W. W. Prescott
Encyclopedia
William Warren Prescott was an influential administrator, educator, and scholar in the early Seventh-day Adventist Church
.
movement.
W. W. Prescott graduated from Dartmouth College
in 1877 and served as principal of high schools in Vermont, and published and edited newspapers in Maine and Vermont prior to accepting the presidency of Battle Creek College (1885 to 1894). While still president of Battle Creek College he helped found Union College
and became its first president in 1891. Then late in 1892 he assumed the presidency of the newly founded Walla Walla College
in Washington. Five years later, he helped found Australasian Mission College (now Avondale College
) in Australia
.
Because of his reputation as a Biblical scholar he was called upon to make a world tour (1894-1895) to hold Bible institutes and to strengthen developing educational interests. Back in America in 1901, he became vice-president of the General Conference, chairman of the Review and Herald Publishing Association board, and editor of the Review and Herald. On relinquishing this editorship in 1909, he edited the Protestant Magazine for seven years.
He was a field secretary of the General Conference from 1915 until his retirement in 1937, serving during this time as principal of the Australasian Missionary College (1922), and as head of the Bible department at Union College (1924-1928). He spent the year 1930 visiting the churches and institutions in Europe. On his return he wrote The Spade and the Bible, and then became head of the Bible department of Emmanuel Missionary College, a post he held until 1934.
Prescott suggested that the investigative judgment
occurred in the spring, and not autumn, in one of his numerous suggested editorial revisions of the 1911 edition of Ellen G. White
's The Great Controversy
. In point 70, he declared,
also arguing it was the original interpretation of William Miller
. This suggestion was rejected.
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
.
Biography
Prescott's parents were part of the MilleriteMillerites
The Millerites were the followers of the teachings of William Miller who, in 1833, first shared publicly his belief in the coming Second Advent of Jesus Christ in roughly the year 1843.-Origins:...
movement.
W. W. Prescott graduated from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1877 and served as principal of high schools in Vermont, and published and edited newspapers in Maine and Vermont prior to accepting the presidency of Battle Creek College (1885 to 1894). While still president of Battle Creek College he helped found Union College
Union College (Nebraska)
Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska is a four-year coeducational college owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Midwest. It opened in 1891.T.R.M...
and became its first president in 1891. Then late in 1892 he assumed the presidency of the newly founded Walla Walla College
Walla Walla University
Walla Walla University is a University offering liberal arts, professional, and technical programs located in College Place, Washington, just a few miles from Walla Walla. The current President is John McVay. It was founded in 1892 and is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.The...
in Washington. Five years later, he helped found Australasian Mission College (now Avondale College
Avondale College
Avondale College of Higher Education is an Australian tertiary education provider affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Avondale College has two campuses, Lake Macquarie being the primary campus situated in Cooranbong, New South Wales...
) in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Because of his reputation as a Biblical scholar he was called upon to make a world tour (1894-1895) to hold Bible institutes and to strengthen developing educational interests. Back in America in 1901, he became vice-president of the General Conference, chairman of the Review and Herald Publishing Association board, and editor of the Review and Herald. On relinquishing this editorship in 1909, he edited the Protestant Magazine for seven years.
He was a field secretary of the General Conference from 1915 until his retirement in 1937, serving during this time as principal of the Australasian Missionary College (1922), and as head of the Bible department at Union College (1924-1928). He spent the year 1930 visiting the churches and institutions in Europe. On his return he wrote The Spade and the Bible, and then became head of the Bible department of Emmanuel Missionary College, a post he held until 1934.
Prescott suggested that the investigative judgment
Investigative judgment
The investigative judgment is a unique Seventh-day Adventist doctrine, which asserts that a divine judgment of professed Christians has been in progress since 1844. It is intimately related to the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and was described by the church's prophet and pioneer...
occurred in the spring, and not autumn, in one of his numerous suggested editorial revisions of the 1911 edition of Ellen G. White
Ellen G. White
Ellen Gould White was a prolific author and an American Christian pioneer. She, along with other Sabbatarian Adventist leaders, such as Joseph Bates and her husband James White, would form what is now known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Ellen White reported to her fellow believers her...
's The Great Controversy
The Great Controversy (book)
The Great Controversy is a book written by Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and held in esteem as a prophet of God among SDA members. It describes the "Great Controversy theme" between Jesus and Satan, as played out over the millennia from its start in heaven,...
. In point 70, he declared,
- "It seems to me abundantly evident from the Scripture and history that the 2300 days commenced in the spring of B.C. 457...",
also arguing it was the original interpretation of William Miller
William Miller (preacher)
William Miller was an American Baptist preacher who is credited with beginning the mid-nineteenth century North American religious movement now known as Adventism. Among his direct spiritual heirs are several major religious denominations, including Seventh-day Adventists and Advent Christians...
. This suggestion was rejected.
Publications
- Christ and the Sabbath (International Religious Liberty Association, 1893)
- The Doctrine of Christ: a series of Bible studies for use in colleges and seminaries (Review & Herald, 1920)
- The Saviour of the World (Review & Herald, 1929)
- The Spade and the Bible: Archaeological Discoveries Confirm the Old Book (Fleming H. Revell, 1933)
- Victory in Christ (Review & Herald, not dated)
External links
- Pioneer biography
- The Prescott letter to W. C. White, April 6, 1915, comments on the circumstances by Arthur WhiteArthur L. WhiteArthur Lacey White was secretary/director of the Ellen G. White Estate from 1937 to 1978. He succeeded his father, William C. White, who was a son of Ellen G. White and had managed his mother's estate since her death in 1915 until his own death in 1937...
, followed by the letter itself - W. W. Prescott and the 1911 edition of The Great Controversy, by Arthur White
- "The Church ‘drifting toward a crisis’: Prescott’s 1915 Letter to William White" by Gilbert Valentine. Catalyst 2:1 (November 2007), 32–94
- Manuscript Collection at Andrews UniversityAndrews UniversityAndrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists, and is the flagship university of the Seventh-day...
, including a brief biography online - Articles by Prescott cataloged in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)