James and Ellen White

Ellen White’s role in the West began before she ever visited! In 1868, before evangelists J.N. Loughborough and D.T. Bourdeau had even boarded their ship for San Francisco, Ellen White had a vision in Battle Creek as to how to work in California. In a letter that was received by Loughborough and Bourdeau soon after they arrived, she explained that methods used in the East would not be appropriate in the West. She urged a spirit of liberality, of being open and generous, telling them not to be penny-pinching. Following this advice, they were successful, both in terms of converts and also in the sale of literature, with James White once commenting, “You are selling more books there than all our tent companies east of the Rockies.”1

In an example of “California liberality,” the new church at Santa Rosa, California, sent $2,000 to Battle Creek for a mutual obligation fund, along with an invitation for James and Ellen White to spend the winter of 187273 in California.

The Whites accepted the invitation and traveled to Oakland, California, arriving in September 1872. Then they moved on to meet with J.N. Loughborough in Santa Rosa. Ellen wrote, “We think we shall enjoy our visit to California.”2

James wrote, “We like the people of California, and the country, and think it will be favorable to our health.... We now have strong hope of recovering health, strength, and courage in the Lord, such as enjoyed two years since.”3

After speaking at camp meetings and other events, and helping with the organization of the California Conference, they headed back to Battle Creek. However, the Whites liked California so much that they were back again in December of the following year. This time, however, they wanted something more permanent, and they sent helpers ahead to set up a home for them in Santa Rosa. They bought a team of horses and a carriage. They got busy with their writing. Ellen wrote, “I do not think we will attend the eastern camp meetings this coming season. It is of no use to make child’s play of coming to California and running back again.”4

James and Ellen were convinced to make Oakland the center for the work in California. The forerunner of the Pacific Press was set up there in 1874, and The Signs of the Times began publishing. In fact, the Whites sold everything they had in the East to make this investment possible. Ellen wrote, “We went over the same ground in California, selling all our goods to start a printing press on the Pacific Coast. We knew that every foot of ground over which we traveled to establish the work would be at great sacrifice to our own financial interests.”5

It’s almost as if the work needed to be reinvented in the West—with publishing being the first institution started. This meant another move

James and Ellen White for the Whites to a new home, Fountain Farm. However due to the demands from the East, Ellen decided to go back. James’ health prevented him from accompanying her, though he joined her later. But they returned to their home in California for the winter, though they arrived late, on February 2. James wrote, “We have felt, and still feel, the deepest interest for the cause on the Pacific.… Failing health and discouragements had led us to withdraw from the general cause to confine our labors to the Pacific Coast.”6

They clearly felt torn about responsibilities “back East,” and they both did what they could, including participating in the Michigan camp meeting. But their hearts and home were in California.

This pattern was repeated frequently in the following years—camp meetings back East, and then supporting the growing work in California during the winter months. Tragedy struck in August 1881 with the death of James in Battle Creek. Soon afterward, Ellen left for Colorado and then for Oakland to participate in the camp meeting there. At first she stayed in Oakland, but in 1882 she bought a new home in Healdsburg. In 1885 she moved to Europe for two years. In 1891 she sold her Healdsburg home after accepting the brethren’s request that she go to Australia, though she commented that she saw “no light” in this. There was no question in her mind that California would be her home when she returned from Australia in August 1900. She purchased her last home, Elmshaven, in St Helena, where she would live for 15 years. She wrote: “It is just the place I need…. This place was none of my seeking. It has come to me without a thought or purpose of mine. The Lord is so kind and gracious to me. I can trust my interests with Him who is too wise to err and too good to do me harm.” 7 Ellen was coming home to the West. It seems that this was the place she wanted to be. Of course there were issues of climate and her health. Yes, there were the benefits of good fruit and vegetables, as she makes clear. But most of all it seems her heart was here, even though she had the whole work on her mind. In fact, she had to face many of the issues of the East directly. She had to write strong letters to the brethren, opposing their mindset. She cautioned them against interfering in the West. She told them “hands off” the Pacific Press. She complained about the rise of “kingly power” in Battle Creek. She warned about the policies being adopted by the institutions there—the Sanitarium and the Review and Herald press. It must have been heartbreaking for her to hear that the Sanitarium was lost to the church and then that both institutions were destroyed by fire in 1902. Perhaps in reaction to this, she urgently supported the purchase of Loma Linda in 1905 and fought for the independence of the Pacific Press. She was much involved in the purchase of Pacific Union College in 1909. She saw the church making great progress in the West, and she gave her wholehearted support.

1. J.N. Loughborough, Miracles in My Life (Payson, AZ: Leaves-of-Autumn Books, 1987 reprint), p. 72.

2. Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White: The Progressive Years: 1862-1876, vol. 2 (Washington, DC: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1981), p. 357.

3. Arthur White, The Progressive Years, p. 359.

4. Arthur White, The Progressive Years, p. 404.

5. Ellen G. White, The Publishing Ministry (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1983), p. 28.

6. Arthur White, The Progressive Years, p. 448.

7. Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, p. 127.