The Death of Ellen White Season 2 | Episode 51
And so, after more than 70 years,
the active ministry of Ellen White would come to a close.
Her public ministry started at the age of 17 in the state of Maine
in the northeasterly tip of the United States of America.
Never could she have imagined where it would take her
from there to its close in California.
She spoke to congregations large and small
in nearly every state in the Union.
She also spent two very active years
in England, France, Switzerland, Norway, and other parts of Europe
as well as nine years in New Zealand and Australia.
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Whether traveling by horse and carriage across the New England states,
by canal boat across New York State,
or across the Great Plains states of Texas and Oklahoma,
or by tourist train to the state of California
or by ocean steamer across the Atlantic or Pacific,
wherever she was, she sought every opportunity
to speak to people the words of life.
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Despite only having a third-grade formal education,
Ellen White would go on to become the most translated American author
and the third-most translated author of all time.
Her words would have an impact far beyond the life that she lived,
leaving a legacy of missions, educational institutions,
health centres, and in the church at large.
She always sought to uplift Jesus in her sermons,
in her life, and through her writings.
When she finally died here in this home, she was sure in whom she believed.
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It is interesting to contrast Ellen White's death
with that of other people.
When lying there dying,
one is often brought to contemplate life and how successful it has been.
Ellen White had no such thoughts.
Two days before her death, here in this very room,
her last words were, 'I know in whom I have believed,'
confident in her Saviour right until the end.
Even though death is never easy,
when you live a life in Jesus, you can die with peace and assurance.
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Ellen White would have three funerals.
The first one was here in the Elmshaven area,
the second one was in Oakland, California,
and the third one was in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The third one took place at 11:00 a.m.
on a Sabbath morning in the Dime Tabernacle,
and there were 3,000 people in attendance.
Even her bitter critic, D. M. Canright,
came and went through the viewing line twice,
and commented that she was a woman of God.
At the request of Ellen White,
her longtime friend and colleague in ministry
from across the United States and around the world,
S. N. Haskell, delivered the funeral sermon,
after which she was taken to the Oak Hill Cemetery
and buried alongside her husband and sons.
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The words written about her in the newspapers after her death
illustrate the kind of person that she was.
The Saint Helena Star wrote on the 23rd of July 1915,
'The life of Mrs White is an example worthy of emulation by all.
She was a humble, devout disciple of Christ,
and ever went about doing good.
Honoured and respected by all who appreciate noble womanhood,
consecrated to unselfish labour
for the uplifting and the betterment of mankind.'
'She showed no spiritual pride and she sought no filthy lucre.
She lived the life and did the work of a worthy prophetess,
the most admirable of the American succession.'
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She died confident in her Saviour
and confident that she would see Him on the resurrection morning.
When our life draws to a close,
it doesn't matter how many continents we have lived on,
how many houses we have owned,
how many books we have written,
or how much money we have made.
Ultimately it matters if we have accepted Jesus into our lives
and made him our personal Saviour.