Do not Read Them | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 18, 1871

Do not Read Them.

It is a subject for serious thought, if not anxiety, that the papers which furnish full details of crimes, and the lives and sayings of notorious criminals, with illustrations of both themselves and their deeds, are eagerly sought after, and attain to immense circulations. It is also observable that a large portion of the news telegraphed to the daily press, is composed of the records of crime and its adjuncts, such as gaming, by billiards, base-ball, cock-fighting, and other such “sports” so called. Reports of murder and divorce trials, also, prove to be popular literature; for the demand regulates the supply, and the supply is enormous.

Now our advice to one and all is, to insist that reading resolutely pass over all such matter. The headings convey all the information you need concerning such things, and the perusal of the details is essentially demoralizing. You cannot touch pitch without becoming defiled; you cannot fill the mind with such prurient details as appear to have made up the testimony in a late murder trial in California, without soiling the heart and imagination. How easily such things are fastened upon the mind, and return to plague us in vain and wandering thoughts; while we have to study, if we would have what is good

and moral and religious at equally ready command. Even should the perusal of the story of iniquity not affect the foundation, it must necessarily sully or roil the stream. Therefore we say, Do not read them. Pass over the detailed reports of murder, divorce, and other criminal trials; of executions, of crimes, suicides, flashy and sentimental stories, races, fights, billiard-playing, base-ball matches, and discourage the reading of them by others with all your influence.

You cannot afford to read them. You ought to spend your time to better advantage, to say nothing of the moral or rather immoral influence exerted upon you. Do not plead, “Reading such things does not hurt me!” If you love to read them, you may be sure your heart is not right. The pure heart loves pure things. If you find anything in the records of vice and crime that affords a pleasurable mental excitement, you may be sure your heart needs cleansing. You need not be ignorant of what is going on in the world; but, generally speaking, the simple announcement of a crime and a clear statement of the facts in the case are all that should or need be made public. Let the sickening, polluting details be confined to the walls of those whose sad duty requires them to take cognizance of such things; or if published, let not the Christian make his brain a slop-pail for such corruption, but rather occupy the mind with whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report; and “if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.” “And the peace of God, that passeth understanding, shall keep your minds through Christ Jesus.” —Advent Christian Times.