196
Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
“From this I would understand that it would be unwise to renew
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his credentials and send him from place to place among the people,
but if he has by a faithful Christian life won the confidence of the
church where he lives, do not stand in the way of his doing such work
as that church may be responsible for. In fact, it may be the duty of
his brethren to go farther and to pay him for faithful labor. In fact, I
do not see how you could withhold from him a proper remuneration
for faithful and judicious labor. But this would not be placing before
him the same temptation as to give him credentials and send him forth
in the Conference as a traveling minister
.
“Again I would say, as Mother has said, this is a question which
should be submitted to those who have had to deal with his case in the
past. Please consider the opinions I have expressed only as suggestive.”
At the close of this letter Ellen White personally inscribed the
following words of endorsement: “This is correct advice in such
cases. Let him walk humbly before God. I see no light in giving him
responsibilities.”
No more was heard of the matter until early in 1913, when a letter
addressed to Mrs. White, dated January 8, 1913, was received from A.
L. Miller, the newly-elected president of the Alabama Conference. He
wrote:
“Dear Sister White: It becomes my painful duty to write to you
concerning the case of Brother William E. Of his past history and life,
it is not necessary to write, as you are sufficiently acquainted with the
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facts, since his case was brought before you by a letter from Elder C.
F. McVagh, dated August 15, 1911. I am sorry it becomes necessary
to bring this case before you again
.
“Elder McVagh’s letter was relative to Brother E receiving creden-
tials and becoming a Conference laborer
.
“The present difficulty is as to whether or not Brother E should be
made elder of the Birmingham church, the largest, and now the most
influential church in the Conference, as the Conference headquarters
are located in Birmingham. The church is disagreed upon the point
in question, and it is having a bad influence upon the work in the city
and a more or less deleterious effect throughout the Conference. The
majority think, because of his capabilities and his late work in the
city (as stated in Elder McVagh’s letter, a copy of which is herein
enclosed), that he should be made elder of the church and act as its