In 1 Thess. 5:22, we are exhorted to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” My attention is called to this passage by certain expressions in the reports of a number of our ministers, such as the following: “Many of the best people in town attend our lectures;” “our audiences are largely composed of the wealthiest families in the community.” If such expressions were left out altogether, I do not see that the cause of present truth would suffer by it; whereas in using them they convey to the minds of many readers the impression that we value wealth and intelligence because they give us popularity with the world; and I fear that in some cases this is more than half true. I understand that, other things being equal, the more intelligence, wealth, or education a convert to the truth may possess, the more is gained for the truth, simply because all these qualities, when properly used, help to extend the message. But when we court the wealthy and intelligent in order to gain popularity, we add sand to the cargo which will only help sink the ship. May the Lord deliver us from committing the fatal blunder that has proved the ruin of nearly all Christendom. *