BEWARE OF IMPOSTORS by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 28, 1901

BEWARE OF IMPOSTORS.

By Editor

THE apostle Paul threw out the caution to “beware of dogs.” We may vary it a little, and say, “Beware of impostors.” It is a pitiable thing that men will trump up a plea, generally on religious grounds, to flesh out of our brethren and sisters means, merely to secure a living for themselves by fraud and imposture. Read the following from Elder C. H. Bliss, of Lovington, Ill., which we have just received from him:—

Some of our brethren are being imposed upon and wronged. There has been a traveling man in this State selling pencils. Being blind, and a good singer and also preacher, he is received by our brethren, and has been encouraged to preach, and has obtained money from them. When asked if he belongs to any of our churches, he replies in the negative, but makes some plausible excuse, and so is received. The last I knew of him he was living with a woman of questionable character, and both were claiming to be Seventh-day Adventists. I do not think them worthy of our help.

There is another, a lame man, going the rounds of our churches. He generally reports that his horse and buggy have been stolen, that they are out of town a few miles, and that there are five or ten dollars charges on the rig; and he wants to borrow that amount to redeem it. Some of our poor brethren have loaned him ten dollars or more, but what they loan him is never returned, as they never hear from him again.

Some claiming to be Adventists and generally pretending they are from Battle Creek, are traveling with patent rights or some article to sell. They will tell our brethren that they would like to board with them a few days. The brethren take them in, and they often leave without even thanking them for their kindness. Many of our brethren are poor, and work hard to support their families, and it is wrong that they be so imposed upon. C. H. Bliss.

We would suggest to our brethren that they insist on credentials, or some good proof of identity, from these persons, and take no excuse for the absence of such proofs, and that in such cases they extend them no favors of this kind. There is no excuse for brethren in good standing with our people to be out without means of proving their identity.—Ed.