GEO. O. STATES by GEO. O. STATES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 10, 1910

GEO. O. STATES

By GEO. O. STATES

My Lodge Experience—No. 3

GEO. O. STATES

It has been my observation for many years that when Seventh-day Adventists begin to backslide from the truth, they almost invariably join some lodge. I have known men, earnest church workers, some of them elders, who joined some lodge, and in a short time their interest in the lodge took them entirely out of the truth.

I have presented evidence to show the lodge unscriptural and unchristian. I now come to a very important phase of this question. The lodge is directly opposed to the teachings of the spirit of prophecy. On page 84, Vol. VII, “Testimonies for the Church,” we are instructed as follows:— “We are now to use all our entrusted capabilities in giving the last warning message to the world. In this work we are to preserve our individuality. We are not to unite with secret societies or with trades-unions. We are to stand free in God, looking constantly to Christ for instruction. All our movements are to be made with a realization of the importance of the work to be accomplished for God.”

This counsel was given a number of years ago, and had it been heeded by our ministers and people, there would not be a member in our churches bound up in lodges or unions. In visiting our churches I have found a great lack of unity on this question. I find many who, while believing that lodges are not right, still think we should take lodge members into our churches and instruct them later, and let them drop the lodge when they see the wrong. What has brought about this lack of unity? Our ministers who raised up churches have failed to present the whole truth. The Lord told us years ago: “We are not to unite with secret societies or with trades-unions.” Then our ministers, in taking lodge members into the churches, are unfaithful stewards. No doubt in the future we shall see more and more to draw away from the truth, and our only safety is in heeding the counsel God is sending this people.

In the early days of this message our ministers were united, and preached the message with a power that took every man and woman who accepted it out of the lodge. There are many excellent men connected with the various lodges, men in every community whom we must respect as noble citizens and generous-hearted neighbors. These have doubtless been actuated by worthy motives in uniting with these different orders. But though good men may belong to lodges, that does not make right the system. The principle of all secret societies is wrong. It is the principle against which I speak and not against individuals.

In my long years in the ministry I have been told: “Elder States, if you belonged to the lodge, you would have more influence over others.” Let me tell you something perhaps you never gave much thought to: this country is filled with men and women, honest souls, who have left the lodges because they could not consistently remain; and what influence could a Seventh-day Adventist have, who, while he wears one or more lodge pins, goes out preaching, “Come out of her, my people”?

In the past our ministers preached the spirit of prophecy, and its teachings united this people; but the failure to preach this important gift has brought about sad changes. “In these societies what are the favorite subjects of conversation? what are the themes that excite interest and give pleasure? Are they not the gratification of the senses—eating and drinking and pleasure seeking?

The presence of Christ is unknown in these gatherings. No reference is made to him.”—Mrs. E. G. White's tract, “Should Christians Be Members of Secret Societies?” pages 8, 9.

It is impossible to be interested in the third angel's message and in the lodge at the same time; and when we try to, our influence leads others from the truth.

“Those who fear God can not choose the ungodly for companions, and be themselves unharmed. In these societies they are brought under the influence of worldly principles and customs, and through the power of association and habit the mind becomes more and more conformed to the worldling's standard. Their love for God grows cold, and they have no desire for communion with him.”—Id., page 12.

“We should be firmly rooted in the conviction that whatever in any sense turns us aside from truth and justice in our association and partnership with men, can not benefit us, and greatly dishonors God. Every species of deceit or conniving at sin is abhorrent to him. Fraud runs all through these secret associations, and none can be bound up with them and be free men before God and heaven.”—Id., pages 14, 15. From my own experience I know these statements are true.

With the exception of a few of the more courageous churches, secret societies have stopped the mouths of Christians. I have known of ministers who, on investigating the lodge question, have decided it was their duty to warn their members of its dangers. Because of doing so, they were cast out of their charge—all through lodge influence.

Of my brethren in the lodge, I wish to ask, Did you ever participate in the initiation of members without feeling, in your solemn reflections, that it was not in keeping with the truth for this time?

I believe every minister among us should become informed on the lodge question.

The lodges claim to fit men for a future life. “When we came and were initiated, we were born again. The veil that held divine truth from our eyes was drawn away, and now we can see divine truth, we can divide our time as we ought to do, and give one third to God and one third to business and one third to sleep. Our hearts are not exactly right, but we learn to cleanse them ourselves, and now, when we come to die, we lie down in the hope that we will wake in the regions of the Holy One.”

This is a fair sample of what the members of the various lodges believe—no mention of repentance of sin or of confession of sin; no mention of Christ or of drawings of the Holy Spirit. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Ps. 1:1.

Cedaredge, Colo.