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Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
I will write further in regard to this if necessary. Please write to
me, stating facts concerning the family there, as far as you know. Help
W.F.C., if you can, to set things right and remove this reproach from
the cause of God. Even if his wife is already married, it may be there
is something he can do for his children.—
Letter 104, 1896
.
To Brother and Sister G. C. Tenney, July 1, 1897—The work
between Fannie Y and Brother W.F.C. was begun at the Melbourne
camp meeting [January, 1894]. There she became enamored of a
married man, with two children. She utterly denied that there was any
affection between her and Brother C. She stood before me in my tent
and declared that there was nothing to the reports. For one year after
this she was good for nothing to me, only a dead, heavy load....
We had the affair between Fannie and W. F. C. all through the
Armadale camp meeting. I talked with them both separately, and told
them that the Lord had a controversy with them both. They denied
that there was anything like particular attachment between them. I
knew better; but the Lord helped me to work through the meeting. Just
before the meeting closed, Fannie came to me and said, “Oh, Sister
White, I have come to you as to a mother. I do love Brother C with
all my heart, and my heart is just broken. Three times has this cup of
bliss been presented to me, and then been snatched away.” Then the
girl said, “I prayed that if it was right for us to get married, his wife
might get a divorce from him, and it was not many weeks before she
did get a divorce. Now don’t you think the Lord heard my prayer?”
I dared not talk with her, for I had to speak that day before a large
congregation. If Sister Prescott is in Battle Creek, she will be able to
tell you the particulars.
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Well, from that time I cut loose from Fannie, never, as I thought,
to connect with her again. But a little while after this, Fannie was
in Sydney and wrote me another confession. I thought that I could
not take her back, but the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and said,
“Give her another trial.” So I decided that I would see Fannie and tell
her that I would take her back. This I did, and she remained with me
several weeks, but was not able to do any work; then she decided that
she wanted to go home to her mother, and I told her that she might feel
free to do so.—
Letter 114, 1897
.
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