A.G. Daniells: Shaper of Twentieth-Century Aventism

by Benjamin McArthur

A consummate administrator, a man of committees and budgets, A. G. Daniells was also a man of passion. At the turn of the twentieth century, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the nation found themselves entering a new world one requiring multi level, specialized administration. America had become a major player on the world stage and was becoming predominantly urban. New ways of thinking were demanded if Adventism was to fulfill its commission to take an end-time gospel to a rapidly changing world. In 1901, during this crucial moment in the development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Arthur Grosvenor Daniells was elected president of the General Conference, and Adventism desperately needed his gifts of leadership. In the manner of many effective administrators, Daniells possessed quiet, often underappreciated a capacity for work the hard unrelenting labor of chairing endless committees, daily attending to copious amounts of correspondence, traveling across the country and across oceans; the ability to discern danger or opportunity in situations where others might see only confusion; the maturity to let others rail at him without responding in kind; a self-confidence tempered by an awareness of his limitations and need for advice; an unwavering loyalty to Ellen G. White; and above all, a commitment to his vision of an Adventist presence throughout the world. He engineered sweeping structural reforms in 1901 and 1903, and influenced the general shape of the denomination for that century and beyond. Decisions made, precedents set, budgets allocated, personnel appointed, and goals envisioned over the next two decades with Daniells at the helm created the modern Adventist Church. Daniells was undoubtedly one of Seventh-day Adventism s greatest administrators, and McArthur delivers a fascinating biography of this spiritual giant.

Genres: Biography

464 pages, Hardcover

Published February 1, 2016

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man tasked with heading the implementation of a new administrative structure of a growing world-wide church and later to lead that church after the death of its prophet. A.G. Daniells: Shaper of Twentieth Century Adventism by Benjamin McArthur follows the life of the longest-serving General Conference President in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist church which simultaneously corresponded with a rapidly changing world and church in the first two decades of the 20th Century.

McArthur efficiently covers Daniells early life in Iowa and his humble beginning in service of the denomination as a minister in the Iowa Conference and a missionary in Texas before being called to be a missionary in New Zealand. Then beginning with Daniells time in New Zealand and then Australia, McArthur details not only how Daniells time in the Southern Hemisphere made him a strong supporter of world missions but also brought forth his administrative skill as this faraway branch of the growing worldwide church innovated in bureaucracy to compensate for the distance away from world headquarters in the United States. Daniells return to the United States was the precursor to his election at the 1901 General Conference session to be President and the much-needed administrative overhaul of the church using the model Daniells had helped shape while overseas. McArthur’s attention to detail examples how this overhaul not only shaped the overall church, but Daniells presidency which was early dominated with the controversy with John Harvey Kellogg and the medical establishment of the church then the resulting fallout and need to reestablish the medical wing of the denomination. Among the biggest struggles McArthur’s book brought out was the budgetary reform to get the denomination out of debt, which played into the controversy with Kellogg, when building new institutions. But one thing was always in the forefront of McArthur’s analysis of Daniells’ presidency—and before—his relationship to Ellen G. White, whose opinion mattered not only to church officials but regular church members. And it would be his relationship with White and her prophetic gift that would end his presidency due to the rise of fundamentalism that crept into denomination and Daniells perceived lack of belief in her gift. McArthur closes out Daniells life with how he became an advisor to his two successors as well as his authorship of two important Adventist books including defending White’s prophetic gift.

Given the significance of Daniells time as General Conference president, McArthur focused the bulk of his biography on the 21 years he served in that office with extensive scholarship as seen in the citations at the end of each chapter. Though covering many topics over Daniells life, McArthur’s prose was engaging and allowing the reader to understand the interconnectedness of numerous issues Daniells had to deal without overwhelming them. One of the interesting things McArthur did early in the book to give context to Daniells and his time was comparing him important non-denominational figures who had a similar impact in their professions as he did with the General Conference, one of which was Theodore Roosevelt. But the most important facet of the biography was Daniells’ relationship with Ellen White and the gift of prophecy which McArthur’s scholarship is shown at its best.

A.G. Daniells: Shaper of Twentieth Century Adventism is not only the biography of one man but shows how the Seventh-day Adventist church’s administrative structure was reset to accomplish its mission to the world. Benjamin McArthur’s excellent scholarship and engaging writing gives the reader an insight into how significant this time in the church’s history is important for today and how one individual was able to use his skills to help move the denomination forward.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stands as an excellent example of how to integrate denominational history (in this case, the Seventh-day Adventists) into broader national and global history. Daniell's life and presidency of the SDA church spanned a critical time in world/US history from the late Industrial Age through WW1 and the Great Depression. McArthur shows how this talented and flawed leader oversaw many of the elements that would shape the Adventist church through the next 100 years--and demonstrates how these were in many cases the same challenges facing Christians (and other US Americans) at that time. Humorous and easy to read, this is a treat for lay Adventists and scholars of church/US history alike

[Jaclyn Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is 450+ pages in length, it is fast paced & well written. McArthur doesn’t just spew facts & events but places them in Adventist & historical context. Sometimes he draws parallels with things outside Adventist culture which help the reader to scaffold to things generally known & understood. He also gives analysis & briefly lays out the possible interpretations of many issues & events. Daniells comes across as a dedicated & talented administrator who is steady, yet passionate while also very human & willing to learn. He is someone every Adventist should be proud to learn about & to know how he served our denomination.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fair, clear, biography, without an agenda. A model for church history. Recommended reading for anyone interested in SDA church history. A. G. Daniells was president of the SDA General Conference during the early 20th century, a transformational period of the church. He shepherded the church through many notable events. The death of EG White and debates about her inspiration and level influence. The founding of many important institutions including Loma Linda. Significant church growth. Organizational changes, many which still exist today occurred during his tenure and were to great extent his doing. Allows us to see church leaders as more than the one dimensional caricatures we often imagine and to our disservice. See other reviewers for more detail.
Benjamin McArthur was a professor and my advisor during my time at Southern Adventist University. Sadly, now deceased and missed by all who knew him. This being a cursory Goodreads book review, I hope he would understand.