The Later Elmshaven Years: 1905-1915 (vol. 6) - Ellen G. White

The older, James Edson, while talented, creative, and a good author,
was unsteady, a poor manager of finances, and, because his brother and
church leaders could not and did not endorse all his ventures, very critical.
The testimonies of his mother addressed to him from early years carried at
times little weight; yet when fully consecrated to God he did a remarkable
work, particularly among the neglected blacks in the South. [Note: See ron
graybill, Mission to Black America, and A. W. Spalding, Origin and History
of Seventh-day Adventists, Volume 2, chapter 18, "American Negro
Evangelism."]
Because he was the son of James and Ellen White, James Edson was
able to borrow, mainly from Adventists, to support his various enterprises,
many of which failed. Again and again his mother and his brother came to
his personal financial aid as various enterprises he had been warned against
collapsed.
As Ellen White found she could not endlessly support him in these
ventures, his brother attempted to counsel him. He in turn took the position
that W. C. was influencing his mother. Among his personal friends in and
around Battle Creek were a number who were voicing Dr. Kellogg's
insinuations that Ellen White was being influenced by her son William and
others. It was easy for James Edson to join in. He said some most
unfortunate things that were quickly picked up and, coming from Ellen
White's son, were capitalized on.
Finally, painful as it was, Ellen White had to step in and set the record
straight. To James Edson she wrote:
What kind of a move was it that you made in rushing to Battle Creek
and saying to those there that W. C. White, your own brother, for whom you
should have respect, manipulated my writings? This is just what they needed
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