The Burial of Ellen

I appreciate the recent post on Hobbes Place about recent criticsms about Ellen White and the obelisk on their family plot in Oak Hill Cemetery. Like Hobbes, the fact that there is an obelisk does not bother me. They were, in fact, quite common during Victorian America. The only thing that is known is that by the time of her death this obelisk was on the family plot. Similar artifices from about the same period appear to be quite common throughout the rest of Oak Hill Cemetery (a fun Sabbath afternoon stroll if one has the opportunity to take a tour along with nearby Historic Adventist Village).

What is particularly interesting is that Hobbes noticed that Ellen White's third and largest funeral held in Battle Creek, Michigan (she had an earlier service at her home in Elmshaven and at the California campmeeting before her body was freighted east), held on July 24, 1915, and interred on August 26. Hobbes cites an e-mail written by Bill Fagal in 1999 where he mentions this. Several years ago I did some sleuthing and came across this fact without knowing about Fagal's e-mail. The source, a memo in the White Estate document file by Arthur L. White, who seems to have been as surprised as Hobbes was in 1974 to discover this ("Ellen G. White Death--Question of Deferred Burial, Memorandum by Arthur L. White, 11/4/74," DF 757B). Up until that point Arthur White had relied on a statement in the "In Memorium" booklet published to commemorate the death of Ellen White (it contained the funeral address and other details about her death).

Arthur White mentions that up until that point he had denied rumors that there had been a delay in her burial. Part of this reason, as the rumor went, was to "prevent possible exuming by the curious, particularly by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, for an examination of her brain."

So what changed Arthur White's mind? A letter that he read written by James Edson White to W. C. White dated October 15, 1915. In the letter, Edson writes to his brother:

"There were some matters mentioned in your letter of September 17 which I have not answered. You asked in regard to mother's burial. I think I explained this to you fully, stating that we went to the grounds about three weeks after the funeral and we saw her placed in the grave that had been prepared for her. Of course her face had changed considerably, and yet she was preserved as well as I could expect. When we went to the cemetery Sister Israel took me over in her auto, and we were glad to meet Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Gardner, Mrs. E. B. Jones, and Mrs. L. V. Barton. They are all our people and happened to be at the grave just at the time the change was made from the vault to the grave. Everything went off smoothly and occupied but little time. In regard to the expense of this, I asked the sexton to render the bill through Mr. Farley, the undertaker, who had all these matters in hand, and I presume it had reached you through him."

Unfortunately, like the obelisk, there is no information about why her body was not interred until three weeks later.

Comments

[H0bbes]

Thanks for the insights. Of course there remains the big question--Why? It's curious also, that Arthur L. White's biography--written well after 1974--makes no mention of this--nor does any other official publication or document that I'm aware of. It is not appropriate for the Ellen G. White Estate (or anyone else) to continue to perpetuate an historical lie.

[Michael Campbell]

I just checked Arthur White's 6-volume biography, in particular the sixth volume on "The Later Elmshaven Years." Arthur White does not mention when she was buried so I do not think he was trying to perpetuate a lie. Instead, as a historian, you have two primary sources that contradict one another. You can probably appreciate Arthur White's reluctance to accept the unpublished source considering that it went across what his own personal knowledge and a lack of any other corroborating evidence. Quite frankly, one has to wonder of its significance. An alternative theory is that perhaps her casket was lowered into the grave but then lifted out for some unkonwn reason. There simply is no primary source evidence that gives background however interesting this historical detail may be.

[Dennis Fischer]

In an email to me from Elder William Fagal of the White Estate earlier today, he added some information that may be of interest to some on this blog:

"The grave was open on that Sabbath afternoon when the casket was taken to the cemetery. I think there are eyewitness accounts that say it was lowered into the grave that afternoon and some dirt thrown in on it. But it was a Sabbath, and for that reason I would not be surprised if the grave was not actually closed at that time, but some dirt was symbolically thrown into the opening. There are cemetery records (I am told) to substantiate the holding of the casket in a vault until the date I gave you for the burial, and there are also written references to this in the White family...Yes, James White's funeral also was on Sabbath, in the afternoon, and he was buired the same day."

Amazing information! The mourners at Ellen White's graveside service were deceived into thinking that her body was actually interred on the day of her third and final funeral.

Dennis Fischer
E-mail: dennisfischer@neb.rr.com

[Michael Campbell]

David, I appreciate you posting the comment from William Fagal from the White Estate main office. I think it is a little bit premature to base the fact that there was intentional deception going on in light of the scarcity of sources. It seems to me that it could also be just as likely that someone genuinely changed their mind for some reason, and I think it is worth giving them the benefit of the doubt.

[Nonane]

There are a couple of early church founders that are buried under obilisks. Check the Loma Linda University Digital archives under the search term gravesites. It is pretty interesting.

[Michael Campbell]

It is important to recognize that our church pioneers were very much a part of Victorian culture. Obelisks were very common during this time period, and I think took on a commonality that people at that time accepted, perhaps even took for granted, and less of a symbolic symbol that we might view it today. I think this is one example of how or why it is important to place Ellen G. White within her own historical context. Your observation that other pioneers also had obelisks (thanks for pointing to my department's web site!) is a good example of how pervasive Victorian culture was on the founders of our church.

[Dennis Fischer]

In addition to James and Ellen White lying under an obelisk at Oak Hill Cemetery, who are the two other SDA pioneers who have obelisks on their graves?

[Michael Campbell]

When I referred to a "couple" I wasn't referring to necessarily "two" but I know that since I have been on and conducted a number of Adventist heritage tours on the east and west coasts that I have seen several other notable Adventists buried who have obelisks on their gravesite. More research is needed!

[Nonane]

Why is everyone so confused by all this? Just look at the logo for the adventist church at www.adventist.com. It is a pyramid with an all-seeing eye. Pretty simple stuff really.

[José Rubio]

I don't see any pyramid with an all-seeing eye in our logo. All I see is an open Bible, a cross and a flame.

[Nineengen]

She sucked and stroked as I came in her mouth.

[Nineengen]

We can do this frequently whenever you want. Turn around, she panted, and Sarah did so, preceding her everything to hussy her slant against the verbal wallpaper.

[Stephen M. Harrelson]

Remember that the Victorian age was full of Men of Virtue, William Miller for instance,it was an age in which symbolism was frequently as important as conduct. The Oblisk is truly an emblem that is of a Masonic Nature , Miller and others were involved in the early adventists pursuits . Ellen White stated that Miller's dust would be watched over by angels until the ressurection. Miller was a Freemason. And to those who understand rather than evaluate Freemasonry based on misinformation . We will find that it is the same God that E.G.White served that Miller and his fellow Freemasons served. God does not exist only in the SDA Church. If they won't do the work maybe the Ashlar(brick) of the Freemasonry may be the rock that cries out !!!!

[Edwin M. Cotto]

I guess I dont know everything, so, where exactly is the proof that Miller was a freemason? I've heard people say this before.

[Mike MacLennan]

Word of advice to the Webmaster: José Rubio's comments above are totally inappropriate and not in harmony with SDA values and therefore should be removed from this blog. (This is not a porn blog.) Please remove my blog after making this correction. Cheers, Mike

[Mike MacLennan]

Sorry, for the wrong name associated with the porn blogs above. It was not José Rubio. Sorry José. It was Nineengen in his/her 2 blogs.

[John Smith]

All you see is an Open Bible [VSL: Volume of Sacred Law as symbol of faith or as an important symbol within Freemasonry?];
a cross [of Faith but which faith? belief in the God of the Bible or belief in the evil vile satanic god of Freemasonry]
and a flame [of the one GOD or of Lucifer/Molech/TGAOTU which links to pagan practice as practiced by DAVID ROCKEFELLER of 146 East 65 Street, New York, NY 10021 at Bohemian Grove in California.
Note that ALL presidents of the USA have been evil wicked FREEMASONS that want all FREEMEN to become slaves to the Zionist Interntauoonal bankers that control the private Federal Reserve of New York that controls the US "shadow" government that controls the US executive, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, the Bilderberg Group of Europe, the Bohemian Club of New York and the whole of the US media through indirect control of the CFR!].

Do your research...

Read the excellent book by Zbigniew Brzezibnski that explains how he is chief strategist to David Rockefeller and is responsible for determining US foreign policy as set out in: "The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives".

Whoever controls Eurasia controls the world.

David Rockefeller & Nicholas Rockefeller want to control the world through their banking empire, oil empire and control of all the different organisations they have founded.

Look up Wikipedia David Rockefeller:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rockefeller

Some positions held/institutions founded during David Rockefeller's lifetime:
Chairman/Honorary Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations (Chairman: (1970-1985);
Chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank (1969-1981);
Founder and North American Chairman (1977-1991), Honorary Chairman of the Trilateral Commission;
A U.S. founding member, life member, and member of the Steering Committee of the Bilderberg Group (1954-);
Founding Chairman of the Partnership for New York City (PFNYC) (1979-1988);
Board Director, B. F. Goodrich & Co. (1956-64), Punta Alegre Sugar Corp., The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (1960-65);
Chairman/Chairman Emeritus of the Museum of Modern Art (1948-, Chairman: 1962-1972, 1987-1993);
Founder and Chairman/Honorary Chairman of the Council of the Americas (1963-);
Honorary Chairman and Life Trustee of The Rockefeller University (Chairman: 1950-1975);
Trustee/Life Trustee of the University of Chicago (1947-1962, 1966-);
Director of the Peterson Institute (Formerly: The Institute for International Economics);
President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Harvard College Board of Overseers (1954-1960, 1962-1968);
President of the Board of Overseas Study at Harvard University;
Member, American Friends of the London School of Economics;
Co-founder and Chairman of the Chase International Advisory Committee';
Chairman, Chase International Investment Corporation (1961-1975);
Class A Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York;
Leading member of the Russian-American Bankers Forum (1992);
Chairman of the New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
Director of the New York Clearing House (1971-1978);
Founder and Chairman of the Center for Inter-American Relations (CIAR) (Cultural adjunct of the Council of the Americas, 1965);
Founder and Chairman/Honorary Chairman of the Americas Society;
Co-founder of the Chairman's Latin American Advisory Council;
Founder of the Forum of the Americas;
Honorary Chairman of the Japan Society;
Chairman of the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association;
Director of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation;
Co-founder of The Business Committee for the Arts (BAC) (1967);
Chairman of Morningside Heights, Inc.;
Board member of the Westchester County Planning Commission;
Board member of the Commerce Committee for the Alliance for Progress (1961);
Founder of the Emergency Committee for American Trade;
Director of the Overseas Development Council;
Director of American Overseas Finance Corporation;
Member of Reagan's President's Commission on Executive Exchange (1981);
Director of the US-USSR Trade and Economic Council;
Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Council for U.S.-China Trade;
Founder of the Emergency Committee on American Trade (ECAT);
Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Council on Japan-United States Economic Relations;
Chairman of the U.S. Advisory Committee on Reform of the International Monetary System;
Founding member/Honorary member of the Commission on White House Fellows (1964-1965);
A Trustee of the John F. Kennedy Library;
An Honorary Trustee and Chairman of the Executive Committee of International House of New York;
A Trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1947-1960);
Primary Founder/U.S. Executive Committee, Dartmouth Conference;
Founder and Chairman of the International Executive Service Corps (IESC) (Chairman: 1964-1968);
Co-founder of the Synergos affiliated Global Philanthropists Circle;
Honorary Advisor/International Advisor of Praemium Imperiale;
Member of the Peace Parks Foundation;
Trustee of Historic Hudson Valley (1981-);
Chairman of the Stone Barns Restoration Corporation;
Chairman of Rockefeller Financial Services;
Chairman, The Rockefeller Group Inc. (1983-1995);
Chairman, Rockefeller Center Properties Inc. (1985-1992);
Co-founder and Advisory Trustee of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) (1940) (Chairman: 1981-1987);
Co-founder and Honorary Trustee of the Rockefeller Family Fund (RFF) (1967);
President of his father's Sealantic Fund;
Founder of the David Rockefeller Fund (1989);
Founded and funded the David Rockefeller Global Development Fund (RBF) (2006);
Founded the David Rockefeller Graduate Program at Rockefeller University;
Co-founded, funded and on the Advisory Committee of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) at Harvard (1994-).
(Sources: Who's Who 2006, 158th Annual Edition, London: A & C Black Publishers Ltd; Rockefeller Archive Center Web site: Biographical details; Will Banyan, The Proud Internationalist, (PDF, 2006), Martin Frost Web site; William Hoffman, David: Report on a Rockefeller, 1971; Memoirs, 2002.)

Keep up the RESEARCH!!!

[John Smith]

Sorry for the typographical errors...

[Lisa]

FINALLY...SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON!!! THANK YOU, JOHN SMITH, FOR SHARING THE TRUTH!!!!

More info:

Ellen White was not a prophet. She was a victim of a rock to the face at age 9 which caused temporal lobe damage leading to partial seizure epilepsy: http://www.ellenwhiteexposed.com/headinjury.htm

http://InfoWars.com
http://PrisonPlanet.com

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