Secret Societies by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jul 31, 1879

Secret Societies

By Editor

WE are requested to give our opinion of secret societies, because some of our brethren are uniting with them. We think if those who unite with them would give the true reason for their doing so, it would be our sufficient answer. If they will examine their motives, and do not find them founded in selfishness we shall be greatly surprised. We cannot imagine any good reason why a Seventh-day Adventist should unite with them. And we have one reason to offer why no Christian should unite with them. It is this:—

They captivate the senses by their show, and are seductive in their influence, so that in time a relation to the church is not valued so highly as a relation to these societies. We do not guess at this. We have watched the progress of this work in too many cases. If the claims of the church and the society come in conflict, that of the society is honored, and that of the church is disregarded. This is true to such an extent that we always consider a person's loyalty to the cause of his religion somewhat lessened the moment he joins a secret society. If any one thinks we are mistaken in this he will only prove, to us, that his observation has not been as extensive and close as ours.

We are aware that some will think we are trespassing on forbidden ground to speak our mind so freely on this subject. But in this they will prepare the way for another objection, namely:—

Secret societies do not consider that any body has a right to investigate their claims or call them in question. We disagree with them. We are not ultraists. With us nothing is too sacred to be investigated. We have often been astonished at the presumption of those who freely canvass, and express their opinions of, the claims of the Christian religion, and who will resent it as a personal injury if you call in question the claims of their favorite secret society. We cannot see any reason or justice in this. We distrust the influence of any association which thus affects the minds of its members. And we deeply regret that any of our brethren are entangling themselves with such alliances.

If our views of "the present truth" are correct; if we are in the last days, and if "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh;" if the word of God commands us to withdraw ourselves from worldly associations which are calculated to distract our minds and divert our affections from the Saviour and his cause, then all alliances with such associations must be unwise and imprudent. A lack of faith in God, in his promises of care and protection, is too often at the bottom of such associations.