James S. White | |
|---|---|
.jpg) James White | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1821-08-04)August 4, 1821 |
| Died | August 6, 1881(1881-08-06) (aged 60) Battle Creek Sanitarium,Battle Creek,MI |
| Spouse | Ellen G. White |
| Children | Henry Nichols James Edson White William C. White John Herbert |
| Occupation | President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Author Teacher Preacher Co-founder adventist movement |
| Signature |  |
James Springer White (August 4, 1821 – August 6, 1881), also known asElder White, was a co-founder of theSeventh-day Adventist Church and the husband ofEllen G. White. In 1849, he started the first Sabbatarian Adventist periodical entitledThe Present Truth, in 1855 he relocated the fledgling center of the movement toBattle Creek, Michigan, and in 1863 played a pivotal role in the formal organization of the denomination. He later played a major role in the development of the Adventist educational structure beginning in 1874 with the formation ofBattle Creek College.
_(unframed).jpg)
James White was born on August 4, 1821, in the town ofPalmyra, Maine. The fifth of nine children, James was a sickly child who suffered fits and seizures. Poor eyesight prevented him from obtaining much education and he was required to work on the family farm. At age 19 his eyesight improved and he enrolled at a local academy. He earned a teaching certificate in the common branches and briefly taught at an elementary school. He was baptized into theChristian Connexion at age 15. He learned of the Millerite message from his parents and after hearing powerful preaching at an advent camp meeting inExeter, Maine, White decided to leave teaching and become a preacher. Consequently, he has ordained a minister of the Christian Connexion in 1843. White was a powerful preacher, and it is recorded that during the winter of 1843, 1,000 people accepted the Millerite message owing to his preaching. At times, however, White was met with angry mobs who hurledsnowballs at him.[1] During these early travels he met Ellen G. Harmon whom he married on August 30, 1846. James White andEllen G. White had four boys, Henry Nichols (1847–1863),James Edson (1849–1928),William Clarence (1854–1937) and John Herbert (1860–1860).[2]
.jpg)
The paper which James White initially started, "The Present Truth", was combined with another periodical called the "Advent Review" in 1850 to become the "Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald", still published as the "Adventist Review" today.[3] This periodical became the main source of communication for the Sabbatarian Adventist movement regarding points of doctrine and organization. It also became a venue for James and Ellen White to quickly and efficiently share their views to like-minded believers. James White served as editor of the periodical until 1851 when he invitedUriah Smith to become editor. He played a senior role in the management of church publications as president of the Review and Herald Publishing Association. He also served on several occasions as president of theGeneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.(1865–1867; 1869–1871; 1874–1880).
In 1865 White suffered from a paralytic stroke. White eventually determined that he should retire from the ministry and live out his days gracefully. In 1880,G. I. Butler replaced him as General Conference president. During the summer of 1881, White came down with a fever and was taken to theBattle Creek Sanitarium. Despite the efforts ofDr. Kellogg, White died on August 6, 1881.[4]
White was a prolific writer and publisher for the Adventists. Some of his most popular publications include:
| Preceded by | President of theGeneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 1865–1867 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theGeneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 1869–1871 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theGeneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 1874–1880 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by (Founder) | Editor of theAdventist Review 1851–1855 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Editor of theAdventist Review 1861–1864 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Editor of theAdventist Review 1871–1872 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Editor of theAdventist Review 1873–1877 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Editor of theAdventist Review 1880–1881 | Succeeded by |
_(cropped).jpg)
