An Important Text by G. W. A.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1877

An Important Text.

By G. W. A.

During the past few years the question of secret societies has been frequently discussed and ably refuted in the columns of the REVIEW. Particularly have the pernicious tendencies of Masonry and Grangerism been shown up from a Bible stand-point. But in all that has been written I do not remember to have seen used one particular passage, which, to my mind, has an important bearing on this subject; and which as by one judicial sentence pronounces an eternal ban against all secret societies. It is the words of our Saviour in John 18: 20, “In secret have I said nothing.” The whole verse reads, “Jesus answered him [Caiaphas], I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and IN SECRET HAVE I SAID NOTHING,”

This, to the writer, is conclusive on the subject of secret societies. G. W. A.