Christian Woman Is Modest at All Times
149
Letter of Counsel to Addie Walling
Addie Walling was the grandniece of Ellen White, the granddaugh-
ter of her sister, Caroline. James and Ellen White took Addie and her
sister, May, into their home when they were young children and reared
them as their own
.
To Addie Walling,
Brother Whitney returns today on his way to Basle, Switzerland.
Edith Andrews is steadily failing. I think this climate is better than
Basle for my lungs. There has been much labor brought upon me
through the lovesick sentimentalism of the workers in the office. I
hope, my dear girl, you will keep free of this. You will gain the
confidence of all whom you respect if you are reserved and do not
encourage the attentions and the society of young men. If I had time,
I would write you some things I have had to meet here and in every
place where I have been. Edith, poor child, is not fit to die. She has
attracted attention to herself and had a few favorites and neglected
those who were worthy and good because they did not just meet her
taste. These few she lavished her affections upon—[they] thought
her perfection, and have petted her, and she petted them and [they]
idolized one another. So, you see, God was left out of the question.
This sentimentalism has injured the usefulness of excellent young men
in the office and unfitted young girls for their work.
I talked very plainly with Edith, and she does not seem to sense
her condition. I have written to her, and I think she will now see
her mistakes. She has had no experience in genuine religion, but has
everything to do now in her feeble condition to know Christ and the
power of His grace. Oh, that she had learned this while in health.
[160]
I do hope you will not be deceived, Addie, as this poor child is. I
hope you will be an earnest, true Christian day by day, seeking God in
prayer. Do not be so busy you cannot give time to read the Bible and
seek the grace of God in humble prayer. Follow no one’s example or
custom in dress or in actions. If they lead to indifference and world-
liness, do not express vanity in dress, but dress becomingly, neatly;
but seek earnestly to be meek and lowly of heart and be obtaining a
rich experience in the things of God. Learn to overcome vanity which
exists in the heart that is not sanctified through the truth. Do not be
forward, but be retiring and modest.