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Counsels Vital for Today
It is interesting to observe that a century has passed since the
attention of Seventh-day Adventists was called to the subject of
health through the visions given to Ellen G. White. These counsels
have withstood the closest scrutiny of trained scientists. The findings
of conservative research workers from day to day add confirmatory
evidence to the scientific accuracy of the counsels.
When Mrs. White, a layman in the field of medical science,
with a very limited education, began in the 1860’s to set forth Her
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views on health, it was natural that some would seek to associate her
expositions with the writings of certain contemporary physicians.
The suggestion on the part of a few that the opinions of those about
her may have been the real inspiration for her writings in the health
field, she answered frankly and simply, after referring to the vision
of June 6, 1863:
“I did not read any works upon health until I had written ‘
Spiri-
tual Gifts
,’ vols. III and IV, ‘
Appeal to Mothers
,’ and had sketched
out most of my six articles in the six numbers of ‘
How to Live
.’ ...
“As I introduced the subject of health to friends where I labored
in Michigan, New England, and in the state of New York, and spoke
against drugs and flesh-meats, and in favor of water, pure air, and a
proper diet, the reply was often made, ‘you speak very nearly the
opinions taught in the “Laws of Life” and other publications, by
Drs. Trall, Jackson, and others. Have you read that paper and those
works?’ My reply was that I had not, neither should I read them till
I had fully written out my views, lest it should be said that I had
received my light upon the subject of health from physicians, and
not from the Lord.”—
The Review and Herald, Ocrober 8, 1867
.
Again that year as she referred to her writings on the subject of
health, she asserted:
“My views were written independent of books or the opinions
of others.”—Ellen G. White
Manuscript 7, 1867
.
Certain leading men in our ranks in 1864 commented upon this
point in connection with the publication of her article in “
An Appeal
to Mothers
.” Following her 29-page presentation, certain medical
testimony was given. Between the Ellen G. White article and
these statements by other writers, the Trustees of the Seventh-day