THE CAPTURE OF A. T. JONES
It was the summer of 1903, and Elder A. T. Jones decided to pay a visit to Ellen G. White at her home in Elmshaven, in Northern California. He had been having difficulties as president of the California Conference and he wished to counsel with her. In the course of the meeting, Alonzo Jones told Ellen White that he had received a written request from Dr. John H. Kellogg to come to Battle Creek and teach Bible in Kellogg's American Medical Missionary College. Jones discussed the fact that he had pretty much decided to accept the invitation and move to Battle Creek.
Ellen White strongly urged him not to go to Battle Creek. Jones replied that he felt that he would be able to help Dr. Kellogg by going there. She told him that he dare not go; for if he did, Kellogg would gain an influence over his mind that could mean his eternal destruction.
Jones was shocked. He knew himself to be an intelligent man; an excellent church historian, theologian, professional writer, and well-known public speaker. To say the least, it was somewhat hard on his self-confident bearing to have this little lady at Elmshaven so very able to predict his future and tell him he was making a most terrible mistake in uniting with Kellogg, when he, Jones, was so sure of his own abilities, and thought he understood what Kellogg was like. Politely demurring, Jones said that surely all would be all right.
At this point, Ellen White spoke words of direct warning to Elder A. T. Jones. She told him that he must not go to Battle Creek, for she had been warned in a vision that if he did, it would lead to his downfall.
In commenting at a later time upon the content of this vision, she wrote:
"In vision I had seen him [A. T. Jones] under the influence of Dr. Kellogg. Fine threads were being woven around him and he was being bound hand and foot and his mind and his senses were becoming captivated." Letter 116, 1906.
In the above-quoted letter, she also made comment on Elder Jones' reaction to her advice that summer day in 1903:
"His perceptions were becoming confused and he did not believe the warning given. The enemy works in a strange, wonderful way to influence human minds." Letter 116, 1903.
Jones was certain that he would be safe as he placed himself in a situation where the words and ideas of Dr. Kellogg were to be his constant companion to study and consider.
A. T. Jones was too self-confident. He was too sure of himself. How self-confident are you just now? For, indeed, Ellen White's words to A. T- Jones are written for you also.
The next year, Ellen White tried to get Jones out of Battle Creek. She wrote him to unite with the leaders in Washington D.C. in the Religious Liberty Department there. Unfortunately that did not last long, due to his brusque mannerisms. Then, in February 1905, she tried to get him out of Battle Creek by calling him to do public evangelism. You will find this call in Letter 187, 1905.
But Jones chose to remain in Battle Creek. A careful study of the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy will reveal that there are men who have entered so deeply into error that it is as if they have made an agreement with hell, and Satan is more powerfully able to work through them to influence others in a captivating way than could normally be done.
Thus it was with John Harvey Kellogg. He had in pride and self-conceit turned away from so much light, that he had become a highly-polished instrument in the devil's hands to fulfill his objectives.
My counsel to you is that you stay away from the errors of John Harvey Kellogg, and from those who stand with him in advocating those same errors.
A.T. Jones joined Dr. Kellogg in Battle Creek in the summer of 1903. Ellen White wrote him at various times thereafter until 1911. As we read those messages of warning that she sent him, we see delineated the progressive steps of a man on his way downward.
Gradually, Jones became more and more self-confident; increasingly he rejected the Spirit of Prophecy more and more. Alonzo T. Jones had deliberately flaunted warning messages from God through His messenger, and had voluntarily placed himself under influences which finally captivated him fully and led to his destruction.
Between the years 1904 and 1908, Ellen White wrote several letters of warning to Elder Alonzo T. Jones. They provide an indication of the downward path of this man, who in earlier years had been such a helpful champion of the message of Righteousness by Faith. None of us are safe for a day or an hour, except as we stay with God and His Inspired Word.
1904 An "inharmonious note". "The words and attitude of Brother --- and Brother A.T. Jones at the Barrien Springs meeting [1904] struck an inharmonious note, a note that was not inspired of God. It created a state of things which resulted in harm that they did not anticipate. It made the work of the meeting very much harder than it would otherwise have been. Had it not been for their injudicious course, the Barrien Springs Conference would have shown very different results.' Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, p. 42:
December 29, 1905, Spiritual eyesight lost and God's warnings repudiated: "I send no more [testimonies to be read to the Battle Creek Church] to A.T. Jones, for I have evidence that a work will have to be done for him before the Lord will accept his service. God has given him warnings which he has repudiated, and I am deeply grieved that he has so little spiritual eyesight.' Letter 345, 1905.
March 12, 1906 Wrong spirit and bitter demonstrations:
"You may be surprised to hear the words that you have heard from Elder A.T. Jones; but I am not at all surprised. This is the development of the man when the spirit that is counter to the Spirit of God comes upon him. In him as he is at the present time, you have a representation of a man who is not under the molding influence of the Spirit of God. The Lord accepts no such demonstrations of bitterness.
"Read in my books, 'Patriarchs and Prophets' and 'Great Controversy', the story of the first great apostasy. History is being repeated and will be repeated. Read then, and understand." Letter 98, 1906.
April 2, 1906, Captivated, deluded, and deceived: "During the General Conference at Takoma Park [April, 19051, Elder Jones' case was again presented to me. After this, I had a long conversation with him in which I pointed out his danger But he was self-confident, and declared to me that Dr. Kellogg, believed the truth and the testimonies just as firmly as the rest of us believed and advocated them. In this conversation Elder Jones manifested that which had been revealed to me regarding him, that in the place of receiving the warnings, he was full of self-confidence; that he had exalted himself, and in the place of being prepared to help Dr. Kellogg, he had united with him to disbelieve and distrust, and falsely to accuse the ministers and others who were trying to save Dr. Kellogg and other physicians who were in peril.
"I warned Elder Jones, but he felt that he was not in the least danger. But the find threads have been woven about him, and he is now a man deluded and deceived. Though claiming to believe the testimonies, he does not believe them." Letter 116, 1906.
May 1, 1906 Chosen darkness instead of light: "I am sorry for A.T. Jones, who has been warned over and over again. Notwithstanding these warnings, he has allowed the enemy to fill his mind with thoughts of self-importance. Heed not his words, for he has rejected the plainest light and had chosen darkness instead. The Holy One hath given us message clear and distinct, but some poor souls have been blinded by the falsehoods and the deceptive influences of satanic agencies and have turned from truth and righteousness to follow these fallacies of satanic origin." Manuscript 39, 1906.
June 15. 1906 His words controlled by Dr. Kellogg "Dr. Kellogg controls the voice of Elder A.T. Jones, and will use him as his mouthpiece. My prayer is, 0 God, open Thou the blind eyes, that they may see; and the ears of the deaf that they may hear, and become humble." Letter 182, 1906.
Jul. 5, 1906 Grieved the Holy Spirit: "Elder A.T. Jones, Dear brother, Again and again your case has been presented before me. I am now instructed to say to you, You have had a large knowledge of truth, and less, far less, spiritual understanding. When you were called to the important work in Washington, you had need of far more of the humble grace that becometh a Christian. Since the Berrien Springs meeting your attitude and the attitude of several others has grieved the Spirit of God. You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
"Self-exaltation is your great danger. It causes you to swell to large proportions. You trust in your own wisdom, and that is often foolishness.
"Do you remember the counsel which I gave you in my letter of April, 1894? This was in answer to your letter expressing deep regret over the part you had taken in an unwise movement [Anna Phillips, see 2 SM 85-95] and you appealed to me for instruction, that you might ever avoid such mistake!
"When at the General Conference at Washington I had conversation with you, but it seemed to have no influence upon you. You appeared to feel fully capable of managing yourself. After that conversation, scene after scene passed be fore me in the night season, and I was then instructed that you neither had been nor would be a help to Dr. Kellogg; for you were blind in regard to his dangers and his real standing. You can not be a help to him; for you entirely misjudge his case You consider the light given me of God regarding his position as of less value than your own judgment.
"Brother Jones, I have a message for you. In many respects you are a weak man. If I were to write out all the has been revealed to me of your weakness, and of the developments of your work that have not been in accordance with the course of a true Christian, the representation would not be pleasing. This may have to be done if you continue to justify yourself in a course of apostasy. Until your mind is cleared of the mist of perplexity, silence is eloquence on your part.
"I am so sorry that you are spoiling your record.
"Brother Jones, will you not earnestly seek the Lord that in your life there may be a humbling of self, and an exaltation of the principles of righteousness? The success and prosperity of your work will depend upon your following strictly where Jesus leads the way. God would have you stand as a faithful watchman, laboring earnestly for souls ready to perish. If you will consent to be a worker together with God', you may manifest in earnest words and works, the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit. True repentance will bring newness of life." Letter 242, 1906.
July 27, 1906 Revival of the first great apostasy: "My heart was filled with sorrow because of the course that J. H. Kellogg is following. And A.T. Jones is following the same course and voicing the same sentiments, with a most determined spirit. When a realization of this comes over me, with such force, great sorrow fills my soul.
"I have before me such a revival of the first great apostasy in the heavenly courts, that I am bowed down with an agony that can not be expressed. It is in Battle Creek that the warnings that are given are entirely disregarded." Letter 248, 1906.
August 1, 1906 Under hypnotic power: "God showed me what He would do for Dr. Kellogg if he would take hold of His hand. But he wrenched himself away. At the Berrien Springs meeting [1904] the most precious offers were given him, and when he wrenched himself away I had such agony of heart that it seemed as if soul and body were being rent asunder.
"I have seen Dr. Kellogg exerting a hypnotic influence upon persons, and at such times the arch deceiver was his helper. Those who sustain him are guilty with him. This blindness of understanding is a strange thing in our ranks. In regard to A. T. Jones he has a theory of truth, which his books express, and he dares not tear up his past experience by his present course of action.
"Dr. Kellogg has had every advantage to make impressions on human minds, and he will improve this to the best of his ability in an effort to destroy confidence in the testimonies. Those associated with him who have upheld him, will have to answer before God for their course of action." Letter 258, 1906.
September 30,1907 Giving heed to doctrines of devils: "A. T. Jones, Dr. Kellogg, and Elder Tenney are all working under the same leadership. They are classing themselves with those of whom the apostle writes, 'Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.' In the case of A. T. Jones I can see the fulfillment of the warnings that were given me regarding him." Letter 306, 1907.
October 1, 1907 Now in apostasy: "I want to say to you, Brother and Sister Starr, that the time we have so long anticipated has come. A. T. Jones has come to the place where he voices the mind and faith of Dr. Kellogg. They have now taken a decided stand against the truth, and special efforts will be made to lead souls away. This apostasy has cost us dearly. Warning after warning has been given to these men, but they have set themselves first to deny the messages and then to declare that they did not believe the testimonies. Their work against the truth has been as marked by deception as was the course of Canright. Many whose sympathies were with Dr. Kellogg, have united with him and have departed from the faith." Letter 316, 1907.
November 11, 1908 Departed from the faith: "I must warn our people against laboring in any line in connection with A. T. Jones. He is one who has departed from the faith, and has given heed to seducing spirits. He knows not what manner of spirit he is of." Letter 330, 1908.
Lingering alongside the errors of Dr. Kellogg who brought Jones into captivity to those errors, as is happening to some modern-day counterparts of Elder Jones, who think themselves safe as they study with interest the claims of Kellogg that Ellen White did not write all of her messages. A. T. Jones was eventually to stand in full support of Kellogg's pantheism teachings. But also lingering over Kellogg was ultimately to bring Jones into subjection to the errors of A. F. Ballenger. The men who are today toying with the theological writings of J. H. Kellogg will probably tomorrow move on into questioning over other basic teachings of the Advent faith. When individuals once reject the inspiration of the Spirit of Prophecy, there seems to be no bottom to the path that they take downward.
Because he thought himself safe to dally with Kellogg, Jones started along a road that was to bring him into full harmony with all aspects of the Alpha apostasy.