Leroy Froom
“I think that new light will confirm the essentials of the past, though that does not mean that all of the details must be retained as our founders laid them down.” Letter from Leroy Froom to Herbert Camden Lacey, April 13, 1925
May I here make a frank personal confession? When, back between 1926 and 1928, I was asked by our leaders to give a series of studies on the Holy Spirit, covering the North American union ministerial institutes of 1928, I found that, aside from priceless leads found in the Spirit of Prophecy, there was practically nothing in our literature setting forth a sound Biblical exposition in this tremendous field of study. There were no previous pathfinding books on the question in our literature. I was compelled to search out a score of valuable books written by men outside of our faith—those previously noted—for initial clues and suggestions, and to open up beckoning vistas to intensive personal study. Having these, I went on from there. Movement of Destiny by LeRoy Froom, p. 322
“..the concept that Protestantism as well as Roman Catholicism constituted Babylon was formulated into a careful theology and the cry arose, “Babylon is fallen. Come out of her, my people.” [Revelation 18:2,4] Charles Fitch’s sermon, Come Out of Her, My People, set the pace. (FSDA 79.4)
“May I state that my book, The Coming of the Comforter was the result of a series of studies that I gave in 1927-28, to ministerial institutes throughout North America. You cannot imagine how I was pummeled by some of the old timers because I pressed on the personality of the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Godhead. Some men denied that –still deny it. But the book has come to be generally accepted as standard.” – Letter of LeRoy Froom to Otto H. Christensen, Oct 27, 1960
January 8, 1928
Dear Brother Froom,
Yesterday’s mail brought me your letter of January 3. In it you present some queries calling for a reply from me. {Appendix C, 3SM 451.1}
You refer to a memory of a conversation with me in which you think I remarked that Mother said with reference to some of her writings,
“My work is to prepare; your work is to shape it up.” {Appendix C, 3SM 451.2}
You seem to think that if there was such a statement as referred to in your letter, it would be a benefit to some of our brethren. I cannot comprehend how it would benefit them. Possibly you can make it plain to me. {Appendix C, 3SM 452.2}
She had many times direct instruction from the angel of the Lord regarding what should be omitted and what should be added in new editions… {Appendix C, 3SM 452.5}
1931 STATEMENT OF FAITH
That the Godhead, or Trinity, consists of the Eternal Father, a personal, spiritual Being, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, infinite in wisdom and love; the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, through whom all things were created and through whom the salvation of the redeemed hosts will be accomplished; the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, the great regenerating power in the work of redemption. Matt. 28:19.
For many years my father was a leading minister in the Iowa Conference. In 1884 I began my work as a minister in that conference. My father was Elder Washburn. Then upon my ordination I became Elder Washburn also. But we were TWO PERSONS NOT “ONE PERSON.” Now would it be fair or true to say that in writing up a history of the Iowa Conference every mention of Elder Washburn applied to myself? Emphatically NO!!! It would be utterly false, as is the statement that every time in the Bible where the word “Jehovah” or “Lord” appeared it meant Jesus and that Jesus and the father were “ONE PERSON.” Several thousand times it applies to the Father and not to the Son. J. S .Washburn, 1939 (http://www.trinitytruth.org/jswashburntrinityletter.html)
William R. French
“I never write anything out. I don’t want the devil to know what I’m thinking.” In the early 1940’s the topic of the trinity was hotly debated, it is reported… And Elder French was positive on that “Christ did have a beginning …” (https://theprophetstillspeaks.co.uk/dethis/zvDHS48.htm)
Benjamin G. Wilkinson
“An erroneous charge was circulated that all who were called Arians believed that Christ was a created being. ” — (Benjamin G. Wilkinson, Truth Triumphant, p. 92)
“Whether the teachings of Arius were such as are usually represented to us or not, who can say? Phillipus Limborch doubts that Arius himself ever held that Christ was created instead of being begotten [Footnote: Limborch, The History of the Inquisition, p. 95].” — (Benjamin G. Wilkinson, Truth Triumphant, p. 142)
On the 14 December 1955, Le Roy Froom in a letter to Reuben Figuhr wrote, “I was publicly denounced in the chapel at the Washington Missionary College by Dr. B. G. Wilkinson as the most dangerous man in this denomination.” This incident took place in the 1940’s
Charles S. Longacre
Christ did not in His own right possess equality with the Father until God gave it to Him. He was “made equal with the Father” by the Father. That is exactly what Christ Himself said concerning His relationship to the Father. He said: “As the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself.” John 5:26. THE DEITY OF CHRIST by C. S. Longacre Presented to the Bible Research Fellowship Angwin, California January 1947.
While men like Washburn, French, Longacre and Wilkinson defended the One True God, Pioneer position. Men like Leroy Froom, Roy Allen Anderson, Walter E. Read, D.E. Rebok, Branson and others were working to bring in the trinity…https://theprophetstillspeaks.co.uk/Articles(pioneers)/DeityofChrist(Longacre).htm
Leroy Froom
“The removal of the last standing vestige of Arianism in our standard literature was accomplished through the deletions from the classic Daniel and the Revelation in 1944. And the lingering “sinful- nature-of-Christ” misconception was remedied by expunging the regrettable note in the revised Bible Readings of 1949” – Movement of Destiny by LeRoy Froom, p. 465
E.G. White
I have seen that Satan would have been greatly pleased to see Elders Prescott and Daniells undertake the work of a general overhauling of our books that have done a good work in the field for years. {Lt70-1910.2}
The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. {1SM 204.2}
Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. {1SM 204.2}
Audio download link (mp3): https://phm.org/froomism-nick-ionashku/