Appendix
As an aid to an understanding of the circumstances which led to the
giving of certain testimonies, the following notes have been prepared
by the Trustees of the Ellen G. White Publications
.
Page 116, “Time to Begin the Sabbath”—For a period of about ten
years Sabbathkeeping Adventists observed the Sabbath from 6 P. M.
Friday to 6 P. M. Saturday. Elder Joseph Bates in his first pamphlet on
the perpetuity of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, published
in 1846, had given reasons for the supposed scriptural support for the
observance of the Sabbath in this way. He cited the parable of the
laborers in the vineyard, the last group of which had been called at
“the eleventh hour” of the day and had wrought but one hour. The
reckoning was made with them “when even was Come.”
Matthew 20:6,
8, 12
. Comparing this with Christ’s question, “are there not twelve
hours in the day?” He argued that the “even” began with the twelfth
hour, or six o’clock, reckoning with equatorial time or the beginning
of the sacred year. Respect for his years and experience and his godly
life may have been the main reasons for accepting his conclusions
without further investigation.
As time passed and the message spread, an increasing number
of Sabbathkeepers questioned the practice and advocated the sunset
time for reckoning the beginning of the Sabbath. A thorough Bible
investigation of the question was made by Elder J. N. Andrews,
who wrote a paper setting forth the Biblical reasons in favor of the
sunset time. This paper was introduced and discussed on Sabbath,
November 17, 1855, at the Conference in Battle Creek, Michigan,
with the result that nearly, but not quite, all present were convinced
that Elder Andrew’s conclusion was correct. The presentation of the
subject to Mrs. White in this vision, given two days later, answered
the questions lingering in some minds and effected unity among the
believers. Commenting on this experience, as illustrating the office of
the visions to confirm conclusions based on Biblical study rather than
to introduce new teachings, Elder James White wrote later:
652