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be to the injury of the one who engages in the enterprise. I wish you to
see that something must be done to guard the people from impostors,
and that there was need to make resolutions that should discourage the
determination of men to put their imaginary theories into print.
You know how it was with Brother-----. He wrote much, and
he thought that what he wrote should be published. Then the Lord
wrought upon his mind, and he gave up the idea, and burned up his
manuscript. But he could not let it be, he reproduced his theories, and
upon his death he left money and charged his wife that she should
have his manuscript published. She did not think it so essential that
the matter should be published as he did, and after she had given the
manuscript into the hands of the proper persons for publication, she
withdrew it and gave up all the burden of its publication. Brother-----’s
production was never printed. He was a good man, beloved of all who
knew him; but the matter which he had brought together was not the
subject that should appear, not meat in due season for the flock of
God. It was of a character that would start into life erroneous theories
that would be nourished by human agents, and would bear fruit in
dissension and discord.
The Need of a Book Committee—We found it necessary to take
steps in the formation of a book committee, whose duty it should be to
look into the matter offered for publication, and to decide as to whether
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or not the matter was worthy of publication. If the men on the book
committee are in touch with Christ, if their eyes are anointed with the
eyesalve which Jesus recommends them to buy of Him, then, and only
then, can they be proper judges as to what will be profitable matter for
publication.
It is highly proper that manuscripts shall be carefully examined
before receiving the endorsement of the Review and Herald, and having
the benefits of the influence of the office.
Your writings, I presume, are just as they should be; yet it may be
necessary that they should go through the process of being examined
carefully and critically. If no fault can be found with them, they should
receive the notice and the commendation that is due to such class of
work. You are dealing strong blows against tradition and errors that
lie at the foundation of a heresy that will destroy the souls of those
who receive it. A wide door to destruction is open to all those who
believe in the immortality of the soul, and do not believe that Christ