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Colporteur Ministry
worthless books, which are as hay, wood, and stubble. These books
are written by those whose minds have been educated to run in a
channel of romance. Everything that the imaginative mind can think
of is woven into the book, and presented to the world as mental food.
But very often it has no food value. “What is the chaff to the wheat?”
We do not need novels; for we are dealing with the stern realities of
life.—
Counsels to Writers and Editors, 147
(1899).
Avoid Frivolous and Exciting Literature—The world is deluged
with books that might better be consumed rather than circulated. Books
upon Indian warfare and similar topics, published and circulated as a
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money-making scheme, might better never be read. There is a satanic
fascination in these books. The heart-sickening relation of crimes and
atrocities has a bewitching power upon many youth, exciting in them
the desire to bring themselves into notice, even by the most wicked
deeds. There are many works more strictly historical whose influence
is little better. The enormities, the cruelties, the licentious practices,
portrayed in these writings, have acted as leaven in many minds,
leading to the commission of similar acts. Books that delineate the
satanic deeds of human beings are giving publicity to evil works. The
horrible details of crime and misery need not be lived over, and none
who believe the truth for this time should act a part in perpetuating
their memory.
Love stories and frivolous and exciting tales constitute another
class of books that is a curse to every reader. The author may attach a
good moral, and all through his work may weave religious sentiments;
yet in most cases Satan is but clothed in angel robes, the more effec-
tually to deceive and allure. The mind is affected in a great degree
by that upon which it feeds. The readers of frivolous, exciting tales
become unfitted for the duties lying before them. They lead an unreal
life, and have no desire for useful employment, and no desire to search
the Scriptures, to feed upon the heavenly manna. The mind is enfee-
bled, and loses its power to contemplate the great problems of duty
and destiny.
I have been instructed that the youth are exposed to the greatest
peril from improper reading. Satan is constantly leading both the
youth and those of mature age to be charmed with worthless stories.
Could a large share of the books published be consumed, a plague
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would be stayed that is doing a fearful work in weakening the mind