SATAN’S BOND OF UNION by Julia H. Duffie

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 2, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 14.

SATAN’S BOND OF UNION.

By Julia H. Duffie

BY JULIA H. DUFFIE.

IT is not only in good causes where it has been proved that in “union there is strength;” the agencies of evil have been quite as quick to avail themselves of the advantages of this fact. It was chiefly on this principle that the huge system of iniquity, the Papacy, was founded. On this foundation also rest the main pillars of most large secret societies.

The terms upon which these wrong unions are based, framed in simple words, are something like this: “If you will work for my interest, I will work for yours; if you will support me, right or wrong, I will do the same by you. If you will strike those whom I dislike, I also will strike those whom you dislike.”

In the written regulations of some societies this condition is plainly stated, and the members bind themselves to defend a brother in any case, no matter how guilty he may be. The sentiment is also quite as fully carried out many times when the terms may not be as distinctly cited, and often among private individuals as well as in organized societies.

This principle is one of Satan’s strongest, and appeals directly to the dominant element in the average natural heart, namely—selfishness. Self-interest is the motive power. In order to gain the benefits to be derived from such a union, the members are willing to assist their allies in like manner, and in support of this compact the fangs and teeth of the wolf often flourish under the sheep’s clothing, while the noblest of principles are prostituted, and made to appear to uphold these evil dogmas.

No doubt many are led into these relations who aim to be honest and honorable, yet who are so gradually drawn into the net that they do not perceive the wrong theories involved until they consider it too late to retrace their steps. One evidence of the existence of this sentiment is the manifestation of the effort to intimidate the constituents, and thus prevent their breaking such a compact, or failing to carry out all its requirements.

A good system never seeks to hold its members by intimidation. But in these unrighteous alliances this is one of the strongest arguments employed. This was Rome's most powerful weapon in the days of the Inquisition, and still continues to be one of her main supports.

In the government of the class of secret societies referred to, this wrong principle is also one of the chief bands by which they are held together. The members are afraid to sever their allegiance to the unions because of the persecution and annoyance to which they would be subjected in consequence; for they are sometimes sworn to harass, perplex, and injure those who desert them, in every manner which presents itself, especially if such an one should in any way expose the evils into which he had been unwittingly drawn; while for those whose professions will not permit such measures, the same principle is carried out by various methods, even down to the despicable one of "calling names," and seeking to undermine reputation.

The advocates of these evil unions usually place great stress upon loyalty, etc., when the real thing to which they are loyal is their own selfish interest, and to these agencies simply as a means to that end. All honor to those who, rather than uphold such institutions, will not shrink from being called and treated as disloyalists or even (falsely) traitors.

I have known of families who, while they were under the parental roof, where their interests collided, were so quarrelsome as to almost endanger each other's lives, who upon separating and going out into the world, virtually entered into a compact of self-interest, thus aiding each other in the accomplishment of evil purposes, helping to conceal and misrepresent the true character of each, purely from evil, selfish motives.

It is to be regretted that Christian societies, calling themselves Protestant, should ever descend to the level of these tenets, yet when ministers will say to their congregations, "Never mind about your moral character or your personal Christian experience, only stand by your church [meaning sect and creed], and the Lord will take care of your salvation," it is to be feared that such teachers are leading their flocks otherwise than in the strait and narrow way pointed out by Him who said, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom," and, "Ye must be born again."

The Pharisees were great sticklers for sect; they "stood by their church" every time, in this very sense. What better invitation could the "unclean and hateful birds" have to enter the "cage," or abide therein, than such sentiments as these uttered by professed Christian ministers, especially if their hearts could be made to believe that God would accept them under such conditions? The more apparently good moral instruction is mingled with such teachings as these, the more dangerous the mass becomes.

What unprincipled person would not be willing to make free use of party or sectarian "shop talk," and keep up the outward appearance of respectability, for the aid of this sort of fellowship?

Just as far as any society, religious or otherwise, rests upon such principles as these, just as far will it be among the lofty works of man, which shall be brought low in that day when the "Lord alone shall be exalted." Isaiah 2.

Let us, then, seek to work into our building only the pure metal of Gospel truth, that when the "hay, wood, and stubble" of men's or Satan's inventions shall be consumed by the fires of that day, we may not suffer loss by that great consummation.