The excuse made for him is: “Oh, Brother D is such a good man. He is a pattern of amiability and kindheartedness, and is a ready helper anywhere.” Brother D has many excellent traits of character. He has no great ability as a preacher, but may become an earnest, faithful worker. The enemy has come in through his estimation of himself. Had he not esteemed himself more highly than he should, he would never have dared to use the reputation of his brethren as he has done. By his freedom in gathering up and repeating false reports, he has come in between the people and the message which God has given His ministers to bear to them to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord. His good traits have made him all the more dangerous; for they have given him influence. People have thought that what he said must be so. Had he been an immoral or quarrelsome person, he could not have succeeded in winning the confidence of so many. {5T 289.2}

Han undskyldes med: "Oh bror D er en så god mand. Han er et forbillede for elskværdighed og venligsindethed og er hjælper hurtigt overalt." Bror D har mange fremragende karaktertræk. Han har ingen gode evner som taler, men kan blive en ærlig, trofast medarbejder. Fjenden er kommet ind, ved hans indbildskhed. Havde han ikke påskønnet sig selv mere end han skulle, ville han aldrig have turdet bruge sine brødres omdømme, som han har. Ved hans frihed til at opsamle og gengive falske rapporter, er han kommet ind mellem folket og det budskab, som Gud har givet sine tjenere at frembære dem, så de kan stå på Herrens dag. Hans gode træk, har gjort det meget farligere for ham; for de har givet ham indflydelse. Folk har tænkt at hvad han sagde, må være sådan. Var han en amoralsk eller trættekær person, ville han ikke have held med at vinde så manges tillid.