Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 19, 1867

Secret Societies.—Move for a National Convention.—

Report Adopted by the Free Methodist Annual Conference.

Regretting the increasing influence of secret societies, and the unjustifiable complicity of ministers of the gospel with the same; and believing our position as a church to be in strict accordance with the Word of God and its application to such unhallowed alliances, viz.: “Come out from among them,” &c., also consistent with the genius of our republican institutions, therefore, as a Conference, we are settled in the sustaining our disciplinary provisions thereon. And, furthermore, believing secret society influence to be a subtle and insidious foe to spirituality by its substitution of a Christless religion, a system of semi-Biblical rites, and a specious charity for the regenerating power of the Gospel, we will, in all proper ways, and by all proper means, oppose its blasphemous pretensions, its arrogant assumptions and its silent influence. And while we look with pity upon those ministers of the visible Church, and ministers of the gospel who affiliate with the same, we regard with righteous indignation, particularly those who actively urge its pretended merits, and defend its influence and tendencies. And though as a Conference we do not think it wise to adopt any organized movement with special reference to this iniquity, still we think that concerted action of the various churches of Christ, in opposition to this evil, is very desirable; and understanding that such concerted action is to be inaugurated by a Convention of Christians, of various denominations, in the city of Aurora, Ill., on the third Wednesday of October, 1867, with the purpose of securing a national Convention of Christians who are opposed to this evil, therefore, as a Conference we give our warmest sympathy to and recommend our people to active co-operation with the same.

Done in annual Conference at Elgin, Ill., Sept. 20, 1867.

Signed by six members of the Conference as committee.