Madame E.G. White est-elle une Plagiaire?

Healdsburg Enterprise, 20 mars 1889


Note éditeur : Cet article a paru dans le journal Healdsburg California en 1889. Il est remarquable non pas tant pour prouver qu’Ellen White fut une plagiaire, mais pour le fait même, qu’avant les années 1880, quand certains voudraient nous faire croire que le plagiat était davantage accepté, nous trouvons Madame White condamnée en place publique pour plagiat. Remarquables aussi sont les commentaires du leader adventiste Healey au sujet de Madame White, selon lequel elle n’était pas grande lectrice, et recevait ses citations à partir de ses visions. Amusez-vous bien...


Le Webster définit le Plagiaire comme… 

"Celui qui vole les écrits d’un autre, et les utilise comme étant les siens"

Le Plagiat, selon la même source, est…

"L’acte de voler les écrits littéraires de quelqu’un d’autre ou d’introduire des passages des écrits d’un autre, et de les placer comme siens ; vol littéraire.

Nous souhaiterions comparer dans cet article quelques extraits des livres suivants: "History of the Sabbath," (Andrews); "Life of William Miller," (White); "History of the Waldenses," (Wylie); "The Sanctuary" (Smith) et "History of the Reformation" (D'Aubigné), en mettant en parallèle des extraits de "Great Controversy" (Tragédie des Siècles) Vol. IV de Madame White, afin de voir si Madame White a "introduit des passages des écrits d’un autre, et les signifier comme étant les siens". Si elle a fait cela, alors selon le Webster, Madame White est une plagiaire, une voleuse littéraire.

Nous ne prétendons pas que les comparaisons suivantes soient exhaustives, temps et espace ont seulement permis un examen partiel; nous ne doutons pas que davantage de recherches révèleraient encore bien davantage d’éléments de même nature:

Great Controversy

The Sanctuary

On the day of atonement the high priest, having taken an offering from the congregation, went into the most holy place with the blood of this offering, and sprinkled it upon the mercy-seat, directly over the law, to make satisfaction for its claims. Then, in his character of mediator, he took the sins upon himself, and bore them from the sanctuary. Placing his hands upon the head of the scape-goat, he confessed over him all these sins, thus in figure transferring them from himself to the goat. The goat then bore them away, and they were regarded as forever separated from the people. Such was the service performed "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." And what was done in type in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary, is done in reality in the ministration of the heavenly sanctuary. {GC88 420.1}

On the day of atonement the priest, taking an offering from the people, appeared with the blood of this general offering for the people, and sprinkled it upon the mercy-seat directly over the law, to make full satisfaction for its claims. Placing his hands upon the head of the scape-goat, he confessed over him all these sins, thus transferring them from himself to the goat. The goat then bore them away, and they perished. . . . This was performed says Paul "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." From this service, we are therefore, to reason concerning and cleansing of the sanctuary in heaven... (pp.212-213)

Comparez aussi les pages 258-47, 263-202, 263-203, 263-204, 264-209, 264-210, 265-211.

Spirit of Prophecy IV

History Waldenses [Vaudois]

It was a law among them that all who entered the ministry should, before taking charge of a church at home, serve three years in the missionary field. As the hands of the men of God were laid upon their heads, the youth saw before them, not the prospect of earthly wealth or glory, but possibly a martyr's fate. The missionaries began their labors in the plains and valleys at the foot of their own mountains, going forth two and two, as Jesus sent out his disciples. ...they concealed their real character under the guise of some secular profession, most commonly that of merchants or peddlers. They offered for sale silks, jewelry, and other valuable articles, and were received as merchants where they would have been repulsed as missionaries. All the while their hearts were uplifted to God for wisdom to present a treasure more precious than gold or gems. They carried about with them portions of the Holy Scriptures concealed in their clothing or merchandise, and whenever they could do so with safety, they called the attention of the inmates of the dwelling to these manuscripts. When they saw that an interest was awakened, they left some portion with them as a gift. (p.76)

It was an old law among them that all who took orders in their church should, before being eligible for a home charge, serve three years in a mission field. The youth on whose head the assembled barbes laid their hands saw the prospect not of rich beneficence but possible martyrdom. The ocean they did not cross. Their mission field was [unreadable] that lay outspread at the foot of their own mountains. They went forth two and two concealing their real character under guise of a secular profession, most commonly that of merchants or peddlers. They carried silks, jewelry, and other articles at that time not easily purchasable save at distant markets, and they were welcomed as merchants where they would have been spurned as missionaries. They took care to carry with them concealed among their wares or about their persons portions of the Word of God, their own translations. [unreadable] commonly, and to this they would draw the attention of the inmates. When they saw a desire to possess it they would freely make a gift of it where the means of purchase were absent. (pp.15-16)

Comparez aussi les pages suivantes : 70-3, 75-15, 77-16, 83-27, 83-28.

Spirit of Prophecy IV

Life of Miller

He found in his former belief no assurance of happiness beyond the grave. The future was dark and gloomy. {4SP 202}

He was not then prepared to answer them; but he reasoned, that if the Bible is a revelation from God, it must be consistent with itself; and that as it was given for man's instruction, it must be adapted to his understanding. {4SP 204}

Endeavoring to lay aside all preconceived opinions, and dispensing with commentaries, he compared scripture with scripture by the aid of the marginal references and the concordance. He pursued his study in a regular and methodical manner; beginning with Genesis, and reading verse by verse, he proceeded no faster than the meaning of the several passages so unfolded as to leave him free from all embarrassment. When he found anything obscure, it was his custom to compare it with every other text which seemed to have any reference to the matter under consideration. Every word was permitted to have its proper bearing upon the subject of the text, and if his view of it harmonized with every collateral passage, it ceased to be a difficulty. {4SP 205}

He found that his former views gave him no assurance of happiness beyond the present life. Beyond the grave, all was dark and gloomy. (p.12)

He was not then prepared to answer them; but he reasoned that if the Bible is a revelation from God, it must be consistent with itself; and that as it was given for man's instruction, it must be adapted to his understanding. (p.46)

He laid aside all commentaries and used the [unreadable] references and his concordance as his only helps. (pp.46-47)
I commenced with Genesis, and read verse by verse, proceeding no faster than the meaning of the several passages should be so unfolded as to leave me free from embarrassment respecting any mysticisms or contradictions. Whenever I found anything obscure, my practice was to compare it with all collateral passages; and, by the help of Cruden, I examined all the texts of Scripture in which were found any of the prominent words contained in any obscure portion. Then, by letting every word have its proper bearing on the subject of the text, if my view of it harmonized with every collateral passage in the Bible, it ceased to be a difficulty.
(pp.47-48)

Parties de pages suivantes aussi étonnamment similaires: 206-65, 206-66-7, 207-68, 207-72, 207-73.

Comme les passages dans "Great Controversy" Vol. IV, et Andrews' "History of the Sabbath" ont déjà été publiés, il n’est pas nécessaire de les citer à nouveau, aussi donnons-nous simplement les pages. Comparez les pages 57-369, 186-459, 181-480, 181-481-2, 183-494, 183-4-493-4, 184-494, 184-497, 183-497, 185-498 [Plusieurs lignes illisibles]

Spirit of Prophecy IV

D'Aubigne's History

Many called to mind the scene of our Saviour's trial, when Annas and Caiaphas, before the judgment-seat of Pilate, demanded the death of him "that perverted the people." {4SP 121}

The majority of the assembly were ready to sacrifice Luther... {4SP 123}

Many were reminded of Annas and Caiaphas going to Pilate's judgment-seat, and calling for the death of "this fellow who perverted the nation." (p.225)

The majority of the princes were ready to sacrifice Luther... (p.227)

Comparez aussi les pages suivantes: 91-30, 95-51, 96-54 (deux passages), 99-67 (trois passages), 121-220, 127-236, 127-239, 128-239, 128-240, 129-240, 129-241, 130-241, 131-243 (deux passages), 132-244, 133-244-5 (deux passages), 134-245, 135-245, 135-6-246, 188-247 (trois passages), 130-249, 141-255, 141-256, 142-256, 144-310-11, 144-312, 142-312, 142-313, 142-314.

Le pasteur Healey déclara devant la Commission que Madame White n’est pas une femme versée dans la lecture, elle lit sa bible dans une certaine mesure, mais peu autrement. Nous aimerions demander au lecteur attentif de noter que mis à part des exceptions insignifiantes, ces passages cités par Madame White sont donnés en général dans l’ordre exact en lequel ils apparaissent dans les écrits des auteurs originels. Ses pensées suivent de façon consécutive les pensées des auteurs copiés. Pour preuves : "Great Controversy" pages 202-3, 204, 205, 206, 207 ; pour "Life of Miller" : pages 42, 46, 47, 48, 65, 66, 68, 72 et 73. Fréquemment ses mots sont exactement les mêmes. En témoigne ce qui suit:

Spirit of Prophecy IV

D'Aubigne's History

This bull invited all Catholics to take up the cross against the heretics. In order to stimulate them in this cruel work, it absolved them from all ecclesiastical pains and penalties, it released all who joined the crusade from any oaths they might have taken; it legalized their title to any property which they might have illegally acquired, and promised remission of all their sins to such as should kill any heretic. It annulled all contracts made in favor of the Vaudois, ordered their domestics to abandon them, forbade all persons to give them any aid whatever, and empowered all persons to take possession of their property. {4SP 83}

This bull invited all Catholics to take up the cross against the heretics: and to stimulate them in this pious work, it absolved from all ecclesiastical pains and penalties, general and particulars; it released all who joined the crusade from any oaths they might have taken; it legitimized their title to any property they might have illegally acquired; and promised remission of all their sins to such as should kill any heretic. It annulled all contracts made in favor of the Vaudois, ordered their domestics to abandon them, forbade all persons to give them any aid whatever, and empowered all persons to take possession of their property. (p.28)

Le pasteur Healy devait faire croire à la Commission qu’elle n’est pas une femme de lecture. Il leur demanda également de croire que les faits historiques et même les citations, lui sont donnés en vision sans compter sur les sources ordinaires d’information !!!

Observez que Wylie donne crédit approprié quand il cite la bulle papale, tandis que Madame White ne le fait pas. Il est remarquable de noter, pour n’en pas dire davantage, que Wylie, un écrivain non-inspiré, se trouve plus honnête que Madame White dans ce cas particulier, qui prétend que tous les faits historiques et même les citations, lui ont été donnés en vision. Probablement un exemple de vision défectueuse!

Ici nous demandons : Quel est le critique littéraire qui jugeant selon les citations fournies, et selon une comparaison des passages indiqués des citations listées, ne conclurait pas que Madame White en composant sa "Great Controversy" Vol. IV, avait devant elle les livres ouverts, et de ces livres, en prit à la fois les idées et les mots ? Nous demandons au lecteur sincère si nous avons éprouvé notre position. N’est-elle pas convaincue "d’introduction des passages d’un autre, en les utilisant comme les siens propres"? Si oui, nous avons prouvé le point en question, et selon le Webster, Madame White serait une plagiaire, une voleuse littéraire.

Category: Le Plagiat d'Ellen White
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