Lessons From Ellen White’s Letter to Mary Steward

In a recent blog post, I wrote about the hymn, “The Lord Is Coming,” I had a glimpse into the life of the writer Mary A. Steward. I was impressed and interested in the little I learned about her that I decided to write a separate post about her.

Mary was born to early Advent pioneers Thaddeus and Myrta Steward. Her father was converted into the Baptist church in 1843 and became a Sabbath-keeping Adventist in 1852. Her mother was not new to Sabbathkeeping having been raised as a Seventh-day Baptist.

Thaddeus was called upon to be a traveling preacher. He concentrated his efforts in Milton, Wisconsin where Mary Alicia and her brother John William was born.

Mr. and Mrs. Steward was noted in the Ellen G. White Encyclopedia to have had criticized James White’s leadership. They became suspicious and jealous toward the Whites that they opposed every attempt at church organization in northern Wisconsin. Myrta also claimed to have visions. These false claims and many other things damaged the advent work in Wisconsin. He and his left the church, but apparently, he later accepted the rebuke, came back and continued to work with the Illinois-Wisconsin Conference. Later he and his family moved to Battlecreek, where his daughter Mary had the opportunity to attend Battle Creek College.

Apparently, Mary developed skills in writing and became a proofreader for the Review from 1880-1892. She was about 33 years old when she received a letter from Ellen White.

Ellen White was preparing to go to Australia and was considering several people who would come with her. Mary Steward was a candidate, but the letter revealed several defects in her character that prevented her from becoming a missionary.

While I have been earnestly praying to the Lord to understand my duty in regard to going to Australia, and as to whom we shall take with us, the Lord has plainly make known to me that you are not the proper one to be that help to me which I need in the work He has given me to do. You cannot enter into the spirit of the work in a new and untried missionary field. These words were repeated, “Spiritual things are spiritually discerned…

Mrs. White went on to reveal in her letter that Mary needed to have more of a “missionary, self-sacrificing and self-denying spirit.” If she does not bear this spirit, she will highly dampen the influence of Ellen White’s work. The prophet of God certainly did not mince words with Mary when she described the kind of influence Mary will have if she was brought with her to Australia.

And unless you are advancing in the knowledge and love of God, you cannot maintain even the light which you now have. If the light does not shine more and more, it will grow dim and flicker away in darkness. Every work will be mingled and tainted with self. God will not accept it. It is impossible for myself or any connected with me to be channels of light and bear the duties and responsibilities which this work involves unless they are growing in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Of Mary, and everyone else connected with Ellen White was a great manifestation of godliness was expected.

All connected with me and the solemn work God has given me to do must represent the character of the work and be an example to others in humility and Christlike character, in faithfulness, in cross-bearing, in prompt and vigorous action, in unswerving fidelity to the sanctifying influence of truth, and in sacrifices and labors to bless others. And in order to do this there must be an ever growing Christian experience. Faith must be strong, consecration complete; sympathy, tenderness, and love must pervade the soul. They must be patient in tribulation and Christlike in conversation, and even the thoughts [must be] brought into captivity to Jesus Christ.”

She then challenged Mary to change her ways, or else she will lose her own soul.

You have an experience all before you to gain. You cannot be self-centered and be prepared for whatever work or responsibility, however difficult or dangerous, which is in Christ’s line. Your eye must be single to the glory of God, and then your profiting will appear unto all. You need to employ every means of grace that your love to God, to all with whom you associate, may be pure and Christlike. Then you will approve the things that are excellent and be filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. Your Christian life must take on a different mold, else you will never see the kingdom of heaven…

As she closed her letter, a motherly tone emerges. Only because she had a high interest and concern for Mary that she sees it fit for her to be rebuked.

You must learn in the school of Christ meekness and lowliness of heart; be trained, disciplined, and educated for usefulness and for immortality. May these words have the right effect upon your mind. I have an interest in you. Let nothing attract or amuse or divert your mind from the earnest work before you. It is for your present and eternal interest to see that this state of things does not continue. Let it not be said of you in the future, as it was of the Hebrew Christians, “For when for a time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” [Hebrews 5:12.] You need good home religion. Bring all the pleasantness and sunlight into your home life, in every word, in every action. Use diligently all the gifts of heaven in precious light given of God, and put this light to a practical use. Then the Lord will make a larger display of His mercy and goodness. Achieve a destiny on earth worthy of heaven.

Lessons we can glean from this

While the letter was specifically addressed to Mary, I see that there’s a lesson in there for us too. Here are my takeaways.

1. Christ’s workers should advance in the light entrusted to them
2. Christ’s workers should represent the character of the work they bear
3. Christ’s workers are never self-centered
4. Christ’s workers are meek and lowly in heart

Her contribution to Adventist hymnody may be small, but it is not insignificant. Her life is a testimony of someone who was humble enough to accept a strong rebuke. It may have been an embarrassing experience to have been reprimanded like that. However, it was evident that it helped Mary to change and have a closer walk with Jesus. She persevered and allowed the Holy Spirit to work in her heart. As a result, she was able to keep working with Ellen White as one of her office assistants until the prophet died in 1915.

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