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Times of Volume Nine
vii
obstacles that, had it not been for the faith and confidence inspired
by the frequent counsels which came through the spirit of prophecy,
the enterprise would never have survived
.
These important interests that took Mrs. White much from her
home and her writing, resulted in a great delay in the issuance of
books she hoped could soon be in the field doing their work.
The
Ministry of Healing
was the only Ellen G. White book newly issued
during this five-year period
.
The work of the denomination had by this time grown too large
for us to mention in detail the various advance steps. The mes-
sage was now belting the globe, missionaries were being sent out in
increasing numbers, more institutions devoted to educational, pub-
lishing, and medical interests were being established. The message
was truly reaching the ends of the earth
.
It brought great rejoicing to the heart of Ellen White to meet
with the representatives of the world-wide work as they gathered in
Washington, D. C., in the spring of 1909 for the General Conference
session. This was her last trip East—this the last General Conference
session she attended. She was now eighty-one years of age and had
given a long life of service to the cause of God. She had seen the
work grow from the struggling beginning days when there were
only a handful who kept the Sabbath and who looked for the soon
coming of the Lord. Now they numbered 85,000, and there were
1,200 ordained and licensed ministers. As Ellen White stood before
the General Conference, she was led to speak on certain subjects of
great importance which must be reviewed. Among these was health
reform. For forty-five years she had led out in teaching the great
[5]
principles of healthful living which had been presented to her in
vision. She had seen the fruitage of this teaching. However, there
were some who still held back, there were some who were inclined
to extremes, and so she reviewed our position and teachings point
by point. This statement made before the General Conference forms
an important chapter of volume 9
.
Another topic upon which she chose to speak was that of the
medical college of Loma Linda. She set forth the objectives of that
institution and appealed for the co-operation of all workers and laity
in making this work a success. This important statement is also a
part of volume 9
.