry, and other articles, at that time not easily purchased save at distant marts, and they were welcomed as merchants where they would have been spurned as missionaries. The door of the cottage and the portal of the baron's castle stood equally open to them. But their address was mainly shown in selling without money and without price, rarer and more valuable merchandise than the gems and silks which had procured their entrance. They took care to carry with them concealed among their wares or about their persons, portions of the Word of God, their own transcription commonly, and to this they would draw the attention of the inmates. When they saw a desire to possess it, they would freely make a gift of it where the means of a purchase were absent." |
Various explanations are offered to explain the great similarity between some of your books and those of other authors which antedated yours several years. The most common explanation is that it was the fault of the proofreader in that she neglected to put in quotation marks; such an explanation certainly shows gross ignorance as regards the duties of a proofreader.
The proofreader is not supposed to know where the manuscript comes from; their duty is to "follow copy," consequently is not responsible for the omission of quotation marks from manuscript where they have not previously appeared; moreover, in the particular case referred to, quotation marks could not be readily used, for as will be seen by a comparison of the matter from both books, whole sentences are not copied, but whole phrases are, and in many instances the thought is taken and only a few of the identical words used, but these are of such a character that it is very easy to recognize where they were taken from.
Your book, "Life of Paul," so manifestly similar to Conybeare and Howson's book, does not contain a single statement or any evidence whatever that it was largely taken from another author. What is the natural conclusion?
Your "Great Controversy" for the earlier editions, was the same, but I am informed by a prominent member of the denomination that he protested to your son, W. C. White, against sending out literature in this manner and as a result the preface in "Great Controversy" was changed so as to indicate that other authors were consulted in its preparation.
The foregoing are by no means all the evidences of what seems to be plagiarism there are in your writings, but these will serve to illustrate the question I wish answered, viz., Is that special light you claim to have from God revealed to you, at least to some extent through your reading the various commentaries and other books treating of religious subjects?
I am informed by a trustworthy person who has had an opportunity to know, that you in the preparation of your various works, consulted freely other authors; and that it was sometimes very difficult to arrange the matter for your books in such a way as to prevent the readers from detecting that many of the ideas had been taken from other authors.