11

On the way to Dansville, On the way to Dansville, New York,New York,

On the way to Dansville, On the way to Dansville, New York,New York,

for Elder White is sick!for Elder White is sick!

Lesson 46Lesson 46““Organizing for Service”Organizing for Service”

for Elder White is sick!for Elder White is sick!

Lesson 46Lesson 46““Organizing for Service”Organizing for Service”

22

James WhiteJames White

33

As a youth, James White was not a strong child. He had seizures and his eyesight was so

poor that he could not attend school.

44

But his eyesight improved when he was 19, he was able to attend school. He obtained a certificate qualifying him to teach, but he wanted to preach!

55

66

In 1846 he married Ellen Harmon. After they had been married nineteen years, James had a major stroke.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a portion of the brain becomes blocked. In Elder White’s case, the part of the brain controlling his right arm was deprived

of circulation.

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This occurred one morning when James and Ellen were taking an early morning walk. While in a

neighbor’s garden, he found he could not raise his right arm. Instead, the arm dangled at his side. In

addition, his speech became slurred and indistinct.

James had just turned forty-four.

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Sister White was able to help him back to the house, where they immediately began to pray.

In answer to their prayers, James was soon able to use his arm and to speak more clearly, but the use of his right hand was only partially restored,

and other problems continued.

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For the first five weeks, Sister White cared for her husband at home, then they went to a health

institute in Dansville, New York, so he could receive water treatments. The Whites stayed at

Dansville for three months.

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As you can see, the sanatorium was nestled on a hill, amid natural surroundings. It also had its own supply of spring water.

The sanatorium offered hydrotherapy, electric baths, salt water baths, steam baths, etc.

As you can see, the sanatorium was nestled on a hill, amid natural surroundings. It also had its own supply of spring water.

The sanatorium offered hydrotherapy, electric baths, salt water baths, steam baths, etc.

1212

Moliere bath, similar to a Turkish, or steam, bath

1313

Electric bath

1414

Hot air bath, or reclining steam bath

1515

Fresh air on the rooftop

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Small dining room

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Main dining room

1818

Enjoying the sunshine

1919

Guest room

2020

Dr. Jackson bids good-bye to a patient.

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Jackson Sanatorium

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Jackson Sanatorium today

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Cottage at Jackson Sanatorium

2424

Original Jackson Sanatorium and surrounding cottages

2525

The chapel at Jackson Sanatorium was located in Liberty Hall.

2626

Liberty Hall, which housed the chapel, faced

the sanatorium and escaped destruction by

the fire.

2727

Dr. Jackson and his wife, Dr. Katherine Jackson

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Clara Barton, exhausted from years of travel and work, recuperated at the

sanatorium in 1876. When she founded the Red Cross in 1881, the first chapter

was in Dansville.

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Dr. Jackson was the first to make granula, the first cold cereal ever marketed. Dr. Kellogg later did the same

thing, but he called it granola.

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3030

Some of the Guiding Principles at Jackson’s Some of the Guiding Principles at Jackson’s InstituteInstitute

Some of the Guiding Principles at Jackson’s Some of the Guiding Principles at Jackson’s InstituteInstitute

Water cure (or hydropathy, as it was called) which included a variety of bathings and showers, wet sheet wraps, and copious amounts of drinking water, among other things

Dr. Harriet Austin, Dr. Jackson’s adopted daughter, advocated dress reform and invented the “American Costume” which dispensed with unwieldy long dresses in favor of a mid-length skirt over trousers. Though practical, it never gained popularity.

Diet reform--no red meat, sugar, coffee, tea, or tobacco permitted; emphasis was on fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed grains.

Water cure (or hydropathy, as it was called) which included a variety of bathings and showers, wet sheet wraps, and copious amounts of drinking water, among other things

Dr. Harriet Austin, Dr. Jackson’s adopted daughter, advocated dress reform and invented the “American Costume” which dispensed with unwieldy long dresses in favor of a mid-length skirt over trousers. Though practical, it never gained popularity.

Diet reform--no red meat, sugar, coffee, tea, or tobacco permitted; emphasis was on fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed grains.

3131

Elder White had trouble sleeping during the night. While at Dansville, for example, for ten nights in a row it was impossible for him to sleep because of pain and agitation, but he and Ellen prayed, and

God answered their prayers and blessed him with a quiet sleep each night.

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He also suffered from extreme nervousness. Ellen White could not sew or knit in his room, and she had

to severely limit how much she spoke because it would easily agitate him and cause him to become

confused.

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Elder White required almost constant care. Many nights Ellen White slept little, but both of them

were able to keep a good courage.

3434

At Dansville, the Whites stayed in a house near the main building of the health institution, but Brother White could not walk up the hill to the dining room; instead, Brother Loughborough

kindly brought meals to them in a basket.

3535

Brother White, however, had a poor appetite and continued to lose weight and muscle strength. He

even thought he might die.

It was now December.

3636

Sister White decided that her husband would do just as well, and maybe better, at home. But could

he make the trip? Battle Creek was 500 miles away and it was wintertime. They would have to

travel by buggy and train.

3737

After prayer, they started out. They rode in an open carriage for seven miles to the train station and then took a train to Rochester, New York,

close to Lake Ontario.

Sister White’s plan was to next go to Detroit, Michigan, then to Jackson, and finally to Battle

Creek.

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3939

They spent three weeks in Rochester at the Lamson home. While there, James asked J. N. Andrews in Maine, Brother and Sister Lindsay in Olcott, New

York (69 miles away, on the coast of Lake Ontario), and “those who had faith in God” in Roosevelt, New York (360 miles away, near New York City), to come

to the Lamson home to engage in prayer for him.

4040

It was on Christmas Day, during one of those prayer sessions, that Ellen White had a wonderful vision, in

which she heard sweet heavenly music. You may read about this vision in volume 1 of Testimonies

for the Church, starting on page 485. On page 489, we read these words:

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“I was shown that we should provide a home for the afflicted and those who wish to learn how to take care of their bodies that they may prevent sickness. We should not remain indifferent and

compel those who are sick and desirous of living out the truth to go to popular water cure institutions for the recovery of health, where there is no sympathy for our faith. If they recover health it may be at the

expense of their religious faith.”

Thus the seeds for the Western Health Reform Institution in Battle Creek, Michigan, later to

become the Battle Creek Sanitarium, were planted.

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GC Communication

4343 GC Communication

4444

J. H. Kellogg

GC Communication

4545

The rebuilt Battle Creek Sanitarium

GC

Com

munic

ati

on

4646

Dave

4747Battle Creek CVP

4848

James, however, was still not able to sit for any length of time, and continuing the trip to Battle

Creek seemed almost too much for him. He began to fear that he might be too weak to

accomplish it, but they set out in faith, and they made it! And guess what they found when they

finally arrived home--

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The table was set with delicious, warm, and wholesome food. The house that had been empty for so long was cozy, with a warm fire in the stove and hot

water for bathing simmering on it. Their beds were aired, fluffed, and ready for sleep! That night they rested very well. They were glad to be home. The next day was Sabbath, and Brother White, though feeble, walked to the meeting

house and spoke for 3/4 of a hour.

5050

James and Ellen’s home in Battle CreekJames and Ellen’s home in Battle CreekJames and Ellen’s home in Battle CreekJames and Ellen’s home in Battle Creek

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5252

5353

5454

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Elder White gradually improved. His nervousness, anxiety, and fears lessened. He improved in his ability to tolerate food, his

appetite increased, and his pain diminished. On pleasant days, he even ventured outside, but it

took many months for him to fully recover. The strain of carrying the burden for so much of the

work had taken a heavy toll on him.

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“My husband has never professed to be anything more than a mortal man, subject to errors and

infirmities; yet his whole soul and interest have been in the work of God. His happiness has been

interwoven with the success of the truth. As the cause of God has prospered, he has rejoiced.” (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald,

February 20, 1866)

5757

“When the cause suffered on account of rebellion, he has been afflicted, and his soul has been bowed down with heaviness. He is now a sufferer because

of transgression against the laws of his being.” (Ibid.)

5858

“His sin has not been in unjust deal with others, nor in neglect of the wants of those who have needed sympathy and aid, nor in disregarding

the widow and fatherless in their affliction. Neither has he sinned in lifting up himself

above his brethren, and despising their counsel and advice.” (Ibid.)

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“He has sinned against himself and against God in overtaxing the energies of his system, which were renewed and invigorated in answer to our earnest,

unceasing prayers ten years ago, when consumption had brought him to the brink of the grave.

Prolonged, unceasing labor, without rest or recreation, has told upon his physical and mental

energies.” (Ibid.)

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The Firsts . . .The Firsts . . .The Firsts . . .The Firsts . . .

6161

Health Institute--1866, the Western Health Reform Institute in Battle Creek

Sabbath School--Even though James White started The Youth Instructor in 1852 and afterwards began the first Sabbath school, it was not until 1869, when Goodloe Bell wrote materials for teachers and helped organize Sabbath schools, that they began to spread.

Education--1872 Goodloe Bell started the first official SDA school, later known as Battle Creek College

Health Institute--1866, the Western Health Reform Institute in Battle Creek

Sabbath School--Even though James White started The Youth Instructor in 1852 and afterwards began the first Sabbath school, it was not until 1869, when Goodloe Bell wrote materials for teachers and helped organize Sabbath schools, that they began to spread.

Education--1872 Goodloe Bell started the first official SDA school, later known as Battle Creek College