Ellen Chat Conversation

Based on the information from Ellen White's writings, Ellen White and her husband James White had four children: **1. Henry Nichols White** - Born: August 26, 1847, in Gorham, Maine - Died: December 8, 1863, at Topsham, Maine, at age 16 - Ellen White described him as "our noble Henry" and "our sweet singer" (LS 165.4) **2. James Edson White** - Born: July 28, 1849 - Survived to adulthood and became an elder in the church - Referred to as "Elder James Edson White, of Marshall, Mich." at his mother's funeral (LS 463.3) - Visited his mother in the spring of 1914, spending some weeks in her home (LS 440.2) **3. William Clarence White (Willie)** - Born: August 29, 1854 - Survived to adulthood and became an elder in the church - Referred to as "Elder W. C. White, of St. Helena, Cal." at his mother's funeral (LS 463.3) - Was present when his mother was stricken in 1915, having returned from a four-month absence just weeks before (LS 442.2) **4. John Herbert White** - Born: September 20, 1860 - Died: December 14, 1860, at just under 3 months old - Ellen White wrote: "In 1860 death stepped over our threshold, and broke the youngest branch of our family tree. Little Herbert, born September 20, 1860, died December 14 of the same year" (LS 165) Ellen White experienced the profound grief of losing two of her four children - her youngest as an infant and her eldest as a teenager. The two surviving sons, James Edson and William Clarence, both became ministers and were actively involved in the Seventh-day Adventist Church throughout their lives.

Based on Ellen White's extensive writings, her position on tithing was clear and unwavering. Here are the key principles she taught: ## **The Tithe Belongs to God** Ellen White taught that the tithe is not a voluntary gift but God's rightful claim: **"All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord"** (PP 525). She emphasized that **"The tithe is the Lord's; and He bids us return to Him that which is His own"** (Ed 138.4). ## **One-Tenth of All Income** She was specific about the amount: **"God has required a tenth, and this He claims as the very least that man should return to Him. He says: I give you nine tenths, while I require one tenth; that is Mine. When men withhold the one tenth, they rob God"** (3T 394.2). ## **Ancient and Universal Principle** Ellen White taught that tithing predates Moses: **"The tithing system reaches back beyond the days of Moses. Men were required to offer to God gifts for religious purposes before the definite system was given to Moses, even as far back as the days of Adam"** (3T 393.1). She noted that Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek and Jacob promised at Bethel: **"Of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee"** (3T 393.1). ## **Must Be Voluntary** Despite being God's rightful claim, Ellen White emphasized: **"God does not compel men to give. All that they give must be voluntary. He will not have His treasury replenished with unwilling offerings"** (3T 393.1). ## **Sacred Purpose - Supporting Gospel Ministry** The tithe has a specific purpose: **"The tithe is sacred, reserved by God for Himself. It is to be brought into His treasury to be used to sustain the gospel laborers in their work"** (9T 249). She explained that **"In the tithe, with gifts and offerings, He has made provision for this work. Thus He intends that the ministry of the gospel shall be sustained"** (COL 300.3). ## **Separate from Offerings** Ellen White distinguished between tithe and offerings: **"After the tithe is set apart, let gifts and offerings be apportioned, 'as God hath prospered' you"** (CS 80). She noted that under the Jewish system, **"Sin offerings, peace offerings, and thank offerings were also required in addition to the tenth of the increase"** (3T 394.2). ## **Systematic and Regular** She advocated systematic giving: **"Let each regularly examine his income, which is all a blessing from God, and set apart the tithe as a separate fund, to be sacredly the Lord's. This fund should not in any case be devoted to any other use; it is to be devoted solely to support the ministry of the gospel"** (CS 80). ## **Consequences of Faithfulness and Unfaithfulness** Ellen White taught that faithful tithe paying brings blessings: **"When he sees a faithful performance of duty in the payment of the tithe, he often, in his wise providence, opens ways whereby it shall increase"** (GW 222.2). Conversely, **"those who withhold this, commit robbery toward him, and cannot expect his prospering hand to be with them"** (GW 222.2). ## **A Matter of Honesty** She emphasized that tithing is fundamentally about honesty: **"'Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse' (Malachi 3:10), is God's command. No appeal is made to gratitude or to generosity. This is a matter of simple honesty"** (Ed 138.4). Ellen White's position was that tithing is a sacred obligation, a divine arrangement established by Christ Himself, whereby believers return to God what rightfully belongs to Him - one-tenth of all their income - to support the ministry of the gospel.