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encouragement given men to improve their ability with the purpose of
becoming ministers of Christ. Satan is constantly and perseveringly
presenting financial gain and worldly advantages to engage the minds
and powers of men, and keep them from doing the duties essential to
give them an experience in the things of God. And when he sees that
men will move forward, giving themselves to the work of teaching the
truth to those who are in darkness, he will do his utmost to push them
to extremes in something that will weaken their influence and cause
them to lose the advantage they would gain were they balanced by the
Spirit of God.
I was shown that our ministers were doing themselves great injury
by carelessness in the use of their vocal organs. Their attention was
called to this important matter, and cautions and instructions were
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given them by the Spirit of God. It was their duty to learn the wisest
manner of using these organs. The voice, this gift of heaven, is a
powerful faculty for good, and if not perverted, would glorify God. All
that was essential was to study and conscientiously follow a few simple
rules. But instead of educating themselves, as they might have done
by the exercise of a little common sense, they employed a professor of
elocution.
As a result, many who were feeling that God had a work for them
to do in teaching the truth to others, have become infatuated and crazed
with elocution. All that certain ones needed was to have this temptation
presented before them. Their interest was attracted by the novelty, and
young men and some ministers were carried away with this excitement.
They left their fields of labor—everything in the vineyard of the Lord
was neglected—and paid their money and gave their precious time to
attend a school of elocution. When they came from this drill, devotion
and religion had parted company with them, and the burden of souls
was laid off, as they would lay aside a garment. They had accepted
Satan’s suggestions, and he had led them where he chose.
Some set themselves up as teachers of elocution, who had neither
discretion nor ability, and they made themselves disgusting to the
public, for they did not properly use what knowledge they had gained.
Their performances were void of dignity or good sense; and these
exploits on their part have closed the door, so far as they are known, to
any influence that they may have in future as men to carry the message
of truth to the world. This was Satan’s device. It was well to make