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Messages to Young People
entertainments are introduced to make the meetings interesting and
attractive for worldlings, and thus the exercises of the so-called literary
society too often degenerate into demoralizing theatrical performances
and cheap nonsense. All these gratify the carnal mind, which is at
enmity with God; but they do not strengthen the intellect nor confirm
the morals.
The association of the God-fearing with the unbelieving in these
societies does not make saints of sinners. When God’s people vol-
untarily unite with the worldly and the unconsecrated, and give them
the pre-eminence, they will be led away from Him by the unsanctified
influence under which they have placed themselves. For a short time
there may be nothing seriously objectionable, but minds that have
not been brought under the control of the Spirit of God will not take
readily to those things which savor of truth and righteousness. If they
had had heretofore any relish for spiritual things, they would have
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placed themselves in the ranks of Jesus Christ. The two classes are
controlled by different masters, and are opposites in their purposes,
hopes, tastes, and desires. The followers of Jesus enjoy sober, sensible,
ennobling themes, while those who have no love for sacred things
cannot take pleasure in these gatherings, unless the superficial and
unreal constitutes a prominent feature of the exercises. Little by little
the spiritual element is ruled out by the irreligious, and the effort to
harmonize principles which are antagonistic in their nature proves a
decided failure.
Efforts have been made to devise a plan for the establishment of a
literary society which shall prove a benefit to all connected with it,—a
society in which all the members shall feel a moral responsibility to
make it what it should be, and to avoid the evils which often make such
associations dangerous to religious principles. Persons of discretion
and good judgment, who have a living connection with heaven, who
will see the evil tendencies, and, not deceived by Satan, will move
straight forward in the path of integrity, continually holding aloft the
banner of Christ—such ones are needed to control in these societies.
Such an influence will command respect, and make these gatherings a
blessing rather than a curse.
If men and women of mature age would unite with the youth to
organize and conduct such a literary society, it might become both
useful and interesting. But when such gatherings degenerate into