Ellen White

1
Ellen White

• The Social Reformer
• Denis Fortin
• Writings of Ellen G. White

2
The Social Reformer

• Perhaps one of the aspects of Ellen Whites
  writings that has been neglected the most is her
  thought on various social evils and issues of her
  day.
• For her contemporaries, Ellen White was not only
  a spiritual woman, she was also a social reformer.

3
Thought on Social Reform

• Social reform starts with the conversion of the
  individual and a deep-felt repentance.
• Changed and converted people, dedicated to do the
  will of God, make a difference in society.

4
Slavery a brief history

• 1619 First African Blacks arrive at Jamestown,
  Virginia, as Dutch slave trader exchange his
  human cargo for food.
• Native Americans were also slaves.

5
Slavery a brief history

• 1671 Black slaves represent less than 5 of
  population in Virginia
• 1715 Black slaves comprise 24 of Virginia.
• 1756 40 of Virginia population are slaves.
• 1790 (first census) 757,000 blacks in U.S. or
  19 of the total population 9 of blacks
  (60,000) are free.  Total population is about 4
  million
• 1830 More than 2 million slaves in U.S.

6
Abolitionism

• American Anti-Slavery Society 1833  
• While abolitionist societies worked for the
  emancipation of Blacks in Southern states and
  considered slavery a social sin, most societies
  did not allow Blacks to join.
• William Lloyd Garrison was often criticized
  because he associated socially with Blacks.

7
Millerism and Abolitionism

• Many Millerites were ardent supporters of
  abolitionism.
• Joshua V. Himes
• George Storrs
• Charles Fitch
• Joseph Bates

8
Fugitive Slave Act - 1850

• The Fugitive Slave Act imposed heavy penalties on
  those who refused to help government slave
  catchers or who obstructed the recapture of a
  fugitive slave  (a fine of up to 1000 and
  imprisonment of up to six months).
• Northerners were held directly responsible for
  helping recapture slaves who fled to the north.

9
Emancipation Proclamation

• Signed by Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862
• "That on the first day of January, in the year of
  our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
  sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within
  any State, or designated part of a State, the
  people whereof shall then be in rebellion against
  the United States, shall be then, thenceforward,
  and forever free. . . ."

10
Post-Civil War Gains

• Three constitutional amendments between 1865 and
  1870 guaranteed the civil rights of the former
  slaves.

11
Thirteenth Amendment

• 1865 Abolition of slavery
• "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude,
  except as a punishment for crime whereof the
  party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist
  within the United States, or any place subject to
  their jurisdiction.
• Proposed by Congress Jan. 31, 1865 ratified Dec.
  6, 1865.

12
Fourteenth Amendment

• 1868 Citizenship extended to Blacks.
• "All persons born or naturalized in the United
  States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
  are citizens of the United States and of the
  State wherein they reside.
• Ratified on July 21, 1868.

13
Fifteenth Amendment

• 1870 Right to vote granted to Blacks.
• "The right of citizens of the United States to
  vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
  United States or by any State on account of race,
  color, or previous condition of servitude.
• Ratified on March 30, 1870.

14
Further Rights Granted

• Two civil rights acts passed by Congress in 1866
  and 1875.
• Establishment of the Freedman's Bureau in 1865 to
  help freed slaves. By 1900, Blacks in the
  Southern states had managed to send 15
  Representatives and 2 Senators to Congress.

15
Loss of Civil Rights

• After 1877 and the end of Reconstruction period. 
  
• 1883 Supreme Court nullified a section of the
  1875 Civil Rights Acts that prevented
  discrimination in public places and on public
  carriers.

16
Loss of Civil Rights

• 1890s Disenfranchisement of Black voters in
  Southern states
• Through a poll tax, literacy test, and
  "grandfather clause" (Jan. 1, 1860).
• Louisiana
• 130,344 Black registered voters in 1896
• 1,342 in 1904
• Alabama
• 181,471 Black registered voters in 1896
• 3,000 in 1900

17
Loss of Civil Rights

• 1896 "separate but equal" doctrine adopted by
  Supreme Court
• 1910 Racial segregation mandated in federal
  office buildings in Washington.

18
Ellen Whites Position

• Ellen White stood firmly against slavery and saw
  it as a moral evil.
• She believed in the equality of all races.
• Spoke against slavery.
• Spoke in favor of restitution.

19
Equality of All Races

• The religion of the Bible recognizes no caste or
  color. It ignores rank, wealth, worldly honor.
  God estimates men as men. With Him, character
  decides their worth. And we are to recognize the
  Spirit of Christ in whomsoever it is revealed. No
  one need be ashamed to speak with an honest black
  man in any place or to shake him by the hand. He
  who is living in the atmosphere in which Christ
  lives will be taught of God and will learn to put
  His estimate on men (9T 223).

20
Civil Disobedience

• I was shown that we have men placed over us for
  rulers, and laws to govern the people. Were it
  not for these laws, the world would be in a worse
  condition than it is now. Some of these laws are
  good, and some bad. The bad have been increasing,
  and we are yet to be brought into straight
  places. But God will sustain his people in being
  firm, and living up to the principles of his
  word. (contd)

21
Civil Disobedience

• Where the laws of men conflict with God's word
  and law, we are to obey the word and law of God,
  whatever the consequences may be. The laws of our
  land requiring us to deliver a slave to his
  master i.e. Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, we are
  not to obey, and we must abide the consequences
  of the violation of this law. This slave is not
  the property of any man. God is his rightful
  Master, and man has no right to take God's
  workmanship into his hands, and claim his as his
  own. (1T 201-202)

22
Slavery and the Civil War

• God is punishing this nation for the high crime
  of slavery. He has the destiny of the nation in
  His hands. He will punish the South for the sin
  of slavery, and the North for so long suffering
  its overreaching and overbearing influence. (1T
  264)  

23
Healing of Racial Prejudice

• Walls of separation have been built up between
  the whites and the blacks. These walls of
  prejudice will tumble down of themselves, as did
  the walls of Jericho, when Christians obey the
  Word of God, which enjoins on them supreme love
  to their Maker and impartial love to their
  neighbors. . . . Let every church whose members
  claim to believe the truth for this time, look at
  this neglected, downtrodden race, that as a
  result of slavery have been deprived of the
  privilege of thinking and acting for themselves.
  (Review and Herald, Dec. 17, 1895, also in
  Christian Service, 217-218).

24
Restitution Needed

• The law of God contained in the Ten Commandments
  reveals to man his duty to love God supremely and
  his neighbor as himself. The American nation owes
  a debt of love to the colored race, and God has
  ordained that they should make restitution for
  the wrong they have done them in the past. Those
  who have taken no active part in enforcing
  slavery upon the colored people are not relieved
  from the responsibility of making special efforts
  to remove, as far as possible, the sure result of
  their enslavement. (The Southern Work, 54)

25
Working for Blacks

• Most decided efforts should be made to educate
  and train colored men and women to labor as
  missionaries in the Southern States of America.
  Christian colored students should be preparing to
  give the truth to their own race. Those who make
  the fear of the Lord the beginning of their
  wisdom and give heed to the counsel of men of
  experience can be a great blessing to the Negro
  race by carrying to their own people the light of
  present truth (9T 199).

26
A. G. Daniells Tribute

• Perhaps none other than A.G. Daniells, president
  of the General Conference of Seventh-day
  Adventists from 1901-1922, summarized better
  Ellen G. White's thoughts on social issues at her
  funeral in Battle Creek on July 24, 1915.  (Life
  Sketches, p. 473)

27
Ellen Whites Legacy

• Through the light and counsel given her, Mrs.
  White held and advocated broad, progressive views
  regarding vital questions that affect the
  betterment and uplift of the human family, from
  the moral, intellectual, physical, and social
  standpoint as well as the spiritual. Her writings
  are full of instruction, clear and positive, in
  behalf of a broad, practical, Christian education
  for every young man and young woman. In response
  to her earnest counsels, the denomination with
  which she was associated now maintains a system
  of education for all its children and young
  people. (contd)

28
Ellen Whites Legacy

• Her writings present most comprehensive views
  regarding temperance reform, the laws of life and
  health, and the use of rational, effective
  remedies for the treatment of disease. The
  adoption of these principles has placed the
  people with whom she worked, in the front ranks
  with others who are advocating sane temperance
  reforms and working for the physical improvement
  of mankind. (contd)

29
Ellen Whites Legacy

• Nor is the social status of the human family
  lost sight of. Slavery, the caste system, unjust
  racial prejudices, the oppression of the poor,
  the neglect of the unfortunate, these all are
  set forth as unchristian and a serious menace to
  the well-being of the human race, and as evils
  which the church of Christ is appointed by her
  Lord to overthrow. (Life Sketches, 473)