Faith On The Line - Stress, Stress Go Away Vol 19 | Page 18

Selected Messages Book 2
Chapter

13

Should Christians be Members
of Secret Societies?
by Ellen White

Introduction
Early in her sojourn in Australia (1891-1900), Ellen White
was called upon to give counsel to a prominent worker in our
publishing house who had become deeply involved in the
activities of the masonic lodge. The counsel she presented to
this brother led him to sever his connections with the lodge
in spite of the fact that he had attained the highest degree of
honor in the organization.
Without condemning, Mrs. White pointed out that the
Christian cannot serve two masters, or render allegiance to
two authorities. Our brother, who had become so involved in
lodge activities that his work for the church had been sadly
neglected, recognized the simple truth in the Ellen G. White
counsels, and his confidence in the message was confirmed as
Mrs. White--unbeknown to herself--gave the secret sign used
only by members of the lodge. He promptly surrendered his
membership in the lodge, although he had stoutly affirmed on
a number of occasions that nothing would shake his confidence in the fraternal organization or lead him to break with
it. Looking back to this experience in later years, he testified
that the Spirit of Prophecy message completely changed his life.

BIBLE

Trivia

1

CORNER

At this time and in this connection, Mrs. White wrote quite
fully concerning the relationship of Seventh-day Adventists to
such organizations. This was published under the title, “Should
Christians be Members of Secret Societies?” In pamphlet form,
it had wide circulation in Australia and in the United States,
but it has long been out of print. This pamphlet is reprinted
here in its entirety.

Who said “Almost thou
persuadest me to be a Christian”?

For correct answer search pages for this icon:

18

a1

The second chapter is composed of counsels from the pen of
Mrs. White relating to the attitude that Seventh-day Adventists should take toward labor organizations. This material was
published in 1946 as section ii in the pamphlet, Country Living. It appears here in this permanent form for continued and
prayerful study.--White Trustees.
[REPRINTED FROM A PAMPHLET BY THIS TITLE PUBLISHED IN 1893.]
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for
what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and
what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord
hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth
with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God
with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath
said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their
God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from
among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father
unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
The Lord’s injunction, “Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6:14), refers not only to the marriage
of Christians with the ungodly, but to all alliances in which
the parties are brought into intimate association, and in which
there is need of harmony in spirit and action. The Lord gave
special direction to Israel to keep themselves distinct from
idolaters. They were not to intermarry with the heathen nor
form any confederacy with them: “Take heed to thyself, lest
thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither
thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: but ye
shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down
their groves: for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord,
whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Ex. 34:12-14).
“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord
thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself,
above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord
did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were
more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all
people: but because the Lord loved you, and because he would
keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers. . . . Know
therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God,