If the human mind, with its conscience, will, and judgment, is to become a simple machine in the hands of another, it is clear that there must be some process by which independence may be permanently annihilated. This process is to separate and isolate him from his fellow-men, to cut off all connexion and alliance with the world without, and so to engraft him into the Society that it and it alone should be the object of his affection, the source of his maintenance, and the sphere for his ambition. It has pleased God to bind society together by the sacred ties of natural affection; and these ties possess so powerful a uniting influence, that unless they be severed, they form an insurmountable barrier to the exercise of such a power as that claimed for the General. By one sudden wrench, therefore, they are to be at once and for ever severed. The novice is required to pledge himself at the time of his admission that he will have no communication either by word of mouth or letter with either his friends or relations, and that every letter which he either receives or writes shall be inspected by his Superior. {35} He is required, moreover, to “abandon natural affection” towards all related to him; and to such an extent is he required to carry this unhallowed rule, that if any speak to him of his parents he is directed to deny the existence of the tie. “As the habit of speech assists the habit of the thoughts, it is a holy precept that they should not say that they have parents or brothers, but that they used to have them.” {36a} So fearfully does the Society fulfil the prophecy of the apostasy, by requiring its members to be “disobedient to parents,” and “without natural affection.” {36b}