Many who have grown to the years and stature of manhood are deficient in the elements that constitute a noble, manly character. God does not regard them as men. They are not reliable. Some of these are connected with our institutions. They have influence; but it is of a pernicious character, for it is seldom on the side of right. While they profess godliness, their example constantly tends to encourage unrighteousness. Skepticism is interwoven with their thoughts and expressed in their words, and their powers are used for the perversion of righteousness, truth, and justice. Their minds are controlled by Satan, and he works through them to demoralize and bring in confusion. The more pleasing and attractive their manners, the more richly they are endowed with brilliant talents, the more effectual agents are they in the hands of the enemy of all righteousness to demoralize all who come under their influence. It will be found a hard and thankless task to keep these from becoming a ruling power and carrying out their own purposes in encouraging disorder and loose, lax principles. {5T 407.2}

Mange som er oppe i årerne og nået manddommens stadie, er mangelfulde i hvad der udgør en ædel mandig karakter. Gud betragter ikke dem som mænd. Nogle af disse er knyttet til vore institutioner. De har indflydelse; men det er af en skadelig art, for det er sjældent på den rigtige side. Selvom de bekender gudfrygtighed, går deres eksempel hele tiden hen mod at anspore uretfærdighed. Tvivl er indvævet i deres tanker og udtrykkes i deres ord og deres kræfter bruges på at fordreje retfærdighed, sandhed og ret. Deres tanker er styret af Satan og han arbejder gennem dem på at demoralisere og bringe forvirring ind. Jo behageligere og tiltrækkende deres metoder er, jo rigere de er begavet med strålende talenter, (408) des effektivere redskaber er de i al retfærdigheds fjendens hænder til at demoralisere alle, inden for deres virkekreds. Det vil være en svær og utaknemlig opgave at hindre disse i at få en herskende indflydelse og gennemføre deres egne mål, at anspore uorden og løse, slappe principper.