Chapter 6—Lyceums and Literary Societies

Later, Ellen White dealt with the impact of acts and plays in SDA lyceums and literary societies. In so doing she repeated some of the counsel of the 1881 Review article just quoted, and then broadened her scope. She deplored the fact that often individuals of “short religious experience” take the lead. Then “Satan uses men as his agents to suggest, to lead out, to propose different acts and a variety of amusing things which give no strength to the morals or elevation to the mind, but are wholly worldly. Soon the religious element is dropped, and the irreligious elements take the lead.”—Manuscript Releases 2:244 (See Appendix B).DPSDAI 5.4

The result was that “low, cheap matters are brought in which are not elevating or instructive but only amuse.” “The mind” was led “away from serious reflection, away from God, away from heaven.” (Mind, Character, and Personality 2:688, 245.) She counseled:DPSDAI 5.5

“If your lyceums and literary societies would be made an opportunity for searching the Bible, it would be far more an intellectual society than it can ever become through the attention being turned to theatrical performances. What high and noble truths the mind may fasten upon and explore in God’s Word! ...DPSDAI 5.6

“Those who compose these societies, who profess to love and reverence sacred things, and yet allow the mind to come down to the superficial, to the unreal, to the simple, cheap, fictitious acting, are doing the devil’s work just as surely as they look upon and unite with these scenes.”—Manuscript Releases 2:246.DPSDAI 5.7

Turn to Appendix B, for the full statement depicting the gradual compromising and “vacillating between duty and the world,” including the final results.DPSDAI 5.8