February 25, 1897

“Priestism in Power” American Sentinel 12, 8.

E. J. Waggoner

“Present Truth.” (London, Eng.)

It is said that the witch doctors, or Fetish priest, rule over the King of Benin, and that their influence is responsible for most of the human sacrificing and slaughtering in that country. Go where one will in the world, or look through secular history, and it will be found that wherever a priestly caste has most influence in government there has been the greatest wickedness. Many think that this is solely because it is bad religion that gets into power, and that if only good religion could be lifted to the authority in the councils of State it would be a desirable thing. But good religion asks for no authority or power from man; it rests upon the power of God and preaches a gospel of divine power. Whenever religion forsakes this in order to secure power in the State it becomes bad religion, and its whole influence is evil, whether among whites or blacks, civilized or uncivilized.AMS February 25, 1897, page 122.1