Ellen White's Letter to George Butler Before the 1888 Minneapolis Session

Ellen White's letter to General Conference President George I. Butler prior to the 1888 Minneapolis Session bears witness to her plea not to suppress biblical study through human authority. She did not support a spirit of rivalry or close-mindedness, but asked leaders and delegates to test the views presented through Scripture, prayer, and Christian love.

The Minneapolis General Conference Session began on October 17, 1888, and became a pivotal event in Adventist history. On the eve of the session, on October 14, Ellen White wrote Letter 21, 1888, to George I. Butler, who was serving as General Conference president. The letter addressed, in particular, the leadership's previous attitude toward Dr. E. J. Waggoner's views on the law in Galatians.

What Letter 21, 1888 Actually Confirms

One should not attribute words to this letter that are not there. There is no reliably documented phrasing showing that Ellen White wrote to the General Conference: "Let Jones and Waggoner speak." However, the letter directly reveals that she condemned attempts to mistreat Waggoner or shut down discussion of his biblical arguments.

Addressing Butler, she recalled the events of the 1886 session. White wrote that the Lord was not pleased with the spirit of that meeting or the way Dr. Waggoner's case was handled. Her especially crucial point was that even if someone's views appear questionable, that does not justify an unrighteous manner of rejecting them.

Thus, this document is not a "speaking permit" in the modern administrative sense. Rather, it is a powerful testimony in favor of a fair hearing, the freedom of conscientious study, and the rejection of coercion in theological matters.

The Biblical Principle of Fair Examination

Ellen White applied the principle given by Christ Himself: truth must not be evaluated based on the speaker's persona, church office, or popular opinion. It must be examined righteously.

“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24

This passage does not call for an uncritical acceptance of every new interpretation. On the contrary, it forbids prejudice. Adventists are called to test teachings by the Bible, rather than defending tradition merely because it is familiar. An example of such an attitude was found in the believers in Berea, who carefully examined the Scriptures to see whether the things they heard were so.

“They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11

The 1888 Message and Righteousness by Faith

At the Minneapolis Session itself, Ellen White recognized vital light in the sermons of E. J. Waggoner and A. T. Jones, particularly regarding the righteousness of Christ and salvation by faith. She did not claim that every detail expressed by each preacher was infallible. Nevertheless, she insisted that the delegates must not reject the light simply because of disagreement with the messengers or past controversies.

The core of the biblical message is not human merit, but God's grace in Christ.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph 2:8–9

Righteousness by faith does not abolish God's law, nor does it make obedience unnecessary. It places obedience in its rightful place: not as a means of earning acceptance with God, but as the fruit of a life renewed by Christ. Christ alone is the foundation of our hope, peace, and victory.

A Lesson for Church Leadership

The letter to Butler offers a solemn lesson for every minister, elder, educator, and church member. A spirit of control, personal offense, or partisan bias can prevent us from hearing what God desires to say through His Word. Authority in the church is not given to stifle conscientious study, but to serve unity, truth, and spiritual growth.

The Apostle Paul urged believers not to despise spiritual messages, but to test all things. This combines an open heart with biblical discernment.

“Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” 1 Thess 5:20–21

Conclusion and Practical Application

Letter 21, 1888, does not give us license to perpetuate a simplified legend about an official command to "let Jones and Waggoner speak." Instead, it clearly reveals a deeper principle: God's truth must never be drowned out by prejudice, authoritarian pressure, or animosity toward the messenger. Ellen White called for fairness, humility, and careful study of the Bible.

In practical terms, this means: when you hear an unfamiliar sermon or interpretation, do not rush either to accept it or to reject it. Pray, open the Scriptures, examine the context, look to Christ, and preserve a gentle spirit. In this way, the church can remain faithful to the truth while never closing the door to the light the Lord desires to impart.