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Ellen
G. White’s Will and Debt’s By Robert K. Sanders "The Conference Connection"
published by the Indiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, dated October
1995, Vol. 4, Issue 4, on the back page, made an appeal to its members, saying, "A
Christian will is the duty of every believer."
They quote Ellen White as an example for
Christians as follows:
Ellen G. White’s will date February 9, 1912. In her will there is a discrepancy between what she wrote as, "the will of God in this matter is law," and how in her own will she did not follow what she claimed as God’s law for Christians. This is again shows her hypocrisy.
ELLEN G. WHITE’S WILL
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, Ellen G. White (widow) a resident of Sanitarium, Napa County, California, of the age of eighty-four (84) years, and being at the date hereof of sound and disposing mind and memory, and not acting under duress, menace, fraud or undue influence of any person whomsoever, do make, publish and declare my last will and testament, in the manner following, that is to say: FIRST: I direct that my body shall be interred with appropriate religious services of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, without undue ceremony or ostentation. SECOND: I desire and direct that as soon as possible, payment shall be made of the expenses of my last sickness and funeral, and in order that no property belonging to my estate shall be disposed of or sold at a sacrifice, I earnestly request all my creditors to waive and relinquish their claims against my estate and accept payment thereof under the provisions, which I am hereinafter making, for the liquidation of their claims through the handling of my properties by trustees. THIRD: I hereby give, devise and bequeath to my son, James Edson White, now residing at Marshall, Michigan, the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000). FOURTH: I hereby give and bequeath to my son, William C. White, now residing at Sanitarium, California, all my right, title and interest in the copyrights and book plates in all languages of the books entitled: "The Coming King" and "Past, Present and Future", also all manuscripts (and right to publish the same) pertaining to the following books: "Life Sketches of Elder James White and Ellen G. White." Also, my personal library, and all manuscripts, letters, diaries and writings not otherwise herein devised. FIFTH: I hereby give, devise and bequest to William C. White, Clarence C. Crisler, Charles H. Jones, Arthur G. Daniells and Frank W. Wilcox all the real property of which I may die seized or possessed, all my live stock and farm tools, and implements, all notes and accounts due to me and also all my right, title and interest in the copyrights and book plates in all languages of the following publications: "Desire of Ages." Also my general manuscript file and all indexes pertaining thereto; also my office furniture and office library. Together with all and singular, the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, in trust nevertheless for the uses and purposes hereinafter contained. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said real and personal property unto said trustees, and their successors, upon the trust to enter into and upon and take possession of the said real estate and said personal property, to collect and receive the rents, issues and profits thereof to manage and control said real and personal property, and to rent and lease the same, or any part thereof, to sell parts or portions of said real and personal property, excepting the book copyrights, for the purpose of re-investing the same in other real or personal property to be held upon the same trust, and after paying all taxes, assessments, charges and encumbrances thereon and the expenses of repairing, administrating, preserving and protecting the said real property and of handling said personal property, and publishing and selling said books and manuscripts and conducting the business thereof, to distribute, pay over and apply the net proceeds from the rents and profits of said real property and from the business of publishing and selling said books and property in the manner following, that is to say: (a) To pay over to my son James Edson White, annually, during his natural life ten (10) percent of the net proceeds of said properties for his sole use and benefit, and upon his death, to Emma L. White, his wife, during her natural life should she survive him. (b) To pay over to my son William C. White, annually, for his sole use and benefit ten (10) per cent of the net proceeds of said properties during his natural life, and upon his death, to Ethel M. White, his wife, during her natural life should she survive him. (c) To pay over annually to William C. White, Ethel M. White and Dores E. Robinson as Trustees five (5) per cent of the net proceeds of the said properties to be devoted to the education of my grandchildren, great grandchildren and other worthy individuals. (d) The said Trustees shall use the remainder of said net proceeds for
the following purposes: 1. For the payment of creditors with accruing interest upon the principal indebtedness to the extent of which my creditors have agreed to relinquish their claims against my estate; such payments from said net proceeds to continue until all remaining indebtedness with interest has been fully paid. 2. If the entire remainder of said net proceeds from my said properties is more than sufficient to pay my said debts, with interest, in the manner in which my creditor shall agree to receive payment of their respective claims, then my said Trustees shall use the overplus for the improvement of the books and manuscripts held in trust by them, as herein provided; for the securing and printing of new translations thereof; for the printing of compilations from my manuscripts; for general missionary work of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination; for the support of mission schools, under the negro department, of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference; for the support of mission schools for the illiterate whites in the Southern States,. provided, however, that the said Trustees are hereby empowered and directed to sell my said property or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the following sums: To my granddaughter, Ella May Robinson, now residing at Sanitarium, California, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00); to my granddaughter, Mabel E. Workman, now residing at Loma Linda, California, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00); to my faithful friend and helper, Sara McEnterfer, now resident at Sanitarium, California, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00); to May Walling, now residing at Sanitarium, California, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00); and to my faithful friend and helper, Clarence C. Crisler, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). SIXTH: After the death of both James Edson White and his wife, my said Trustees are hereby empowered and directed to apply the amount prescribed in Subdivision (a) of paragraph FIFTH toward the discharge of any legal claims against the estate of James Edson White, and then after the full discharge of such claims, the said amount mentioned in Subdivision (a) shall be applied to the maintenance of the mission schools for negros now conducted by the negro department of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference. SEVENTH: After the death of both William C. White and his wife, my said Trustees are hereby empowered and directed to pay over to their surviving children, or grandchildren, if any, the respective amounts prescribed in Subdivision (b) of paragraph FIFTH of this will; and if there be no children or grandchildren of my said son, then said respective amounts shall be devoted and used for the purposes set forth in Subdivision (d) of said paragraph FIFTH of this will. EIGHTH: Upon the termination of the trusts, or any of them, created and set forth in this will, from any cause whatsoever, I give, bequeath and devise all of the real and personal property mentioned in paragraph FIFTH, or so much thereof as may from any cause be released or relieved from said trust to my said son, William C. White; or if he not be living, then to his heirs at law. NINTH: My household furniture, dishes, carpets, pictures, photographs,
and clothing, I give and bequeath in equal parts to by sons, James Edson
White and William C. White. TENTH: All the rest, residue and remainder of by estate, real personal
and mixed, of which I may die seized or possessed, I give, bequeath and devise to
my son Willian C. white. ELEVENTH: I hereby appoint William C. White and Charles H. Jones the Executors of this my last will and Testament, without bonds; and my Executors are hereby authorized to sell any property of my estate without order of court, and at either public or private sale, and with or without notice as the Executors may determine. I also direct that no bond be required of any of the Trustees named or their successors. TWELFTH: If vacancy shall occur for any reason among said Trustees, or their successors, a majority of the surviving or regaining Trustees are hereby empowered and directed to fill such vacancy by the appointment of some other fit person, and in the event that the majority does not agree with the appointment, then such vacancy shall be filled by the Executive Committee of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference; and the new Trustee or Trustees, so appointed shall have the same power touching the trust premises and in the execution of the trusts herein contained, as the original Trustees names herein. THIRTEENTH: I hereby revoke all former wills by me made. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of February, 1912 ELLEN G. WHITE
The foregoing instrument consisting of five pages, besides this, was at
the date hereof, and by the said Ellen G. White signed, sealed and published as,
and declared to be her last will and Testament, in the presence of us, who at
her request, and in her presence, and in the presence of each other, have
subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
C .L. TAYLOR Residing at Sanitarium, California. PAUL C. MAS0N Residing at Sanitarium, California. ENDORSED: Filed July 21st, 1915 N. W. Collins, Clerk. By Elva Giauque, Deputy Clerk. Examples of Ellen’s hypocrisy are evident
as follows: Third : Bequeath to my son James, Three thousand dollars. Fourth: Bequeath to my son Willie, property listed in the will, as books, manuscripts, and rights to publish them. Fifth: (a) To pay (son) James Edson White ten percent, annually, during his natural life for his sole use and benefit, and also to his wife Emma during her natural life, should she survive him in death. (b) To pay (son) William C. White ten percent, annually, during his natural life for his sole use and benefit, and also to his wife Ethel, during her natural life should she survive him in death. (c) Five percent of net proceeds to be devoted to Ellen’s grandchildren and great grandchildren, for their education, and other worthy individuals.
Ellen left money and property to a long line of relatives,
as her sons and wives, grandchildren, great grandchildren some that were not yet
born. Was Ellen’s sons and daughter-in-laws needy, that she left money for
their personal use during their lifetime as well as their unborn children? Ellen
broke her so called, "God’s Law" by leaving a will that
brought in, " the present selfish system of disposing of
property" that she condemned by bringing in her long line of
relatives. Was God first in her will? MRS. WHITE'S INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING DEBTS
AND WILLS "In disposing of your property by will to your
relatives be sure that you do not forget God's cause.... His claims should have
your first consideration.... But do not...bring into your will a long line of
relatives who are not needy." Testimonies, Vol. 4:482.
"I call upon our brethren to cease their
robbery of God. Some are so situated that wills must be made. But in doing this,
care should be taken not to give to sons and daughters means which should flow
into the treasury of God." Testimonies, Vol. 4:484. She wrote, "We should shun debt as we
should shun the leprosy." Testimonies, Vol. 6:217. "Debts must not be allowed to accumulate
term after term. The very highest kind of education that could be given, is to
shun the incurring of debt as you would shun disease." Testimonies, Vol.
6:211. When she died she was in debt close to $90,000.00, nearly all of which was for borrowed money. She had borrowed money from or owed fifty-eight different persons or companies, ranging from a few hundred to over $10,000.00. The General Conference took over her entire estate and paid all of her debts, amounting in the average to $100,724.37. When James White died his estate was appraised at $22,000.00 all of which was surrendered to Mrs. White. The appraised value of Mrs. White's estate was $65,721.87, $40,000.00 of this was for her book plates, copyrights, and her manuscripts, which the denomination published or would publish. Aside from the estimated value of royalty on her books, her estate fell short $63,230.40 of paying her debts. Ellen White wrote, "We should shun debt as we should shun the leprosy."— Testimonies Vol. 6 p 217. Maybe Ellen left this large debt of $90,000.00 because she had a problem with her understanding of how leprosy is transmitted, when she wrote, "The eating of pork has produced scofula, leprosy, and cancerous humors." Councils on Diets and Foods p. 393 DR. Wm. Van Alstine and authority on animal diseases at Purdue University, "says that pigs cannot get leprosy and they cannot transfer leprosy to humans." Ellen was just as confused on making wills as "the law of God" as she was in the fact that leprosy cannot be transmitted to humans by eating pork. As much pork that is eaten in the world you would think there would be an epidemic of leprosy. Perhaps pigs will be able to get leprosy when they learn to fly. Whereever did Ellen get her false visions, certainly not from God! A good guess would be from her uninspired plagiarized sources. Unanswered Questions: I wrote a letter to the Indiana Conference Trust Department in October 23, 1995 asking; " If Ellen White did not live up to the instruction that she claimed that she received from God, wouldn’t it be appropriate for the Indiana Conference to send its members a copy of Ellen’s will and let each of you decide how to make up your will? It seems your choices will be, 1. What Ellen preached. 2. What Ellen actually did. 3. Get your instructions from the Bible, and see that God does not have a "Law" for Christians on how to make wills." The Indiana Conference Trust Department has not responded to my questions nor have they to my knowledge sent a copy of Ellen White’s will to its constituency. They evidently do not believe it is important for them to have a copy of her will. It is not hard to guess the reason why they would not want them to see Ellen’s will. If they would see it, they would see Ellen’s hypocrisy Isn’t it interesting that for 2000 years, God did not give Christians a law to make a will. Then in the 1880, Ellen gave a, "law for making wills" to the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and not to the Christians outside of Adventism. Does God make laws for just Adventists? This is what cults do, follow non-biblical laws. It appears that if SDA Christians break this law they would be lost. Does this law apply equally to Ellen as well as Christians of other faiths? If Christians of other faiths break "Ellen’s Law" are they sinning and will they be lost? Because Ellen did not obey the law of God dealing with wills, will she be lost? The Bible teaches that God will judge us as we judge others. Isn’t God’s laws universal for all Christians
and not just for Seventh-day Adventists? Aren’t the laws of God found only in
the Bible? Can anyone find a law on wills for Christians in the Bible? This is
where Seventh-day Adventist separates themselves from other Christians.
Adventists must uphold Ellen G. White as a prophet and her writings as if
they were Scripture on any subject to hold employment in the denomination and to
hold church office. This is what cults are made of. Ellen has condemned herself
as a "slothful servant" who "practiced robbery" by leaving
her possessions to her relatives. "It is a serious thing to embezzle the Lord's goods, to
practice robbery toward God; for in so doing the perceptions become perverted and the
heart hardened. How barren is the religious experience, how clouded is the
understanding, of one who loves not God with pure, unselfish love, and who
fails, therefore, to love his neighbor as himself. Though precious opportunities
are often presented, he does not accept them, and refuses to wear the yoke of
Christ, to be a laborer together with God. Those who follow their selfish,
natural inclination, do not make their hearts an abiding place for Christ. They
fail to bless others with means that God has lent to them in trust, in order
that they may be his almoners; and instead of dispensing it to the poor,
like the slothful servant they bury it in LANDS or in stocks, or GIVE
IT TO THEIR RELATIVES, and the Lord receives neither interest nor principal. (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, January 22, 1895,
paragraph 1)
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