What were Ellen White's secretaries and literary assistants permitted
to do in regard to her writings?
Ellen White did not always use perfect grammar, spelling, punctuation,
or sentence or paragraph construction in her writing. She freely acknowledged
her lack of such technical skills. In 1873 she lamented, "I am not a scholar. I
cannot prepare my own writings for the press. . . . I am not a grammarian"
(Selected Messages, book 3, p. 90). She felt the need of help from
others in the preparation of her manuscripts for publication. W. C. White
describes the boundaries that his mother set for her workers:
"Mother's copyists are entrusted with the work of correcting
grammatical errors, of eliminating unnecessary repetitions, and of grouping
paragraphs and sections in their best order. . . .
"Mother's workers of experience, such as Sisters Davis, Burnham,
Bolton, Peck, and Hare, who are very familiar with her writings, are authorized
to take a sentence, paragraph, or section from one manuscript and incorporate
it with another manuscript where the same thought was expressed but not so
clearly. But none of Mother's workers are authorized to add to the manuscripts
by introducing thoughts of their own" (W. C. White to G. A. Irwin, May 7,
1900).
While the chapters for each book were being prepared, Ellen White was
constantly consulted, and when the work was completed, it was given to her for
final approval.
At the age of 75 she explained her work to her sister, Mary:
"Now, my sister, do not think that I have forgotten you; for I have
not. You know that I have books to make. My last effort is a book on true
education. The writing of this book has been very trying to me, but it is
nearly finished. I am now completing the last chapter. This book will not have
in it so much matter as there is in some of my larger works, but the
instruction it contains is important. I feel the need of help from God
continually.
"I am still as active as ever. I am not in the least decrepit. I am
able to do much work, writing and speaking as I did years ago.
"I read over all that is copied, to see that everything is as it
should be. I read all the book manuscript before it is sent to the printer. So
you can see that my time must be fully occupied" (Letter 133,
1902).