EVIL MEN WAXING WORSE

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 16, 1868

EVIL MEN WAXING WORSE.

The following from the Church Union entitled “Our Dailies,” sets forth some of the alarming evils of our times, and one of the chief causes of these evils; namely: an obscene press. So long as this cause exists, will not these evils grow? And is there any prospect that this cause will cease? Woe to them who act so conspicuous a part in making these last days like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Addressing the editors of these papers, the writer says:—

Beloved sirs, will you allow us a single word from a friend? We drop it kindly, respectfully, earnestly. Many of you we know personally; esteem highly. From some of you we have received special favors, special tokens of courtesy and friendship. Consequently we feel doubly bound to be faithful, to admonish in the spirit of love. “He that rebuketh a man, afterward shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue.” “Reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.”

Friends, we are grieved, deeply grieved, at your course; your office is high, important, momentous! It is in your power to wield an influence immense for public good. The issues of life or of death are in your hands.

Were these leaves of yours, scattered broadcast over the face of the whole earth as they are, leaves for the healing of the nations, leaves of mercy and truth, the earth would soon blossom as the rose—angels would tune afresh their harps, “Glory to God in the highest; peace on earth, and good will to men.” Your daily issues flood the earth—the very atmosphere swarms with them, like the flies and locusts of Egypt. Enter the workshop, the store, the tavern, the hotel, the coffee-house the grog-shop, the bakery, the bank, the clerk’s office, the barber’s sanctum, what do you see? A daily? heaps on heaps! Enter the dwelling-house, the shanty, the parlor, the kitchen, the outhouse, the stable. Go up-stairs, down-stairs, where you will—all about—in all the cities and villages throughout the land. What do you see?

Parents, children, and youth, of all ages and classes, male and female, have free access to these daily issues. They are the literature—the food of the day. They are seized with avidity, hot from the press, grasped eagerly; devoured, swallowed, masticated hastily and greedily, wholesome or unwholesome, poisonous or otherwise!

Sirs, beloved, your responsibility is tremendously fearful! Are you not accountable for every particle of influence you put forth, for weal or woe? Will not the Judgment-day reveal it? “He that is not for me,” says the adorable Saviour, “is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Instead of diffusing light and life, are not many of you sowing the seeds of misery and ruin, scattering widely firebrands, arrows and death?

Now, sirs, the grave question is, What do these dailies of yours (into which our nation is moulded) contain? Some things good, valuable, things civil, commercial, political, moral, and religious, things necessary to the well-being of the body politic. What more? The theater and amphitheater, the circus and the obscene statues are advertised and puffed, in colors most glowing and sparkling! Then the rum-puffs, tobacco-puffs, the varied exhibition puffs, down, even to the Witch of Endor! The fakir of Siva, the puffs of soirees, “vanity fairs,” scenes of mirth, gayety, folly, and fashion. Political strifes, debates, and party politics, are next upon the carpet; the heart-sickening, disgusting novel and love ditties—the soul-polluting and soul-destroying romance, the obscene jest, the infidel sneer! A novel, circus or theatrical puff, horse-racing or prize-fighting, is often side by side, with a religious notice or aphorism! What a curse! Why are not the hottest thunderbolts of God Almighty’s wrath hurled instantly! This a Christian nation! Need we wonder that God’s wrath begins, even now, to burn? “Are these thy gods, O Israel?” And can it be that the contents of these dailies is the food for our rising age, the growing, expanding intellect? Will not this seed spring up in due time, thrive and yield a plentiful harvest? Do we not see it even now? Are not our cities and villages waxing worse and worse daily, weekly, monthly, yearly? Intemperance rolls in like a flood! Blasphemies belch from lips unholy and profane. Sabbath-breaking is becoming more and more daring and frequent. Theaters, circuses, obscene paintings, statues and exhibitions, increase as the seasons roll on! Novels, romances, light, licentious and infidel readings, are taking the lead of the pure, the substantial, the holy. Our children and youth are becoming more and more rude, vain, volatile, foolish and frivolous; more and more idle, dissipated, obstinate, self-willed, impudent, vulgar, and profane; more and more hardened in sin and every species of daring and outbreaking iniquity! Whence cometh these, and yet more? need we a prophet’s vision to foresee? Come they not hence, chiefly, from this daily food? Still the wheels of death and damnation roll on, on! Can it possibly be that religious editors are pushing these cars of Satan—shaking hands with Beelzebub, even the prince of devils?

Only a few weeks since we saw in a weekly paper a puff of one of those trashy, infidel dailies, by an editor who professes to minister in holy things! Is not this partaking of other men’s sins, or sinning by proxy with a vengeance!

The scum of the pit bubbles up and bubbles up, overflowingly. Parent, will you continue to suffer your rising charge to sip at these accursed fountains of pollution? By-and-by you rue the day—drop the scalding tear!

“God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.” Eccl. xii, 14.

“For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.” Prov. xxiv, 2.