At a council meeting at Avondale School, about the year 1893, there were present Elders Haskell, F.L.H. Baker, G.B. Starr, and their wives, and Sister E.G. White, also W.A. Colcord, who was the editor of the Austrailian Signs of the Times.

           Elder Colcord requested the privilege of reading some articles regarding the personality of Melchisedec. We all listened as he read and were surprised that Sister White listened also, with seeming interest, as she was not accustomed to listening to any argumentive writings.

       As Elder Colcord was reading, Sister White interrupted him, saying: "Elder Colcord, I would not publish these articles, if I were you." "Why not?" He inquired. "Because they are not correct." She answered.

He then asked, "Who then was Melchisedec?"

She replied, "I will tell you who Melchisedec was. He was the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, who took the form of humanity and represented the Lord Jesus Christ to that generation."

That ended the council on that subject. Elder Colcord offered no argument to refute her position, and we all seemed perfectly satisfied with the statement; in fact, I had never heard an explanation that was satisfactory before.

After the meeting, Elder S.N. Haskell said to me, "Elder Starr, when the Spirit of Prophecy speaks so plainly as that about a matter, it can be proved by the Bible, so let's look it up."

We found that description of Melchisedec in Hebrews 7:3 was fully met by the Holy Spirit. "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a high priest continually."

We found that in Hebrews 9:14 that statement, "The Eternal Spirit." That would meet, also, "Without beginning of days, nor end of life."

           Then in Romans 8:26, "likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (By man). Thus - These statements make the Holy Spirit a high priest forever. Every specification was met by the Holy Spirit, A HIGH PRIEST FOREVER, but cannot be met by any angel or human being.

              Elder Haskell published this matter as reported above in his paper at South Lancaster, Mass. Thus we have TWO witnesses of the truthfulness of Sister White's statement regarding (the person) Melchisedec.
                                                          Signed - G.B. Starr

"...A morning talk, given at Battle Creek by Mrs. E.G. White, Jan. 20, 1890, printed in the R & H of 2-18-1890, contains the following statement: 'It was Christ that spoke through Melchisedec, the priest of the Most High God. Melchisedec was not Christ, but the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father.' John 14:17,26 and 16:13-15, tell us who represents the Father in the earth. At the baptism of Christ the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove; on the day of Pentecost, as Cloven tongues of fire. It is not unreasonable (therefore) to conclude that the SAME SPIRIT could appear to Abraham in the person of the King of Salem. ("Priest of the most High God.")