Influence of the Lodge by Geo. O. States

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · May 23, 1912

Influence of the Lodge

By Geo. O. States

THE other evening when I received the Signs and read it, I felt my heart stir within me, and 'said, "Surely this is God's message for gathering out a people to stand when 'there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was.'"'

I thought of many things. I thought of Christian people who are still holding onto the lodge. I thought of the money that is being paid to support these worldly institutions, in the form of dues. I thought of the worldly influence of these lodges, which is no help in living the Christ life. And then I thought of the influence my lodge had over me, and how I was driven to the place where I must lose interest in the truth or lose interest in the lodge, and how I finally decided to devote my all to the advancement of God's message in the world. I thought of all these things, and realized the strength I had gained in taking my stand for God.

A number of years ago I felt that the Lord had laid on me the work of warning our people of this danger. I wrote out my experience and laid it before our leading laborers, and was encouraged to prepare a series of articles for our church paper. This I did. Later this matter was rewritten and published in a little booklet of sixty-four pages, which sold for fifteen cents.

I feel that this book contains counsel which all Seventh-day Adventists should have, and which they should place before their neighbors. I now ask that the local elders of our churches lay the matter before their members, and find how many will take one or more copies at ten cents each. I have over three hundred dollars' worth of these booklets; and I have decided, after paying the few dollars due the publishers, to donate the proceeds to advancing this truth in the needy foreign fields. Send all orders direct to Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn.

This booklet has not been written to abuse lodges, but to point out the danger in these associations.

GEO. O. STATES.