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436
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students
entertainments are introduced to make the meetings interesting and
attractive for the 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 volun-
tarily unite with the worldly and the unconsecrated, and give them
the pre-eminence, they will be led away from Him by the unsancti-
fied 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 righteous-
ness. If they had had heretofore any relish for spiritual things they
would have 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
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sober, sensible, ennobling themes, while those who have no love for
sacred things cannot take pleasure in these gatherings, unless the
superficial and unreal constitute 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