James and Ellen—Their Personal Story Part 1
By Dorothy Dunbar
As we know, it was not long after the disappointment of 1844 that Ellen White was given her first vision, at only 17 years of age. About a week after the first vision, she received the second, and in it she was given a view of the trials she would have to go through, and that she must relate to others the things God had shown her. She almost felt that God was asking her to do the impossible! How could she travel from place to place? Who would go with her? And, how could she even speak before people? Who would listen to her, a timid, frail teenager? She felt despondent, and her depressed state of mind could be clearly seen.
While at a prayer meeting in the home one night, prayer was being offered for her to strengthen and encourage her to bear the message the Lord had given to her. Suddenly, ‘something that seemed like a ball of fire struck me right over the heart. My strength was taken away, and I fell to the floor. I seemed to be in the presence of the angels. One of these holy beings again repeated the words, “Make known to others what I have revealed to you.’” One of the older believers, Father Pearson, witnessed this startling event. “I saw it! I saw it! I can never forget it,” he exclaimed. “a ball of fire came down from heaven and struck Sister Ellen Harmon right on the heart!!”
Ellen and James met when in the winter of 1845, several of Ellen’s Adventist friends invited her to travel with them to Orrington,
But, this did not last. As always, people will gossip, tongues will wag, and some fanatical people who did not like the messages Ellen white had to give were so angry that once, when they thought Ellen was with James, there was an angry crowd waiting. If Ellen and her friend had not already gone on a boat, this wild crowd had planned to seize Ellen, and drive her out of town. As it was, they angrily grabbed James and his friends, horsewhipped them, and had them put in jail overnight.
James had plenty of time to think that night. Obviously, something must be done. How could he stop the people from being unkind, and yet continue to help her? The thought kept recurring: “marry the girl.” Yet, James and most the Adventist believers thought that Jesus soon would come, and that if anyone married it might be considered a lack of faith. James carefully studied the Bible over the weeks, and could find no ban on marriage before Christ’s coming. So, James decided to go to
The newlyweds had no place to live, so when they weren’t traveling they stayed at the Harmon home in Gorham, about twelve miles west of
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