James White to Dudley M. Canright, 13 July 1881

White, James Springer 1821-1881

1881-07-13

Battle Creek, Michigan, USA

1 letter

Correspondence

English

Brother Canright: I have your very kind and Christian letter of the 7th relative to Will Wales etc. Will read the long letter you dictated, and he copies to me. From my heart I pittied the boy, and so did my good wife. I am now happy again. I feel more interest in you than in any other man. 1. Because I know your worth when the Lord is wtih you as a laborer, and 2. Because I have repeatedly abused you, and if you go to destruction, where many, to say the least, are willing you should go, I should ever feel that I had taken a part in your destruction. 3. Because if you do come out all right some may give me credit for being on the right side once in my life. Brother Canright, you are right in doing all you can to help me and others. I see my errors more and more, and shall do all I can to help matters and things. The pressure has been terribly hard upon my poor wife. She has been influenced very much by Elders Butler and Haskell. And my mistakes has given intensity to the matters. When poor Wales, clad in all the panoply of Battle Creek gossip, and mean prejudice against both yourself and me, read his own son's letters to his wife before H. W. Kellogg, wife and me, I affirmed before them all that I would not believe a word of it only from your lips. Wife affirmed the opposite, which I will not write. Kellogg said he feared it might be so. Wales affirmed that his Will was a truthful boy. Now judge my feelings as Will read your letter to me, to both me and my wife. Ellen is as much relieved by the letter as I am. She prayed almost all night last night. Poor woman. What you say of my changes etc, I have nothing to say. You know that I have changed in some things because in seemed necessary. I have changed sometimes to meet my wife's feelings. This was the case when i gave up labor in New England, and when I went to western camp meetings. I do not see how any man can labor with me while such influence are brought to bear up us. You know what I met at Spring Arbor. These matters I have met on every hand have been enough to craze a common man. Forgive my mistakes, and believe me when I say every part of your long letter seems just and right. The last Review shows that Butler and Haskell are coming around. I, of course, would feel better if they had done this last winter. But you know how both men are to have others meddle with anything they have got patented. In my editorial I tried to tear the matter open fully but carefully. At next General Conference all these things will be thrown open for full discussion. If such a course grieves them as it has the last two conferences, this even will expose the fact to the conference. Not they have designed to shut the matter up and rush it through. You will see that I met and argued to help the brethren in reference to the tract society, but I labored to break down the effort of Butler and Haskell rushing facts through, and if opposed playing the martyr professing to be grieved in trying to raise sympathy to themselves and prejudice against those who might suggest that these measures were not all No 1. "Get out", said Gerret Smith. Get away I say from this selfish, childish spirit. I recommend that we be men. The boy that don't want his pockets searched is the very one that is supposed to steal that Jews' harp. Ha. I do not see why we cannot afford to discuss in a Christian manner every important subject and policy that may be introduced, into our General Conference. I wish you could go to Madison Wisconsin now with a tent. The people were favorably impressed with wife's temperance discourse in the Congregational House. I think of purchasing property there. We will go if you will and will hold ourselves subject to your order. If you do not we shall go to Colorado or to Maine soon. Your brother in Christian influence and Brother love, in and for Elder D. M. Canright, and Sister Lucy his wife. James White

Church Leadership

Canright, Dudley Marvin 1840-1919
White, James Springer 1821-1881
Wales, William Charles 1857-1934
White, Ellen Gould Harmon 1827-1915
Haskell, Stephen Nelson 1833-1922
Butler, George Ide 1834-1918

Adventist Campmeetings

Center for Adventist Research

No Copyright – United States

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