Calhoun County MI Archives Biographies.....Cornell, Merritt E. 1827 - 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robin Ellis -- July 23, 2007, 5:55 pm Author: The OFFICIAL Ellen G. White Website COPYRIGHT The OFFICIAL Ellen G. White Website PHOTO & BIO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM www.WhiteEstate.org Merritt Cornell was a pioneer evangelist on the Pacific Coast. He had been a Millerite and then a member of the Advent Harbinger group that taught the Aage to come@ theory. They believed that there will be conversion for everyone during a future thousand year-period. In 1852 Cornell was converted to Sabbathkeeping Adventism by Joseph Bates. Cornells wife worked closely with him in his public evangelism, often staying behind after a series closed to help interested persons make their decision. This may have been the beginning of Bible instructor work. Cornell did evangelistic work in several places. In 1871 and 1872 he worked with J. N. Loughborough in the first Seventh-day Adventist tent meetings in San Francisco. In 1874 he worked with D. N. Canright in Oakland, California. Because of moral problems, Cornell was disconnected from the Adventist ministry from 1876 to 1890, then served again until his death. Cornell, along with Joseph Bates and J. H. Waggoner, were a committee of three who prepared an address on spiritual gifts to be read at the 1855 conference at Battle Creek, shortly after the publishing office had moved there from Rochester, New York. The 1855 conference marked a turning point toward the churchs confidence in the prophetic gift of Ellen White. Cornell officiated at the first funeral service for Henry White, the eldest son of James and Ellen White, in 1863. In 1871, while holding evangelistic meetings with J. N. Loughborough in San Francisco, Cornell became careless in his association with a woman in the congregation. He was defensive, claiming that he had done nothing wrong. A meeting was called to consider charges against him. Loughborough met him on the street, weeping. Cornell said that he was not going to the meeting but handed Loughborough a written confession of his wrong. Cornell told him of a letter received from Ellen White that day in which she warned him: AI was shown that you were not standing in the clear light and you are in danger of bringing reproach upon the cause of God by moving as you happen to feel. It is Satan=s intent to destroy you.@BLetter 23, 1871. Loughborough found that this letter came from a vision given to Ellen White at Bordoville, Vermont, December 10, 1871. She did not mail her letter immediately to Cornell. When she finally mailed it on January 12, 1872 (although it was dated December 10, 1871), it arrived at just the right time to avert division over the problem. It was not the first time that Cornell had received counsel from Mrs. White. He had used money given him in an extravagant way. He also had been jealous of Loughborough. She wrote in 1863: ABrother Cornell and wife visited Ohio, and Brother Cornell did a strange and sad workBhe spoke against Brother Loughborough. His old jealous feelings led him to speak of Brother Loughborough in a manner calculated to prejudice the church against him.@BMs 8, 1863. (See Manuscript Releases, volume 21, pages 260-264.) In the same manuscript Ellen White gave correction for Loughborough as well. Cornells ministry was not perfect, but ended on a positive note after reconciliation with the church in 1890. Additional Comments: Buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, MI. Lot 209, Rt. 14 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/calhoun/photos/bios/cornell31bs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/calhoun/bios/cornell31bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/mifiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb