The Salamanca Vision
TimeWatch Editorial
June 13, 2016
It was the night of November 3, 1890. Ellen G. White was at that time laboring in Salamanca New York. During her devotionals, God showed her a meeting that would take place that would suggest that it would be a more effective use of the American Sentinel magazine, if the more testing truths of our faith were not published in that magazine, restricting the publications to dealing only with religious liberty matters. This was indeed the general attitude being expressed by those in leadership positions in Battle Creek at the time. Many thought that the best was to enlarge the congregations would be to soften the messages that had made the remnant church what it was. It is clear from her vision, that this pervasive idea that is so rampant today, is not new. Satan has always sought to find a way to water down the pillars of our faith so that number might result there from. Remember, then, this vision was given on November 3, 1890.
There were times after that when Ellen White attempted to deliver the message that she was given, but for some reason, every time she attempted to do so it was taken from her memory. On March the 7th, 1891 a meeting was called between the officers of the National Religious Liberty Association and the representatives of the American Sentinel, to come to an agreement regarding policies and plans.
“At this council meeting men with strong convictions and fixed determination expressed their views and feelings very freely, and at last the representatives of the National Religious Liberty Association voted that unless the policy of the American Sentinel was changed, the Association would establish another periodical to be its organ. This joint meeting continued until after one o'clock Sunday morning.” Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, Page 313.4
Ellen White was not present at that specific meeting, where this decision was made by the National Religious Liberty Association. She had been present during the Sabbath Hours and had contributed to the services.
“In the afternoon Mrs. White spoke on the importance of preaching the Word, and the danger of covering up, and keeping in the background, the distinctive features of our faith, under the impression that prejudice will thereby be avoided. If there is committed to us a special message, as we believe, that message must go, without reference to the customs or prejudices of the world, not governed by a policy of fear or favor. Some will receive it and be sanctified through it, though multitudes will oppose and reject it. But it must go everywhere till the very earth is lightened with its glory. She dwelt especially upon the danger of leaving our first love, and upon the importance of all, especially those connected with our leading institutions, having a vital connection with Christ, the true vine. Patterning after the world and adopting a worldly policy must be guarded against. Men in responsible positions should go to God as often as did Daniel in earnest supplication for divine help. Two or three times during the discourse she began to tell the story of her experience at Salamanca, and each time she hesitated, and leaving the story untold proceeded with other lines of thought. This discourse made a profound impression on the large congregation.” Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, Page 315.4
After her discourse, she left and the meetings continued. The decision making lasted until after one o'clock Sunday morning. Sunday morning, about 5:20, Brethren A. T. Robinson, W. C. White, and Ellery Robinson were passing Mrs. White's residence on their way to the early meeting. They saw a light in her room, and her son ran up to inquire about her health. He found her busily writing. She then told him that an angel of God had wakened her about three o'clock, and had instructed her go to the ministers' meeting and relate some things shown her at Salamanca. She said that she arose quickly, and had been writing for about two hours.
At the ministers' meeting an earnest season of prayer had just closed when Mrs. White entered with a package of manuscripts in her hand. With evident surprise Elder Olsen said: "We are glad to see you, Sister White. Have you a message for us this morning?" "Indeed I have," was her reply. She then said that it had not been her plan to attend the morning meeting, but she had been awakened very early, and instructed to prepare to relate to the brethren some things shown her at Salamanca. She told briefly the story of her experience at the Salamanca meeting, and said that in the vision given her there the Lord had opened before her the condition and perils of the work in many places. Warnings were given her which she was commanded to present to men in responsible positions. Especially in Battle Creek great perils surrounded the work, but men knew it not, because impenitence blinded their eyes. Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, Page 316.1
She continued to speak with clarity, describing in detail the attitudes of those present at the meeting. She declared that those who were convinced that the truth should not be delivered in its purity were wrong. She called upon the watchmen to give the trumpet a clear and unmistaken sound.
Perhaps we might learn from the vision given her in Salamanca. This is certainly not the time to water down the truth, but to deliver the word with clarity.
Cameron A. Bowen
