{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_6494/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_6494","id":"gutenberg_6494","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6494","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Novels","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Christian fiction"],"text":"MR. WORLD AND MISS CHURCH-MEMBER\nA TWENTIETH CENTURY ALLEGORY\n\nBY\nREV. W. S. HARRIS.\n\n\n\n\nto\n\nEdwin L. Bergstreser\n\n   WHOSE TESTED FRIENDSHIP I HAVE\n   ENJOYED FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS AND\n   WHOSE KINDLY INFLUENCE HELPED\n   ME TO PERSEVERE IN WRITING\n   THIS ALLEGORY\n   THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY\n   DEDICATED.\n\n\n\n\nPreface.\n\n\nAfter long and careful study we send forth this book to do its work.\nWe offer no apology for adding one more volume to the endless library\nof modern times, constantly increasing at the rate of over one hundred\nvolumes per week, the great bulk of which is consigned to the debris\nof the passing years. We pray that this book may find a field of\nusefulness rather than an early grave.\n\nWe need not tell of the pleasures and difficulties we experienced in\npreparing these twenty-five chapters for the press. Let it be known,\nhowever, that we were seconded and assisted by several able critics\nwho, each one independently of the others, kindly reviewed the\nmanuscript. At the suggestions of these critics minor changes were\nmade in the several manuscript editions. These critics deserve much\ncredit especially for the literary finish there may be to this book.\n\nThe illustrations were drawn by Paul J. Krafft, of New York. They\nevince patient study and careful work, and display a creative genius\nwell suited to the field of allegory.\n\nThe leading moral truths are developed in the memorable journey of\nMiss Church-Member upon the Broad Highway in company with the polite\nand yet fiendish Mr. World. In this lifelike journey the two companions\ncome in contact with many of Satan\u2019s up-to-date schemes, and witness\nhis far-extended operations in many a wicked realm. In the descriptions\nof all these things we have endeavored to be suggestive rather than\nexhaustive, for we have withheld the almost infinite details and brought\nto light only a mere synopsis of the panorama as seen from the lofty\nsummit.\n\nWill not the reader, as he takes one step after another in the progress\nof the story, realize more keenly than ever the unspeakable deceptions\nof Satan, so bewitchingly robed in the garments of subtle treachery?\nThe course of Miss Church-Member is a sad comment on the moving masses\nwho are so thoroughly led captive by the Devil as to imagine that they\nare traveling on a more convenient way to Heaven while they are actually\non the Broad Highway to destruction. The logical ending of such a life\nis pictured in the remorseful and tragical experiences of Mr. World\nand Miss Church-Member in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It is our\nprayer that each reader may be saved from such a terminus of life by\njourneying on the King\u2019s Highway and taking Christ as his all in all.\nThen when he comes to the place made shadowy by the power of sin and\ndeath, he will be surrounded with a light from the sure city of God,\nand by a convoy of angels whose music will quell his rising fears and\nby whose power he will be transported to his never-ending home.\n\nTHE AUTHOR.\n\n\n\n\nContents\n\n  1. The Meeting of Mr. World and Miss Church-Member\n  2. The By-Path\n  3. The Devil\u2019s Optical College\n  4. Satan Interpreting Scripture\n  5. The Devil\u2019s Pawn Shop\n  6. Satan\u2019s Law Departments, (Underground)\n  7. The Hill of Remorse\n  8. The Valley of Temptation\n  9. The Tower of Temptation\n  10. Dark Schemes of Satan\n  11. Schools of Literature,--First and Second Divisions\n  12. The Theatre\n  13. Schools of Literature,--Third Division\n  14. The Devil\u2019s Temperance College\n  15. Infernal School System\n  16. Expert Inventors of the Broad Highway\n  17. The Wizard City\n  18. The Festival\n  19. The Missionary College\n  20. The Rival Churches\n  21. From the Valley of Conviction to the Devil\u2019s Auction\n  22. The Devil\u2019s Hospital\n  23. Satan\u2019s Secret Service\n  24. The Last Warning\n  25. The Valley of the Shadow of Death\n\n\nList of Illustrations.\n\n  1. Looking through the open door of the Twentieth Century\n  2. Miss Church-Member hurries to the rescue of an unfortunate victim\n  3. \u201cLet us follow this shining path,\u201d hopefully urged Miss\n   Church-Member\n  4. Leaving the Optical College\n  5. A scene in the Devil\u2019s Pawn Shop\n  6. The Shorter and Broader Way to Heaven\n  7. The final triumph of right over the black hordes of civil iniquity\n  8. On the Hill of Remorse\n  9. The victory of Mrs. Discouraged on the Tower of Temptation\n  10. The Devil\u2019s substitute for the prayer-meeting\n  11. A scene in the Devil\u2019s Temperance College\n  12. The Wizard City\n  13. The Festival\n  14. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member entering the Valley of Conviction\n  15. The Devil\u2019s Auction\n  16. Miss Church-Member carried to the Devil\u2019s Hospital\n  17. Struggling with the real and imaginary imps near the Black River\n  18. The glorious end of the righteous\n\n\n\n\nIntroduction\n\nBY BISHOP RUDOLPH DUBS, D. D., LL. D.\n\n\nIn response to the earnest request of the author of this book I have\nwritten these introductory words, after a careful, deliberate reading\nof the allegory. What I have written expresses my own opinion of the\nbook, uninfluenced by motives of friendship for the author or any other\nconsideration.\n\nThe book is a powerful allegory, somewhat after the style of Pilgrim\u2019s\nProgress, but in no sense is it an imitation of any existing work of\nthe kind. It is a masterful presentation, wrought out with excellent\njudgment and consummate skill.\n\nThe creatures of the author\u2019s vivid imagination are perfectly formed\nand fittingly clothed, living, moving, feeling, talking, in complete\nharmony as the development of the great drama goes on to its\nconsummation. The author has evidently made a careful and profound\nstudy of the manifold dangers which beset the Christian church and\nthreaten her spirituality, and consequently her influence and power\nin saving the lost and maintaining the gospel standard of life and\ngodliness in the world.\n\nThe encroachments of worldings upon the church are truthfully and\ngraphically set forth. The manifold forms of temptation and danger are\nclearly exposed, and faithful, tender, earnest warnings and admonitions\nare set over against them. In depicting the various efforts of Satan\nand his agents to lead Christians away from God and duty, the author\nshows an extensive knowledge of the devices of the evil one, as well\nas a clear insight into the drift and tendency of modern forms of\nwickedness.\n\nThe final results of compromise with the world are set forth in vivid,\ngraphic pictures drawn on the dark shadows as with a pencil of fire.\nThe downward course of the deluded soul is followed, step by step; the\nsnares and delusions of sin are exposed; the mask of vice is\nrelentlessly torn away, and church-members can here see what fellowship\nwith the world really means and whither it leads.\n\nThe religious tone of the book throughout is excellent. The delusive\ncharacter of sin is plainly pointed out. The devices of Satan are laid\nbare with unsparing hand. The abominations of vice are not concealed.\nAll this is done in language well chosen and unexceptionable. The\nChristian life is pictured without cant or exaggeration. The beauty\nand blessedness of a devoted life are eloquently portrayed. True\nreligion with its present comforts and its great rewards is presented\nin a most attractive form, and the contrast between the worlding and\nthe faithful Christian, here and hereafter, is impressively set forth.\n\nWith this favorable opinion of the book, to whose edifying pages I\nintroduce the reader, I deem it proper for me also to recommend it\nmost heartily as a book worthy of a place on every family table and\nin every Sunday-school library. Let young and old read its fascinating\nand instructive pages. Let it be circulated by hundreds and thousands\nof copies. May the blessing of God attend the book in its mission and\nministry wherever it is read.\n\nRUDOLPH DUBS.\n\n_Chicago, Ill., March, 1901_.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\nTHE MEETING OF MR. WORLD AND MISS CHURCH-MEMBER\n\n1. The dying of a century compared to the waning of a day.\n\n2. The allegory opens with a panoramic view of human life, as seen\nthrough the open door of the twentieth century, on the Broad Highway\nand King\u2019s Highway. Blackana is introduced.\n\n3. Mr. World meets Miss Church-Member at a place called Fellowship.\nFrom here she journeys with him on the Broad Highway where she witnesses\nseveral sad endings of human life.\n\n\nIn the closing hours of a long day I climbed a rugged path to a high\neminence whence I overlooked a beautiful valley and watched, with\nincreasing delight, the changing hues of earth and sky.\n\nAs the shadows of twilight were deepening each moment grew more strange\nand mysterious until the waning day seemed to be transformed into the\ndying of the century. Then I saw, as \u201cthrough a glass darkly,\u201d the\nwhole panorama of human life, with its painful pictures of sadness and\nsin, and its blessed scenes of peace and righteousness. I also heard\nthe unmistakable wails of a suffering humanity and the turmoils of\nmyriad contentions, all strangely mingling with the songs of glory and\nthe shouts of spiritual triumph.\n\nIn deep silence I continued looking upon these endless confusions of\nthe church and the world as they still played their perplexing parts\nin the fitful drama before me. All of this so preyed upon my mind that\nI involuntarily cried out, in the anguish of my soul: \u201cWhen will\nconfusion come to an end, and sweet peace cover the earth as the waters\ncover the sea?\u201d\n\n\u201cWill you wait for the winds to answer, or shall I?\u201d replied a voice\nso passing strange that I was startled.\n\nI turned to see in whose presence I was and, to my horror, I beheld\na dark creature unlike any mortal being. He was without definite form\nand not cumbered with any garments. His indescribable face was set\nwith two bright eyes, softened in expression until a slight halo\nrevealed to me a countenance half beautiful and half terrible. \u201cWho\nare you, and what is your mission?\u201d I finally ventured to ask after\nspeech had found my lips, for I was altogether ignorant of his nature\nor purpose.\n\n\u201cI am Blackana, from the lower world of spirits, and am commanded here\nto stay until released.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Looking through the open door of the Twentieth Century.]\n\n\u201cUntil released? What power binds you here, and how long will you\nabide?\u201d I asked in dread suspense. \u201cI must remain, as your companion\nand interpreter, until the vision is past.\u201d\n\nI trembled under these announcements, but I was assured that underneath\nme were \u201cthe everlasting arms\u201d and, moreover, I heard a still, small\nvoice whispering within me: \u201cStand still, O mortal man! Neither Blackana\nnor any of his horde shall do thee harm. He hovers before thee at my\nbidding, and will leave thee only at my command. Ask him what thou\nwilt, and he must answer thee, even to the limit of his knowledge.\u201d\n\nAt this juncture, and without a moment\u2019s warning, my vision was enlarged\nand an unusual light flashed upon me. Quickly I cast my wondering eyes\nall about me and saw that I was standing at the very threshold of a\ngreat door. It was of such imposing dimensions and so magnificently\nconstructed that only the architects of Heaven could have designed it.\n\nInstinctively I turned to Blackana, whom I could now face without fear:\n\u201cWhere are we, and what is the meaning of this great door?\u201d And as I\nspoke unseen hands swung it open upon its hinges.\n\n\u201cWe are standing at the open door of the twentieth century. You may\nlook out into the coming years as far as you wish,\u201d replied Blackana\nin a cold, indifferent manner.\n\nThrilled by such an unusual sight, and the thought which his\ninterpretation and words suggested, I marveled at his sullenness, for\nBlackana did not so much as lift his head to see the spectacle.\n\n\u201cO, Blackana!\u201d I cried, \u201cwhy are you so dead to such surroundings?\u201d\n\n\u201cThese are mere playthings,\u201d was his gruff reply. \u201cTo me the doors of\nthe centuries, which open and shut on the cycles of time, are as\ntrifles, neither lessening my misery nor adding to my pleasure.\u201d\n\nDuring a brief, thoughtful silence I continued looking at him, as a\nshudder swept my whole being. I then turned from this creature so\nshrouded in mystery and, stepping forward to look through the open\ndoor, I was suddenly overawed at the still greater scenes which spread\nin wondrous panorama before my entranced vision.\n\nUnder the new light I beheld a marvelous sight, for I could distinctly\nsee the myriad millions of humanity moving on the paths of life toward\na common goal.\n\nIn the bright halo of the scene I saw the beautiful King\u2019s Highway,\non which were marching the hosts of the church militant, led\ntriumphantly by the Spirit of God to the very gates of the Celestial\nCity, which, though distant, I could yet see under the dazzling light\nradiating from the central throne of glory as from untold suns.\n\nIn the darker shadows of this same panorama I saw the Broad Highway\nwith its thronging multitudes. Some, with deliberate step, scrutinizing\nthe objects along the way; others, in mad haste, rushing on toward an\nawful destruction whose wreck and ruin loomed up dimly in the glare\nof an eternal burning.\n\nAmong the happy pilgrims of the King\u2019s Highway was one named Miss\nChurch-Member, who had left the Broad Way of death, and entered, through\nChrist, into that marvelous light wherein she was now walking. Her\ntread was in sweet harmony with the footsteps of her Master, and her\nbeautiful face was all aglow with the passion of pure love.\n\nA pilgrim\u2019s robe added beauty to her form; a Bible, carried under her\narm, gave some evidence of her spiritual character; and a religious\nemblem, worn over her heart, told that she was a member of some\nChristian organization.\n\nMiss Church-Member, in traveling her chosen path, tarried at a place\ncalled Fellowship which occupied a pleasing site close by the King\u2019s\nHighway. Here one could readily speak and associate with the travelers\nwho moved in gay companies along the Broad Highway.\n\nAt this visiting place she met a certain Mr. World--a good, jolly\nfellow, of corpulent build, who was attired in the fashion of the day,\nand bore himself with more than usual jauntiness in the presence of\nMiss Church-Member.\n\nAfter a pleasing conversation, in which Mr. World plied his Satanic\nshrewdness and sophistry, he was emboldened to give this brief\ninvitation: \u201cWill you journey a short distance with me on this Broader\nWay that I may prepare myself, with more facility, to accompany you\nwhere you wish, even on a path as narrow as the one you seem to love?\u201d\n\n\u201cAh, Mr. World,\u201d she said, with a tolerant smile, \u201cdo you not know\nthat you are walking on the way of danger and death? Why would you\nhave me share your folly? It were a thousand times better for you to\njoin me at once on a path that leads to everlasting happiness. Here\nyou can drink the water of life in abundance, and feed upon angels\u2019\nfood. O, come, Mr. World,\u201d she added as she spoke more earnestly,\n\u201clinger no longer, carry out the resolution which you have already\nbroken repeatedly, and you will never regret so wise an action.\u201d Thus\ndid Miss Church-Member urge upon him a course which, in her inimitable\nmissionary spirit, she made really attractive to him. Although he\nappreciated her genuine earnestness, yet he could not be induced to\nheed her words.\n\n\u201cYou have covered the whole field of my intention,\u201d he courteously\nreplied. \u201cI sincerely wish to mend my ways, but there are certain\nthings I must first overcome. How much better I could do this if one\nlike you, in whom I have supreme confidence, would but journey at my\nside. Will you not do the work of a good missionary and, like Christ,\nadapt yourself to my level, that I may, by your uplifting influence,\nbe drawn into a nobler life, and even have your companionship as I go\nup to the Highway of your King?\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member, being of a sympathetic nature and of strong\nmissionary proclivities, refused to heed her many counselors who feared\nfor her safety, and actually stepped still farther from her wonted\npath and journeyed at the side of Mr. World with the desire to compass\nhis conversion. But her conscience, at first, troubled her and her\nfeet moved with a suspicious tread.\n\nIn this nervous, half confiding and half shrinking mood, she leaned\nlightly upon his arm, ever turning a deaf ear to the entreaties of her\nwell-meaning friends who still hoped to dissuade her from this\nill-advised course.\n\nMr. World was keenly delighted at her concession and loyalty to him.\nHe seemed to be willing to go to any sacrifice that might add to her\ncomfort or increase her happiness. His many companions could readily\nsee that Miss Church-Member felt \u201cout of place.\u201d But she justified her\nown course by what she was aiming to do.\n\nHe saw that her dress of righteousness was in wide contrast with the\nfilthy rags that covered his own soul, and so he preferred to look\nupon the garments that adorned his outer person, and the gaudy scenes\non either side of the way.\n\nI beheld this wide path along a great length, and I shuddered as I saw\nthe masses thereon who were engaged in the frivolities of life as found\nin the swiftly passing pleasures of sense and sight. The thoughtless\nthrongs were seemingly unconscious that underneath the whole length\nand breadth of the path there were strata of fire, and they were\napparently blind to the sulphurous flames which, here and there, issued\nfrom openings into which many an unsuspecting traveler fell.\n\nSad to relate, of all the moving multitudes there were but few, indeed,\nwho took warning and fled toward the King\u2019s Highway. Many, like Miss\nChurch-Member, were walking on the forbidden path for no other reason\nthan some weak apology.\n\n\u201cWhat mean these lurid openings?\u201d nervously asked Miss Church-Member,\nfor their flames excited her terror. Mr. World replied, with a look\nof surprise: \u201cHave you never heard that these are to give light to\npilgrims, such as we? Without them the way would prove very dark and\ndreary.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat a contrast,\u201d she exclaimed, \u201cbetween these lights and those that\nillumine the King\u2019s Highway! They shine from above, with increasing\nsplendor, while these cast forth, from below, their uncertain lights.\nIt seems to me that the farther we go the darker becomes the way, and\nits lights the more inconstant,--so fitful is their gruesome glare.\u201d\n\n\u201cAh! I see what ails you,\u201d responded Mr. World. \u201cYour eyes are at\nfault. We will presently meet the expert who will correct your vision\nere your eyes are totally ruined.\u201d\n\nThe attention of Miss Church-Member was suddenly attracted by seeing\na man who was just sinking out of sight into the fire of destruction.\nAs soon as he disappeared the flames burst forth in fury through the\nnewly-made opening. Instantly a servant of Satan covered the breach\nso that observers could no longer hear the wails of the poor man, nor\nsmell the fumes from the burning strata.\n\nThen did I look and, behold, I saw such places in countless variety,\neach attended by a servant of the Black Prince. Each opening made by\nan unfortunate victim was promptly sealed so that others, in passing\nalong, would the more readily be ensnared in one of these fatal\nfissures.\n\nMiss Church-Member was more than alarmed at these sad endings of human\nlife which now came to her attention more vividly than when she traveled\non the King\u2019s Highway.\n\nShe also saw, not far ahead of her, a woman sinking in utter despair,\nand ran to rescue her. But the unfortunate victim fell to her wretched\nruin before the hands of Miss Church-Member could give assistance.\n\n\u201cHelp! help! I sink I know not whither,\u201d was her wailing cry, as she\nwas passing out of sight, her arms outstretched beseechingly toward\nher would-be rescuer who arrived in time to see the first greedy flames\nthat issued from the fresh opening.\n\n\u201cOh, horror!\u201d shrieked Miss Church-Member as she turned toward Mr.\nWorld. \u201cThat ought to be enough to keep any one from such a snare of\nwickedness and vice.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Miss Church-member hurries to the rescue of an\nunfortunate victim.]\n\nWithout a moment\u2019s delay a demon rushed to the fiery opening and covered\nit from sight, completing his work so quickly and with such skill that\nneither the opening nor the glare of the flames were any longer\nperceptible. But Miss Church-Member refused to leave the spot, and\nwith tears she urged Mr. World to place there a sign of warning so\nthat other short-sighted, mortals who came that way might read and\nheed.\n\n\u201cIt would be only a waste of time and energy. I have seen hundreds of\nsuch places where travelers have gone down, even under the sign of the\nCross.\u201d\n\n\u201cIndeed, Mr. World, I feel as though I should stand here continually\nand speak words of personal warning to any one who might seem determined\nto walk in such a terrible path as this.\u201d Her finger pointed to the\nspot where she had just seen the poor victim fall to rise no more.\n\n\u201cLook yonder,\u201d he hurriedly spoke, as he touched her arm. \u201cDo you see\nthat woman with her steps in the same direction? Now try your skill,\u201d\nhe added with more sneer than sympathy in his voice.\n\nShe did not tarry to resent his attitude, but quickly went to the woman\nand asked her to pause a moment.\n\n\u201cAre you willing to be saved from destruction?\u201d earnestly asked Miss\nChurch-Member.\n\n\u201cI am safe enough,\u201d was the indifferent reply.\n\n\u201cYou are now walking rapidly toward an awful death,\u201d were her further\nwords of warning.\n\n\u201cWhat right have you to judge me,\u201d she curtly replied, \u201csince you also\nare on this Broad Highway? Have I not heard already the words from\nthose who also wear the pilgrim\u2019s robe, but who journey on the King\u2019s\nHighway? Their words brought conviction to my heart and tears to my\neyes, but your words only stir up my indignation.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy speak so unkindly to a friend? My only intention is to do you\ngood. I just saw one who came to a horrible end by continuing a little\nfarther in the same course that you are now pursuing.\u201d\n\nThen did the wicked woman fly into a rage. \u201cYou need no more concern\nyourself about me. I have two eyes--as many as you have. Look to your\nown future, not mine; at your own steps, and not at another\u2019s!\u201d\n\n\u201cCome,\u201d impatiently spoke Mr. World, as he drew her by the arm, \u201cit\nis just as I expected; let us get away from this sickly atmosphere.\u201d\nBut Miss Church-Member lingered only to see the heedless woman step\nto the last extreme and sink hopelessly, while her piteous cries for\nhelp came too late for any to rescue her.\n\n[Illustration: \u201cLet us follow this shining path.\u201d hopefully urged Miss\nChurch-Member. But it is too rough and steep for Mr. World.]\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\nTHE BY-PATH.\n\n1. In their journey Mr. World and Miss Church-Member come to the By-Path\nleading to the King\u2019s Highway; on this Miss Church-Member urges Mr.\nWorld to travel. He defers so decisive a step and defends his attitude\nby the use of sophistry.\n\n2. Miss Church-Member, still hoping to win Mr. World to a better path,\nforsakes the King\u2019s Highway and continues in his company.\n\n3. A tilt with Blackana who defends Miss Church-Member for traveling\non the Broad Highway.\n\n\nThe highway of the world was so broad that one could walk thereon as\nloosely as he wished without fear of stepping from it. Along the way\nthere were so many things to attract the attention that the farther\nMiss Church-Member journeyed with Mr. World, the less frequently she\nlooked toward the King\u2019s Highway. However, her face brightened and her\nhopes waxed strong as they suddenly came to a place where two ways met.\n\nWith quick insight Miss Church-Member saw that the By-Path was a blessed\none and that it led directly to the King\u2019s Highway.\n\n\u201cLet us follow this shining path,\u201d she hopefully suggested. \u201cI know\nit leads to the way of light and glory.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot such a path, my friend,\u201d hastily replied Mr. World. \u201cDo you not\nsee the terrible hill to which it leads, and those who are even now\nstruggling to climb its arduous heights?\u201d\n\n\u201cI clearly see it all,\u201d she calmly admitted, \u201cbut they who struggle\nmost are endeavoring to carry many idols with them. If one will forsake\nhis idols, he can, with ease and pleasure, mount to the shining summit\nwhich is but the edge of the King\u2019s glorious Highway. Come, Mr. World,\nhesitate no more. Let procrastination end, and go with me even to the\nhill, and I will help you to the summit--while Another will help you\nmore.\u201d\n\n\u201cVery true, very true,\u201d he said, though somewhat irritated, \u201cbut we\nhave not yet come to the place where I may wisely follow your advice.\nThis path turning away to the right leads to a place that may seem\nbright from this point, but nevertheless I know it to be a narrow,\nrugged way, whereon a few of your friends are trudging, eking out a\nmiserable existence. Urge me not to go thither. If you leave me, I can\nneither accompany you nor give you my assistance. Surely you have\nlearned, ere this, that your needs are of such a nature that you must\ninevitably suffer embarrassment without my little help.\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member, with eyes but partly open to her own folly, was\ngrievously perplexed and not a little disappointed. She fell on her\nknees and wept. Looking up pleadingly into his eyes, she faltered:\n\n\u201cTwice have I yielded to you since we entered into companionship. You\nwell remember the solemn promise you made, but at each time you deferred\nits fulfillment, and now I must again hear your vain excuses. I have\nsuffered much for your sake, and have now the enmity of many a former\nfriend, and even my pilgrim robe is becoming stained with the filth\nof this way.\u201d\n\n\u201cCome, come, my friend, be a woman and not a sickly suppliant. The\nportion of the King\u2019s Highway which we would reach from this point is\ntoo rough for my feet to travel. We will shortly come to a more\nconvenient place; then I can think more seriously of leaving this way.\u201d\n\n\u201cAh!\u201d sighed Miss Church-Member, \u201cyou say that in your folly. I can\ntestify, from knowledge, that the way is most delightful and leads to\nmansions incorruptible in the Celestial City.\u201d \u201cLet us cease debating,\u201d\ninterrupted Mr. World, with ill-concealed impatience. \u201cIf you have\nsacrificed so much through my fellowship and imagine that you can find\nbetter company, you may leave, but you cannot expect me to accompany\nyou on so thorny and rough a path as this which you have so foolishly\nproposed.\u201d\n\nStrengthened by the remnants of Christian virtue yet within her, she\nsprang to her feet and was about to execute her noble purpose of leaving\nhim. But a number of Mr. World\u2019s friends quickly rallied and\ncomplimented Miss Church-Member on the good she had already done. \u201cMr.\nWorld is a better man since he has known you,\u201d said one. \u201cIf you will\ncontinue walking with him on his own level, no one can estimate the\namount of good you will yet do for him,\u201d hopefully spoke another.\n\nThese unexpected testimonies aroused anew her missionary spirit and\nchanged her thoughts to these yielding sentences:\n\n\u201cNo sacrifice is too great, if victory but comes at last. If there is\nhope that Mr. World will cease deceiving me and walk in the path of\ntruth, I will consent to be his companion still a little farther.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is every hope of that,\u201d smilingly returned Mr. World as he\nsuavely bowed to her and to the little group of companions who had\ngiven him such timely help.\n\nAs I saw Mr. World and Miss Church-Member moving on, in closer\nfellowship than ever, I waxed warm with indignation, and addressed\nBlackana who was still lying at my side as motionless as the strata\nof the rock-ribbed earth:\n\n\u201cWill you explain to me this folly of Miss Church-Member, who has not\nonly disgraced her cause before the fiendish Mr. World, but who also\ncontinues with him in such unseemly intimacy?\u201d\n\n\u201cMiss Church-Member is not walking in folly. She is engaged in a noble\nwork, endeavoring to elevate Mr. World to a higher Christian life,\u201d\nwas the answer from the lips of Blackana in a low, heavy voice.\n\n\u201cAh,\u201d said I, with a feeling of suspicion, \u201cshe is shining from the\nwrong lighthouse. The rays of truth will never reach him as long as\nshe is in that position.\n\n\u201cPerhaps they might in a miraculous way,\u201d suggested Blackana.\n\n\u201cNo good miracle is ever done in the steps of the Devil or in his\ndominions,\u201d I answered with boldness.\n\nThen did Blackana enlarge himself, and as he replied he looked down\nupon me significantly. \u201cO puny mortal, instruct me not in the miracles\nof my master. More great things are done under the canopies of Hell\nthan mortals ever know.\u201d\n\nAt first I was filled with alarm, but under the voice of One invisible\nI rose as with superhuman strength, and I looked at him unflinchingly.\n\u201cO horrible creature! I fear you not in any of your passions. You would\neven destroy me if you could, but you are forever restrained by the\nPower that holds authority over all!\u201d\n\nThere was a sudden rustling, unlike anything I had ever heard. The\nuncanny creature dashed toward me in his awful fury. But I moved not,\nneither was I touched. Then I stretched forth my hand and commanded\nhim, in the name of One who is supreme, to cease his foolish ragings,\nelse would he be instantly flung through the wastes of Hell.\n\nBlackana, knowing his limit, as all foul fiends do, dared to venture\nno further in his rage, but calmed himself and, with unexpected\ncivility, he addressed me. He told me, in close detail, how Mr. World,\nby his binding promises to his companion, had played the part of folly\nrather than Miss Church-Member who did nothing more than enter upon\na more convenient and a Broader Way to heaven, and that, too, in good\ncompany.\n\n\u201cAnd what think you,--will Mr. World ever fulfill his binding promises?\u201d\n\n\u201cDo not doubt it, sir. Mr. World is an honorable gentleman. His promises\nare always fulfilled.\n\n\u201cA lie! A lie! Can you not speak the truth?\u201d\n\nAgain he was about to rise into terrible proportions when a great hand\nmoved the door on its hinges. Blackana, interpreting that movement\nbetter than I, continued in dread restraint. I looked again upon the\nBroad Highway, and saw how Mr. World had so completely won the\nconfidence of Miss Church-Member that she now frequently expressed her\nsense of obligation to him, and declared that he was not so mean a\nfellow as some alleged, and as she had been inclined to believe.\n\n\u201cPray, tell me who seeks to injure my good reputation?\u201d he courteously\nasked.\n\n\u201cIt has long been current talk on the King\u2019s Highway that you are\ndeceitful and treacherous, and that you aim to lead people to ruin.\nYou well know that I hoped, by mutual association, to win you to a\nbetter path. I find, even after some painful errors on my part, that\nyou are not so much in need of reformation as I imagined. You are a\nvery considerate and clever fellow, doubtless under the sway of a moral\nevolution, and whether I stay with you, or you go with me, it is now,\nto my mind, quite evident that you will soon reach a perfect condition.\u201d\n\nThe wily Mr. World chuckled. \u201cYou are newly endowed with the gift of\na wisdom whose inward glory has lent its brightness to your eye, and\nhas given savor to your very words. If you continue in your present\nstate of liberality and broad-mindedness, you will not only share all\nthat I possess, but will wear a crown set with gems of truth.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\nTHE DEVIL\u2019S OPTICAL COLLEGE.\n\n1. The college described.\n\n2. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member have their eyes examined, and Miss\nChurch-Member is supplied with lenses which warp her spiritual vision.\n\n3. The allegory shows how Satan supplies every conceivable kind of\nlenses to suit the people of the world and the church.\n\n4. Blackana, with deceptive words, attempts to defend Satan\u2019s course.\n\n\nThis institution of Satan has been in operation since the creation of\nman, having been remodeled as often as advancement in style or skill\ndemanded.\n\nEach one of the fourteen massive buildings was a gem of architectural\nbeauty, and was devoted to a special line of study or practice. The\nentire group worked harmoniously toward the same end.\n\nIn the course of their journey Mr. World and Miss Church-Member drew\nnigh to this great college, but the shrewd and wicked Mr. World remained\nsilent, waiting for the first words of his companion. Miss\nChurch-Member, however, as she looked upon the stupendous edifices,\nwas so filled with wonder and admiration at the long stretches of\nmasonry, and the perfect symmetry of parts, that she offered no comment\nuntil they were quite near the first building.\n\n\u201cFor what purpose is this group of great structures used?\u201d were her\nwords that broke the brief silence.\n\n\u201cAll for the sake of the eyes,\u201d he carelessly answered, as he called\nher attention to the King\u2019s Highway and the throngs of people that\nwere admiring and entering the college from those parts.\n\n\u201cIt is indeed wonderful,\u201d she commented, \u201cthat so small a thing as the\neye should demand the service of such great edifices.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe buildings are not too large nor too well equipped. Your surprise\nwould not be so great were you to witness the large number from the\ntwo great highways that come here daily for treatment. You can see\nthem now moving by thousands to and from the buildings. It might be\nwise for us to enter for consultation. My eyes, at least, may need\nsome expert attention.\u201d\n\nShe, being anxious to see the interior of at least one of the buildings,\noffered no objection to his shrewd suggestion.\n\nThe building was so easy of access that there was not one step to\nclimb. An electric elevator served to carry them to the sixty-fourth\nfloor which formed a part of the huge dome into which the upper portion\nof the great structure converged. This style of architecture not only\nadded to the beauty of the appearance, but also proved to be perfectly\nadapted to the uses of the college.\n\nThe confidence of Miss Church-Member was fully won by the appearance\nof the interior and the courteous attention she received from the\nmanagers.\n\nThe consulting physician examined the eyes of Mr. World, then\ncongratulated him upon the clear vision he enjoyed, and informed him\nthat his eyes required no immediate treatment.\n\nTurning to one side, Mr. World whispered to his companion: \u201cWhile we\nare here you had better improve this opportunity and also get the\nbenefit of an expert opinion.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have not come prepared financially,\u201d she blushingly and faintly\nreplied. \u201cI did not even dream of seeking the service of a specialist.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat obstacle is easily overcome, for the examination is free, and\nif you should need further attention and would wish to receive it, I\nwould deem it only a great pleasure to bear all the expenses.\u201d\n\nAfter a brief, thoughtful silence she consented to the preliminary\nexamination. \u201cWill you examine the eyes of my friend?\u201d requested Mr.\nWorld as he stepped toward the chief oculist.\n\nThe expert accordingly tested her sight. First he held up, at a\ndistance, the \u201cDelusion of the New Jerusalem,\u201d but she was totally\nblind to it. Then he submitted the \u201cDeceptions of the Holy Bible\u201d of\nwhich she could again see nothing.\n\n\u201cLook through these windows to the Broad Highway, far out into the\ndistance over rolling stretches of country. Can you see the gates of\nHeaven, at the end of the way?\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member looked carefully, but declared that she could not\nsee anything that appeared like Heaven or the gates thereof.\n\n\u201cCan you see that place called \u2018Perfect Peace\u2019 along the Broad Highway,\u201d\ncontinued the oculist as he pointed to a far-off region.\n\n\u201cI can see nothing that looks like it,\u201d she honestly confessed, quite\nsurprised to discover the existence of these apparent defects of her\nvision.\n\n\u201cA very sad and extreme case,\u201d murmured the examiner as he requested\nher to open her Bible.\n\n\u201cCan you see, in that book, that all people shall be saved, and none\nperish?\u201d\n\n\u201cI am surely blind to that and always have been,\u201d she readily admitted\nwith a little more boldness.\n\n\u201cPerhaps you can see the justice of God in punishing the sinner?\u201d he\ncontinued with a touch of sarcasm in his voice.\n\n\u201cPlainly visible.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo I expected.\u201d\n\nHe then proceeded to a more minute examination, after which he wrote\na brief diagnosis and commended her to a specialist in the next\nbuilding.\n\nShe hesitated somewhat, but Mr. World, handing her, confidentially,\na handsome sum of yellow coin from his bag of gold, brought words of\ndeep thankfulness from her lips, and gave decision to her steps in the\ndirection he desired.\n\nFrom the great dome they were taken in a closed car over the high\nsuspension bridge to the adjoining building which was of still greater\nmagnitude.\n\nThe room into which they entered, at such a dizzy height, surpassed,\nin its unique arrangement, anything of the kind that they had thus far\nseen. In long and high glass cases lay all the modern appliances used\nby the most skillful hands. The furnishings blended harmoniously with\nthe general environments. All this won the utter confidence of the new\nand unsuspecting visitor. \u201cWith pleasure,\u201d politely began Mr. World,\n\u201cI present my friend, Miss Church-Member, who comes hither with\ndefective eyes and a duly subscribed diagnosis from the chief of the\noculists.\u201d\n\nThe specialist whom he thus addressed made an additional examination,\nplying his craft with all the ingenuity he had learned from his master.\nAt the conclusion he delivered himself in this wise:\n\n\u201cI find, Miss Church-Member, that your eyes are very much out of order.\nA complex case, indeed. I have discovered ametropia in the particular\nform of irregular astigmatism. The pupil, covered by the unabsorbed\nremains of the pupillary membrane, is occluded by a deposition of\ninflammatory substance, occasioned by inflammation of the ciliary body.\n\n\u201cI have also noticed a severe type of hemianopsia, which, I presume,\nhad its origin in congeniture. Minor defects are also apparent, but\nit is unnecessary for me to give further details,\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member could not refrain from weeping bitterly at this sad\nannouncement. \u201cIs it possible to effect a cure?\u201d she sobbed.\n\n\u201cAh! you need not thus lament,\u201d said the specialist in a tone of\nsympathy. \u201cMillions have been altogether cured whose eyes were more\ndiseased than are yours. Forget your tears and be at perfect peace.\nCalmly confide in our skill.\u201d\n\nShe consented to their method, and was first subjected to a course of\npreliminary treatment. Many an hour she lay while her eyes were covered\nwith cloths saturated with strange liquids. And when her eyes were\nuncovered she was compelled to sit in darkness, for the physician told\nher that her eyes had already suffered much on account of light. At\ntimes the pain was well nigh intolerable, but she endured it all\nheroically, hoping to gain thereby the boon of a complete cure.\n\nAfter this preparatory work one who was skilled in the best methods\nof the age performed the operation, and Miss Church-Member was comforted\nby the assurance that her eyes would be fitted with special lenses,\nand soon she could again behold the natural light of day.\n\nMr. World was busily engaged during the treatment of Miss\nChurch-Member, but he came repeatedly to her side and spoke words of\ncheer and urged her strict obedience to all directions.\n\nFinally her new lenses were put to service, and Mr. World proffered\nhis compliments profusely until the first impulses of vanity moved\nwithin her. _To be admired, on account of her appearance, seemed never\nso attractive as now!_\n\nWhat a new world opened to her view! She looked down upon the Broad\nHighway with a degree of pleasure hitherto unsuspected, and also upon\nthe King\u2019s Highway, but only to see that the path was indeed a rough\none and beset with trials and difficulties which, to her mind, now\nseemed unnecessary to a Christian life.\n\nIn the same manner I looked into all the apartments of each building,\nand was astonished at the presence of so large a number from the King\u2019s\nHighway, and a still greater throng from the way of the world.\n\n\u201cO Blackana!\u201d I cried, \u201chow long will this continue? Is there no end\nto deception? With such a changed view of things, how can Miss\nChurch-Member crave for the King\u2019s Highway or urge Mr. World thither?\u201d\n\n\u201cMiss Church-Member will be happier where she is,\u201d answered my uncanny\ncompanion as he grinned horribly. \u201cBy the aid of her glasses she can\nboth see and enjoy the wonderful scenes along the way.\u201d I knew that\nBlackana was covering the truth, but hesitated to insinuate as much.\n\u201cCan you explain,\u201d I questioned in a half hopeful mood, \u201chow those\nspecialists can do their deceptive work so brazenly? Poor Miss\nChurch-Member, deluded and defrauded, now stumbles rapidly onward with\nthe fiendish Mr. World. Tell me, O agent of the Devil, do those\ncreatures find delight in such horrible deeds?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is not a matter of pleasure or delight with them, but rather one\nof loyalty to their king, whom you call \u2018Devil.\u2019 To serve him poorly\nmeans a more bitter hell, but to serve him well brings honor from his\nhand.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut such honor!\u201d I exclaimed, and then said: \u201cI observe that Miss\nChurch-Member wears colored lenses--tell me the meaning of this; and\nyou, Blackana, hereafter deal no more in falsehood with me!\u201d I demanded.\n\nBlackana shifted his position, and with marked reluctance proceeded\nto answer:\n\n\u201cThe Devil, my master, uses in his work all imaginable kinds of glasses,\ninvented in the Wizard City. Every conceivable shade of color is made,\neach for its particular use. Through his agents Satan selects the lens\nfor the patient\u2019s eye, and if it is worn as selected and directed, he\nhas won a decisive victory.\u201d\n\n\u201cFoul and fiendish plots of Hell,\u201d I involuntarily muttered; but\nBlackana listened in silence.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\nSATAN INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE.\n\n1. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member now take an easier method of\ntraveling, for they ride on a strange vehicle down the gravity road.\n\n2. Miss Church-Member reads her Bible by the aid of her new glasses.\n\n3. She is assisted in understanding it by a minion of Satan who comes\nrobed as an angel of light.\n\n4. Her glasses enable her to distinguish between the inspired and the\nuninspired parts of the Bible; for this ability she is highly\ncomplimented.\n\n\nThe Broad Highway, after leaving the Optical College, was especially\nhard to travel. Here Mr. World secured a fashionable vehicle propelled\nby some secret force. Into this carriage he assisted Miss Church-Member,\nand each was delighted with the smooth descent down the gravity road.\n\n\u201cThis is delightful traveling,\u201d she said, as she reclined upon the\nluxurious cushions of the conveyance. Aided by her new glasses she\nenjoyed the scenery along the way more than ever. \u201cI am glad you\nappreciate it,\u201d he smilingly returned. \u201cAccording to my notion, riding\nis indeed preferable to walking. From these elevated carriages one can\nwitness so much more of the world, and can also with more distinctness\nsee the King\u2019s Highway with its trudging pilgrims seemingly unconscious\nof this better mode of travel.\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member took a mere casual glance at the Old Path and her\nformer associates, and seemed to feel thankful that she had risen from\nbigotry to a more charitable view of things.\n\nHer Bible, although closed altogether too long, had never been\nsurrendered. But she had received strict orders not to read it until\nher eyes were fully adjusted to the new lenses.\n\nNow, however, she opened it and was reading it under the new light,\nlifting her eyes at close intervals so as to miss nothing of beauty\nor interest along this way of the world.\n\nMr. World observed her careless manner,--how she turned from chapter\nto chapter in brief succession and fixed but little attention on any\nparticular portion.\n\n\u201cI would urge you,\u201d he kindly advised, \u201cthat if you feel aught of\nheadache or heartache, through excessive reading, to close the book\nat once.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Miss Church-member was reading the Bible to her companion\nwhen there appeared to them an interpreter who was like unto an angel\nof light.]\n\nShe made no reply, but to his surprise was now deeply engaged in the\nperusal of the seventh chapter of Matthew.\n\n\u201cI have heard that some parts of that book are very interesting,\u201d he\nsaid in his good natured way. \u201cWill you not read aloud to me?\u201d\n\nWith a return of the old passion for his conversion she gladly complied\nand read the whole chapter while they continued gliding smoothly along.\n\nAn interesting discussion ensued, during the course of which there\njoined them one who was like unto an angel of light.\n\nAfter hearing his smooth sentences of general Bible-knowledge, Miss\nChurch-Member exclaimed: \u201cWho art thou, and how didst thou gain so\ngreat a knowledge of this Book?\u201d\n\n\u201cI am but a harmless creature of the air, going whither I will. I have\nstudied that Book through all the changes of time and understand every\npart of it. I would, even now, make any sentence as clear as light to\nthee.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd thinkest thou that this part is true?\u201d hopefully asked Miss\nChurch-Member as she raised the open Bible and pointed to the chapter\nshe had just read.\n\n\u201cEvery sentence is true, but in reading it there is grave danger of\nmisapprehension. Didst thou have difficulty with any particular part\nof the chapter?\u201d\n\n\u201cWith verses thirteen and fourteen,\u201d she replied.\n\nThe angelic interpreter then read them in a fine resonant voice.\n\n\u201c\u2018Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is\nthe way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in\nhereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth\nunto life, and few there be that find it.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cIf these words are really true,\u201d quickly commented Miss Church-Member,\n\u201cwe must be traveling in the wrong way. Does it not appear so?\u201d she\nqueried, as she looked with increasing interest at the angelic being.\n\n\u201cNaturally it does,\u201d he shrewdly answered, \u201cespecially if you look\nmerely at the surface of the text; but the pearls of truth lie deeper.\u201d\n\n\u201cI well know that the King\u2019s Highway is called the \u2018Narrow Way\u2019 and\nthis, whereon we journey, the \u2018Broad Way.\u2019 Surely this part of Scripture\nis against us,\u201d insisted Miss Church-Member, as her countenance grew\nmore troubled.\n\n\u201cThou needst not stumble at such easy Scripture; behold, the meaning\nis quite clear! They who travel on the so-called King\u2019s Highway are\ncontinually exaggerating the _merits_ of the way, thereby making it\nappear greater and broader than it really is. They go so far as to\nclaim that the way is broad enough to accommodate all the people of\nthe world, were they minded to travel thereon. Therefore those who\nthus make the way broad by their own conceits will meet with\ndestruction. This is the meaning of verse thirteen.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is certain, according to verse fourteen, that we have a strait\ngate, and none, on this road, imagine or claim that the way is broader\nthan it is; so we are credited with having it called \u2018narrow,\u2019 for it\nis as narrow as we claim it to be.\u201d\n\n\u201cNotwithstanding your explanation and the relief these glasses have\ngiven me, my conscience is still troubled, and methinks I hear a voice\nfrom this Bible chiding me. This is the chief barrier to my real\nhappiness,\u201d she boldly confessed.\n\n\u201cThou shouldst not dwell in fear,\u201d spoke the shining adviser. \u201cDo not\nallow the errors of any false teaching to mar the peace and happiness\nof this way. Bid farewell to all thy inward doubting, and taste the\nimperishable sweetness of the world, turning a deaf ear to the voice\nthat chides thee unkindly.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut the voice comes from my Bible,\u201d she tremblingly declared.\n\n\u201cTruly said, Miss Church-Member; it comes far enough _from_ the Bible.\nWhy not listen to the voice that is the Bible. Thou art in harmony with\nevery part of Scripture. Let not false voices drive thee on to deeper\ngrief.\u201d\n\nShe then looked at the shining form with more curiosity than ever\nbefore.\n\n\u201cWho can this be?\u201d she asked Mr. World in a passing whisper. \u201cYou have\nseen how he urges me to perfect peace, and so unselfishly.\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2019Tis but a happy friend that comes in the hour of need. Should we not\ngive heed to his kindly voice? If the studying of that Bible gives you\npain, adding to the weight that already wearies your heart, why not\nclose the book and, continuing on this way of ease, look more carefully\non outward things again?\u201d\n\n\u201cThink you, Mr. World, that I would lay down my Bible? This is the\nbook that mother loved. It has always been my Book of books. It contains\nthe code of laws that controls the whole spiritual world, and it is\nthe only lamp that leads to light and to the gates of Heaven. You need\nit as much as I. Why ask me to lay it down?\u201d\n\n\u201c_Nay, nay,_\u201d spoke the angel of light, \u201c_urge her not to discard her\nBible, but rather to get a true understanding of it._ Perhaps,\u201d he\ncontinued, turning again to Miss Church-Member, \u201cthou hast met with\nother mysterious verses in this chapter. If so, I will gladly serve\nthee, for I love to give light to an honest heart.\u201d\n\n\u201cI see nothing more now that gives me trouble. These glasses, which\nI got through the kindness of Mr. World, have helped me to understand\nyour interpretation so that the rest of the chapter is quite clear to\nme.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd how does the whole Bible appear since thy sight is so improved\nby those fortunate lenses?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt certainly appears vastly different,\u201d she confessed. \u201cIt is so much\nmore liberal in its teachings than I ever before imagined.\u201d\n\n\u201c_Hast thou become so far advanced that thou canst, with thy more\ncomprehensive view, distinguish between the inspired and the uninspired\nparts?_\u201d asked the shining one with an air of dignity.\n\n\u201cNot clearly so, although I have recently doubted the genuineness of\nsome parts which still hold their place in the book.\u201d\n\n\u201cThou art coming to the true light,\u201d he flatteringly replied. \u201cBlessed\nis the event that ever changed thine eyes to see so great a truth. Oh,\nthat all the world might thus drink from the fountain of knowledge!\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen will the time ever come that the Bible will be rid of its errors?\u201d\nimpatiently broke in Mr. World.\n\n\u201cIn that happy day when the mists of superstition shall vanish before\nthe true light of personal liberty and free thinking,\u201d came the answer\nfrom the bright-robed angel who was none else than a minion of the\nDevil in disguise.\n\n\u201cHow could such a glorious work best be accomplished?\u201d asked Mr. World\nwhose interest now was more intensely aroused.\n\n\u201cOnly by Christians who ought to appoint a committee from their own\nnumber,--persons like our friend Miss Church-Member. This committee\ncould decide, by a majority vote, what parts of the Bible to expunge.\nThen the church and the world would have a Bible reasonably free from\nerrors. Our present Bible has so many objectionable parts which, of\ncourse, could not have been inspired, and any person who has the courage\nto correct it will be doing the world an incalculable service.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmen and amen!\u201d enthusiastically spoke Mr. World. \u201cThe Bible is\ncertainly a great book, but it would be vastly improved if once rid\nof its interpolations and errors of translation. Any preacher who would\nuse in his pulpit such an abridged Bible would have my profoundest\nrespect, and I hereby pledge half my fortune to the first minister who\nwill do himself the honor of taking such a step.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat will have its desired effect,\u201d smilingly commented Miss\nChurch-Member, \u201cfor there are some gentlemen of the cloth who would\nquickly sacrifice any conviction for such a sum of money.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd here,\u201d added the angel of light, \u201cI hold in my hand a crown of\nfame set with the gems of honor. I hereby engage to place a crown like\nthis on the head of each minister who will, in preaching and teaching,\nabridge the Bible and ridicule its weaknesses. Of course he must not\ncast reflection upon the real Word of God. He must only denounce and\ndestroy the errors that have crept into it.\u201d\n\nWith these words the bright messenger disappeared, and Miss\nChurch-Member endeavored again to know more about his identity, but\nMr. World did not altogether satisfy her curiosity.\n\nThen, as they sped onward in their well-devised vehicle down the gravity\nroad to Hell, Miss Church-Member continued reading her Bible quietly.\n\n\u201cHow changed the teachings of this book appear,\u201d she soliloquized. \u201cI\ncan now see how foolish I once was in taking so narrow a view of its\ntruths.\u201d\n\nI took a passing glance at the King\u2019s Highway, and saw a virtuous and\nholy woman on her knees in prayer, with a Bible opened before her.\n\nShe read from the Book, doubting not its words, and was pleading\nearnestly with God for a better understanding of them, until flash\nafter flash of heavenly light filled her soul, making her face shine\nwith more than human glory.\n\nTo her the Devil, robed as an angel of light, made no appearance so\nlong as I looked.\n\nThen I asked Blackana, and he told me that Satan feared that which was\nsharper than a two-edged sword more than a large number of professing\nChristians not filled with the word of God.\n\n\u201cAnd what think you of Miss Church-Member?\u201d I continued.\n\n\u201cShe is a fine character,\u201d spoke Blackana as a hideous grin spread\nover his face.\n\nThen I was moved with indignation, and I spoke with fire in my voice:\n\u201cGive me no more deceptive words of Hell! Tell the naked truth. What\nis the estimate that Satan places on one who acts like Miss\nChurch-Member?\u201d\n\nBlackana moved not a feature at my changed attitude, but spoke calmly\nwithin the bounds of truth: \u201cSatan considers such a one as a valuable\nally to his cause, for she is now working against Jesus Christ on her\nimaginary road to Heaven. Nothing is more helpful to Satan than when\nmembers of the church believe that parts of the Bible are untrue. It\nis indeed gratifying to us,\u201d continued Blackana with a fiendish smile,\n\u201cto see the twentieth century of the so-called Christian era opening\nwith the church wrangling over her Bible more desperately than ever,\nand some of the learned leaders, and those of lesser light, laying the\nlash on him who believes that the regularly revised version of Scripture\nis of sufficient authority and approved of God.\u201d\n\nThus Blackana, in dread reluctant tones, and with his tongue still\nunfriendly to Christ\u2019s cause, was continuing, when a voice from above\ngave this startling and silencing testimony.\n\n\u201c_Such Scripture is an impregnable rock; and they, who by faith stand\nthereon, cannot be poisoned by the fiery darts which are hurled even\nby the latest invented guns from the Wizard City. All Hell secretly\nacknowledges the strength of this foundation, even though part of the\nchurch on earth refuses to do as much._\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\nTHE DEVIL\u2019S PAWN SHOP.\n\n1. Miss Church-Member with her new glasses looks upon her attire and,\nnot being satisfied with her pilgrim\u2019s robe, exchanges it for up-to-date\napparel.\n\n2. The similar action of Mr. Deacon and Mr. Elder described.\n\n\nMiss Church-Member, having closed her Bible, was engaged in a close\nscrutiny of her attire. By the aid of her glasses she realized very\nkeenly that her garments were out of harmony with her environments.\n\n\u201cWill you answer a frank question?\u201d she modestly asked Mr. World. \u201cDo\nyou think my pilgrim\u2019s robe becomes me as it should?\u201d\n\n\u201cA very delicate question. I should never have ventured a criticism\nwithout your invitation to do so. Sincerely, your whole attire is\nsomewhat antiquated. It is just as faulty as the Bible. So I would\nadvise you to wear apparel more suited to your natural charms.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut where can such be found?\u201d she blushingly asked, offering no comment\nupon Mr. World\u2019s aspersion upon the Holy Scriptures.\n\n[Illustration: A Scene in the Devil\u2019s Pawn Shop. \u201cHer beautiful pilgrim\nrobe was drawn through the dust and relegated to the rear.\u201d]\n\n\u201cAt numberless places along the way. In the distance I see an exchange\nstore, duly authorized to do business along this Highway. If you so\ndesire, we will proceed thither.\u201d\n\nShe assented gratefully, and soon the vehicle stopped. The two alighted\nand stepped into the place known along the King\u2019s Highway as the Devil\u2019s\nPawn Shop.\n\nThis establishment was easily accessible from either Highway, and had\nbeen in operation for thousands of years, carrying on an extensive\nbusiness.\n\nIn such a place our parents pawned a glorious inheritance for a taste\nof forbidden fruit, and Esau exchanged a legitimate birth-right for\na mere mess of pottage.\n\nIn another similar place Judas sold his Lord and Master for thirty\ndirty pieces of silver; and Ananias and Sapphira pawned their natural\nand spiritual lives for a little worldly profit which was held but for\na few hours, and that in guilt and pain.\n\nSatan has a Pawn Shop, or an exchange store, for every phase of desire\nthat can enter into an unsatisfied heart, or a soul unduly ambitious.\nThis one, into which Mr. World escorted Miss Church-Member, is intended\nfor those who become dissatisfied with the dress of righteousness, or\nfor any who wish a change in any part of their apparel. It proved\nintensely interesting to Miss Church-Member, with her new-found\nambitions, to walk through the aisles of this great department store,\neach department being used for a separate kind of apparel.\n\nThe entire Pawn Shop was full of old curiosities which had never been\nredeemed. These, and more recent specimens, told the story of many a\nfaithless pilgrim. In the footwear department I saw many a \u201cpreparation\nof the gospel of peace\u201d which had been pawned for shoes of worldliness,\nand elsewhere I saw the garments of truth which had been girt about\nthe loins of the saints, but which had been exchanged for robes of\nvanity.\n\nThere were also many antiquated pilgrims\u2019 robes which had been given\nfor more fashionable attire.\n\nMiss Church-Member became more and more ashamed of her own robe as she\nsaw how many already had effected the exchange which she was now\ncontemplating.\n\nOne of the shrewd attendants, observing the impatience of Miss\nChurch-Member and the significant look of Mr. World, approached her\nand offered to render such assistance as she might desire.\n\n\u201cI am feeling wretchedly out of place and out of style in my present\ncondition. Can I not be dressed in a way more consistent with my\nstation?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe can readily and easily supply all your fancies,\u201d answered the\nattendant with a graceful bow and a smile which gave re-assurance to\nMiss Church-Member.\n\nThe sad transformation was effected in a manner well pleasing to the\nPrince of Darkness. Her beautiful pilgrim\u2019s robe was drawn through the\ndust and relegated to the rear.\n\nMy own heart saddened as I beheld the changed appearance of Miss\nChurch-Member, who had just taken one more step in her downward course,\nand who was still vainly imagining that she was on the road to Heaven.\n\nI saw, with disgust, her fantastically feathered hat of conceit, her\nbroad sleeves of self-righteousness, her ruby bracelets and necklace\nof vanity, her flowing garments of personal liberty, and her shoes of\nfashionable infidelity.\n\nThen they made a strong effort to induce her to pawn her Bible, but\nto no purpose, for she had clung to it so long that it had become a\nprecious souvenir with which she declared she would never part. Thus\nI saw how some worship the Bible who do not worship God.\n\nFinally they emerged from the Pawn Shop, and glided along in their\nmysterious carriage more rapidly and smoothly than ever. The two happy\ncompanions, free from their former embarrassment, now enjoyed the\nscenes of life along the way with increasing pleasure. The moving\nmasses, in their diversified employments, yielded constant\nentertainment.\n\nMiss Church-Member was soon agreeably surprised to see Mr. Deacon and\nMr. Elder, who served in the same church to which she belonged. The\ncarriage overtook them in a rather isolated place and stopped at their\nside, in obedience to the will of Miss Church-Member.\n\n\u201cCan it possibly be that I meet two of my church officers at this\nunexpected time and place? How came it about that you also have chosen\nthis \u2018Broader and Better Way\u2019 to Heaven?\u201d\n\nThe two men were slightly abashed at first and stood speechless as if\nin doubt what to say, or as if they were unable to recognize her.\n\n\u201cHo! ho!\u201d cried Mr. Deacon, \u201chere is Miss Church-Member who sits in\none of our front pews.\u201d\n\n\u201cHer appearance is wonderfully improved however,\u201d added Mr. Elder in\nan undertone.\n\n\u201cHow came you to adopt this dress and be in such close fellowship with\nMr. World?\u201d asked Mr. Deacon.\n\n\u201cI am now in the midst of my missionary work, endeavoring to lead Mr.\nWorld into church membership,\u201d were her glib words of explanation,\nthough, somehow, they were unsatisfying to her ear; but she was rapidly\nlearning to stifle such unpleasant qualms of conscience.\n\n\u201cShe is doing a grand work,\u201d said Mr. Deacon to Mr. Elder with gestures\nof approbation.\n\n\u201cAre you any better than you were since such an elevating influence\nhas been thrown about you?\u201d asked Mr. Elder, as he turned to Mr. World.\n\n\u201cHappy for me that Miss Church-Member ever undertook my case, for I\nam now nearer joining the church than ever before.\u201d\n\nThe two church-officials offered their hands to Mr. World in warm\ncongratulation, and then praised Miss Church-Member for her timely\nefforts which they felt sure would terminate in his conversion.\n\n\u201cWhat more is required of me in order that I may join your church?\u201d\ninquired Mr. World in a voice of deepening earnestness.\n\n\u201cNothing more than to express your willingness,\u201d responded the two.\nYour morality is beyond suspicion, and your fulfillment of the duties\nof citizenship has always been praiseworthy; therefore your religion\nis quite exemplary. It lacks but your admission into the church.\u201d\n\n\u201cI would have joined before now had it not been for a radical element\npotent in the councils of the church, and especially for the narrow\nviews entertained by your minister. If you had another pastor, one of\nmore liberal cast of mind, it would not only influence me to join, but\nmany of my wealthy and honorable friends would do so as well.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt certainly is a sad state of affairs,\u201d sighed Miss Church-Member.\n\u201cWe are losing heavily by reason of such narrowness. I thought\ndifferently at one time, but these glasses have given me a wider and\nclearer range of vision.\u201d\n\n\u201cYour words indicate a sound judgment,\u201d commented Mr. World, and the\ntwo church officials listened eagerly. \u201cWhy should the church compel\na man to journey on a path so narrow that he can scarcely make any\nprogress?\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Mr. Elder, unable to push through the narrow pass of\nConsecration, was compelled to take the \u201cShorter and Broader Way to\nHeaven.\u201d]\n\n\u201cA sensible view of it,\u201d said Mr. Elder, \u201cfor I have learned by\nexperience that it is impossible to travel far in the way you mention.\nI tried it until recently, when I gave it up in disgust. I patronized\nan old established exchange store, disposed of a part of my outfit,\nand got in exchange something up-to-date, as you see from my appearance.\nI then endeavored to walk on the old path, but soon came to an\nespecially narrow place called Consecration. I could not squeeze\nthrough. I struggled hard and long until one came to me and said: \u2018Let\ngo what thou hast under thine arms and belted to thine heart, and thou\nshalt go through with ease and rejoicing.\u2019 That was asking too much\nof me, for I paid a high price for these things and was minded to hold\nto them at all cost. I then endeavored more earnestly to push ahead,\nbut found that I could not. As I looked around me, in despair, I saw\na path leading to the left, under a beautiful arch, whereon I read\nthis inscription:\n\nA SHORTER AND BROADER WAY TO HEAVEN.\n\n\u201cThis path I took and have been traveling comfortably thereon,\nespecially since I found this still Broader Way into which it led. If\nonly all church-members would know the comforts and advantages of this\nway, they could no longer refuse to travel it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey are finding it out more and more every age,\u201d said Mr. World\nwith a complacent smile. \u201cThe church and the world ought to be one\nand, according to the teaching of the Bible, how could this be better\naccomplished than by having the church come down to the level of the\nworld, and from that point lift the world upward. That was Christ\u2019s\nmethod and example. The church of to-day should not wish to be greater\nthan her Lord.\u201d\n\nThe two church-officials looked at each other in surprise. \u201cWithout\ndoubt that is broad-minded theology,\u201d first spoke Mr. Deacon.\n\n\u201cIt is indeed refreshing in contrast with what we must hear repeatedly\nfrom the troublesome element in the church,\u201d added the other.\n\n\u201cWill you not tell us how you also came to reach this favored place?\u201d\ninquired Miss Church-Member, as she gave her attention momentarily to\nMr. Deacon.\n\n\u201cIt came about in a very odd manner. I had been wearing an old-style\nrobe of righteousness, and gradually came to see that it was totally\nout of harmony with the higher thought of the age; so much so that I\nbecame odious to many liberal-minded people. A sharp struggle ensued\nbetween my conscience and my judgment. In the midst of this conflict\nI came to a place which offered to accept my old garments in exchange\nfor seasonable attire. \u2018Anything for peace,\u2019 thought I; so I entered\nthe establishment and selected this apparel, and these additional\nadvantages. It cost me nothing but the mere willingness to exchange,\nand would I not have been foolish to refuse so much at so small a\nprice?\u201d\n\n\u201cWithout a doubt,\u201d quickly answered Miss Church-Member. The others\nforcibly confirmed her answer.\n\n\u201cAfter I had completed my bargain I continued my diligence in the work\nof the church and in traveling on the good old Narrow Way. I came to\na place called God Praise, and got through with little difficulty; but\nvoices from unseen creatures spoke terror to my soul. In this\nunhappiness I trudged along until I came to a narrow pass known as\nSacrifice. Through it I could not go. I struggled again and again. I\nalso heard a voice saying unto me: \u2018If thou wilt wear the garments of\nsalvation, and cast off these things of earth, then thou mayest pass\nthrough all thy sacrifice with ease and sweet delight.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe voice troubled me much, for I feared it spoke the truth. There\ndid I spend a long season in mortal dread and doubt, and thought I\nwould rather die than suffer thus. Suddenly, as if blind to it before,\nI saw a sign apparently moving in circles about me. It settled to my\nleft and thus it read:\n\nTO HEAVEN WITHOUT SACRIFICE.\n\n\u201cAt once a smooth path opened to view, and I chided myself for having\nbeen blind to it so long. I entered upon it and hastily pursued my\njourney, and soon from thence passed upon this Broad Gauge Road. I\ntraveled hereon for a long time when, to my delight, I came across Mr.\nElder. I assure you we have had companionable seasons. We are on our\nroad to Heaven and expect eventually to reach that place. Many persons\nof the Narrow Gauge Road have told us that we are wrong, deceived, and\nwould be hopelessly lost if we do not change our course, but methinks\nthat those people are disregarding the Bible where it saith, \u2018Judge\nnot that ye be not judged\u2019; and \u2018Thou hypocrite, first cast out the\nbeam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cAh! Mr. Deacon,\u201d quickly complimented Mr. World, \u201cyou must be a\nchampion in the use of Bible truth. How can these bigots expect to\nstand when such Scripture condemns them? It will be a joyful time for\nall of us when these self-righteous critics shall have pulled the beams\nout of their eyes and be able to see us in our real innocence.\u201d\n\nWhile Mr. World was speaking these words he assisted Miss Church-\nMember into their strange vehicle and, when his last sentence was\nended, they bade a hearty farewell to the two acquaintances and smoothly\nglided on, not tarrying to hear the words of commendation which each\nchurch-official was speaking simultaneously.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\nSATAN\u2019S LAW DEPARTMENTS\n\n(_Underground._)\n\n1. An allegorical representation of Satan\u2019s underhanded methods in law\nand politics. All seen during a thrilling journey with Blackana through\nthis underground regions (level below level) where the laws of Hell\nare hatched.\n\n2. A realistic climax,--ultimate triumph of right in the civil realm.\n\n\nI now saw two mountains so high that their shadows perpetually darkened\nthe Broad Highway which covered the wide valley between them.\n\nIn this Shadowy Vale many held permanent residence, until the whole\nregion swarmed with teeming millions of every tongue and tribe on the\nface of the globe.\n\nAt the base of the mountains, on each side of the way, there were\nnumerous large openings through which imps of darkness were constantly\npassing. Most of them were habited as angels of light.\n\n\u201cTell me the mystery of those dismal openings,\u201d I asked as I turned\nto Blackana. \u201cWords are inadequate to tell of the places to which they\nlead. To know aright one must see,\u201d he answered with marked\nindifference.\n\nFor a moment I silently looked upon Blackana whose evasive answer had\nso greatly aroused my curiosity.\n\n\u201cBeyond those ominous portals I can discern nothing,\u201d I murmured. \u201cHow\ncan I be privileged to see what is there hidden?\u201d\n\n\u201cCome with me,\u201d coldly invited Blackana, \u201cI will guide you to the\nnethermost realms now unseen by you. This I do not willingly, but I\nam thus commanded.\u201d\n\nNot wishing to receive my orders from the mouth of a demon, I talked\nto my better Friend who bade me go and be assured that _a body-guard\nof ten thousand would ever be at my side, though I saw them not._\n\nOn wings, swifter than the wind, Blackana and I covered the intervening\nspace. We stood in the dark valley at one of the openings, now appearing\nten-fold larger than before, and the mountains reared their imposing\ncrests as if to an endless height.\n\n\u201cFollow me,\u201d grimly spoke Blackana as he advanced through the monstrous\narcade into the deepening darkness.\n\nI remembered the ten thousand, and feared not as I followed. Downward\nand inward we went, with no light but a horrid glare casting its\nuncertain rays athwart our path.\n\n\u201cIs this the passage-way to Destruction?\u201d I cried, as I saw how spectral\nall things were, for more than a thousand grimy faces had already added\ntheir fitful glances to the glimmering scene.\n\n\u201cThe passage-way to Hell is not so smooth; we go to a better place,\u201d\nhe answered, without so much as turning his head.\n\nWe finally stopped at a line of massive elevators, ever in busy motion,\ncarrying the throngs upward or downward.\n\nAs we paused, Blackana regarded me silently. I was then able, for the\nfirst time, to see his face clearly. No light reveals the countenance\nof a demon so well as the light of his own region.\n\nI stood as if paralyzed under his awful eyes. Oh! thought I, can two\norbs picture such infinite depth of remorse; such absence of tenderness;\nsuch barrenness of sympathy, far beyond the most care-worn look of\nearth? Then, pervading all these lineaments of despair were the positive\ncharacteristics of his nature--malice, envy, and hatred. These lent\ntheir repulsive fires to his eye, already overcharged with insidious\ngleamings. I suddenly thought of my ten thousand, and my fears subsided.\n\n\u201cIt were better for you to remain a stranger to the greater depth and\ngo no farther,\u201d were the words that finally came from Blackana\u2019s\nscarcely moving lips.\n\n\u201cFulfill your mission, Blackana! I fear not the deepest depth when I\nam thus equipped.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhere is your sword and where is your armor?\u201d he tauntingly asked.\n\n\u201cMy steel is hid until I find a foe worthy of its mettle.\u201d\n\nBlackana quivered and resumed his task. He told me that above us, deep\nin the bowels of these mountains, were the more refined legislative\nhalls of Satan; while below us, at varying and terrible depths, lay\nscattered many a brooding station where the lowest laws of Hell are\nhatched.\n\n\u201cLet us go downward,\u201d I said, and scarcely had the words escaped my\nlips ere Blackana had ushered me into an elevator, holding me as we\ndropped down and down with increasing velocity, while a cold chill was\nfreezing my heart, and my body playing the part of an aspen leaf.\n\nNever before had I been touched by so dreadful a hand, but I thought\nagain of the ten thousand, and that lent warmth to my heart and calmness\nto my nerves. \u201cTo what great depth are we falling?\u201d I soon ventured\nto ask, as I perceived that we were dashing downward at terrific speed.\n\n\u201cWe fall to no great depth; we go only a thousand furlongs to reach\nthe first grand level, not stopping at these lesser places of which\nyou get a glimpse in passing.\u201d\n\n\u201cA thousand furlongs,\u201d I repeated, \u201cdown into the earth! Who ever heard\nof such a descent before?\u201d But I still thought of my ten thousand,\neven though I could not conceive how they could follow me in such\nplaces.\n\n\u201cAt what rate do we now travel?\u201d I nervously asked, for I felt the\nhand of Blackana still pressing me down lest the great elevator would\nfall faster than my body.\n\n\u201cAccording to earthly reckoning we are falling twenty furlongs a second\nand our speed is still increasing with the descent,\u201d was the startling\nanswer.\n\nI spoke no more, but found myself clutching the raised bars of the\nfloor. I saw the glimmering light of many a region as we darted by at\nour lightning speed.\n\nIn an incredibly short time we reached the first grand level. Blackana\nled me forth from the elevator into an immense cavern whose dimensions\nwere apparently as limitless as the space between the earth and sky.\nIt was illuminated by infernal lights and all astir with moving\nthousands in fabled dress and shape.\n\nNever before had I imagined or beheld such a scene. Pure gold was as\nplentiful as the water of the earth, and was abundantly used in the\nconstruction of vast halls whose overarching vaults were encrusted\nwith priceless gems that dazzled like jets of crystallized light.\n\n\u201cWhat weird world is this?\u201d I asked in an awed tone.\n\n\u201cThis is one of my master\u2019s legislative centers, devoted to each\nseparate government on earth. The many legislators of this whole region\nare ever busily engaged in determining upon their policy and methods\nof operation, and in endeavoring to influence the law-making body of\neach government to create and modify laws in harmony with the\nunderground legislation here enacted.\u201d\n\n\u201cAh!\u201d said I, \u201cbut this place is far from the surface where man dwells.\nHow can there be such close connection?\u201d\n\nBlackana smiled as he made a wonderful revelation to me. \u201cThis strange\nempire is in close touch with the whole human family, for there are\nthousands of wires leading from this dark realm to each government\ncentre of earth. Satan thus communicates his wishes to each lawmaker,\nof every land, who will lend a listening ear to his schemes.\u201d\n\nBlackana then conducted me to an immense building divided into many\nsections. \u201cHere is the electric centre of this level,\u201d he said.\n\nAs I gazed I learned the secret of Satan\u2019s power in law. Thousands\nwere here engaged in conversing with legislators on earth.\n\nI could understand no word of all these communications, for the section\nwhere I stood was devoted to Asiatic countries and the islands of the\nPacific Ocean.\n\n\u201cTake me, O Blackana, to the section connecting with the Western world\nthat I may see the very wires that run to the United States of America.\u201d\n\nI soon stood in the interior of another large building, and with great\ninterest listened to the operators communicating with some who were\nin authority at Washington, and with persons elsewhere who were\ninterested in the formulation of laws for the whole country.\n\n\u201cDoes this never cease?\u201d I questioned.\n\n\u201cIt continues through the days and nights of earth forever,\u201d came the\nreply.\n\nI was looking at the intricate system of wires and the stupendous\nproportions of the place, when suddenly I heard some one mention a\nname with which I was familiar. I was attracted close to the side of\nthe operator that I might hear at least the one side of the\nconversation.\n\n\u201cThat bill should never become a law,\u201d said the operator, but I could\nnot hear the reply.\n\n\u201cFight hard to defeat it. You will get heaps of gold if you succeed,\u201d\nwere the next words I heard at the lower \u2019phone.\n\n\u201cNever mind them. I\u2019ll take care of that crowd. I will try once more\nto get their ear. I failed the last time, but I hope to succeed at my\nnext endeavor.\u201d These words were spoken very plainly, but still I could\nhear no reply.\n\n\u201cSuppose the other element has chances to win. Get ready at once and\nmeet the situation. Go and speak to the chairman of the committee and\nearly influence his mind in our favor. Offer any bribe you wish, for\nwe have unlimited resources at our command.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf only I could hear the answer,\u201d thought I.\n\nThen the operator listened a long time, and I almost envied his\nprivilege, wishing that I might also hear the human voice from the\nearth\u2019s surface.\n\nBlackana conducted me to other parts of the building, and I saw the\nfiendish program carried out at each point. Thousands of demons were\nin league with the law-makers of the world!\n\n\u201cOh! that I could cut these wires and restrict Satan\u2019s laws to these\nunderground dominions,\u201d I said with rising boldness.\n\n\u201cSilence, puny mortal! Know you not that others can hear you speak?\nWould you here be crushed to death so far from the light of day?\u201d\n\nSuperhuman strength moved me to answer thus: \u201cThough all these hosts\nshould hear me, I fear nothing. I am invincible, and should you take\nme to the deepest depths, amidst foul crawling imps, not one can harm\nme. Neither can you, Blackana.\n\n\u201cCome on,\u201d he sneered, \u201ccease your senseless sentences and follow me.\u201d\n\nI saw that Blackana endeavored to conceal the counter-currents of his\nheart, but nevertheless his agitation did not escape my notice.\n\nBack to the elevators we went, and with a throng of evil spirits we\nentered the central car and fell another thousand furlongs into the\ndepth of the earth.\n\nWe stopped at the second grand level into which I was ushered. I looked\nout over what seemed to be a new world with more light and more\nanimation than was manifest on the first level.\n\nBoisterous demonstrations were heard on every hand, all made more\nhideous by the variety of evil spirits who added their din to the\ngeneral bedlam. \u201cWhat furious world is this?\u201d I shouted.\n\n\u201cThis is Satan\u2019s political headquarters, and the place where his state\nlaws are made. We are here connected with every state or divisional\ngovernment in the world, and with every political movement that can\nbe influenced by these underground voices.\u201d\n\nMy indignation leaped over all bounds as the vileness of these\niniquitous schemes pressed upon me. I heard the bands of music from\nthose who had prostituted their talent to the second level.\n\nBlackana pushed me on through all the demonstrations, and then led me\ninto a great structure more secluded than the electrical stations.\nHere the state laws are hatched, but, thanks to a higher sanctum, not\nall the brood see daylight.\n\nThe plotters of Hell sat in this underground legislative centre, and\nI saw, to my horror, some state legislators occupying seats in this\ninfamous quarter.\n\nThen said I to Blackana: \u201cIt is no more a mystery to me how so much\nof Hell is incorporated into the laws of the states in the country\nwhere I hold residence, as well as in all other parts of the world.\nHow long have these things been?\u201d\n\n\u201cSince the beginning of law,\u201d was his indifferent reply.\n\n\u201cIt will not be so forever,\u201d I prophesied under a sudden spell of\ninspiration. \u201cThe time must come when the power of this level will be\nblasted forever. The owner of the tree will burn the worms and their\nnests from every branch.\u201d\n\nThen said Blackana tauntingly: \u201cNeither flood, poison, fire, nor knife\ncan ever destroy this section.\u201d Just as he spoke these words the whole\nedifice shook, and I heard a noise as if a shower of great stones had\ncrashed into the roof and sides of the building. The legislators quaked\nwith fear and all looked toward the ceiling. All of this instantly\nreminded me of the thousand lords who looked at the ominous handwriting\non the wall at the feast of Belshazzar.\n\n\u201cExplain it to me,\u201d I asked as I looked wonderingly at Blackana.\n\n\u201cUrge it not, urge it not! Be content to dwell in ignorance!\u201d\n\n\u201cI am here to learn, and I would know what force or power can so\nwell-nigh destroy this wretched center. Tell me the truth. I demand\nit.\u201d\n\nThen did Blackana move himself in his startling attitudes, as if loath\nto speak. He rolled his heavy eyes as his discordant voice yielded the\nunwilling explanation.\n\n\u201cThese are the votes that just fell in favor of reform in a campaign\non earth. Such votes, under the panoply of prayer, strike more terror\nto these kingdoms than all else combined, and the most disastrous\nfeature is that they go bounding from the buildings of this level ever\ndownward and work their ruin from kingdom to kingdom, until they have\nwrought their havoc even to the lowest level. If we only knew the way\nto break the power of these votes, our comrades would not then dwell\nin constant dread of what might happen.\u201d\n\n\u201cMay you never learn that power, and may the votes of good citizenship\never increase in number until these legislative halls shall be broken\nto rise no more, and their inmates driven from their secret machinations\nto the abode prepared for the Devil and his angels.\u201d\n\nBlackana sprang at me in great rage.\n\n\u201cSilence, you contemptible mortal! You have not such liberty of speech\nhere! Why fling insults into the face of one more powerful than\nyourself?\u201d\n\n\u201c_Ho, ye ten thousand!_\u201d I shouted with all my power, and Blackana\nfell backward at my very words. Sullen, but cowed, he arose to his\nfeet and took me to the elevators.\n\n\u201cWhere next?\u201d he gruffly asked.\n\n\u201cWhat is on the next level below?\u201d I inquired.\n\n\u201cGreater proceedings than on this one. It is devoted to the government\nof counties, cities, boroughs, and villages, and their political work.\u201d\n\n\u201cPass it by and take me to the lowest level.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou do not know what you ask. The lowest level is very, very deep,\nand takes us where things have no weight. It is the lowest haunt outside\nof Hell, inhabited by the vilest imps. How can you live or move in\nsuch a realm?\u201d\n\n\u201cNot by the futile force of human power, but by the strength of Him\nwho bids me go. I fear not, O Blackana; conduct me thither.\u201d\n\nWhat an awful experience followed! I was taken down at an amazing\nspeed, held under the great hand of Blackana. We passed region after\nregion of infernal lights, each one existing for the purpose of carrying\nout its part of Satan\u2019s fiendish plan.\n\nAt length we stopped in the red glare of an awful burning amidst a\ncompany of hobgoblins out of harmony with all human shape or symmetry.\n\n\u201cThis must be the bed of Hell, indeed,\u201d I said, after I had conquered\nmy rising fears. \u201cFar from it, far from it!\u201d answered Blackana. \u201cWe\nare now in the lowest legislative center _where foul fiends invent the\nhorrible laws of personal pollution in the mortal body, and political\nbribery in the civil body._\u201d\n\nBlackana held me by the hand. I seemed not to walk but rather to move\nalong without effort, seeing the pictures of lowest life and ill-shaped\nspirits, some of monster size.\n\nInto an immense auditorium I was wafted, a building without foundations\nor floor. Here, amidst uncanny noises, hovered a vast throng of Satan\u2019s\nlowest legislators.\n\nThe dreadful suggestions here given, and the terrible debates that\nfollowed, beggar human description. From all parts of the great hall\nthe busy wires were communicating with every section of the earth\u2019s\nsurface.\n\nBlackana, still holding me by the hand, spoke! thus in a derisive\nstrain:\n\n\u201cO mortal, now comes my glorious revenge I have tasted your insults\nuntil their galling bitterness grinds me still. I have craved for this\nhour when I might leave you to the mercy of the lowest, and bring you\nunder my feet for ever.\u201d\n\nThen, turning to the chairman of the great assemblage, Blackana\nattracted his attention, and at once the attention of all the spectral\nmonsters of the place.\n\n\u201cHere,\u201d commenced he, \u201cis a piece of mortal flesh, fresh from the\nsurface. I have been forced, by some strange power, to conduct this\nmortal man through these nether levels until he has seen the workings\nof our underground plans and schemes. He must never see the light of\nday, lest the world above may know the true inwardness and source of\nsuch laws as are called cursed, and rise in hosts against our surface\noperations.\u201d\n\nAt this Blackana thrust me forward, and I went straightway to the\nchairman who seized me by the back and held me aloft in his right hand,\nwhile a deafening roar of strident voices was measuring my doom.\n\n\u201c_Ho, ye ten thousand!_\u201d I cried aloud, at which the horrid chairman\nfell backward, and I dropped unharmed to his own chair as the whole\nhost were rushing at me en masse.\n\nThe chairman sprang to his feet and waved a wand. \u201cSilence and order!\u201d\nhe commanded.\n\nThousands of brandishing weapons were brought to a stand, and quietness\nreigned in a moment.\n\n\u201cWhy say you \u2018ten thousand\u2019? What power lives in those words?\u201d asked\nthe chairman with a show of boldness, but in secret quaking. \u201cPower\nunlimited, even over death, hell, and the grave. My flesh is not food\nfor such as these.\u201d\n\n\u201cWho can you be to talk thus boldly to your superiors?\u201d\n\n\u201cI am one who is sealed by the blood of Jesus, and have no superiors\noutside the gates of Heaven.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy came you here?\u201d he impatiently and furiously demanded. \u201cTell me\nwhile yet you have opportunity to speak.\u201d\n\nThen, fully confiding in my unseen Guard, I stood erect and said with\nboldness of speech: \u201cI have come to learn the secrets of this\nunderground legislation which is sending its blighting curse throughout\nthe world. Having witnessed the wide extent of these secret operations,\nI will now return to the brotherhood of man and sound the alarm of a\ncoming reformation. O, beware ye multitudes that now rise against me!\nI am not alone, nor forsaken. By faith I see armies of the living God.\nI declare, at this moment, that earth will not forever receive her\nlaws from such a depth. The hour must come when these million wires\nwill be broken beyond repair, and all you fiends go groveling under\npenal chains in darkness eternal.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: The armies of righteousness will some day triumph over\nthe black hordes of civil iniquity.]\n\nNo more could I speak, for the air was thickening all around me with\na rush of wild demons whose threatening weapons thirsted for my blood.\n\nI stood motionless, glorying in the power of the Unseen, for I saw,\nshining far above me, a beautiful star of hope with peace and purity\nin its rays.\n\nIn the same instant I again shouted, \u201c_Ho, ye ten thousand!_\u201d Oh, what\na transformation took place! Regiment upon regiment of Heaven\u2019s military\nhosts, converging as from infinite depth of space, burst into sudden\nview, revealed by a dazzling light which filled the whole region and\ndazed the infernal hosts as with blindness, while their weapons broke\nand fell beneath them in futile fragments.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\nTHE HILL OF REMORSE.\n\n1. While climbing a steep hill Miss Church-Member is touched by Remorse.\n\n2. Satan\u2019s strategy in keeping her away from the Narrow Path.\n\n3. All her trouble is lost in company with Mr. World on the Mountain Top\nof Apathy.\n\n\nReturning to my former post of observation, and looking again through\nthe open door, I beheld Mr. World and Miss Church-Member still riding\non the gravity road. They were approaching the Shadowy Vale, and Mr.\nWorld was desirous that his friend should close her eyes until they\nhad passed through the shadows.\n\nShe reclined her head, and soon was resting so comfortably that she\nfell fast asleep and opened not her eyes until they had passed beyond\nthe darker scenes of the miserable valley.\n\nThen did Mr. World engage her with artful and pleasant conversation,\nso that she might not fully observe the features that constantly make\nthis part of the Broad Highway dark and dreary.\n\nSatan, unseen, hovered around them during their conversation which was\nwell pleasing to him. At length, in partial disguise, he made himself\nvisible, much to the terror of Miss Church-Member.\n\n\u201cFear not; no harm will befall you,\u201d said Mr. World re-assuringly as\nhe laid his hand upon her shoulder.\n\nSatan smiled complaisantly, and spoke in soft tones: \u201cTremble not at\nmy presence. I have come only to render you such assistance as may be\nespecially helpful to you in your journey, and to disabuse your mind\nof such false impressions as you have evidently entertained concerning\nmy character.\u201d\n\nSo affable was his manner and so pleasing his address that, to her\nmind, he soon lost that shocking hideousness which characterized his\nfirst appearance, and evoked from Miss Church-Member this apology born\nof her guilty conscience: \u201cYou would not have seen me now on this path\nhad Mr. World adhered strictly to his promises.\u201d\n\n\u201cIndeed, Miss Church-Member,\u201d replied Satan, \u201cyou need have no regret\nfor being here. You are to be congratulated upon the good judgment\nwhich led you into fellowship with Mr. World. It is your happy fortune\nthat he has succeeded in preventing you from leaving him. You are an\nexception to a host of cranks, who, without investigation, are\nprejudiced by what they hear. You are broad-minded, independent, and\nwill be found wiser and happier than the army of fools you have left.\u201d\n\nThese words brought a mixture of pride and shame to her heart, and\nthrew her mind into a state of great confusion.\n\nBut by this time they had come to a long and steep hill called Remorse\nup which all pilgrims walked. Mr. World assisted his companion in\nalighting, and promised to give her all possible help in her efforts\nto climb the hill.\n\nSatan remained with them, and Miss Church-Member, under deepening\nremorse of conscience, loitered a few steps in the rear. Her bowed\nhead indicated the warring of her thoughts. Then I saw that she cast\na longing glance over the rough hills toward the King\u2019s Highway, and\nlooked for some path by which she might go thither.\n\nHer two wily companions endeavored to allay her fears by offering all\nmanner of cajolements, none of which either diverted or quieted her\nmind.\n\n\u201cO ye friends of mine!\u201d cried Miss Church-Member, \u201cI can find rest\nonly on yonder King\u2019s Highway. Can you show me the shortest path leading\nthereto? I cannot go to the summit of this hill.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: On the Hill of Remorse. Miss Church-Member cast a longing\nglance toward the King\u2019s Highway, and looked for some way by which she\nmight go thither.]\n\n\u201cIt so happens,\u201d pleasantly replied the Devil, \u201cthat there is no way\nof reaching the so-called King\u2019s Highway from this part of our route,\nbut, if you will have patience, we will conduct you safely to a point\na little farther on where you can conveniently leave this way with all\nhonor to yourself. In the meantime we will give you all the assistance\nthat you may need, and every convenience that science can afford.\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member wept tears of gratitude at this proffered kindness,\nand began to feel that this dark intruder was a friend with a rough\nexterior but a warm and congenial heart.\n\n\u201cIt is quite evident that you have been grossly misrepresented to me,\u201d\nshe faltered as her voice trembled with emotion. \u201cI was told that you\nare the embodiment of envy, malice, and hatred, and vigorously opposed\nto everything religious.\u201d\n\nSatan looked at her in well-counterfeited amazement. \u201cHow wrongly I\nam judged by my enemies! How can I be opposed to all religion when I\nattend church and prayer-meeting regularly, and sedulously listen to\nthe sermons and prayers while many sleep who claim to be better than\nI? You will pardon me, Miss Church-Member,\u201d he continued, \u201cbut allow\nme to bear the light burden you are carrying under your arm, and let\nus hasten from this sickly atmosphere to the refreshing air beyond the\nsummit of the hill.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou are very kind, indeed,\u201d she said. \u201cPlease carry these books\ncarefully, as I prize them very highly.\u201d\n\nAs they pushed their way up the hill, I looked at Blackana who, with\nhis eyes fixed upon me, sat as cold and motionless as a statue.\n\n\u201cTell me,\u201d I asked, \u201cwhy Satan has falsified so greatly to Miss\nChurch-Member.\u201d\n\nBlackana, with a show of uneasiness, answered interrogatively: \u201cWherein\nhas he falsified?\u201d\n\n\u201cDid he not just inform Miss Church-Member that there is no way of\nreaching the King\u2019s Highway from the place where she had been standing?\nHe well knew that there is a way opened by the Prince of the House of\nDavid. Why did he not tell her?\u201d\n\nBlackana again grinned horribly while my indignation waxed stronger.\nThen came his pertinent reply: \u201cMy master is about his own business;\nthat is why he is so successful in his work. It is not his business\nto point people away from his kingdom; his delight is rather in leading\nthem upon his own Highway.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh! for the voice of a thousand trumpets, that I might reach the ear\nof Miss Church-Member, and break unto her the words of truth and life.\nSee how she walks on between those two fiends, ever nearing an awful\ndestruction, yet vainly imagining, through the deceitfulness of her\nadvisers, that she is nearing the place where she can, with greater\nease, leave her present course and join her comrades on the Shining\nPath. Oh, that I could send a messenger, good and swift, in her\npursuit!\u201d\n\n\u201cRest in ease, anxious mortal; she will get all necessary advice from\nher two friends,\u201d replied Blackana with a sardonic grin.\n\nI could no longer look into his face, for I was filled with contempt.\nI turned my eyes to see poor Miss Church-Member still struggling up\nthe Hill of Remorse.\n\nWhen the top was finally reached I heard Mr. World congratulating her:\n\u201cWell done, noble woman! You have fought Remorse until you have mastered\nit. The pains and pangs incident to this climbing are over, and if you\nshould come to another hill you will ascend it with more ease. Look\nabout you at these cool mountain resorts called Apathy, and join me\nin a needed recreation as we mingle with the merry multitudes amongst\nthese shady bowers.\u201d\n\nShe needed no second invitation, being glad to seek relief in\nforgetfulness of her guilt.\n\nAs they went to their pleasures, Satan vanished to give attention to\nothers who were ascending the same Hill of Remorse, some in a sullen\nmood and some with wails of anguish on their lips.\n\nThe delightful resorts of Apathy were now quieting the mind of Miss\nChurch-Member, for the attractions on the mountain top were so numerous\nand so ingeniously arranged that, as she gave full attention to them,\nshe no longer suffered any pangs of remorse.\n\nOn this plateau, so full of charms for every sense, I saw bands of\nmusic; gardens of shady retreat where one might while away the weary\nhours in gentle dalliance; and cooling fountains throwing forth their\nbusy sprays.\n\nArtists were painting the scenes of worldly ease, and poets were writing\nsweet verses for the singers of the place.\n\nMiss Church-Member, who was a lover of the fine arts, asked Mr. World\nto tarry in one of the gardens of the poets where they might hear the\nsongs of the season just from the pens of their authors.\n\nThis was a novel privilege; so he readily consented and accompanied\nher into a garden near by. They were greeted by sounds of instrumental\nmusic and charming voices raised in song.\n\nAfter these harmonies died away a soloist sang a hymn that had been\ncomposed that same day. Her voice rendered each word distinctly:\n\n   Remorse is but the foe of all,\n    The rich and poor, the slave and free\n   Unfriendly comes its bitter call--\n    Perchance it comes this day to thee.\n\n   Then come, thou troubled seeking peace\n    From this unkind, intruding foe;\n   Let anxious cares no more increase;\n    Go bury all thy pangs of woe.\n\n   Forget the things that wake thy mind\n    To fleeting sorrows of the day;\n   Oh! come and be forever blind\n    To all except this Broader Way.\n\nThen followed a fiendish woman, in guise of a light-crowned angel, who\ndelivered an address entitled \u201cThe True Peace of the World.\u201d While the\napplause which followed her remarks was dying away, an authoritative\nold gentleman arose. After standing a moment in dignified silence, he\ncontinued to carry out the program of the Devil by speaking on \u201cFalse\nLights from the so-called \u2018King\u2019s Highway.\u2019\u201d\n\nNext a quartette beautifully rendered a love song of the world; this\nalso had been quite recently composed.\n\n   Sweet world, so bright and fair,\n    We would thy pleasures share\n    While days pass on.\n   Thou art our truest friend,\n    On thee our souls depend\n    Till life is gone.\n\n   In life\u2019s perplexing days,\n    Thou wilt, in every phase,\n    Be ever near.\n   While thy sweet, placid charms\n    Dispel our dread alarms\n    In times of fear.\n\n   Who else can give relief,\n    When bowed in heavy grief?\n    No one like thee.\n   Thou sendest rays of light,\n    Into our darkest night\n    Till shadows flee.\n\nThe melody of this song and the sentiment of its words had a very\ndecisive effect on Miss Church-Member. She looked into the eyes of Mr.\nWorld with more than poetry in her glance, for her heart was now\nthrilled with the first touches of true love for him.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\nTHE VALLEY OF TEMPTATION.\n\n1. In this valley the two great Highways run almost parallel.\n\n2. The intervening ground is all alive with Satan\u2019s schemes to entice,\nentrap and discourage Christians.\n\n3. The operation of Christian forces in this valley.\n\n\nAfter leaving the Hill of Remorse and the pleasure grounds of Apathy,\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member proceeded on the Broad Highway which\nnow gradually sloped toward a deep valley.\n\n\u201cWhat is the name of the valley which we are now entering?\u201d inquired\nMiss Church-Member.\n\n\u201c\u2019Tis but the Valley of Temptation,\u201d he carelessly answered.\n\n\u201cAh! I have heard of this valley,\u201d she replied. \u201cWhenever I was tempted\nor tried on the King\u2019s Highway some one would caution: \u2018Be courageous,\nfor you must go through the Valley of Temptation.\u2019 I am thankful, as I\ncome to it, that I am on a Broader Way.\u201d\n\n\u201cMany call this valley \u2018Entanglement,\u2019\u201d further continued Mr. World,\n\u201cbecause of the large numbers who are here caught by the devices all\nalong the way.\u201d I saw the whole valley in one view. It was very wide\nand more than a thousand experiences long and, from one end to the\nother, there were constant scenes of activity. The King\u2019s Highway and\nthe Broad Highway ran almost parallel throughout the whole length of\nthe valley.\n\nThe entire space between the two paths was occupied by the agents of\nSatan, and by numerous rescue bands and missionary organizations of\nthe King\u2019s Highway Church.\n\nI was informed that no traveler, who knows the experiences of life,\never escaped this valley. But the King of Glory gives his children\nassurance of no harm if they will heed his words and step not from the\npath upon any pretence. He has also placed, in plain view, countless\nsigns of warning to keep his pilgrims from yielding to temptation, as\nit presents itself, with or without mask; and they who pass these\ntesting-places in triumph are counted stable in their ways.\n\nI saw in the first part of the valley some of Satan\u2019s shrewdest agents\nat work. They were stationed along the Narrow Path at close intervals,\nand were endeavoring, by all kinds of schemes, to attract the attention\nof Christians as they journeyed through the valley.\n\nFrom one point they threw a hook baited with wealth over to the edge\nof the King\u2019s Highway way. I saw an ambitious Christian, contrary to\nthe signs of warning and all advice, eagerly grasp this bait. Then did\nthe agents of Satan pull gently. The man seeing a clue to wealth in\nhis hand would not let it go, and so was drawn slowly and unconsciously\nover into the territory of the World. He did not see the strand that\ndrew him, for it was invisible, nor was he conscious of being thus\ndrawn, having his mind so fixed upon the object of his earnest pursuit.\n\nThus do these agents ply their nefarious skill without ceasing, and\nso have drawn large numbers away from their original faith.\n\nAnother agent I saw near-by throwing out a hook baited with fame. An\nambitious youth let go all he had and seized the baited hook with\nsingular avidity. It inspired him with inward hope, and he became so\nengaged in thinking of his golden future that he followed whither the\ngentle drawing led him, until he also reached the questionable ground\nof the World. There he became still further entangled until he was\nutterly under the sway of the tempter.\n\nClose by I saw an agent of the Devil fastening a book to a line and\nthrowing it to the edge of the King\u2019s Highway. In bold letters it bore\nthe title, \u201cForbidden Fruit,\u201d and under this title there was an impure\npicture.\n\nMany, in passing by, who saw the book would have examined it had it\nnot been for their modesty.\n\nBut one man, whose curiosity was stronger than his judgment, took the\nbook and commenced perusing it. While thus engaged the invisible strands\nof influence drew the captive from the Narrow Way until he found a\nseries of books and illustrations to enchain his attention, and Satan\nsucceeded in totally winning his heart.\n\nI saw another book thrown to the edge of the Pilgrim\u2019s Path. This was\ntaken by a woman who opened its pages and saw its evil tendencies.\nAlthough drawn by the invisible chord, she did not step from the path,\nbut threw the book as far to one side as she could, and proceeded on\nher journey happily singing:\n\n    \u201cYield not to temptation,\n    For yielding is sin.\n    Each vict\u2019ry will help you\n    Some other to win.\u201d\n\nThis only enraged the wily foes, and they became more determined than\never to continue their work of deception and ruin.\n\nFrom one point or another I saw this dreadful work progressing. Each\nstation used a different kind of bait, pleasing or attractive to some\npassing pilgrims. Here the enemy reaps a continual harvest\nnotwithstanding all the preaching, advice, and influence brought to\nbear upon pilgrims to induce them to eschew all attractions not plainly\nfound upon their own pathway.\n\nSome, whom Satan could not attract by a bait, he would catch with\nsnares, many of which I saw in operation, each guarded continually by\ntrusted servants of the Evil One.\n\nOne of the subtlest of these snares consisted of a series of small,\ncuriously shaped buildings. They stood as near to the King\u2019s Highway\nas Satan could place them, while glaring signs informed the pilgrims\nthat they could here obtain knowledge upon any subject. Each building\nwas so constructed that, at the will of a secret operator, it could\nbe moved noiselessly from its resting place.\n\nMany an unsuspecting traveler who craved for a solution to some mystery\nwould step into one of these neat rooms, and meet with a most cordial\nreception.\n\nI saw a man of more than usual intelligence, who had been faithful to\nhis Master, stop and read the sign over these buildings: \u201cBureau of\nInformation: All Mysteries Solved.\u201d\n\n\u201cHere,\u201d thought he, \u201cin this humble place I can perhaps find some\npearls of thought which more inviting waters never yielded to me.\u201d He\nstepped in, not noticing that he thereby stepped to one side of the\nway.\n\n\u201cCan I have a mystery solved here?\u201d asked the visitor.\n\n\u201cWithout doubt, sir,\u201d was the confident response of a dignified\nprofessor who was in attendance.\n\n\u201cCan you tell me the origin of sin?\u201d asked the visitor.\n\nJust then I saw the building commence to move as the professor commenced\nto explain the difficult question.\n\nThe professor talked so interestingly to the visitor that he held his\nattention until the building was moved, by the secret process, to the\nbrow of the mountain, and over to the great building known as the\n\u201cDevil\u2019s Theological School.\u201d\n\n\u201cPerchance, my words,\u201d said the speaker, \u201care insufficient to fully\nsatisfy your mind. Go now from the rear door to the College where all\nsuch perplexing questions are made clear.\u201d\n\nThe visitor seizing, as he thought, a golden opportunity, gladly\nconsented and, to his great surprise, found a building of magnificent\nproportions into which he entered.\n\nAfter listening a very short time to Satan\u2019s teaching on the origin\nof sin, he emerged from the school with a heavy bundle of opinions on\nhis back, and failed to find the Old Way. After wandering and stumbling\nabout on this summit of human learning, he finally found the Broad\nHighway whereon he could carry his vain burden with ease.\n\nThese bureaus of information have ensnared so many learned men,\nincluding ministers and professors, that the King of Glory has here\nplaced special signs of warning to all travelers; these have saved\nmany men from the snare of \u201cthe fowler.\u201d\n\nI saw three young college students about to enter one of the bureaus.\nThere stood an aged pilgrim near by who shouted:\n\n\u201cCome! ye young men, out of the snare of the Devil, or ye will be taken\ncaptive by him at his will!\u201d\n\nThe voice sounded so friendly that they hesitated long enough to discern\nthat the building did not touch the King\u2019s Highway.\n\nThen they remembered that they had been told long before to go by the\nKing\u2019s Highway, and not to turn to the right hand nor to the left, nor\neven to step from the path, lest they should slip and fall to their\nhurt. So they passed on about their Father\u2019s business.\n\nNear the edge of the King\u2019s Highway I saw another device to catch men\nunawares. It was invented in the Wizard City and had been successfully\nused by Satan for many centuries.\n\nIt was an _artificial woman_, dressed in modest apparel, and so\nconstructed that the arms were uplifted and the heart plainly visible,\nmaking the curious image just unnatural enough to attract the attention\nof all pilgrims.\n\nOver the head of the image these words were written: \u201cTouch this magic\nheart for the charms that follow.\u201d\n\nIt was ridiculous to see how many of the young and old, in passing\nover this way of life, stepped from the path and tried the experiment.\n\nOne man I saw who ventured to touch the mystic heart, and ere his eyes\ncould look into the face of the image its arms embraced him in a\ntightening grasp.\n\nAway the image moved with graceful ease into Elysian bowers of sensual\njoy. There he remained to breathe its poisoned air and feed upon the\nhusks of such a clime.\n\nI also saw a man of riper years who looked curiously at another image\nsimilar to the one that had just moved away. At first he was doubtful\nwhether to test it or not, and as he stood in consideration he raised\nhis eyes and saw these words plainly written over the King\u2019s Highway:-To\nALL DESCENDANTS OF ADAM:\n\nBeware, O pilgrim, of this woman\u2019s heart, Lest you should from the\nNarrow Way depart; For if you touch a secret chord within, You\u2019re borne\naway to wider fields of sin.\n\nHe read this sign a few times and also heard the voice of a good friend\nwho told him that he had seen thousands go to ruin by not heeding this\nwarning. Nevertheless he was urged by curiosity and carnality, and\nbeing hardened by former acts of disobedience and seeing nothing but\ninnocent pleasure before him, he yielded to his baser desires.\n\n\u201cO! rescue me, Mr. Law, I am in the clutches of this woman,\u201d was his\nbeseeching cry, not long after. But I saw that no one came to his help.\n\nThere were many such places in this valley where men, both young and\nold, were enticed; many of whom could not have been caught by the\nsnares of vice at other places along the Broad Highway.\n\nI saw also, farther down the valley, that Satan used all manner of\ntraps and nets to catch the silly and the foolish. That which attracted\nmy attention the most was a series of stations built close to the\nKing\u2019s Highway. At each place Satan employed a company of expert men\nwho were trained to use a lasso. I saw certain men and women of the\nKing\u2019s Highway who became so inflated with their own vanity and\nimaginations that they rose head and shoulder above their humbler\ncomrades, thus enabling the lasso of Pride to get hold of them. Some,\nby heeding advice, escaped; others submitted to the drawing power and\nlanded in the kingdoms of the World where they could worship their new\ngod with increasing ardor.\n\nThere was also a certain young man who doted so much on his own ways\nthat his head rose unusually high. He was, therefore, easily caught\nby a lasso called Conceit. Good friends came to his rescue and told\nhim to realize at once that he was nothing, and thereby he would\nsuddenly become so small that he would drop completely out of his\ntrouble.\n\nBut he said that he could not believe a lie, whereat the lasso tightened\nstill more about his neck, and he succeeded by still further struggling\nto remain a very brief time on the King\u2019s Highway; but being in pain,\nhe soon yielded to the inevitable and went to worship before the shrine\nof his own god.\n\nI also saw that the women of the King\u2019s Highway were an exceeding great\narmy, mighty in battling against the foe, much to the discomfiture of\nSatan and his allies.\n\nTo counteract the influence of this sex Satan has plied his ingenuity\never since the beginning. In his Pharaoh fashion he has so manipulated\nthe customs of the world that woman is trampled under foot in\nuncivilized lands, and in lands of light she is ostracized by sections\nof the Christian church and despised in the civil realm. And yet, with\na faithful heart, she suffers this indignity and, looking up from\nunderneath this weight, she offers to the powers that crush her down\nthe holiest sacrifice that one can give.\n\nO spirit of the age, like flowers of Heaven, Thy fragrance will not\ndie, but live eternal; And woman shall, some holier, happier day,\nAttain her highest glory in the world.\n\nYet notwithstanding all these means wherewith Satan has made the path\nof woman so hard to travel, he has discovered that he can not disgrace\nher by any means so effectually as through the old temptation.\n\nConsequently Satan has kept the seed of the central tree of the garden\nand still raises, on the broad uplands of Hell, _forbidden fruit_\nwhich, through engrafting processes, has come to many varieties.\n\nThis mysterious product of the tree, so suited to the natural palate\nof womankind, is provided abundantly on each side of the King\u2019s Highway\nalong the whole length of the Valley of Temptation, and is offered,\nostensibly, free of charge.\n\nI watched, with chagrin and horror, the subtle influences of this\nfiendish work, seeing young women and those of riper experience go\ndown alike under this intoxication of Hell.\n\nAs I looked again at the whole Valley, what sad sights of intemperance\npainfully greeted my eyes!\n\nThe intervening ground was a veritable bed of iniquity, for it swarmed\nwith half-clothed inebriates who patronized the miserable and filthy\nhovels of lowest resort, while inebriates, in finer array, entered the\napartments which were decorated and finished in all the beauty that\nwealth could afford, and supplied with alcoholic beverages under a\nfashionable bill of fare.\n\nI could see the same Devil controlling all, and the same gutter or the\nsame Hell receiving all who did not yield to the agencies of eternal\nlife.\n\nAmong the many temperance organizations that operated throughout the\nvalley I observed a band of women who threatened to overthrow the evil.\nThey had, by long persistent effort, discovered the underground\nconnections between the distillery and the saloons, and therefore they\nwere endeavoring to kill the traffic at the head. This movement at\nfirst created laughter in the ranks of the foe, but the women have\ncontinued patiently and have built a thousand batteries from which\nthey hurl projectiles of death into the camp of intemperance. Since\nthen the agents of darkness have ceased their laughter and instead\nhave set to building defences behind which they hope to carry on their\nbusiness with impunity.\n\nBut the bands of women have entered into an eternal agreement, pledged\ntheir faith one to another, and have been calling upon Heaven for help;\ntherefore they declare that no flag will be lowered, and no gun will\nbe silent until the great wall around the city of their foes shall\nfall, either at a long blast of the horn or a continuous volley from\ntheir ramparts.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\nTHE TOWER OF TEMPTATION.\n\n1. The tower affords the most advantageous view of the world and a\nmost discouraging view of the King\u2019s Highway.\n\n2. The triumphant flight of Mrs. Discouraged from the tower\u2019s top to\na place on the King\u2019s Highway called \u201cVictory by Faith.\u201d\n\n3. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member ride from the tower\u2019s top in Satan\u2019s\nnew air ship.\n\n\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member continuing on the Broad Highway,\nentered the Valley of Temptation with all its gaiety and outward\nhappiness. This valley is known by the pilgrims of the King\u2019s Highway\nas the Devil\u2019s Heaven, for here the tinsel of the world, the pomp of\nsociety, and the wealth of material grandeur are manifested in all\ntheir glory.\n\n\u201cAn exceedingly pleasant valley,\u201d said Mr. World as they drew nearer\nto the scenes of activity on each side of the way.\n\n\u201cBeyond my anticipation, indeed. Our journey is growing more and more\ndelightful,\u201d she joyously replied.\n\nAs they journeyed on Miss Church-Member came into agreeable fellowship\nwith some of her former Christian associates who, by looking over into\nthe territory of the World, coveted its ways and were snared by one\nor another of Satan\u2019s devices to catch the unwary. The larger portion\nof these new recruits were firmly convinced that they were still\ntraveling on the road to Heaven, even though they had fully left the\nNarrow Way.\n\nMiss Church-Member congratulated her comrades of earlier years on their\nhappy choice of a wider and more pleasant path, and they accepted her\ninvitation to spend a season together in the valley.\n\nThese new associates were welcomed most cordially by Mr. World who\nleft nothing undone that might add to their comfort or pleasure.\n\nThe merry company passed down the valley and paused at a magnificent\ntemperance saloon which occupied nearly the whole space between the\ntwo Highways. Into this place of attractive rooms I saw many enter\nfrom the King\u2019s Highway, much to the displeasure of their great Master.\n\nIn this infernal guise Satan seduces many an unsuspecting traveler to\ntake one more step downward toward the lowest service of his kingdom.\nMr. World courteously offered refreshments and conducted his friends\ninto the \u201cLadies Parlor\u201d where they drank alleged unfermented wines,\nand admired the sculpture and works of art which adorned the place.\nThey were then offered their choice of porter, sweet cider, root beer,\nhot punch (special for a cold), or eggnog for a weak heart. Thus each\none was enabled to find a beverage directly suited to his need or\ntaste, for some had contracted a cold, while others were suffering\nwith cardiac troubles.\n\nNot far from this respectable place, and connected secretly therewith,\nstood a group of buildings patronized by the lower order of criminals\nand inebriates. These haunts bore a black reputation.\n\nMr. World and his joyous companions, by reason of their refined natures\nand good standing in the church, would not so much as look at such\ndespicable resorts, but continued their journey until they came to a\nwider section of the valley where they saw numberless rescue bands at\nwork, but especially a great army of Endeavorers presenting a formidable\nfront.\n\n\u201cWhence came this company so great that it cannot be numbered?\u201d asked\nMr. World in a state of nervous agitation.\n\nOne of the new companions quickly answered: \u201cThey come from the King\u2019s\nHighway and are trying to capture the kingdom of this world and bring\nit into subjection to God. I know all about them and can testify that\nthey are a mighty and glorious band.\u201d The regiments of this great host\nwere marching on, each soldier equipped with the full panoply of his\nstation. Many of the pilgrims on the Broad Highway trembled at the\npresence of so powerful an army. It has caused the enemy much concern\nhow to meet and, if possible, conquer this foe. This army of Endeavorers\nconstantly grows and, according to the claims of the enemy, the most\nsuccessful plans to oppose it are not yet matured. Satan has promised\nhis forces that he would utterly rout these daring legions as soon as\nsome new inventions of war can be perfected.\n\nThe merry companions, not being moved with anger, endured the gigantic\ndisplay of this host without chagrin.\n\nMr. World quieted his rising fears and urged his comrades onward past\nthe Tobacco Station until they reached the centre of the valley where\nthe King\u2019s Highway was the roughest, and the Broad Highway the\nsmoothest.\n\nHere was built the most remarkable structure of the valley. A high\ntower of imposing strength occupied the whole space between the two\nhighways. Its foundations were broad and totally covered the King\u2019s\nHighway with a massive arch.\n\nThis was known amongst Christians as the Devil\u2019s Tower, or Tower of\nTemptation. It was built by Satan, and was said to afford the finest\nview of the world to all who would consent to take a ride upward in\nits electric carriage.\n\nThe location of the tower was perfectly adapted to the purpose intended.\nScarcely any pilgrims _en route_ for Heaven passed by without taking\na view of the sights.\n\nBefore this mountain was built, a high mountain-cliff, on one side of\nthe valley, was used by the agents of darkness for the same purpose.\n\nThereon David ascended and saw the prosperity of the wicked until envy\nfilled his soul, and his \u201csteps had well-nigh slipped.\u201d Had it not\nbeen that by faith he looked to a mountain far away, and understood\nthe end of the prosperous worldly minded, he might have there fallen\nto his death.\n\nUpon this mountain Satan took Christ, the Son of God, and showed him\nall the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said unto\nhim: \u201cAll these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and\nworship me.\u201d\n\nFrom this tower Judas saw the wealth of the world, and there was\nbegotten within him an inordinate craving for earthly gain which at\nlast dragged him down to a miserable end.\n\nAs time rolled on, Satan erected this magnificent tower higher than\nthe loftiest crag of the mountain. I saw that Mr. World and his\ncompanions were looking at the exterior finish of the tower, after\nwhich they stepped to the base and spent some time in watching the\nmany schemes that were employed to induce disheartened Christians to\ntake the Broad Highway after descending the tower.\n\nThey saw that one of the most successful of these schemes was a series\nof little offices occupied by fortune tellers of reputed ability. In\none of these they saw an old woman with a mysterious face. She professed\nto be able, by her strange conjuring, to reveal the future of any life.\n\nA certain Mr. Downcast, who was a church-member and had just come from\nthe top of the tower, visited this fortune teller, and by her\ndescriptions of his happy future on the Broad Highway he was induced\nto travel thereon at once.\n\nMr. World and his companions decided to get the benefit of the broad\nview which could be had from the top of the tower. They entered a car\nat the base and were delighted by the gentle ascent toward the clouds.\n\nUpon reaching the top of the tower they were approached by an obliging\nattendant and furnished with spy glasses of great power with which\nthey could see more distinctly the beauty and greatness of the world,\nand the roughness and inconvenience of traveling the King\u2019s Highway.\n_To each one was also given an ingenious pocket mirror in which could\nbe seen, at any time, the inconsistencies of church-members._\n\nI saw throngs of people circling the top of the tower, and many evil\nagents busily engaged in the interest of their master.\n\nThere had just come from the King\u2019s Highway a group of church-members\nupon whom the scenery had a doleful effect. Some were filled with\nmelancholy, and some were sullen, while despondency sent germs of slow\ndeath into other minds.\n\nThese conditions enabled Satan to destroy more easily all hope within\nthem of ever succeeding on a way that appeared more rugged than ever,\nand also made them more desirous to taste the joys of this present\nlife which now lay before them in such a winning way.\n\nI then saw one called Mrs. Discouraged who had never before seen so\nmuch of the world at once. She stood on the edge of the tower not far\nfrom Mr. World and his companions, and listened to one of the polite\nattendants who had given her also a spy glass.\n\nMrs. Discouraged looked down upon the natural comforts of life which\nwere here seen to best advantage. She saw, with ease, the Broad Highway\npresenting a picture of happiness as far as the glass could reach.\n\nThen did one of the smooth-tongued attendants speak to another group\nof pilgrims who also had just come from the King\u2019s Highway.\n\n\u201cWitness the glory of the Broad Highway and see how it goes down this\nvalley ever into finer stretches of country. See on yonder distant\nelevations that magnificent University of the World built at an enormous\ncost and sacrifice for the accommodation of all travelers. Each one\nof you who reaches the lower end of this valley should take the Mountain\nTrolley and spend a season at those schools. They occupy some of the\ngrandest buildings in the world. Focus your glasses and behold the\ngreat sight.\u201d\n\nContinuing he said: \u201cThe path you see leading down there, in this other\npart of the valley, is called King\u2019s Highway, very rough indeed, as\nyou all can see. Thereon it is hard to travel and difficult to stand\nstill. It is so narrow that if a traveler should stand still, he is\nconstantly harassed or pushed about by those who wish to pass on. The\nother highway furnishes a marked contrast, for there a person may stand\nstill without annoyance to himself or anyone else. The way is so wide\nthat he can even sit on an easy chair and yet not be in the way of\nothers who wish to hasten on. The one who built this Wider Way kept\nin mind the convenience and comfort of travelers.\n\n\u201cThe so-called King\u2019s Highway,\u201d still continued the attendant, \u201cis\nbeset with many dangers, and passes through many places similar to the\none far down the valley.\u201d They all looked through their glasses and\nsaw the Meshes of Doubt on each side of the Narrow Way.\n\n\u201cThose are the sorts of places,\u201d concluded the speaker, \u201cthat one must\nconstantly pass through in the service of an imaginary king.\u201d\n\nMrs. Discouraged saw all these things and heard all these words. She was\nso disheartened that she knew not what to do.\n\n\u201cHave I served my God in vain?\u201d she questioned inwardly. \u201cMust all my\ntestimonies fall to the earth? Surely the way of the world seems to\nbe an easy way, and more suited to a person in trouble.\u201d\n\nShe suddenly fell on her knees, as she was wont to do in such\nemergencies, and, behold, I saw her, on wings of prayer, fly in triumph\nfrom the tower\u2019s top, down the valley, over the Meshes of Doubt, and\nland on the King\u2019s Highway in a most glorious place called Victory by\nFaith. She thence went on her way rejoicing.\n\n[Illustration: The great victory of Mrs. Discouraged who, on wings of\nprayer, escaped from he Tower of Temptation to a place called Victory\nby Faith.]\n\nThen did the attendant on the tower speak of her in ridicule. \u201cThe\npoor mortal, in her insanity, has descended to a bad level and must,\nof necessity, climb yonder terrible hill which, as your eyes bear\ntestimony, is the last part of the Narrow Way visible from this tower.\u201d\n\n\u201cShe went, however, in a miraculous way. Those wings were sure and\nsteady, and I was pleased with the swiftness of her flight,\u201d said Mrs.\nDiligence who was also a pilgrim from the King\u2019s Highway.\n\n\u201cWithout doubt,\u201d answered the attendant, \u201cbut she went with heavy labor\nof her wings. Had she told me that she wished to take a flight, I could\nhave given her a finer trip in one of the aerial ships lately invented\nby the experts of the Wizard City. I will summon one. Look no more at\nMrs. Discouraged with wings, but fix your eyes toward the east, and\nyou will soon witness the floating car whereon thousands go out daily\nfrom this tower into pleasant places.\u201d\n\nAs he said this he gave a signal, and soon the strangely shaped airship\ncame in sight, to the delight of all who saw it.\n\n\u201cIt must be far better,\u201d said one of the spectators, \u201cto travel in a\ncar like that, than to be working your wings in the air.\u201d\n\n\u201cA thing of beauty.\u201d \u201cThe greatest invention of the century.\u201d \u201cIt moves\nas easily as a bird,\u201d were some of the various sentences that were\nspoken enthusiastically as the object drew nearer.\n\n\u201cShall we ride in it?\u201d quickly asked Mr. World as he turned to the\nlittle group at his side.\n\nThe new companions who so recently came from the King\u2019s Highway\ntimorously fell back at his abrupt suggestion, but Miss Church-Member\noffered to accompany him.\n\nAs the aerial machine was stopping at the tower Mr. World and Miss\nChurch-Member speedily exchanged words of farewell and prepared for\nthe new ride.\n\nThey were soon numbered with a host of expectant passengers on board.\nThe lines were loosened and the weird airship cut the wind like a large\nbird on wing, and sped away to the pleasure grounds along the Broad\nHighway where most of the passengers, being blinded by sin, found such\ndelightsome fellowship that they refused thereafter to travel on any\nother than the Wider Way.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\nDARK SCHEMES OF SATAN.\n\n1. The two companions land far down the valley on \u201cThe Midway,\u201d whence\nthey take the Mountain Trolley and visit the underground Schools of\nSuicide.\n\n2. Satan\u2019s primitive address on Literature.\n\n\nThe aerial car carried Mr. World and Miss Church-Member to the far end\nof the Valley of Temptation where they spent a delightful season in\nthe pleasures of sense and sight.\n\nThey lingered mostly on the wide intervening space between the two\npaths which was known in this part of the valley as \u201cThe Midway.\u201d Here\nthey saw a large number of pilgrims from the King\u2019s Highway who were\nengaging in one or another of the endless amusements which can be\nenjoyed without stepping altogether on the Broad Highway.\n\nOn this long Midway humanity swarmed by millions. Some, forgetful of\ntheir vows, or regardless of their honor, stepped into the lower haunts\nof vice, and offered sweet flowers of purity and fragrance in exchange\nfor dry and filthy husks from the floor of the stall. But Miss\nChurch-Member, in keeping with her moral character, did not surrender\nher chastity, and although she had such continual fellowship with Mr.\nWorld she yet held the respect of many other church-members; for it\nwas quite fashionable to belong to the church and still walk in the\nways of the world. Satan, under a hellish guise, offered to give, even\nbefore death, handsome rewards to any church-member who succeeds in\ncarrying a certain amount of the world with him on his way to Heaven,\nand multitudes were trying the experiment. Some, in hope of winning\nlarger prizes, were verily loaded down with the worrying weights of\nthe world.\n\nLooking away from this immediate vicinity of the valley, any traveler\ncould see, far above the surrounding scenes, the \u201cUniversity of the\nWorld,\u201d whose front buildings crested the mountain elevations for many\nmiles. This imposing sight had awakened the admiration of Mr. World\nand his friend, and had it not been for the countless attractions of\nthe Midway they would have hurriedly pushed their way to the schools,\nimmediately after the aerial car had carried them over the proud domes\nof the University and landed them in the vale.\n\nDuring one of the darker periods which now and then cover the whole\nMidway with its shadows, the two companions caught the flashes of\nvariously-colored lights which emanated from every part of the elevated\nstructure, making the entire mountain appear as if a vast crown of\nnature were decked with dazzling diamonds rare.\n\nMiss Church-Member was excited by this unusual show of brilliancy, and\nnothing on the lower level could any longer hold her attention.\n\n\u201cHow can we best rise to that glorious summit?\u201d she inquired with a\nglow of enthusiasm.\n\n\u201cAh,\u201d smiled Mr. World, \u201csurely we need not think of walking up this\nmountain. Have you forgotten the obliging attendant who advised us as\nwe stood on the beautiful tower? Did he not direct us to take the\nMountain Trolley?\u201d\n\nWithout delay they sought the Midway station, entered one of the\nup-to-date cars, and instead of going directly to the mountain top\nthey were surprised to find that they were being carried into the\nbowels of the mountain.\n\n\u201cWhence go we dashing through the dark?\u201d asked the terror-stricken\nMiss Church-Member as she held fast to Mr. World.\n\nBut ere her escort could answer they came into an immense cavern dimly\nlighted. The car stopped at a station called Rest, and a voice announced\nin distinct tones: \u201cCome, ye troubled or distressed, and ye who are\ndisgraced! Here linger in this underground school and learn of the\nrest that is for the weary.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is your wish?\u201d courteously asked Mr. World.\n\n\u201cI am neither in trouble nor in disgrace. Why should I tarry?\u201d\n\n\u201cOnly to see the lower schools before we go to the higher,\u201d was his\nwinning answer.\n\nThey alighted and walked forth in the dismal light. They could readily\ndiscern strangely shaped buildings of a costly type. The air was\nstifling, and everything wore a melancholy dress; yet, withal, there\nwas a pleasing charm about the place. Some secret touch in the doleful\nmusic, or some bright tinge to the ominous shadows, awakened a curiosity\nand a hope in the visitors that prevented them from leaving the cavern\nat once.\n\nIn a half-decided mood Mr. World and Miss Church-Member meandered\nthrough this sickly region, and had decided to leave the place when\nthey saw this illuminated motto over a massive arch:\n\nTO ALL WHO ARE DISGRACED! THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO REST! (ENTRANCE.)\n\nA genial attendant informed Mr. World that visitors were welcome, but\nMiss Church-Member consented to enter only after some hesitancy. It\nwas indeed a dark school, with long narrow halls where one could only\nsee the darker side of life. Everything about the place evidenced the\ndark designs of Satan. The teachers in this infamous place, by a series\nof graded instructions, suggested to their pupils that suicide was the\nsurest and shortest road to rest. In the darker rooms of the rear I\nsaw, to my horror, a scene that neither Mr. World nor Miss Church-Member\nwas permitted to see. _It was the daily graduating class of this school\nof suicide._ Each member of the class was instructed by what new method\nhe might rend the strand of life with his own hand, in the desperate\nand sickening hope of finding rest \u201cwhere their worm dieth not, and\nthe fire is not quenched.\u201d\n\nI quickly turned from this revolting spectacle, and saw that Mr. World\nand Miss Church-Member had returned to the station called Rest. They\nboarded the first car and were soon speeding on through Dismal Tunnel.\nIt was a welcome moment when the car emerged from the darkness into\nthe light of day and took its winding course upward toward the microcosm\nof schools, which, as seen from this side of the mountain, also\npresented a picture of imposing magnitude.\n\nWhen the car reached the University station Mr. World and his friend\nalighted, and at once entered one of the carriages in waiting. They\nwere hurried away toward a group of immense structures known as the\n\u201cCollege of the World\u2019s Literature;\u201d and yet with all the immensity\nof its buildings, it was but a small part of the whole University which\nlay far extended over the distant mountain elevations.\n\nAs the noiseless carriage sped along I turned toward Blackana, who,\nin strange muteness still tarried at my side. \u201cI command you, O Black\nInterpreter, to tell me of the origin and management of this College\nof Literature.\u201d As I spoke he turned his face in a manner that made\nme tremble. His sepulchral, husky voice only added to my uneasiness.\n\n\u201cIt originated,\u201d he explained, \u201cin simpler form, immediately after\nSatan commenced operations on the face of the earth. Parallel with the\nprogress of every age it has increased to its present proportions.\nThat which you see is but the central point of this great educational\nenterprise. Its unseen branches extend into every part of the world.\nThe whole system is under the control of Satan. His most learned\ndisciples have charge of the special departments.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd what is the purpose of this limitless scheme?\u201d I further queried.\nThe whole organism of Blackana quivered with reluctance as if he would\nnot answer. \u201cRefuse me not,\u201d I continued, \u201cyou well know that I have\nunderneath me the everlasting arms.\u201d\n\nHe was restless for a moment, angrily rolling his awful eyes. Suddenly\nhis attitude changed and he thus calmly answered my question: \u201cThe\npurpose of all these schools is to counteract and, if possible, to\ndestroy the influence of the teachings of Him who is called Jesus\nChrist. He was once visible in the flesh and declared that his kingdom\nwas everlasting. Of him it was said that he would reign till he put\nall things under his feet.\u201d\n\nThen did Blackana add with fiery emphasis: \u201c_Neither my master nor any\nof his allies will ever be put under his feet._ Satan\u2019s words ran wild\nas he addressed the insulted hosts of Hell on this issue.\u201d Knowing\nthat Blackana had a perfect memory, I commanded that he should reproduce\nSatan\u2019s address in my own dialect.\n\nLike a flash of lightning he flung himself to the winds around me,\nthereby transforming himself into the image of Satan. It appeared as\nif a thousand spirits in fitful rage were dancing in mid-air.\n\nThen his voice pealed forth the logic of Hell as Satan had spoken it\ncenturies before: \u201cHave ye heard, my noble comrades, how that Heaven\nflings insults into our teeth? Not satisfied that we grovel on these\nremains of empire, we are further threatened with being cast miserably\nunder his feet. Whose feet I ask? The feet of our direst foe, whom to\nworship, as he desireth, means serfdom worse than ours. Is there one\nof you who will surrender his native dignity in such a fashion?\u201d\n\nMillions of voices rendered the air hideous with their cries, so\naccurately did Blackana reproduce it all.\n\n\u201cI knew your sentiments,\u201d continued he, triumph ringing in his tones.\n\u201cWhat can we do but stand unitedly on our rustic frontier, and push\nthe conquest on to farther realms. Then all Heaven will learn that we\nare made of grit too fine and true to lie beneath the feet of any foe.\u201d\n\nAs Blackana continued, I was struck with shuddering terror at his awful\ngestures; but conscious that no harm could befall me, I continued\nlistening to his flaming oratory.\n\n\u201cWe must arise and seize our opportunities. Go forth, under cover of\nnight, and sow the seed of our own growing; this will flourish in the\nvery soil that Christ would bring to highest cultivation. The germs\nof our literature, rooted in human soil and growing secretly beneath\nthe surface, shall spread throughout the world and come to fruitage\nin the light of every clime.\n\n\u201cWe must build schools of literature, inspire the authors of the world\nwith our fine creed, and thereby spread our doctrines to the myriad\nreaders of every land and tongue. Who then, amongst our enemies, can\nkill the appetite when once \u2019tis roused to craving for the carnal?\nGive me the quill and the coming pen and press, and I can create thought\nat my bidding and turn the main streams of human endeavor into\nwhatsoever channels I choose; and thus our river shall run full, while\nother streams are drying.\n\n\u201cWith such a work how can our cause grow less or we go groveling under\nany foot? Impossible, my heroes! for we will live in glorious triumph\nto the end of time. On to your tasks, listening multitudes, and he who\nmost successfully counteracts the so-called \u2018Truth\u2019 shall be a ruler\nin my kingdom, and shine more brightly than the radiance of all this\nregion.\u201d\n\nThus was the speech suddenly ended, and I heard the unearthly\nreverberations of the fiendish cheering by the mighty host, while the\nform of Satan vanished; but from his waning shadows Blackana came forth\nand in death-like silence again resumed his sullen attitude at my side.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\nSCHOOLS OF LITERATURE. FIRST AND SECOND DIVISIONS.\n\n1. The schools described.\n\n2. The literature of the world tainted by the teachers of darkness.\n\n3. Satan\u2019s rules for the winning author.\n\n\nThe College of Literature, in three grand divisions, occupied one of\nthe most attractive sites of all the territory covered by the University\nof the World. It was owned and controlled by Satan, and was visited\nby the children of the human family from every portion of the earth.\n\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member came thither in a conveyance. They\nstood before the massive structure which comprised the first division\nof the College. Around them were the living fountains which, like\npearls in billows of green, played upon the expansive lawn. While they\nstrolled along the pebbled paths they were lost in admiration as they\ncontinued looking upon the stupendous building which towered far into\nthe air and extended as far as the eye could reach. In breathless\nsilence they noted first its size, then its durability, and marveled\nmost at the splendid symmetry of the parts, each blending into a perfect\nwhole.\n\n\u201cHeaven must have inspired so great and beautiful a design,\u201d was the\nfirst comment of Miss Church-Member. \u201cThose porticos hanging in mid-air,\nthose domes and pillars, dreamlike, stand before me more like a hundred\nfabled castles than aught real to sight or touch.\u201d\n\n\u201cIndeed the world affords rich and delightful privileges to all who\nwill but walk in her ways,\u201d said Mr. World just as they arrived at one\nof the large entrances, over which these words were written:\n\nDEPOSITORY OF THE WORLD\u2019S LITERATURE, WELCOME TO ALL!\n\nAs Miss Church-Member viewed the weighty pillars on each side of the\nentrance, she exclaimed: \u201cThis is indeed a rare opportunity. Methinks\nI could revel, with delight, forever in fields of literature. Come,\nMr. World, let us at once pass through the massive doors and learn\nwhat we can from so great a source.\u201d\n\nAlthough the literary tastes of Mr. World were not strongly developed,\nyet he offered no objections to her request. He seemed willing to\nsuffer any inconvenience for her sake so long as she traveled on the\nBroad Highway. As they were entering the building I saw that many from\nthe church and the world were also pushing their way into the interior\nthat they might get a glimpse of the inner halls, and visit the ones\nthat were best suited to their fancies.\n\nMiss Church-Member was surprised when she saw the unique arrangement\nof the interior. There were twenty-eight magnificent halls so\nconstructed that they converged toward a large central office into\nwhich I saw Mr. World and his companion enter, profoundly impressed\nwith the smallness of the single human mind.\n\nAfter answering the stipulated questions, they registered under the\nrules and regulations and were given certificates entitling them to\nall the privileges which this first division of the College accorded\nto visitors.\n\nIn the commodious office they learned that each of the twenty-eight\nhalls contained a distinctive line of literature, systematically\narranged in numerous sub-departments; and that competent librarians\nsuperintended the literature of each hall and of each department.\n\nMiss Church-Member ascertained also that each hall was centrally\nsupplied with a lecture room having an immense seating capacity, and\nthat learned professors, each in their turn, occupied the platform and\nconstantly gave lectures which were intended to describe and illustrate\nthe class of literature represented in their faculties.\n\nAfter considerable time spent in the office, they passed through the\nlong and wide circular lobby, reading the beautifully emblazoned\ninscriptions over each entrance door, but they could not immediately\ndecide into which hall they would first enter.\n\nAt length after a pleasant loitering, Mr. World led his charming comrade\ninto the fourth hall, over whose entrance, in plain words, this\ninscription appeared:\n\nALL THAT WAS EVER WRITTEN CONCERNING JESUS CHRIST.\n\nThey first chose to enter a sub-department where ancient scrolls,\nparchments, and papyri could be seen in tiresome variety. Miss\nChurch-Member scanned most carefully some of the manuscripts which had\nnever been published.\n\nIn other sections of the hall there were books and pamphlets of all\ndescriptions, each one referring to Jesus Christ in a favorable or an\nunfavorable manner.\n\nDuring these visitations the attendants extended unusual courtesies\nto Mr. World and his faithful friend, and also to the endless procession\nof visitors and students who were constantly moving through these\ndepartments. Finally the two companions proceeded to the lecture room\nof this hall and listened to an address entitled: \u201cThe Divinity of\nChrist,\u201d by one of Satan\u2019s ablest advocates a professor with\necclesiastical titles. His gestures were unique and his style altogether\npersuasive.\n\nI heard his words with great displeasure, for they taught the philosophy\nof Hell, with Heaven on the face of it.\n\n\u201cI must congratulate myself,\u201d commenced he, \u201con having the privilege\nof addressing so intelligent a class of people. I only hope that I may\nbe helpful to you in your quest of knowledge.\n\n\u201cThe central theme of this hall is \u2018Jesus Christ\u2019 and I shall now\nproceed to speak of his so-called \u2018Divinity.\u2019 I cannot question that\nthere is a supreme hand in the works of nature, but after careful\nresearch I am compelled to doubt the genuineness of the Divinity which\nis ascribed to Christ. True enough, his childhood was blameless, and\nhe possessed exceptional wisdom so that many of his countrymen believed\nhim to be more than human. In this manner the idea of his Divinity\noriginated, and this fallacy grew as the man grew.\n\n\u201cHe was shrewd, and possessed a great amount of magnetic force which\nwas trained and used with remarkable skill, all of which made him pose\nas a god before a credulous and unsuspecting public. The ignorance and\ngross superstition of that age made a fit soil for the spread of\nChrist\u2019s doctrine and the idea that he was Divine.\n\n\u201cWhen Jesus discerned that his claims were more readily accepted by\nthe poorer and more ignorant class of people, he lauded them in his\nteachings, while the learned and more respectable classes were subjected\nto his abuse and sarcasm.\n\n\u201cBy his unusual tactics overcame the prejudices of his enemies and,\nfor a long time, escaped punishment. But finally he was arrested and\nconvicted and, notwithstanding his so-called Divine power, he came to\nan inglorious end by death on a cross. His friends, unable to prevent\nhis cursed death, quickly formed a plot to perpetuate his doctrines.\nThey carried out their plot by stealthily robbing Christ\u2019s body from\nthe grave and secretly burying it elsewhere, and then spreading the\nnews that he, of his own power, came forth from the grave. To complete\nthe fraud they also claimed, a little later, that he had ascended into\nHeaven. What was the purpose of all this? It was to prove that Christ\nwas Divine and thereby to make his teachings authoritative and eternal.\n\n\u201cI wish to inform you that the manuscripts and parchments, in sub-\ndepartment number six of this hall, all point to the fact that Jesus\nChrist was born like any other babe and that his father was Joseph.\nDishonest, indeed, is any one who would rob Joseph of this honor.\n\u2018Honor to whom honor is due.\u2019 While Christ was a great man, he never\nhad in him the elements of Divinity. Let millions in the world glory\nin their imaginary theology, yet that is no reason why scholarly\nresearch should be put to naught, or why it should be sacrificed. We\nare living in the morning twilight of a better day when God shall be\nworshiped and Jesus Christ ignored when all thought of Divinity will\ncenter at the true focus and a man will no longer receive the glory\nthat belongs to God.\u201d\n\nThe vigorous applause which followed the remarks of this speaker fell\nwith grating horror on my ears. \u201cCan it be possible,\u201d thought I, \u201cthat\nany one can publicly teach such doctrines of Hell, and be thus\napplauded? Whither are so many of the church and the world drifting\nthat they should give ear to such theology as it comes from the mouth\nof the Devil?\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member and her escort left the lecture room and visited\na few more of the sub-departments where they saw many objects of\nliterary interest and, with the aid of experts, examined some of the\nold manuscripts dating back to the time of Christ. They left the hall\nand were next attracted by the words over the entrance of Hall No. 9\nappearing thus:\n\nLITERATURE ON LIFE.\n\n1. Vegetable Life. 2. Animal Life. 3. Mental Life. 4. Spiritual Life.\n\nAt the suggestion of Miss Church-Member they entered, and could readily\nsee that the attendants and lecturers of this hall were also of a very\nhigh class. One of the speakers elaborated on the theory that life is\nthe result of spontaneous generation.\n\nAnother, in speaking on spiritual life, made special reference to the\nfact that Jesus Christ claimed to be the \u201cLife,\u201d and then proceeded\nto refute this claim by a series of arguments which were altogether\ntoo philosophical to be understood by the two companions.\n\nFinding no pleasure in this metaphysical atmosphere, Mr. World conducted\nhis companion to the adjoining hall devoted to the \u201cLiterature of\nFiction.\u201d\n\nHere they spent a season delightfully, perusing works of fiction and\nlistening to addresses, all of which advocated the views of Satan.\n\nI heard one of the lecturers, in a discussion on \u201cThe License of Pure\nFiction\u201d make these dangerous remarks: \u201cThe highest fiction of the\nworld is that in which human life is pictured in ideal colors, even\nthough it be done at the expense of truth.\n\n\u201cThere can be no harm if the reader should gain a false view of life.\nThe very charm of such a view will act as a stimulus to a wider\nexperience and to a higher culture.\n\n\u201cIn our real life, as we come in daily contact with the world, we see\nand suffer enough. Therefore it cannot be harmful if fiction carries\nus into strange worlds of morality or into any mythical realm. I give\nyou but the result of long and careful study, and I advise you to read\nthe wildest and most exciting forms of fiction, and thereby get the\nhealthful and exhilarating effect that comes from total mental\nabsorption. All this will tend to the development of your nature so\nthat you will, by contrast, better appreciate the substantial things\nof life.\u201d\n\nI saw that Mr. World and Miss Church-Member next visited the hall\ndevoted to the \u201cLiterature of the Passions.\u201d After they had entered,\nMiss Church-Member, at first, felt embarrassed, and her sense of modesty\nwould not have allowed her to remain had it not been that her conscience\nwas eased by these conditions:\n\n1. She saw that among the moving thousands that were present in the\nmassive hall many belonged to the higher classes of society.\n\n2. She was also informed that not a few of the throng held good\nmembership in various branches of the visible church.\n\n3. She readily observed that Mr. World was so much delighted that she\noffered no protest, and that he seemed to take an interest in the\nendless program as carried out in one department or another.\n\nIn this poisonous hall Miss Church-Member stultified herself more than\nin any other place which she had ever before visited, and thereby added\none more decisive step in her downward course. She tarried longest in\none of the sub-departments where Satan\u2019s expert doctors of literature\ndelivered their special lectures on the writings of each author as far\nas they related directly or indirectly to the passions.\n\nThese avowed experts carried on their fiendish work under the cover\nof a pleasing dignity. After their crafty manner they quoted or read\nthe fine sentences of an author, preferably those of a sensual cast,\nand then placed a premium on the passionate by describing the fine\nstyle of the author and showing how true to nature was the language\nhe employed.\n\nThus I saw that the leaders of this department were using the choicest\nand the foulest productions of the pen, gathered from the authors of\nall lands, languages and ages, and Miss Church-Member, by degrees\nalmost imperceptible, voluntarily sacrificed her finer moral taste on\na popular and polluted altar.\n\nTo a pure heart there was an unclean cast and a withering effect\nprevalent throughout all the departments of this hall, and my heart\nburned as I continued observing how the agents of Satan plied their\nsubtle influences so as to popularize this cosmopolitan resort. So\neffectually has Satan entrenched his views that some of the strong\ndefenders of this hall of literature are connected with the church,\nand types of this same teaching have found their way into some of the\nChristian schools of the world.\n\nAfter this protracted visit Mr. World and Miss Church-Member left this\nhall and continued their studies in hall after hall, until more than\none half of the twenty-eight halls were visited. Their next objective\npoint was the second grand division of this College devoted to \u201c_The\nElements of Success in Authorship._\u201d\n\nMy heart trembled at what my eyes saw. The great army of writers who\nstudied in this department came from all countries of the earth. \u201cCan\nit be true,\u201d thought I, \u201cthat so large a portion of our authors get\nat least a part of their training in the schools of the Devil?\u201d\n\n\u201cO Blackana!\u201d I sighed, \u201chow long have these things been?\u201d\n\n\u201cSince the beginning of literature,\u201d was his cold and brief reply.\n\n\u201cAlways so large a percentage of the world\u2019s authors found at that\nschool?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt has never been on the decrease,\u201d he continued. \u201cSo many have visited\nthese halls that it has been a veritable meeting-place of almost all\nauthors of all lands and all ages at some stage in their careers. Some\nwho came tarried long; others, not satisfied, foolishly drifted to the\nschools of the King\u2019s Highway which ever carry on their work in\nopposition to the University of the World.\u201d\n\nHere also, in this second grand division, the subtlest kind of teaching\nwas prevalent. In one sub-division Mr. World and Miss Church-Member\nread these general laws written in bold letters where all who desired\ncould read:\n\nRULES FOR THE WINNING AUTHOR.\n\n1. Give quality rather than quantity.\n\n2. If you will not compose your best, compose nothing. The world is\nheavily overstocked with inferior compositions.\n\n3. Write nothing that will cause regret on your death-bed.\n\n4. Do not follow in the rut. Go by some path untraveled before, over\nland or sea, and tell the world of your new discoveries.\n\n5. To be acceptable, in the highest sense, you must teach differently\nthan others, even though it be at the expense of what is commonly\ncalled \u201ctruth.\u201d Novelty is the winning feature.\n\n6. In any one composition strive first to arouse the curiosity of your\nintended readers; then keep the curiosity suspended and finally give\nit satisfaction in accordance with the aim in view.\n\n7. You may be influenced by religion, but not by religious nonsense.\nIf your writings win, you are a teacher of millions. So, in order to\nreach the public ear, you may cater to the tastes and wishes of the\nmajority.\n\n8. If you see some vile conditions of humanity, send out, in your\nwritings, vials of vileness. \u201cLike cures like.\u201d If any part of the\nchurch cries, \u201cpoison, poison!\u201d you may justify yourself by the fact\nthat the so-called \u201cpoison\u201d in your productions will only neutralize\nthe poison so prevalent in society, on the same principle that poison\nis administered to a sickly body in order to effect a cure.\n\n9. You are always safest when you are true to nature, even though some\nsentimental people may charge you with being vulgar.\n\n10. Words of profanity are not allowable if they are the mere expression\nof the author, but any foul or profane expression may be quoted. An\nauthor should not be charged with the impropriety of his characters\nwho are merely taken from actual life.\n\nThe above ten commandments, if properly interpreted and obeyed, will\nsurely lead to literary success.\n\nThen Mr. World escorted his confiding friend from hall to hall of this\nsecond grand division, and at many intervals they could be seen spending\na quiet season on the lawns which surrounded the entire structure.\n\nTheir tastes were now more in harmony than ever, and their friendship\nwas fast reaching that intimacy where each one was searching for pearls\nin the deep ocean of the other\u2019s love.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\nTHE THEATRE.\n\n1. Mr. World and his friend tarry at Satan\u2019s Theatres which lay in\nseven grades, one below the other.\n\n2. A description of the \u201cCentury Session\u201d held by the demons having\nin charge the Theatre interests of Satan.\n\n\nThe College of Theatres lay between the second and third divisions of\nthe Schools of Literature. The numerous structures were built on so\nlarge a scale, and after such winning designs, that the attention of\nmany travelers was attracted to them and thereby to the performances\ngiven within their walls.\n\nHere could be found some of the graduates of the Schools of Literature\nwho were constantly engaged on one or another of the stages.\n\nAll these theatrical attractions belonged to the first grade and formed\na part of a great system of Theatres which lay in seven grades, one\nbelow the other, each serving its part to engross the human mind with\nthe carnal and sensual things of life.\n\nThe performances of the first grade were practically free from the\nvulgar touches found, with increasing intensity, as one goes downward\ntoward the seventh grade which lay beneath the Midway in the Valley\nof Temptation.\n\nIn these Satanic Theatres of the first grade respectability is\nmaintained purposely so as to ensnare as many professing Christians\nas possible, for there are many in the ranks of the church who are\nbuilding with nothing but wood, hay, and stubble. The scheme works so\nwell that the Devil is trying to form a \u201cStage Trust,\u201d and get all the\ntalent of the King\u2019s Highway to unite. Thus Satan seems to encourage\nmorality in order to carry out his deeply laid schemes of moral\npollution.\n\nI looked into the inward workings of this terrible system. I saw\nmultitudes descending downward from the first grade, many of whom\nceased not until they had passed through all the seven grades. The\nscenes and revelations that came to my eyes beggar all description.\nMy heart sickened as I beheld the millions wallowing in the mire of\nfleshly lusts, apparently living for no higher purpose than to see the\nlatest novelties of expressing lewdness and sensuality.\n\n\u201cThis is brute life, indeed,\u201d I soliloquized, \u201cfor it can be easily\nseen that the hearts of these people are so seared and their ears so\ndull that they have no desire for the music of celestial choirs, or\nthe ecstacies that rise from heart-communion with God.\u201d\n\nI also saw that there were numberless underground connections between\nthe lower Theatres and the Schools of Suicide, and with the varied\nhaunts of Prostitution that infested the whole region.\n\nThis startling fact also forced its way to my attention:--_the money\nflowing from the entire seven grades fell into one treasury_, so that\nthey who moved in the supposed moral atmosphere of the first and second\ngrades were, nevertheless, patrons of the whole iniquitous business.\nAt once I thought of the churches that were in sympathy, or league,\nwith this part of the work along the Broad Highway. And I inwardly\nuttered these sad sentences:\n\n\u201c_It is no more a mystery why such churches have lost their holy\ninfluence and their warmth of spiritual life, while worldliness\nflourishes from the pew to the pulpit_.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: The Devil\u2019s Substitute to the Prayer-Meeting (The\nChristians left their Bibles at home.)]\n\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member spent several seasons of leisure in\nthe Theatres of the first and second grades. Finally he invited her\nto accompany him to a Refined Vaudeville in the third grade Theatre\ndistrict. It happened to be on the same day of the week that she had\nformerly been accustomed to attend prayer meeting. This fact awakened\nmemories of bygone days, and brought feelings of sadness to her heart.\nMr. World, by an artful diversity of language, arrested her mind and\ncalmed her conscience as he playfully remarked: \u201cThis will be a good\nsubstitute for the prayer-meeting.\u201d\n\nI saw the two enter the Vaudeville with many other church-members that\nmingled with the jostling crowds. These Christians left their Bibles\nat home, while some took as a substitute their opera glasses. They can\nsee through these better than they can through their Bibles.\n\nWhile Mr. World and Miss Church-Member tarried at the Theatres, I was\npermitted to see a conference of the evil spirits that had in charge\nthe Theatre interests of Satan. The conference met at the opening of\nthe year 1901 what was called \u201cThe Century Session.\u201d\n\nFor the time I was lost to all other surroundings, and I could hear\nall and see all as if I occupied the best seat. The unusual parliament\nseemed to be held underground, and yet one could enter directly from\nthe surface of the earth.\n\nThe assemblage was controlled by a highly honored chief, cool and\ndeliberate in manner. Every kind of imp imaginable could be found in\nthe number that constituted the many committees.\n\nI witnessed every part of the diabolical proceedings, and will here\ndisclose a portion of these doubly sealed secrets.\n\nAfter all preliminaries were brushed away, I heard seven ominous clangs,\nand silence reigned supreme. The chairman rose to speak. What a mingling\nof light and darkness! How truly Satanic his every feature and every\nmove! How earnest his brief address, every word in the interest of\nSatan\u2019s blasting work.\n\n\u201cGive heed, oh, ye co-workers, bound under oath to give a true\nreport! Our cause has made advances, and our work calls for the\nripest service we can give. _The theatre modernized is fast winning\nthe church. All honor, ye spirits who played your parts so well!_ The\ncentury has just closed, but not our opportunity. Let coming years\nbe one of mightier conquest. Down with the narrow truth and morbid\nrighteousness, and all things else that check our onward marching!\u201d\nFor a moment the chairman was silent. Then, as he raised his hand, I\nheard a hideous clang which proved to be the signal for the report\nof \u201cThe-Moral-Effect-of-the-Theatre\u201d committee. Forthwith the whole\ncommittee stood _en masse_ before the chairman. \u201cOur work goes on with\nspeed,\u201d cried the leader of the gang. \u201cIn every district we are gaining\nground.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have watched your progress with joyful pride,\u201d answered the chairman,\nas he smiled in hellish glee. \u201cBut I noted the sharp conflicts you had\nwith certain reformers in the churches.\u201d\n\n\u201cSome of them we cannot conquer,\u201d despairingly admitted the leader.\n\n\u201cGrieve not over forts you cannot take, but make good use of those\nthat have surrendered.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey are firing our guns splendidly,\u201d quickly intercepted the leader,\nas he rose and read the following report:\n\n1. \u201cWe have labored earnestly in the ranks of the church until many\nmore of her members now believe that the moral effect of our Theatres\nis helpful.\n\n2. \u201cWe have succeeded in dividing the members of many churches on this\nquestion, and have witnessed, with pleasure, the many kinds of quarrels\nthat have resulted therefrom.\n\n3. \u201cWe have succeeded in turning the tide of many periodicals, so that\nthe defense of the Theatre, as a moral stimulant, is more general than\never.\u201d\n\nAs the leader closed his brief report, the chairman offered his\ncompliments, and the host cheered with vigor.\n\nThe committee retired. The chairman again lifted his hand and two\nclangs were heard. This was the signal for the appearance of the\n\u201cPark-Theatre\u201d committee.\n\n\u201cGood tidings, or ill?\u201d tersely asked the chairman.\n\n\u201cGood tidings of the first degree,\u201d cheerily replied the leader of the\ncommittee as he proceeded to read his document:\n\n1. \u201cWe labored, with all zeal, to carry out the schemes concocted\npreviously.\n\n2. \u201cWe have succeeded in locating a series of free Theatres at every\nsummer park where we could possibly induce the management to admit\nthem.\n\n3. \u201cThese Theatres, even though they be of a third or fourth class,\nare doing a great service for us by implanting a taste for other grades.\n\n4. \u201cBy this happy medium we are winning young people and church-members\nby the thousand, for they can attend these Park exhibitions without\nbeing severely criticised.\n\n5. \u201cWe are careful to give them enough immoral and sensual bait to\ndraw them further. (Wild applause.)\n\n6. \u201cThese innocent Park Theatres must not be abandoned, for they are\na sure training school. We hereby pledge ourselves anew to go forth\nmore earnestly to our tasks.\u201d (Furious applause over the whole\nassembly.)\n\n\u201cHave you met with any hindrances to your work?\u201d queried the chairman\nof the meeting.\n\n\u201cMany indeed. Some Parks refuse our class of Theatres, while others\nare closed to every class. But our committee is determined to push\nahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cOnward, ye comrades,\u201d urged the chairman. \u201cBuy up the stock of every\nPark, if possible, and furnish recreation for the church. Do not become\ntoo bold at first in the introduction of lewd and foolish plays, or\nyou may be fought by the popular churches.\u201d\n\n\u201cHardly possible,\u201d replied the leader. \u201cSo many in the church are glad\nto wink at these incongruities, for they are thereby given a chance\nto satisfy their carnal appetites without being classed with the regular\nTheatre crowd.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is one of our happiest modern hits,\u201d chuckled the chairman, as\nthe committee turned away, amidst the mad-like cheering.\n\nNext I saw that the chairman raised his hand, and at once I heard three\nsharp clangs which were the signal for the \u201cChurch-Choir\u201d committee.\n\u201cWhat has the church-choir to do with the Theatre,\u201d thought I, as I\nsaw the obedient host answering to their call.\n\n\u201cWhat tidings, good or ill?\u201d asked the chairman in a tone of confidence.\n\n\u201cProgress slow, but sure,\u201d briefly answered the leader of the committee\nas he stepped a little nearer to the chairman to give his report.\n\n\u201cOurs is a difficult task. Some choirs are hedged about that we cannot\nso much as reach them with suggestions. Nevertheless, we have succeeded\nin many sections, notably in certain large cities. We report, with\npride, that some churches have engaged genuine theatrical singers to\nrender special selections during the regular Sunday services. Is it\nnot an evidence of our success when the opera-stage singer of Saturday\nnight furnishes the chief solo for church-goers on Sunday morning?\nThis is winning certain people to the Theatre, for in many instances\nthey cannot wait until the next Sunday; so they visit several theatres\nduring the week to keep their spiritual strength renewed.\u201d\n\nThen the demons cheered to the echo, and I listened with a sad, heavy\nheart.\n\nThe leader continued:\n\n\u201cWe are also endeavoring to get the regular church-choirs to imitate\nthe popular theatrical stars. Of course, we do not oppose the use of\nreligious words, if we cannot induce them to sing our selections. We\nare aiming to create a taste for the up-to-date novelties in music,\nin contrast to the old dry singing in certain churches of the King\u2019s\nHighway.\u201d (Prolonged applause.)\n\nAs this tall, wiry demon continued to unfold his deep-laid plans, I\nwell understood why Satan has selected the church-choir as an objective\npoint, and has delegated so large a number of imps to do work in that\nspecial direction. I then cried within me: \u201cOh, that these churches\nwould not use their choir-corners as an advertising medium for the\nTheatre! And that choirs, in their musical devotions, may be led by\nthe Spirit of God rather than by the imps of Hell!\u201d\n\nThis committee retired with special encomiums.\n\nThe chairman rose and I heard four sonorous clangs which summoned the\n\u201cMinisterial\u201d committee. At once its members, in their sedate and\nportly attitudes, surged down the massive aisles.\n\nI shuddered as I saw the variety of these mean Satanic faces, portraying\na depth of vileness, mingled with shrewd and scholarly insight. With\ngreat care I studied this pack of Hell-hounds, gathered from the ends\nof the earth, now standing in sullen mood, ready to give their report.\n\n\u201cWhat tidings, good or ill?\u201d asked the chairman.\n\n\u201cThe tidings are good,\u201d replied the famous leader. \u201cBy our efforts we\nhave silenced many a voice which formerly thundered against us. To-day\nmany more ministers are in sympathy with the modern Theatre of the\nhigher grades, although not a few of these must hold their views in\nsecret. Others speak apologetically, and still more come out in bold\ndefense of what they term the \u2018Select Theatre.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you consider the most hopeful line of your work?\u201d further\nasked the chairman.\n\n\u201cOur work in the theological schools,\u201d quickly responded the leader.\n\u201cSpecial sections of our committee have labored with stealthy vigor\nto capture the preacher before he reaches the pulpit. The last years\nof the century have witnessed phenomenal gains for our cause. By winning\nthe theological student early to our Theatrical theories we are likely\nto gain his heart and sympathy in after years. Our success along these\nlines is the most hopeful sign of the times, and bespeaks the ushering\nin of more sensible conditions. (Furious applause.)\n\n\u201cBefore retiring,\u201d continued the leader, \u201clet me quote the utterances\nof a certain broad-minded clergyman: \u2018The clean Theatre of the twentieth\ncentury will be, and ought to be, the moral prayer-meeting for\nChristians, while the spiritual prayer-meeting will be held in the\nchurch as usual.\u2019\u201d\n\nThe whole army of devils cheered like madmen. I was so aroused that\nI felt that ecclesiastical lynch law should be applied to any minister\nwhose utterances caused such jubilee among the legions of Hell.\n\nI could not remain to hear the report of:\n\n\u201cThe Moral Play\u201d committee,\n\n\u201cThe Variant Dance\u201d committee,\n\n\u201cThe Sacred Concert\u201d committee and other committees whose names I could\nnot learn.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\nSCHOOLS OF LITERATURE. THIRD DIVISION\n\n1. Seven separate halls described.\n\n2. The far-reaching schemes of Satan to pollute the Press and the Pen.\n\n\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member, after spending several hours at the\nTheatres, moved toward the vast groups of buildings comprising the\nthird division of the College of Literature. The structures lay in a\nsemi-circle facing a magnificent court, in the center of which there\nwas a park of surpassing loveliness. On an immense arch, over the\ncenter of the park, these words were hung in shining letters:\n\nTHIRD DIVISION:\n\nTRUE CHRISTIANITY AND LITERATURE.\n\nAs Mr. World and his charming companion entered this great central\ncourt, they were quite overcome by the size and beauty of the three\nscore halls, each one widening as its depth increased. Some towered\none thousand feet in the air while others sent their proud domes, as\nit were, into the clouds.\n\nThe two companions mingled with the multitudes, engaged in the common\npleasures of this open court, and watched with poetic delight the\nsparkling fountains, while sweet strains of music from scattered\norchestras lent their charms to the soul. The shrubbery, flowers and\nplants, as well as the works of sculpture and pictorial art, all\nappeared as if angel fingers had been employed in their production and\narrangement.\n\nThe season here spent by Miss Church-Member was the happiest that she\nhad yet experienced since she had left the King\u2019s Highway. To think\nthat she was now living in the threshold of True Christianity, in its\nrelation to literature, was at once novel and refreshing to her mind,\nfor she now claimed to be a more faithful Christian than ever before.\n\nDuring their protracted stay at this division they visited the following\nhalls, each one devoted to a specific purpose:\n\nHall No. 3. \u201cThe Bible from a Literary Standpoint.\u201d\n\nHall No. 8. \u201cThe Best Literature for a Sunday School Class.\u201d\n\nHall No. 9. \u201cThe Best Literature for Sunday school Libraries.\u201d\n\nHall No. 13. \u201cThe Best Literature for a True Christian to Read.\u201d\n\nHall No. 16. \u201cLiterature for a Christian\u2019s \u2018Grip\u2019 when on a Vacation.\u201d\n\nHall No. 27. \u201cThe Sunday Newspaper and Other Publications.\u201d\n\nHall No. 38. \u201cThe Best Way of Conducting a Religious Newspaper.\u201d\n\nMr. World spent a day with his appreciative friend under the teaching\nof Hall No. 3. The professors were exceptionally brilliant, and so won\nthe confidence of their many hearers that what they said seemed to\nhave more weight than even the Bible. They tried to demonstrate that\nthe literary style of the Bible was far below par.\n\nWhen they entered Hall No. 8 they were surprised to see how large a\nnumber of Sunday school workers and teachers were already there. The\nmeeting that day was held largely in the form of an open parliament,\nand a discussion was in progress concerning the use of the Bible in\nthe class during the study of the lesson.\n\n\u201cWould it not be preferable,\u201d asked an interested visitor, \u201cto use the\nBible in the class during the study of the lesson, and use the special\nhelps only for preparation?\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t think of it, don\u2019t think of it!\u201d abruptly answered the teacher.\n\u201cIt would only be a step backward.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt appears to me,\u201d continued the visitor, \u201cthat our young people ought\nto become more familiar in using and handling the Bible, and if it\nwere used in connection with the study of the lesson it would surely\nprove to be a valuable help, even beyond what the present system\naffords.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd would you throw aside all the very valuable side lights to the\nlesson that are being produced in such rich variety and abundance?\u2019\nhurriedly asked a Sunday school teacher who was present on a furlough.\n\n\u201cNay, nay,\u201d earnestly spoke the visitor, \u201clet the press go on, but let\nnot its fruit be substituted for the bread of life. Fruit is good,\ndelicious and healthful, but we need the staff of life. _Let the real\nactual Bible be handled and used in the teaching of the lesson. Then\nwhatever else is wise to use as an auxiliary help may be brought into\nservice_. That is my platform, pure and simple.\u201d\n\nThe leader of the meeting was agitated. He impatiently rose to his\nfeet before the last words had fallen from the visitor\u2019s lips.\n\n\u201cLet us use reason,\u201d he said, with a light vein of sarcasm in his\nvoice. \u201cIs it not true that the average child sees enough of the Bible\nin his home and in the public schools, and that he greatly relishes\na change when he comes to the Sunday school?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s only too true,\u201d spoke up the worldly element who were there\nin large numbers.\n\n\u201cLet me assure you,\u201d continued the speaker as he was warming to his\ntheme under false fires of devilish sophistry, \u201cin the day when the\nBible was used in the Sunday school classes, spiritual ignorance\nabounded more than now.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy not be satisfied with rapid advancement, instead of inviting\nretrogression in knowledge, and a double decimation in Sunday school\nattendance, by compelling scholars to go searching through a book as\nuninteresting and unfathomable to them as the Bible?\u201d\n\n\u201cOne great hindrance to Sunday school work is its pious and\nsanctimonious tendency. If the schools of the twentieth century are\nto be successful, we must have less of that Bible stiffness in them,\nand still more of an open sociability.\u201d\n\nThe worldly element and some of the Sunday school teachers were now\ncheering heartily. But the speaker continued:\n\n\u201cInstead of going to an extreme that means death to the Sunday school\nby advocating that an army of cold Bibles should go walking into the\nservice, I should rather advocate a change in the other direction, for\nI am even opposed to the tons of cheap literature filled with cloudy\nopinions that are now being scattered throughout our schools. We need\nlesson helps that are interspersed with incidents of adventure, and\nstartling stories that have fire and life in them. Let some publisher\ntake the hint.\n\n\u201cThen the boy or girl whose daily reading may consist of that style\nof writing will find the Sunday school more congenial to his nature,\nand he will go there with a bound. In that manner you are certain to\nwin the boy\u2019s heart, after which you can, with tact, send the spiritual\ntruth deeper into his soul. From such a scholar keep the Bible as far\naway as possible It is not even necessary to lay stress on the fact\nthat the lesson text is, taken from the Bible.\n\n\u201cIf the teacher can succeed in holding his respect for the Sunday\nschool, then, in after years, when he is more matured and is better\nable to reason, you may bring the Bible itself more directly to his\nattention, and you will secure better results than are prevalent to-day\nin the Sunday school world.\u201d\n\nThe audience cheered lustily. In this cheering Mr. World and his\ncompanion joined. The visitor, who was deeply grieved at the warm\nreception of such destructive doctrines, arose to speak, but the\nintolerant cried out: \u201cAway with him! We want no more bigotry and\none-hundred-years-behind-the time speeches!\u201d At the suggestion of the\nchairman he was hurried from the room to appear before a commission\non lunacy.\n\nThe speech had its desired effect. The great majority of the audience\nwere convinced that the Bible was not a \u201cdrawing card,\u201d and that it\nshould not be introduced into the class study if it could possibly be\navoided. A few pledged that they would do all in their power to effect\na revolution in the present system of lesson helps.\n\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member left this hall and entered Hall No.\n9. It was a rare privilege for them to walk through the largest Sunday\nschool library in the world, where many committees were at work\nselecting books for their respective Sunday schools.\n\nSatan had so ingeniously managed the composition of these books, and\nso artfully arranged them on the endless shelves, that one could\nscarcely discern the good parts of a book from the bad, or determine\nin which section of the hall the largest percentage of good books could\nbe found. In this way committees almost invariably picked up\nconsiderable chaff with the wheat.\n\nI looked at Blackana and sighed: \u201cOh! Blackana, how long will these\nthings be? If only a conflagration would reduce the contents of that\nhall to ashes!\u201d\n\n\u201cAh! mortal,\u201d he coldly replied, \u201cthese things will never be destroyed,\nfor the building is fire proof. Surely the Sunday school should get\nas much of its library as possible from a source so well protected.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor what fiendish reason?\u201d I asked as I was moved with indignation.\n\n\u201cNothing fiendish about it. Satan can furnish books at less cost, and\nthereby be of material financial help to the Sunday school. Furthermore,\nhe is able to furnish a larger variety and a more inviting class of\nbooks, with more spicy fiction, and less of that deadness so generally\ncharacteristic of the books coming from the hand of a narrow-minded\nChristian.\u201d\n\n\u201cSilence, thou agent of the Devil! Thou art again dealing in falsehood.\nWhen thou speakest to me, speak truthfully or hold thy tongue in\nquietness.\u201d\n\nHe rolled his eyes at me, but spoke no more.\n\nIn the early hours of the following day I saw the same two companions\nenter Hall No. 13 devoted to \u201cThe Best Literature for a True Christian\nto Read.\u201d They moved leisurely from table to table scanning and reading\nthe books and booklets which, in great variety, lay before them.\n\nWeariness urged them to a seat in the lecture department where they\nwere entertained by a scholarly address on \u201c_Choice Literature for a\nChristian._\u201d\n\n\u201cIt must not be forgotten.\u201d said the speaker in one part of his address,\n\u201cthat the mind can be ruined by lack of vigorous exercise. In the\nphysical body the stomach would become weak and sickly were it not\ncompelled, quite frequently, to digest strong foods or a great variety\nof them. So also the mind, in order to reach its true development,\nneeds a wide variety of thought-food. Not alone that of a\nsickly-sentimental or sanctimonious kind which in its place is all\nright, but such a variety as will best stimulate the mind in a\nwell-rounded, liberal education. In particular, a good Christian should\nperuse such literature as will inform him thoroughly concerning the\nenemies of Christianity. He should not spurn, but rather study\ninfidelity, skepticism and every other hostile movement, so that he\nmay be able the better to appreciate his own position. The Bible is\nnot so much a book for reading, as a book of reference, and therefore\na Christian\u2019s loyalty to Christ must not be measured by his reading\nand studying the Bible, but by his success in locating the enemies of\nthe cross and studying their designs, looking over their encampments,\nand estimating the strength of their weapons. If he becomes thus\nacquainted with the foe, he is in better position to order an advance,\nor to effect a treaty whereby much strife may be avoided.\u201d\n\nHall No. 16 was next visited. It offered to its patrons a happy time.\nHere the work of the artist was in pleasing evidence. On beautiful\nwalls were pictured retreats of all kinds. The games and sports, in\nendless variety, which make merry the park, field and glen, were the\nsubjects of some of the paintings.\n\nThese were the titles of some of the larger wall paintings:\n\n\u201cA restful day under the oak.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe campers at the midday meal.\u201d\n\n\u201cAn hour of idle reading.\u201d \u201cAround the camp-fire at night.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt rest beside the bounding brook.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlong the beach at bathing time.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe cottage by the sea.\u201d\n\nNothing was said about the paintings on the wall; they were merely\nsuggestive of the refreshment that came after toil.\n\nThe lecturer of this hall was a jolly man, an athlete of fine\nproportions, whose splendid appearance attracted the attention of the\nthrong of listeners.\n\n\u201cWe are not here to discuss the good or evil which comes from various\nkinds of recreation, but to tell you, from experience, what kind of\nreading to take with you when you go on a vacation, or a pleasure trip.\nAs you are seeking rest for the body so let your religious books have\na rest. Leave them all at home, except the Bible, and prayer book,--you\nmight take them along to be used in case of sickness or accident. Then\nput in your \u2018grip\u2019 some humorous books, such as will make you merry.\nBesides these place therein some other very light reading, such as\nwill rest the mind from the more serious things of life.\n\n\u201cAs a father delighteth to see his children roam and romp in glee over\nthe meadows after the time of faithful toil, so the Heavenly Father\ndelighteth to see _his_ true children lay aside the seriousness of\nprayer and Bible study, and go forth in joyful rest to the seashore,\nor to the quiet glen in the fastnesses of the woods. If you follow\nthese directions, you will get the cream of pleasure and profit, and\nreturn to your secular or religious work with renewed vigor.\u201d\n\nI saw many ministers, of the gospel in the audience, but not all\nseconded the words of the speaker. Mr. World and his confiding companion\nwere surprised after entering Hall No. 27 to find on exhibition a copy\nof all the periodical publications of the world. This was a large hall\nand had sub-divisions, each devoted to a distinct class of literature.\nOne department contained all non-sectarian religious publications;\nanother the sectarian; still a third was devoted to daily newspapers,\npartisan and non-partisan; yet another contained all trade journals;\nanother all the scientific periodicals, and thus the plan was continued\nthroughout.\n\nThis was the busiest place of all, for some of the periodicals had\ntheir offices in this hall, while others had representatives there,\nso that countless thousands thronged the sub-departments daily. Each\nsub-department had its own corps of lecturers.\n\nMany editors, before entering into active service, take the entire\nseries of courses offered by this hall, and are thus taught to\nprevaricate, abbreviate, and exaggerate, or do ought else to attain\nthe end in view.\n\nI saw Mr. World and Miss Church-Member pass by one sub-department after\nanother. They were not pleased with the excitement that prevailed.\nThey had intended however to pause at the department devoted especially\nto the Sunday newspaper question, and tarried at the door long enough\nmerely to catch these few words from one of the speakers:\n\n\u201cI am a member of the church myself, and bear an honorable name therein;\nbut I am unwilling to be classed with a set of bigots who would rob\nus of our personal liberties and, if possible, place all kinds of\nrestrictive measures about our inalienable rights. I stand for liberty\nfirst of all, and tyranny never. Why should one dictate to me what I\nshall read on Sunday? I look at my Bible more than one hundred times\na year, and read a Sunday newspaper only fifty-two times. It was a\nhappy change that started the regular press of the country to yield\nseven issues a week, and thereby send forth additional rays of\nenlightenment to a people who are in sad need of all that they can get\nto increase their intelligence.\n\n\u201cAccording to my opinion there are so many practices that are worse\nthan reading a Sunday newspaper that Satan must surely be annoyed to\nsee a man engaged in such a harmless pursuit. Happy, indeed, would we\nall be if the---\u201d\n\nThe two companions passed on and heard no more, until they left this\nhall and paid a brief visit to Hall No. 38 devoted to \u201c_The Best Way\nof Conducting a Religious Newspaper_.\u201d\n\nThere were very few editors present, but the debate amongst them was\nvigorous and, at times, very contentious, much to the interest and\nenjoyment of the spectators.\n\nThe question being discussed was: \u201c_How Can We Best Increase the\nCirculation of the Church Paper?_\u201d\n\nAfter a few exchanges of opinions, the chairman of the meeting\nadvocated, with grave dignity, that all religious newspapers should\nbe more conformed to the tastes and the level of a hungry world. \u201cThere\nis too great a contrast,\u201d said he, \u201cbetween the mental condition of\nthe laymen and the high, cold tone of the average religious paper. Let\nthe editor of a church paper do as did his Master Jesus Christ,--come\ndown to the level of the world, where he can reach the heart and the\near of the common people of whom the masses are composed. No paper\nshould be so holy that it cannot adapt itself to the development of\nthe natural as well as the spiritual part of man.\u201d\n\nThese remarks were warmly applauded.\n\nNext an editor of a religious paper arose, and spoke with decision:\n\n\u201cI want to be as liberal and broad-minded as God would have me be. I\ncame to this hall with doubtful steps. I cannot say that I have profited\nthereby. My mind is at variance with the chairman of this meeting. He\nsays: \u2018All religious papers should be more conformed to the tastes of\nthe hungry world.\u2019 Let me ask, with all honesty, what is the taste of\nthe hungry world? Is it not a terribly perverted taste, a hungering\nfor the black sins of death? I contend that it is the work of a good\npaper to be a beacon light, even though it shines from a lofty\nlight-house. It may thereby shine out farther and wider. Away with the\ndoctrine of devils that would pervert the truth and send with merciless\nfling----\u201d\n\nAt this juncture the speaker was seized by an officer who came running\nin at the ringing of a bell and arrested the editor on the charge of\n\u201cdisturbing the peace,\u201d which, the chairman declared, was due to a\ndiseased state of his mind.\n\nMiss Church-Member was freightened from the hall by this episode, and\nwas followed by her less fearful companion.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\nTHE DEVIL\u2019S TEMPERANCE COLLEGE.\n\n1. Mr. World and his companion visit this immense college, with many\nwings, all devoted to teaching every phase of the temperance question\nin accordance with Satan\u2019s views.\n\n2. A view of the millions who attend this college.\n\n\nAutomobiles are used by the agents of Satan to convey students and\nvisitors from one college to another of the great University of the\nWorld.\n\nI saw Miss Church-Member and her cherished escort leave the College of\nLiterature in one of these up-to-date carriages.\n\n\u201cShall we tarry at the athletic field?\u201d asked Mr. World as they came\nto a famous sporting ground.\n\n\u201cLet us rather hasten to the Temperance College,\u201d she suggested. But\nher manner indicated that she did not wish to urge him away from the\nplace of his heart\u2019s desire.\n\n\u201cAltogether at your pleasure,\u201d he smiled, as he sank back into the\ncomfortable cushions of the conveyance.\n\nThey soon reached the desired locality, saw the moving millions from\nall portions of the earth, and heard the ceaseless babble of their\nvoices harmonizing with the work of this college which was known among\nthe pilgrims of the King\u2019s Highway as _The Devil\u2019s Temperance College._\nIt covered many acres of ground, and consisted of many immense\nbuildings, around which clustered many smaller structures serving for\nauxiliary purposes.\n\nWhen Mr. World and Miss Church-Member walked about the college grounds,\nand saw more closely the magnitude and beauty of the edifices, they\nwere so overawed that their tongues offered no comment.\n\nThey mingled a while with the merry multitude, and then at one corner\nof the group entered the gigantic building devoted to the subject of\nTemperance and the Bible. They hoped thereby to get the consensus of\nopinion on one of the complex questions of the day.\n\nAt the bureau of information the two companions were directed to the\nPublic Hall of Debate, which was reached by the aid of one of the\nnumerous electric elevators. The Great Hall had an auditorium of one\nhundred feet in height and a seating capacity fully capable of\naccommodating the visiting multitudes. The acoustics were so perfect\nthat one, at the farther end of the room, could easily hear the speaker\non the stage. When Mr. World and his friend had entered the hall they\nwere surprised to learn that many of the auditors were members of the\nmore radical churches along the King\u2019s Highway.\n\nThe corps of high titled professors who occupied the stage spoke at\nintervals, or answered questions which were propounded by persons in\nthe audience.\n\nOver the stage I saw in illuminated letters: TEMPERANCE AND THE BIBLE.\n\nAn aged man was speaking when the two comrades took seats near the\ncenter of the room.\n\n\u201cWe are not here,\u201d explained the venerable man, \u201cto prove that the\nBible is either false or true. We leave that question for other schools\nto decide. It is our province to show what the Bible teaches on this\nimportant theme. Temperance is a word so misused and so abused that\nit becomes people of sound judgment to go to the rock bottom of the\nquestion as viewed in the light of Scripture.\u201d\n\nThen, adjusting his green spectacles, the speaker opened the Bible and\noffered to explain, or to have explained, any part of it that bore on\nthe subject of \u201cTemperance from a Bible Standpoint.\u201d\n\nA breathless silence followed until a moderate-drinking church-member\narose with Bible in hand. \u201cDid Christians, during the life of Christ,\ndrink wine?\u201d he asked, in a self-righteous manner.\n\nThe speaker called upon Mr. Wine Expert who quickly stepped forward\nfrom his chair on the stage.\n\n\u201cThere can be no doubt,\u201d he affirmed, \u201cbut that they drank wine freely.\nThey knew enough in that day not to discard a good thing.\u201d\n\nHundreds of people sprang to their feet, but Mr. Venerable ordered\nthat one should speak at a time and that they all should be seated and\nfirst listen to the questioner.\n\n\u201cWas that wine the same, in kind, that Noah drank, as related in Gen.\n9:21?\u201d\n\n\u201cIdentical.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd the same that is used to-day in the commercial world?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is the same as the good wine that is used to-day. There are many\nmodern adulterations.\u201d\n\nThe questioner took his seat. A man from London then obtained the\nfloor. He also held a Bible as he spoke.\n\n\u201cI am a temperance worker in one of the districts of London, and would\nlike to know whether you conclude by your former assertion concerning\nthe early Christians that the Bible does not speak against wine\ndrinking?\u201d\n\n\u201cNot in a single place. How could it do so consistently?\u201d answered the\nDevil\u2019s expert.\n\n\u201cWill you please turn to Prov. 20:1. \u2018Wine is a mocker, strong drink\nis raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.\u2019 How do you\nharmonize this passage with what you have just asserted?\u201d The man from\nLondon sat down.\n\n\u201cQuite an easy task for one who has given honest study to the question,\u201d\nsaid Mr. Wine Expert. \u201cWine is a mocker. Just as wisdom mocks at the\ncalamity of those who reject it in Prov. 1:26. So, wine, personified\nin a similar manner, mocks at the folly of those who refuse it.\n(Applause.) Strong drink is raging. Just as in Jonah 1:15, the sea was\nraging in protest against Jonah because he refused to preach the truth\nto the people. So in this passage, \u2018strong drink is raging,\u2019 because\nso many church-members and ministers refuse to preach the real truth\nto the people on the subject of strong drink. (Prolonged applause.)\nIf there were as much said against me falsely, as has been spoken\nagainst strong drink, I would not only rage, but would go raging and\nfoaming over this stage in protest. (Tremendous applause and shouting\nfrom the people of the world.) I tell you more, my friends, strong\ndrink will keep on raging as long as old Voices and \u2018The New Voice\u2019\nof cranks and idiots are heard to squeak out their childish nonsense\nto an enlightened people.\u201d (Furious applause and demonstrations.)\n\n\u201cThe last part of the passage is easily to be understood,\u201d continued\nthe speaker. \u201c\u2018Whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.\u2019 How could\na person be wise who allows himself to be deceived and hoodwinked\nconcerning as good a thing as wine or strong drink?\u201d\n\n\u201cNobody, we need not fear,\u201d cried out a brewer from one side of the\nroom.\n\n\u201cThere is however a host,\u201d continued Mr. Wine Expert, \u201cwho are woefully\ndeceived, and who are endeavoring to force their deceptions upon the\nstate.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd I am one of them,\u201d shouted a tall man from Kansas, U. S. A., as\nhe violently jumped to his feet, and remained standing.\n\n\u201cI would suggest,\u201d calmly interrupted the venerable leader, \u201cthat our\nspecial photographer take a snap shot of this man. We are always glad\nto keep a record of such monstrosities. He looks like a fair specimen\nof a deceived man. (Laughter.) He is lean and bony, and if any one of\nyou never before saw such a man, take a full view of him now. Suppose\nyou,\u201d he said, as he continued pointing at the Kansas man, \u201cslowly\nmake a full revolution on your feet so that each one can here see all\nsides of you,--if you have more than one side.\u201d (Great applause amongst\nthe people of the world.)\n\nThe man from Kansas stood still till the voice of the insulting outcry\ndied away.\n\n\u201cI can stand abuse; I can stand irony and sarcasm; but I thank God\nthat where I live I need no longer endure the insults of the Rum Devil.\n(Suppressed applause.) If Mr. Venerable thinks I am the only man present\nwho comes under his classification of \u2018deceived persons,\u2019 I will\ndemonstrate to him his folly, for there are many thousands here who\nhave not yet bowed the knee to Baal.\u201d\n\n\u201cOut of order!\u201d \u201cPut him out!\u201d \u201cAway with him!\u201d came from the audience.\n\n\u201cIf there is a person here opposed to the Rum Traffic, let him rise,\u201d\nfearlessly continued the tall man.\n\nUp sprang a W. C. T. U. leader; then another person; then a hundred\nfrom Maine; yea, a thousand more until over seven thousand, from all\nparts of the world, stood on their feet.\n\n\u201cRemain standing, I ask you! Let not one of you act the coward! There\nare others here today, who came in, as I did, to visit. Stand up! Show\nyour colors! If you remain seated you will be classed with the enemy.\nThe time to honor your cause is at hand. I ask you seventy thousand\nchurch-members present to choose this day whom you will serve.\u201d\n\nMr. Venerable, who was an experienced man in these uprisings, whispered\nto an excited saloon-keeper: \u201cLet them proceed. A house divided against\nitself can not stand.\u201d\n\n\u201cI demand order,\u201d shouted a high-license advocate who owned a brewery,\nbut the agitated fellow was soon calmed by these personal words from\nthe venerable chairman: \u201c_Let these people go. They will soon get into\nfactional contention and thereby break the point of their steel more\neffectually than we could do it._\u201d\n\n\u201cRemain standing, ye noble band of men and women!\u201d shouted the Kansas\nman with increasing earnestness. \u201cYou, who are too cowardly or\nindifferent to rise from your seats, are throwing your influence this\nday on the side of the enemy, thereby casting a reflection on the\nchurch of our Lord Jesus Christ, and--\u201d\n\nThis was more than a certain minister could bear. So, before the Kansas\nman had finished his last sentence, he sprang excitedly to his feet\nand shook his fist defiantly: \u201cI want it distinctly understood that\nI am just as good as the man from Kansas, and just as much of a\ntemperance man, but I don\u2019t believe in this way of showing my colors.\nI would not be standing now had I not been insulted more by that crank\nof one idea, standing there, than by Mr. Wine Expert who so contemptibly\nperverted Scripture.\u201d\n\nMr. Wine Expert sprang to the edge of the stage to defend his position,\nbut Mr. Venerable was instantly at his side. \u201c_Come, come, don\u2019t spoil\nthat fight; suffer rather than have them combine against you,_\u201d were\nthe quiet words of logic that brought him to his seat without uttering\na word.\n\nThen up jumped a few prominent church-members to express their\nindignation at the adverse criticism of the Kansas man.\n\n\u201cThose are exactly my sentiments, and I here offer my protest against\nthis manner of procedure,\u201d said one as he looked approvingly at the\nminister.\n\n\u201cAnd so do I.\u201d \u201cI am most emphatically of the same opinion.\u201d \u201cI stand\nhere, a true temperance man, to express my indignation at that Kansas\nprodigy,\u201d were some of the expressions which came from temperance men\nwho were not willing to be classed with the seven thousand.\n\nThen upwards of one hundred women rose to their feet and indignantly\nrebuked the Kansas man for his misjudgment in starting this factional\ndisplay. This provoked some radical leaders of the W. C. T. U. who\nchanced to be there as detectives or visitors. They also arose in\ndefense of the Kansas man.\n\nI saw the tumult rising. Disorder was pre-dominant. Hundreds tried to\nspeak at once. Saloon-keepers, brewers, whiskey politicians, and the\nprofessors on the stage were smiling in ghoulish glee. They enjoyed\nit more than a prize fight, and the results were at once more disastrous\nand more deplorable.\n\nAs the conflict waxed hotter some men and women were screaming, and\nsome fainting, and some resorted to blows. Others scrambled to get\nfrom the room. The elevators were put in quick service, and I saw Mr.\nWorld and Miss Church-Member, with thousands of others, running from\nthe scene of the fight.\n\n\u201cLet us go to another building,\u201d suggested Miss Church-Member.\n\nA very short time after this I saw them enter the largest building of\nall the Temperance College. It stood centrally amongst the great group,\nand was devoted to \u201c_Hygiene and Temperance._\u201d\n\n[Illustration: A Scene in the Devils Temperance College The fight\nbetween the temperence factions was greatly enjoyed by the saloon-\nkeepers, brewers, and whisky politicians.]\n\nAfter learning that they came as visitors, a director advised them to\npass the many medical wings on separate flats and go to the great\nauditorium on one of the higher floors. Proceeding, in obedience to\nthe advice given, they soon beheld a room of greater size and\nmagnificence than the one which they had just left, and as they were\ntaking seats they fixed their attention on the lecturer who had already\nbeen speaking for an hour. He was discoursing on the relation of strong\ndrink to the stomach.\n\n\u201cIt must be remembered,\u201d affirmed he, \u201cthat the stomach was made to\nserve man. The appetite is the true criterion by which he may know\nwhat his body needs. If he feels a thirst for alcoholic drink, it is\nakin to a hunger for any special class of foods. He is not to ask his\nservant, the stomach, whether it is willing to do the work of\ntransformation. He is to give it the work to do. The stomach will do\nit, unless that particular digestive function is lost. It is claimed\nby some who know more about ditch-digging than about physiology, that\nalcoholic beverages ruin the lining of the stomach, creating ulcers,\nand other disorders. This kind of teaching reminds me of a conundrum.\n\u2018Why is a scientific temperance man like a dead man in his coffin?\u2019\nWho can answer it?\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause each one ought to be buried,\u201d guessed a liquor-merchant from\nParis. (Laughter.)\n\n\u201cA good guess,\u201d said the speaker, but you have not yet hit the mark.\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause needer von dem is vert any ding,\u201d said the proprietor of a\nbeer-saloon from Germany. (Increased laughter.)\n\n\u201cYou are still away from my idea,\u201d spoke the lecturer.\n\n\u201cI know it,\u201d said a rum-lawyer. \u201cIt is because they both lie.\u201d\n(Applause.)\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s exactly the truth of the matter. These so-called \u2018scientific\ntemperance men\u2019 are accountable for more lies imposed on a credulous\npublic than can be corrected for many years to come. Any sensible man\nknows that moderate drinking is healthful to the stomach. If a man\ndrinks too much, he is liable to trouble, just like a man who eats too\nmuch, or sleeps too much, or even talks too much about temperance.\n(Applause and laughter.) I tell you, my good friends, a little of that\nelixir of life is just as good for my stomach as it was for Timothy\u2019s,\nand the good man Paul would say the same thing if he were here to-day.\n(Cries from the world of \u201cthat\u2019s so!\u201d and \u201churrah for Paul!\u201d) I am\nsatisfied to have a great man like Paul on my side, even if I must\nknow that some of his pigmy disciples are against me.\u201d (Increased\napplause.)\n\nThis speech was especially enjoyed by Mr. World who himself was addicted\nto a moderate use of alcoholic beverages. An announcement came from\nthe platform that in an hour the eminent Dr. Strauss of Europe would\ndiscourse on \u201cThe Effect of Malt Liquors on the Heart,\u201d and those who\nwished to remain might spend the interim in social intercourse.\n\nIn consequence of this announcement the major part of the audience\ndispersed in varying groups, and discussed the merits of the lecture\njust ended.\n\nEvery creed was there represented by a few or more of its members,\nmany of whom were favorably and deeply impressed by the argument of\nthe Devil as it was given in the address.\n\nOthers I saw, not a few, who laid bare this iniquitous scheme of\npresenting the untruth, and declared that they would no more give ear\nto any teaching that came from that source.\n\nThis gave rise to endless quibblings and contentions between\nchurch-members of the same faith and those of separate creeds. These\ndisputes continued with increasing bitterness until the hour had passed.\n\nAll eyes were fixed upon the stage as the portly Dr. Strauss arose to\nspeak. His voice at first was slow and deep, and in all he was the\npersonification of dignity. The first part of his lecture was a very\nconvincing argument in favor of what is called the \u201c_Normal Use of\nMalt Liquors_.\u201d He declared that moderate drinking could have no evil\neffect on the action of the heart, except in rare cases. To prove his\ngeneral statement and to win the confidence of his hearers, he quoted\nover forty printed and written extracts from eminent physicians of the\nworld.\n\nAfter this general survey of his argument, he entered into details and\nillustrated the second division of his lecture by the use of pictorial\ncharts. In this manner the construction and action of the heart were\nconcretely shown.\n\nIn the third division of the lecture the Prince of Darkness showed his\nskill in manipulating the utterances of the speaker. By a second series\nof illustrated charts the lecturer intended to show how alcoholic\nbeverages, in coursing through the human system, benefited the heart\nrather than injured it. In trying to establish this point he used the\nsubtlest sophistry of Satan.\n\nThrough the three divisions of the discourse I heard vigorous applause,\nand when, in the smooth language of his final climax, he uttered the\nlast word and was returning to his seat, there was a deafening roar\nfrom all parts of the vast hall. To the mind of Miss Church-Member the\nargument of Dr. Strauss was unanswerable, and consequently she was\nobliged to revise her radical opinions on the temperance question; and\nnot only she, but a host of others from the ranks of the Christian\nchurch were influenced similarly.\n\nAfter leaving this hall the happy pair spent a long time in passing\nthrough some of the other buildings of the group. _Miss Church-Member\nwas so filled with the doctrines of the Devil that she thought of going\nas a missionary to the pilgrims of the Narrow Way._\n\nDuring their visit at the Temperance College Mr. World conducted his\never-faithful friend through some of the fashionable temperance-saloons\nconnected with the institution.\n\nMiss Church-Member would not have entered and much less indulged in\nthe questionable beverages, had she not been so strongly influenced\nby the prolonged visit at the section of the group devoted to the study\nof \u201c_Temperate and Intemperate Drinks._\u201d\n\nI was sorely vexed at the operations of this whole college and, looking\nat Blackana, I said impatiently:\n\n\u201cHow can your comrades find delight in such an impish work--covering\ntruth and scattering hellish sophistry abroad?\u201d\n\n\u201cDelight?\u201d repeated Blackana. \u201cThis world is but the Devil\u2019s Heaven,\nand those in his kingdom find chiefest delight in thorns, and not in\nflowers; in spinning sophistry, and not in dead things like truth and\nlogic.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\nINFERNAL SCHOOL SYSTEM.\n\n1. A general view of the vast University of the World with all its\nsubordinate operations. All working in harmony to destroy the good\nthat God would do in the world.\n\n\nThe University of the World is so extensive that one could not visit\nall its parts during the course of a life-time, but there is a place\ncalled the Magic Observatory whence an observer can have a bird\u2019s-eye\nview of all the principal scholastic operations of the Broad Highway.\n\nThe Observatory is owned and controlled by careful agents of Satan who\nwill allow only certain persons to get the benefit of so extensive a\nview.\n\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member left the ground of the Temperance\nCollege and proceeded to get permission to rise to the glorious heights\nof the Observatory. Mr. World secured permission, but his companion,\nnot having had sufficient experience in the service of Satan, was\nrefused a pass. The difficulty was settled by a happy thought. Miss\nChurch-Member suggested that while he should improve the opportunity\nand rise to see the sights, she would visit the College of Fashions,\nfor which privilege she had been yearning.\n\nI saw that Mr. World spent a long time in viewing the endless\nproportions of the noted Observatory, and finally stood on the lofty\nviewpoint with an interpreter at his side.\n\nHe was then directed to a seat on a mechanical device that moved in\na circle; and as he sat there he looked through the powerful glasses\nof the immense telescope.\n\nHe first beheld the Schools of the Fine Arts, with their myriad students\nwho swarmed through a group of buildings so large that it covered the\nfirst sweep of the telescope.\n\nAt the next turn of the magic device Mr. World saw the Special Schools\nof Mathematics whose prevalent tendency was to destroy faith. Here the\nmind of each student was taught to submit everything to the tests of\nproof, so that by the time one\u2019s training was finished he would believe\nonly what could be scientifically demonstrated. In this way Satan\ninduced many a student to disregard the Bible because he could not\nreduce all its teachings to the cold and rigid rules of human reasoning.\n\nThus does Satan manipulate affairs so that many of the Christian schools\nof the earth have imbibed a similar course:--first exalting Reason,\nand doing nothing to correspondingly develop in the student the\nfunctions of Faith.\n\nWhen the telescope again turned Mr. World saw the Schools of Metaphysics\nwhere Satan operated in harmony with the limitless scheme of the whole\nUniversity.\n\nNext the College of Theology came within the range of vision. Here the\nclergymen of the Broad Highway are prepared to teach the doctrines of\nHell under the guise of \u201cBroad-Minded Theology.\u201d I envied not Mr.\nWorld\u2019s position, for I could also see what his wondering eyes beheld.\nAs I took a transient view of this vast group of Theological Halls,\nand saw how many human beings resorted hither for information, I could\nthe better understand why the world is kept so full of perverted truth.\nThere is a daily inflow of ecclesiastics into this College, even such\nas become dissatisfied with the Theology as taught on the Highway of\nthe King.\n\nAt the next turn of the telescope Mr. World saw the extensive Business\nCollege whither so large a number of merchants go to learn how to\nadvertise, and also how to get rich quickly. One hall alone is set\napart for the purpose of teaching a merchant how to practice fraud\nwithout injuring his good standing in the church; another hall teaches\nhow far a business man may venture into prevarication without lying;\nwhile a still larger hall is devoted to the wholesale trade, and is\nintended to teach the best methods of adulterating foods while yet\nallowing them to be sold for genuine goods.\n\nMr. World was deeply interested in the view afforded by the next turn\nof the telescope, for the magnificent groups of buildings comprising\nthe College of Fashions now lay before his admiring vision. He knew\nthat his beloved friend was somewhere amongst the moving throngs that\never kept the College astir.\n\nI looked in wonderment upon the far-reaching operations of this Satanic\ncenter. The teachings of this College were so far-reaching that the\nseeds of endless follies were planted in the generations yet unborn.\n\nIn one of the larger halls of this imposing group I saw an endless and\npopular variety of the gods of Fashion. They were worshiped by the\nslavish legions who were willing to sacrifice their all rather than\nforsake their chosen idols.\n\nMr. World plainly saw the connection between this College of Fashions\nand the Devil\u2019s Pawn Shop. The next item in the weird program was the\nDevil\u2019s Optical College which Mr. World and Miss Church-Member had\nvisited in the earlier days of their companionship. Satan\u2019s Medical\nSchools also lay in the same line of vision, and were intimately\nconnected with the Devil\u2019s Hospital which had numberless branches in\nall parts of the world.\n\nAnd next the vast College of Literature flashed before the admiring\neyes of Mr. World. As seen through the telescope this section presented\na most beautiful picture.\n\nThe surface Schools of Law next attracted the attention of the spectator\nwho was surprised to get so large a view of these operations.\n\nMr. World still moved in the magic circle, and saw the whole program\nas revealed at the angle at which the telescope was inclined. When the\nfirst circle was completed, the telescope dropped to a new angle and\nstarted on its second revolution, disclosing to the observer a new\nworld of schools, all of which were also comprehended in the University\nof the World.\n\nThe Missionary College proved to be an interesting sight, as did also\nthe Devil\u2019s Temperance College.\n\nOne of the most surprising sights that greeted Mr. World in this second\nrevolution was Satan\u2019s Modern College of Narcotics which is a series\nof schools built and operated with great care, intended to counteract\nthe special efforts ever being put forth by the devotees of the King\u2019s\nHighway to teach the relations of narcotics to the nervous system.\nFormerly Satan did this branch of work in one of the wings of the\nTemperance College, but on account of the great stress put on this\nsubject by the Surpassing Schools of the Christ, Satan has built this\nmodern institution, and now the church is in confusion because _so\nmany of its members have such an indistinct vision that they cannot\ndiscern between the wool of the sheep and the hair of the wolf, even\nwhen each animal is wearing its own hide._\n\nThe most mysterious schools revealed by this second revolution were\ncalled the Schools of Emergency. These required the skill of the\ninterpreters to give Mr. World an idea of their work.\n\nThis is also a modern idea of the Evil One, and since their erection\nthe schools have been patronized by an astonishingly large number of\ndisappointed church-members who receive instruction more readily from\nthe modern methods here in vogue than from the old-time system.\n\nThen did Mr. World behold a new line of schools in course of erection,\nbut the interpreter refused to give him satisfaction when he asked the\npurpose of these new schools.\n\nWhen the great telescope had finished the second revolution, Mr. World\nwas surprised to see that it commenced on the third round as the outer\nend of the telescope pointed more directly toward the base of the\nObservatory.\n\nStartling scenes were now laid bare. The underground schools of this\nGreat University seemed to be greater than the surface operations.\n\nMr. World first saw the Opium Schools, built in the form of large dens.\nAfter this came the Schools of Iniquity, operated in darkness. Here\nall forms of evil are taught and made to appear justifiable under\ncertain conditions. Many of these underground schools could not be\nclearly seen by Mr. World, but ere the telescope completed its third\nrevolution he saw the Schools of Suicide more distinctly than during\nhis visit, and got a glimpse of the limitless Law Departments\nUnderground, and the terrible pictures of sadness and sin as seen\nbeneath the Devil\u2019s Hospital.\n\nMr. World raised his eyes from the telescope and looked towards the\ninterpreter. \u201cWhat lies beyond those vast elevations?\u201d he asked as he\npointed to a rugged mountain range farther down the Broad Highway.\n\n\u201cBack of those mountains lies the beautiful Wizard City, shut in from\nall the world. Ask nothing more about it.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut may I not enter it?\u201d\n\n\u201cNot unless you are fortunate enough to discover one of the paths that\nlead to the Summit. From thence one can see the City.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI.\n\nEXPERT INVENTORS OF THE BROAD HIGHWAY.\n\n1. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member fail to see the Ways and Means\nCommittee at work.\n\n2. They are directed to the city where expert inventors are constantly\nemployed in devising weapons and all kinds of devices.\n\n3. They see a few inventions which are just being perfected to\nfacilitate the services of the churches along the King\u2019s Highway.\n\n\nAfter Mr. World\u2019s remarkable experiences on the Observatory, he gladly\ncalled for his friend, Miss Church-Member, who accompanied him on\nanother branch of the Mountain Trolley.\n\nThey alighted at a station called Progress, and proceeded on the Broad\nHighway. Neither of them became wearied in listening to the experiences\nof the other during their brief separation.\n\nEre long they came to a large hall which was used by the Ways and Means\nCommittee of the Broad Highway.\n\nThey obtained permission to visit the interior of the hall, hoping\nthereby to see the famous committee in session. But, after being\nescorted from room to room by a guide, they were informed, upon reaching\nthe main auditorium, that the committee was holding a secret session,\nand that no visitors would be allowed to enter during that day.\n\n\u201cHow soon will visitors be admitted?\u2019 asked Mr. World, with a shade\nof disappointment in his tone.\n\n\u201cNot until the matter now under consideration is settled. It may be\ntwo hours, perhaps two days,\u201d was the indefinite reply.\n\n\u201cAnd where can we spend the interim with most profit and interest?\u201d\nfurther interrogated Mr. World.\n\nThe guide, looking through a window, described a path leading to a\nlofty summit. \u201cWhen you reach that elevation,\u201d explained he, \u201cyou will\nsee, in the busy vale beyond, the Wizard City.\n\n\u201cMost of the experiments performed in that wondrous vale are closed\nforever from the view of mortal man; but so much of the work as you\nare allowed to see will interest you for many days.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn my opinion such a privilege is greater than the one we are here\ndenied,\u201d smilingly spoke Miss Church-Member.\n\n\u201cTrue indeed, my friend, unless the climbing of the hill should prove\nto be a more arduous task than you imagine,\u201d cautioned Mr. World.\n\n\u201cEach of you will be pleasantly surprised,\u201d promptly affirmed the\nguide, \u201cfor they only can climb to that summit who do so willingly,\nand by them it is easily accomplished.\u201d\n\n\u201cIs there no shorter way thither than by that winding path?\u201d slowly\nasked Mr. World.\n\n\u201cThere is but one shorter route, and that is underground. No one is\npermitted to go that way until he has passed the summit and has reached\nthe seventh degree in the secret service of our Master.\u201d\n\n\u201cAh! so there is an underground connection between this place and the\nExpert Inventors?\u201d said Miss Church-Member in a low tone, and with a\nlook of suspicion.\n\n\u201cBe not in the least alarmed. The Ways and Means Committee and the\nExpert Inventors work in harmony, each supplementing the work of the\nother. It is therefore essential that between them there be as close\nconnection as possible, not only for convenience of travel, but for\ninsuring secrecy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen why are the two places so far apart?\u201d queried Miss Church-Member.\n\n\u201cEverything is perfectly arranged. If you could see the underground\nworld between the two sites you would readily observe the logical\nrelation of all parts. But the bell rings; I must go,\u201d continued the\nguide. \u201cIf you wish further information you may obtain it at the\noffice,\u201d and with a courteous bow he withdrew.\n\nThat same day I saw the two travelers climb with ease to the summit\nfrom whence they beheld the most curious sight that had yet met their\ngaze since their fellowship had begun.\n\nDown in the long and deep sloping vale before them, shut in from all\nthe world, lay a large city of fantastic structures.\n\nThe weird outlines of this marvelous city extended downward into the\ndarkness of the earth, while the height of its buildings varied from\nthe common even unto the amazing.\n\nThe form of the city, and the shape of its buildings, were the most\nbizarre features of all. Only a few of the edifices bore resemblance\nto any which the travelers had ever before seen.\n\nToward one end of the city they saw a cluster of buildings which, taken\nas a whole, resembled a gigantic tree towering to a great height and\ncovered with strange foliage.\n\n[Illustration: In the \u201cWizard City\u201d Satan devises novelties, such as\n\u201cAngelette\u201d for choir singing the \u201cService Regulator\u201d for taking the\nHoly Spirit\u2019s place in worship, etc.]\n\nAt the other end of the city the structures were divided into more\nthan a hundred groups, resembling somewhat variously-shaped balloons\nof monstrous size.\n\nThe sides of the city were constructed somewhat after the manner of\nimmense Ferris wheels, of amazing diameter. The compartments therein\nactually moved up or down according to the range of vision desired by\nthe Inventors in their experimenting.\n\nThe central part of the city was the most notable of all. Here, with\nan average diameter of ten hundred feet, rose a circular structure\ntapering irregularly until it settled to a point six thousand feet in\nthe air. Around this, as a center, ranged terraces, hanging gardens,\naerial boulevards, and spiral electric railways.\n\nAfter viewing this wonderful valley for many hours, the companions\ntook one of the perfected automobiles and covered the long gradual\ndescent to a depth of ten thousand feet perpendicular.\n\nAs they neared the base, I looked at Blackana, and asked: \u201cHow long\nhave those Schools of Invention been in operation?\u201d\n\n\u201cSince the creation of man.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is the real purpose of their existence?\u201d\n\n\u201cTo invent devices and weapons helpful to our cause in peace or war,\nand more particularly to concoct new schemes for the use of the churches\nalong the King\u2019s Highway and the Way of the World.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh! that the earth might see all this foul inwardness, and discern\naright the bland deception with which those subtle plots are executed!\u201d\n\nA Satanic smile covered the features of Blackana as he assured me that\nthe earth does know of these things, and has known of them for ages,\nbut is too well pleased with them to offer serious opposition.\n\nIn disgust I turned from Blackana and saw that Mr. World and Miss\nChurch-Member had reached the suburbs of the Wizard City where they\nread this unexpected notice over a large brazen gate:\n\nNONE ADMITTED EXCEPT THEY TO WHOM THE PORTER OPENETH.\n\n\u201cAh! all our toil may be in vain,\u201d sighed Miss Church-Member.\n\nThey stood for a brief time in a quandary, discussing how one may know\nwhether or not the Porter will open the gate. Finally the stalwart\nPorter approached them and spoke: \u201cWith what motive and for what purpose\nwould ye enter?\u201d\n\nMr. World, with native tact, was ready with an answer: \u201cI am in full\nsympathy with the work done in this city and have with me my friend\nwho is still a member of a church standing along the King\u2019s Highway.\u201d\n\nThe Porter advanced with graceful bearing and bowed to Miss\nChurch-Member. \u201cPerchance,\u201d said he, \u201cyou have come to receive some\nnew ideas for the benefit of the church?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou have surmised it,\u201d she blushingly replied. \u201cThe church to which\nI belong is sadly behind the age in its methods of work. I am hoping\nthat the inventive genius of this city can give me some features new\nand attractive, that I may, in my missionary work, help to introduce\nthem into antiquated churches.\u201d\n\n\u201cYours is a worthy mission,\u201d politely said the Porter, \u201cand I herewith\nhand you a card which will admit both of you into the department of\nthe city, number seven hundred and seventy-seven.\u201d\n\nInstantly the gate flew wide open, and the happy couple passed through\njoyfully. They walked by the many fairy-like buildings, closing their\neyes to all the special scenes so that they might give their first\nattention to the department indicated by the Porter.\n\nWith little difficulty they found the place desired, and handed the\ncard to a curator who conducted them to the general manager.\n\n\u201cI infer, by this card,\u201d said the manager, \u201cthat you are hoping to\nfind some new schemes to facilitate the work and service of the church.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat is our aim,\u201d answered Miss Church-Member.\n\n\u201cI am glad that you are so ambitious to keep apace with the times. In\nthis marvelous age of mechanism all things are done by devices and\nmachinery, and the church that would keep step with the spirit of\nprogress must also be run by mechanism. The services of such a\ncongregation should be controlled by a rigid methodical law, so that\neverything will move like clock-work. The church of to-day, in its\nmovement towards form and ceremony, is approaching the highest laws\nof universal harmony. This hopeful tendency is most helpful to the\nsoul of man and most pleasing to God.\u201d\n\n\u201cJust my idea exactly,\u201d chimed in Mr. World. \u201cThe churches along the\nKing\u2019s Highway are stubbornly fighting these modern improvements. They\nare very slow in catching up with the spirit of the age. Does that not\nseem true, Miss Church-Member?\u201d\n\n\u201cI must confess I see it more clearly now than ever. Nature is run by\nunerring, unchangeable law; why should not all spiritual operations\ncome under the same principle? Formality, after all, is the highest\npoint to be reached.\u201d\n\n\u201cYour mind easily grasps the truth, I perceive,\u201d responded the manager.\n\u201cWhat can bring things into better form than to get as much machinery\nas possible into church worship? In this building a thousand experts\nare constantly employed in devising and perfecting mechanical\narrangements to facilitate the services of the church. Perhaps you\nwould be pleased to see some of the results of our work by passing\nthrough some of the sub-departments?\u201d\n\n\u201cFor my part,\u201d replied Miss Church-Member, \u201cI am more than passingly\ninterested in these things, and if Mr. World does not object to\naccompany us, I will be grateful to improve this opportunity to look\nupon your work.\u201d\n\nAfter completing preliminary arrangements I saw the manager conduct\nhis two visitors on the easy running elevator to the floor which was\ndevoted especially to singing.\n\n\u201cAs it is your wish,\u201d said the manager \u201cto see the latest, we will not\ntarry at these lesser rooms, but proceed immediately to the corner of\nthe chief experts where I will be pleased to show to you the best\nnovelty on the floor.\u201d They walked down the long room, passing on each\nside of the aisle one set of busy workers after another. They stopped\nat one of the far corners and beheld, in advance, the latest novelty\nto be used for singing in church service.\n\nIt was an artificial woman, neatly attired and filled with a complicated\nmechanism so constructed that when certain electric keys were touched\nby the unseen operator, articulate sounds like unto a human voice\nissued forth, while the expression of the whole face, and the\nnatural-like heaving of the breast, all moved in harmony with the\nartificial sounds. The invention so much resembled a living creature\nof beauty that Miss Church-Member at first thought it was really human.\n\nMr. World was so well pleased with the novelty that he unconsciously\nseated himself upon a couch and looked on in amazement. The beauty of\nthe female form attracted his attention as much as the voice that\npealed forth bewitchingly from the lips.\n\n\u201cThe greatest thing in the world!\u201d he said after a period of ecstatic\nsilence. \u201cThe church that gets such a singer into its choir will have\na packed house at every service.\u201d\n\n\u201cI never so much as dreamed of such a thing before. Have any of the\nchurches yet tried the experiment?\u201d wonderingly asked Miss\nChurch-Member.\n\n\u201cThe time has not yet come,\u201d replied the manager. \u201cOur experts have\nbeen perfecting this fine piece of mechanism for many years, but it\nis not yet quite satisfactory. We shall continue until it is well-nigh\nperfect. In the meantime we are trying to prepare the way so that the\npeople will gladly receive such an addition to their church machinery.\nIt is our intention to be able to supply _angelettes_, (for that is\nthe name by which this invention will be known) of any size, and with\napparel suitable for any special or ordinary occasion of church worship.\nThe angelette is to be so perfected that it will render vocal music\nwithout a break. That will be a happy day when people can worship God\nwithout aging themselves hoarse or without being annoyed by the discords\nso prevalent in congregational and choir singing and, moreover, have\nnone of the evil effects that come from choir quarrels.\u201d\n\n\u201cI can plainly see,\u201d commented Miss Church-Member as they moved toward\nanother floor, \u201cthat the church is only in the morning twilight of its\nprogress. The wonders of today will pale into insignificance at the\ncoming of the greater things.\u201d They dropped to a lower floor and stepped\nfrom the elevator.\n\n\u201cThis floor is devoted to the \u2018_Order of Church Service_\u2019\u201d explained\nthe manager. \u201cIt is indeed surprising to see what a variety of devices\nare here suggested to get the churches to pin themselves down to a\nfixed law of service in such a way that all else must bend to it or\nappear ridiculous. Some churches, claiming to be led by the Spirit,\nare constantly out of order. One cannot even imagine what is coming\nnext. That is a foolish, haphazard way of conducting a religious\nservice. We are doing all we can to correct these errors. I will take\nyou at once to the expert\u2019s room and let you see the latest piece of\nmechanism which we hope very soon to offer for public use.\u201d\n\nFar out in one end of the building I saw the three enter a room where\nmen were busily engaged at work.\n\n\u201cWill you kindly show these two visitors the workings of your new\ninvention called the \u2018Service Regulator,\u2019\u201d requested the manager as\nhe looked at the chief inventor.\n\nA large curtain was raised and there it hung. No larger than a family\nclock. The inventor opened a door of the Regulator, and carefully\nexplained its works. He called their attention especially to a roll\nof blackboard canvas that passed from an upper to a lower cylinder\nwhen the Regulator was running.\n\nI heard the inventor, in explaining, use these words: \u201cThe minister\narranges the program in advance and then marks the whole order of\nservice on the canvas roll, allowing as much time for each part of the\nservice as he thinks proper. The canvas is then replaced and the\nRegulator hung on the wall. When the minute comes to commence services,\nthe Regulator is wound with a key and it starts to run. The canvas,\nin passing down at a fixed rate, informs the congregation of every\nchange in the service, just as it had been previously planned.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat think you of it?\u201d asked the manager, after the partial\nexplanation.\n\n\u201cI do not believe that the church of the King\u2019s Highway to which I\nbelong could use it. It would tend only to confusion,\u201d said Miss\nChurch-Member.\n\n\u201cOnly till they become accustomed to it,\u201d explained the inventor.\n\u201cAfter a few weeks of use its value would be demonstrated. Then the\ncongregation would not part with it under any consideration. You see,\nMiss Church-Member,\u201d he continued as he offered them easy chairs,\n\u201cthere would be a definite time to close the service. The Regulator\nwould move with the precision of a clock, and nobody would complain\nabout the preacher speaking too long, for he would stop at a fixed\ntime. It is so arranged that a little bell rings five minutes in advance\nof the time to stop preaching. It is sometimes a great satisfaction\nfor the hearer to know when the sermon is nearly ended, and the\nRegulator would be a blessed boon to some preachers who find it\ndifficult to stop talking after they get \u2018warmed up,\u2019 as they call it.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow beautiful the thought that the bells of the Regulator would call\nthe congregation to prayer, and a bell bid the time to change the\ndevotion from prayer to song. You must not forget that this device is\nintended to educate the minister, choir, and congregation to a fine\ndegree of accuracy in all their public devotions. See what opportunity\nthis device offers for the display of ingenuity and tact on the part\nof a minister! He can, on the blank spaces, have a few pictures drawn.\nThese will be interesting to children who cannot comprehend his sermon,\nor to an adult who loses the thread of the discourse. Does it not seem\nlike a good thing for the church?\u201d he asked, as he turned his gaze\nupon Miss Church-Member.\n\n\u201cIt seems more and more that way, and no doubt it will prove helpful\nif it gets a fair trial. How does it suit _your_ fancy?\u201d she inquired\nof Mr. World.\n\n\u201cIt seems to me that all churches who know a good thing when they see\nit will get it at any cost. It just meets my idea exactly. I like to\nsee things done decently and in order in the church. It always makes\nme nervous to get into a church where enthusiasm runs away with the\nmeeting. It makes me feel somewhat as if I were in a trolley car that\nis running down grade while the motor-man has lost control of the\nbrakes. It makes it uncomfortable to stay or to run.\u201d\n\n\u201cHave any of the churches introduced this novelty yet?\u201d inquired Miss\nChurch-Member.\n\n\u201cNone as yet. We are waiting for certain developments before placing\nthis device on the market. The agents of our Secret Service will inform\nus when the time is ripe.\u201d\n\nThe manager then offered to conduct them to another floor which was\ndevoted to the interests of the Prayer Meeting, but Miss Church-Member,\nhaving lost her interest in such kind of services, expressed a desire\nto visit some other part of the city.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII.\n\nTHE WIZARD CITY.\n\n1. The weird city of inventors described.\n\n2. Its ultimate overthrow predicted in a realistic climax.\n\n\nI saw that Miss Church-Member was anxious to visit the vast tower in\nthe central part of the city. So Mr. World, in deference to her wishes,\nand agreeably to his own desires, escorted her in that direction.\n\nStanding away at some distance, they were soon gazing upward at the\nawe-inspiring spectacle. Its grandeur and proportions now appeared to\nbe greatly increased.\n\nThey could see, with more distinctness, circling around the massive\nwizard cone, the aerial boulevards, ever alive with private conveyances,\nand the trolley cars each carrying a variety of passengers.\n\n\u201cWill you accompany me on the trolley to the first series of hangings\ngardens?\u201d cheerily invited Mr. World.\n\n\u201cIf we are permitted, and you think it safe to ascend,\u201d she answered\nin a tremulous voice. He calmed her fears and led her to the central\npassenger room at the base of the tower. Here they saw a system of\ninterior elevators carrying throngs of people to the numerous stations\nbetween the base and the highest dizzy view-point.\n\nLeading off to the right ran the double trolley system, and to the\nleft the equally wide boulevard, each on the exterior of the massive\ntower.\n\nI saw the obliging Mr. World, with more than usual courtesy, conduct\nhis friend to a seat on a trolley car bound for the aerial gardens.\n\nThe ascent was smooth and afforded delightful opportunities to view,\nat every desirable angle, the surrounding city and its suburbs.\n\n\u201cThis is the most exhilarating ride of my life!\u201d triumphantly cried\nMiss Church-Member as they circled higher and higher so gradually that\nmore than ten miles were traveled ere the objective point was reached\none thousand feet from the base.\n\nHere lay the variety gardens, suspended from the rigid side of the\ntower by a feat of architectural engineering surpassing anything in\nthe natural world.\n\nAround the gardens the boulevards and the trolley lines circled\nhorizontally, and also passed through some of the huge corridors which,\non this level, diverge from the interior elevators toward the exterior\ngardens.\n\nWhen the trolley car reached this height Miss Church-Member at once\nfixed her eyes on the ponderous pillars on each side of the converging\ncorridors, for she knew that more than four thousand feet of the tower\u2019s\namazing weight rested on these defiant granites.\n\nMr. World and his pleasing friend meandered amongst the multitude from\none to another of the hanging gardens, drinking in all the vain glories\nthat this aerial world afforded. At last, wearied by the endless\nsuccession of extraordinary sights, they stole away to a quiet retreat\non the outer edge of a garden farthest from the tower\u2019s center.\nReclining in hammocks, they conversed of all the greatness of the\nworld.\n\nLooking upward they saw, fifteen hundred feet above them, the next\nseries of hanging gardens; and during the lull in the music near by,\nthey caught the strains falling from the upper orchestras like music\nfrom Heaven.\n\n\u201cWill you go with me still higher to taste the sweetness of a more\nethereal level?\u201d\n\nIntoxicated with the charms already felt, Miss Church-Member was ready\nfor any height. Upward they went on the venturesome trolley, admiring\nthe phenomenal ride and the scenery it opened to their view in panoramic\nsplendor. Their course wound round and round until they came to the\nhorizontal circle twenty-five hundred feet above the base.\n\nThis was a place of more refinement and beauty. The touch of the finer\nartists was seen in all the arrangement and style of the terraces and\nhanging gardens, but especially in the rich variety of flowers and\nplants that added their wealth to the novel combinations.\n\nMr. World carefully guarded his much esteemed friend during their\nsight-seeing from garden to garden, for at times they encountered\nthrongs of people.\n\nI saw them eventually seek rest on rustic chairs where their\nconversation deepened into the relations they sustained one to the\nother, succeeded at last by a tender, thoughtful silence.\n\nIn the midst of their reveries they noticed a little spider, swinging\non its silken thread, floating in the air between them.\n\n\u201cYou rude little creature! Why do you come, at such a time, between\nmy friend and me?\u201d said Miss Church-Member in a half humorous mood.\n\n\u201cIt may be for a purpose, dear. Perhaps the little insect poses here\nto remind us that we can never escape the foe that seeks to separate\nus.\u201d\n\n\u201cQuite an ingenious explanation,\u201d she said with deepening seriousness.\n\u201cBut who is that lurking foe who seeks our separation?\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2019Tis better to learn to know your enemies than to be told of them.\nHence look through your eyes askance.\u201d\n\nJust at this instant Miss Church-Member raised her hand and caught the\nlittle intruder, placing it alive into a locket which she had secretly\ncarried ever since she had visited the Pawn Shop.\n\n\u201cWhat can be the meaning of that?\u201d queried Mr. World as he saw, through\nthe glass of the little lid, the struggling insect.\n\n\u201cSo may it be to any foe that seeks to separate us,\u201d she explained.\n\n\u201cThen let me carry the locket,\u201d he suggested. \u201cYou have captured the\nfoe; allow me to keep him imprisoned.\u201d\n\nThere was a happy exchange of glances as she pressed the little prison\ninto his hand. \u201cIt is yours forever,\u201d she pledged under the sway of\nher rising emotions.\n\nAnd he, accepting it with a warm heart, spoke thus in glowing words:\n\u201cI accept the endless task and also pledge to the utmost of my power\nto keep any foe imprisoned that seeks to rob your life of any passing\nhappiness.\u201d\n\n\u201cShall we go still higher?\u201d he soon asked as he fixed his eyes on the\ndizzy terraces two thousand feet above them.\n\n\u201cIn your presence I fear no height,\u201d was her confiding response.\n\nThe trolley cars ascended no higher, so they proceeded to the interior\nelevators. But they were told that no visitors were allowed above that\npoint that privilege being reserved alone for the inventors.\n\n\u201cAre we permitted to visit the interior apartments of this tower, even\nbelow us?\u201d asked Mr. World wistfully.\n\n\u201cThey are all doubly sealed. No one but an expert inventor, true and\ntried in our master\u2019s service, ever passes through these secret\nchambers.\u201d\n\n\u201cMay we know what particular branch of work is done in this tower?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is devoted alone to the invention and testing of weapons of warfare\nfor the armies of our master, especially for the sharp-shooters\nstationed along the so-called King\u2019s Highway.\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member trembled at this announcement and urged Mr. World\nto conduct her to the base of the tower that they might visit other\nparts of the city.\n\nAs I was looking at all these things, a flash of light, coming from\none side, blinded my vision, and as I turned I saw a heavenly messenger\nin a blaze of glory.\n\n\u201cHither, hither!\u201d beckoned the sweet-faced angel.\n\nI was instantly at his side without effort, except an act of volition.\nHe transported me almost instantaneously to the apex of the great tower\nin the Wizard City.\n\nThere I stood without fear under the sweet charms of my angel guide\nwho floated gently about me in the air.\n\n\u201cO mortal man,\u201d calmly spoke the angel, \u201cthou shalt now be privileged,\nfor a brief space of time, to gaze upon this Wizard City as angels do.\nThy memory shall be strengthened so that thou shalt not forget the\nvision of these carnal things.\u201d\n\nThen, in a manner surpassing all things human, scales fell from my\neyes, and I was struck with horror at the awful sight that lay before\nme.\n\n\u201cLook thou first into the interior of this tower,\u201d bade the angel, as\nhe pointed downward. All things were open to my view, and I saw many\nof the bright geniuses of the world in league with the imps of darkness,\nall busily engaged in the secret service of Satan.\n\nI saw how Satan used the ingenuity of man to carry forward his infamous\nschemes. Instead of the old rifles used in the earlier days of\nChristianity I saw in this tower almost numberless kinds of fatal\nweapons which send forth their poisonous and deadly discharges without\nsmoke or sound, so that the wounded, not knowing whence the missiles\ncome, might imagine that they were smitten of God.\n\nThe angel informed me that every year this fiendish tower puts out\ninto the hands of its agents many new devices, either for poisoning\nor wounding the disciples who travel on the King\u2019s Highway, and who\nby any kind of negligence come within reach of Satan\u2019s forces.\n\n\u201cSeest thou,\u201d continued my guide, \u201cwith what cunning Satan hath builded\nthis tower? By its exterior beauty he gaineth the confidence of the\nunwary, and thus winneth countless thousands to his cause. And seest\nthou the depth to which it reaches, not six thousand feet below us, but\nten times six thousand feet, into the bowels of the earth?\u201d\n\nThen could I see, at a glance, the whole under-ground dominions\nstretching their borders far, wide, and deep. There was a small empire\nof groveling imps, each bent on the work of his particular branch.\n\n\u201cLook thou now into the apartments of those ponderous wheels,\u201d directed\nmy glorious guide.\n\nNeither metal nor granite obstructed my vision. I saw delicate and\ncomplex machinery, and half-human creatures in league with mortal man,\nall bending to their tasks.\n\n\u201cThey all work in league with the Devil\u2019s Optical College. The inventive\ngenius of Hell hath contrived, in these graded departments, all the\nmodern lenses that are so terribly warping the vision of an alarming\nnumber in the church and the world.\n\n\u201cAnd seest thou,\u201d continued the angel, as he pointed to a far section\nof the city, \u201cthose inventors plying their ingenuity in behalf of\nSatan\u2019s Medical Colleges and Hospitals?\n\n\u201cAnd also witness, in that nearer section, the viler groups at work\ninventing snares and traps for Satan\u2019s allies to use in catching\nHeaven-bound pilgrims.\n\n\u201cAlso behold,\u201d he continued, turning to another part of the city, \u201cthat\nspecial class of geniuses who work for Satan\u2019s general emissaries as\nthey journey far and wide to do exploits. How terribly they influence\nthe weaker servants of our King!\u201d\n\nThen I stood gazing, as the angel continued his interpreting, until\nI had seen the foul workings of this whole city.\n\nI was so filled with a mixture of grief and indignation that I cried\nout in painful anguish: \u201cWhy does not God send thunderbolts from his\neternal throne, and smite this city to fragments?\u201d\n\nThen the sweet angel calmly answered: \u201cNot until the worm ceaseth to\ncrawl, and thistles no more infest the ground. Till then the patience\nof God endureth and his sunshine falleth on the temples of Virtue and\nof Vice.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd what comes at the end of patience?\u201d\n\n\u201cThen shall the taint of sin be purged from the earth, for every temple\nand pest-hole of Satan, including this whole Wizard City, will be\nconsumed by an awful fire whose lurid light will glimmer long after\nthe metals and granites of this great Tower shall have been reduced\nto ashes amidst the general ruin.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII.\n\nTHE FESTIVAL.\n\n1. The whole scheme of merchandising in the church is laid bare as\nSatan explains the origin of the word \u201cFestival.\u201d\n\n\nLooking once again through the open door, I saw that Mr. World and\nMiss Church-Member, after leaving the Wizard City, had gained admission\nto the auditorium where the Ways and Means Committee was in session.\n\nMiss Church-Member at once retired to the waiting-room in the rear,\nand sat quietly perusing a book while her companion remained in the\nlarge hall and listened to the proceedings.\n\nAn agent of Satan occupied the chair. He was dressed in pleasing\ncostume, and controlled the assemblage with parliamentary dignity.\n\nWhen Mr. World took a seat the large committee was engaged in a warm\ndebate over a certain piece of ground occupying a space midway between\nthe King\u2019s Highway and the Broad Highway. This eligible site had been\nused for holding church-festivals to raise funds for the maintenance\nof gospel work. A few wealthy friends of Satan wanted this location\nto erect on it a club-house wherein they might revel and carouse as\nthey wished.\n\nThe question arose among the members of the committee as to which of\nthe two uses would best subserve the purpose of their master who held\na claim on the land.\n\nThe chairman arose, after listening to the arguments at length, and\naddressed the audience with great coolness and deliberation: \u201cMost\nworthy members of this committee,\u201d commenced he, \u201cyou have spoken many\nwords of truth this day. Your interest in this matter only shows your\nloyalty to our cause. \u2018Club-House or Festival?\u2019 that is the question.\nSurely we cannot dispense with either, but rather must we maintain\nboth at any cost. As for this place in question, I am decidedly in\nfavor of holding it for the use of the church. The Club-House will\nfind a location elsewhere, but this ground is so favorably situated\nfor church-merchandising that I urge you to hold it for such purposes.\nHave we not seen how eagerly the two classes mingle here? This place,\nbeing so accessible to all parties, makes it possible for the church\nto gather larger numbers and thereby reap greater financial results--\nwhich is the principal object of the church in holding these delightful\naffairs. Since the church is well supplied with everything it needs\nexcept money, let us do it a favor by rendering some assistance in\nthat direction. Then we may reasonably expect that the church will,\nin return, do us a favor by being less hostile to our methods of\noperation, which, as you will admit, are highly honorable.\u201d\n\nThis speech had the desired effect. A resolution was quickly passed\nin harmony with the opinion of the chairman.\n\nThe curiosity of Mr. World was now satisfied, for he had seen this\nfamous committee in session. Therefore he repaired to the waiting-\nroom, and while conducting Miss Church-Member from the building their\nattention was arrested by this announcement written in bold letters\nnear the exit:\n\nANY ONE WISHING REFRESHMENTS CAN FIND THEM AT THE FESTIVAL ON THE\nCHURCH GROUNDS.\n\n\u201cHow does that announcement suit you?\u201d interrogated Mr. World.\n\n\u201cIt comes at an opportune time,\u201d she answered, her face brightening,\n\u201cI had been hoping that we might soon have lunch.\u201d\n\nThey had gone but a few steps from the door when they heard cheery\nvoices and strains.\n\nHere the Church receives money for souls from the Devil, while the\nDevil gets souls for money from the Church of music lending attractive\nlife to the festival. Urged on by the thought of a pleasant hour, they\nquickened their pace unconsciously and were soon within sight of the\ngrounds.\n\nI saw the multitude gathering in the grove. The mingling of the church\nand the world was so complete that one could scarcely tell from which\npath many had come.\n\n[Illustration: The Festival.  Here the Church receives money for souls\nfrom the Devil, while the Devil gets souls for money from the Church.]\n\nOn this intervening ground everything appealed to the appetite, and\nthe patrons knew that the more they ate or purchased the greater would\nbe the success of the festival. Therefore some ate even unto gluttony\nfor the benefit of the church, while the agents of Satan with skillful\naim were sending poisoned arrows into the heart of true benevolence,\nand also endeavoring to arrest the minds of Christians so that they\nmight pursue the Broader Path after their routine at the festival was\nended.\n\nThus I saw, falling into the coffers of the church, filthy lucre not\nsanctified by prayer or sacrifice, and from this seed the church hoped\nto reap a holy harvest.\n\nMr. World and his companion spent a delightful season with the company\nand, thanks to Mr. World\u2019s plethoric purse, proved themselves pleasingly\ngenerous in their patronage. Finally Miss Church-Member excused herself\nfrom Mr. World and joined a company of young ladies who were engaged\nin joyous pleasures.\n\nMr. World, now alone, was walking leisurely about the grounds when\nSatan appeared and sauntered at his side \u201cAre you not fearful,\u201d asked\nMr. World in the midst of a conversation, \u201cthat many of your subjects\nwill be led into the Narrow Path by tarrying at this place and\nassociating with so many Christians?\u201d\n\n\u201cNot in the least,\u201d he replied, \u201cfor at such places as this I gain\nmore subjects than I lose. So I expect to encourage forever\nsacred-merchandising all along my route. The churches are glad to use\nthis ground even though it belongs to me, for I concede to them all\nthe money. Naturally I prefer souls to money.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow did this word \u2018festival\u2019 originate?\u201d queried Mr. World after a\nbrief pause in the conversation.\n\n\u201cWith pleasure I will explain. Once upon a time I called together my\ngenerals to determine upon new methods of winning converts to our\ncause, and promised to confer upon the one who should suggest the best\nplan, the honorable title \u2018Fast Devil.\u2019\n\n\u201cA long intermission was granted to give my aids time to use their\ningenuity in planning. All Hell was filled with students, each one\nstriving to win the title.\n\n\u201cAt a given signal my cohorts re-assembled. Thus before me lay a vast\narmy of anxious faces. I gave each one, who desired, an opportunity\nto speak. The sun revolved on his axis seven times ere the argument\nwas finished. During this debate there was comparative peace on earth.\u201d\n\n\u201cPray tell me,\u201d further asked Mr. World, \u201cWhat was the trend of their\nsuggestions?\u201d\n\n\u201cI could relate it all, for I have every word recorded, but I shall\nnot weary you.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut at least give me a general idea.\u201d\n\n\u201cWillingly. One of my generals arose and said: \u2018We can change some of\nour tactics without loss to our cause. The sword and torture only\nstrengthen our enemies. We should resort more to the \u2018wolf-\nin-sheep\u2019s-clothing method.\u2019\n\n\u201cHe could speak no more. A thundering sound of voices drowned his\nutterances. Thousands of my loyal leaders seconded his plans.\n\n\u201cAt last one of the speakers, who indeed won the prize, earnestly\nproposed a grand scheme, and the vast multitudes listened with rapt\nattention. His speech was short but fiery, and, rising to the occasion,\nhe demanded that all his comrades should unite to destroy the simple\nvoluntary spirit of Christian benevolence so that the church might go\nbegging before the world and even resort to all manner of mercantile\nbusiness for its support. The speaker declared that if the church could\nbe induced to adopt such measures it would tend to divert her mind\nfrom interfering with the work to which he and his auditors were all\nloyally pledged.\n\n\u201cThis speech had a marvelous effect, and there was a deafening roar\nof voices in the applause which continued for a long space of time.\n\n\u201cThen followed an animated discussion in which a host of trusted leaders\nengaged. Each one commented on the winning speech and offered\nsuggestions how to awaken a trading interest in the church. It was\nconceded that first of all the church must feel the necessity of\nresorting to business. Accordingly a large committee was appointed to\nwork systematically amongst the churches on earth, inducing their\nmembers to depart from the customs of the early church.\n\n\u201cThis committee did yeoman service and shrewdly prepared the way for\nthe more complete work in harmony with the views of Fast Devil. Through\nthe ages it succeeded in gradually influencing the church to engage\nin all manner of performances and trading schemes to gain support. The\nwork of this committee is not yet at an end, for nearly every week we\nhear of some innovation which has crept into the church, or some new\nform of merchandising into which it has fortunately entered.\n\n\u201cIt is indeed gratifying that the church is casting off her unsightly\nspiritual robe and putting on the costume of merriment and trade. I\nhope the day will soon come when the church will have still less of\nthe spiritual nonsense and more of these up-to-date methods to secure\nfunds for its support.\u201d\n\nAs Satan spoke his last words he bid a brief adieu to Mr. World and\nhastened away to the side of a young man who was almost persuaded to\nyield to some elevating influence. I suddenly looked at Blackana whose\npresence I had well-nigh forgotten.\n\n\u201cHave you been taking your ease in sleep?\u201d I asked as an involuntary\nshudder shook my frame.\n\n\u201cI never sleep. Suns may wax and wane, nations rise and fall, peoples\nlive and die, but I am awake forever.\u201d\n\n\u201cDid you hear the conversation between Satan and Mr. World?\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery word of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cWere you present when Satan held that great convocation to devise\nplans for more efficient work against the church of Jesus Christ on\nearth?\u201d\n\n\u201cI attended every session.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd did you hear the speech of Fast Devil?\u201d\n\n\u201cI heard every word.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd did Satan give to Mr. World a true account of the address?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe gave only a condensed and garbled rendering of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen I command you, O Blackana, to give me a full reproduction of\nFast Devil\u2019s speech as far as you are able to translate the language\nof Hell into words that are intelligible to me. Can you remember each\nthought?\u201d\n\n\u201cI must remember, for I have not the power to forget,\u201d and Blackana\ngroaned aloud. \u201cOh, that I could bury in oblivion the myriad thoughts\nthat sting me with remorse!\u201d He paused a moment. \u201cAm I to give you the\nwhole--speech as Fast Devil delivered it originally?\u201d\n\n\u201cThought for thought, and gesture for gesture,\u201d I answered with\nauthority.\n\nEre the last syllable fell from my lips Blackana was suddenly\ntransformed into a more terrifying creature than he was himself. I was\nparalyzed at the sight of the weird monster which I learned was the\nimage of Fast Devil.\n\nThere he stood, tall and erect, seven times the height of man, with\nsinews like iron-rope and with a face defying human description. His\neyes were fiery with life, and determination marked every movement as\nhe stepped forward to speak.\n\nNotwithstanding my consciousness of being sustained by supernatural\npower, I trembled as Blackana reproduced this noted speech of Fast\nDevil:\n\n\u201cMost honored chief and glorious master,\u201d he commenced, \u201cbe thou\nindulgent as I speak to thee and unto these my comrades who lie in\nanxious posture over this vast expanse of Hell. I am here to state an\nissue of which we have heard murmurings for many an age. To prepare\nfor this hour I have taxed my ingenuity to its utmost.\u201d\n\nThen with striking gestures of his awful arms he passionately continued:\n\u201cHope is no more crushed within me as I view the wide and measureless\nfield of our possibilities, for I see empires within our reach if we\nbut cease brooding over our dismal past and let this bright prospect\nkindle its flames within us. What spur need we to move us on but to\nlook up and see the resplendent regions whence we fell, till hatred\nstarts afresh within our beings and our every passion moves to its\ncontrol.\u201d\n\nWith an outward swing of his great right arm he asked in strong\nappealing tones: \u201cHow can we best succeed against the church in which\nour enemy glories so unceasingly? What inroads can we make? In what\nmanner shall we advance?\u201d\n\nHe vigorously seized a book. \u201cHere is a Bible, borrowed from a saint.\nI turned its pages over and over that I might learn what pained the\nheart of Christ most grievously, vexing his inmost soul with\nindignation. What was it?\u201d vociferously interrogated Fast Devil as he\nflung the book to the scorching winds of Hell. \u201c\u2019Twas that which\nhindered the cause of Christ most efficiently--_prostituting the house\nof God to worldly purposes_. Have we forgotten the vehemence with which\nthis arch-enemy drove the money kings from His sacred abode, saying\nunto them: \u2018My house is a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den\nof thieves,\u2019 and how we like sneaking cowards crawled away, and thus\nour glorious scheme went by default?\u201d\n\nThen Blackana uttered his final appeal with all the swing of his mighty\nbody and the low vibrant thunder of his voice. \u201cBack to your forts!\nOh, back! ye dormant hosts around me! Not in the strength of arms, but\nwith the subtlest webs that Hell can weave, and with the snares of\nsilent treachery. We need no stronger weapons, and for our dress we\nwill don sheep\u2019s clothing of the finest wool. Thus who amongst the\nchurch can tell that we are not seeking her highest good? _Then as we\nstrike at the heart of voluntary offering in the church, so shall we\nkill the spirit that gives it birth. The carcass of this dead spirit\nunburied we shall drag through the church for ages, and the germs of\ndisease arising therefrom will bring more death into the ranks of our\nfoes than all our weapons of warfare ever did.\u201d_\n\nBlackana instantly resumed his former shape, and \u201cwhile I was musing\nthe fire burned.\u201d I then looked out toward the festival ground and saw\nthat Satan had returned to Mr. World and was explaining to him how\nhelpful these festivals were to Christians.\n\n\u201cAside from the moral and religious influence,\u201d he remarked, \u201chow could\nthe church defray her expenses if she did not engage in some innocent\nforms of merchandising, or use some novel scheme to decoy money from\nher admirers. Surely there can be no better way,\u201d continued the Devil\nwith an unholy grin. \u201cIf the church would maintain her honor before\nthe world, she must not do differently. I _am satisfied if wily thee\nold way of voluntary giving is more and more discarded by the church.\u201d_\n\n\u201cBut you began your former recital,\u201d reminded Mr. World, \u201cto inform\nme how the word \u2018Festival\u2019 originated. You have not yet succeeded in\nmaking it clear to me.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt originated from the phrase of honor which was given the prize-\nwinner, Fast Devil, but we changed the wording somewhat so that it\nmight not seem obnoxious to the church.\u201d\n\nThen, by a peculiar method of concrete marking, Satan continued: \u201cThe\nfollowing is the process of development from the phrase to the word:\n\u2018Fast Devil;\u2019 \u2018_Fest Evil_;\u2019 \u2018FESTIVAL.\u2019\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX.\n\nTHE MISSIONARY COLLEGE.\n\n1. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member visit the great college and are\nstrongly influenced in favor of Satan\u2019s teachings concerning missionary\nwork.\n\n\nThe fellowship of Mr. World and Miss Church-Member grew increasingly\ndelightful as they journeyed forth from the Festival. In their company\nwere a few church-members who had also enjoyed the physical pleasures\nof the Festival and who preferred to reach Heaven by the most convenient\npath.\n\nThe merry band of companions soon reached a certain Missionary Station\nwhich was controlled by pilgrims from the King\u2019s Highway. The travelers\nwere all very much amused at seeing tracts and other pieces of\nliterature scattered over the Highway in front of the station.\n\n\u201cHow much one can get for nothing!\u201d sneeringly remarked Mr. Bigot, as\nhe pointed to the literature strewn across the way.\n\n\u201cSurely there can be no harm in looking at such pieces of paper,\u201d said\nMrs. Lucre-Love as she lifted a booklet from the path and commenced\na quiet perusal of it. \u201cAnd what is it all about?\u201d queried another who\nsaw the eyes of Mrs. Lucre-Love fixed intently on the pamphlet.\n\n\u201cOh, it is nothing new! Only the old monotonous story of the heathen,\nfollowed by the usual appeal for funds. Evidently it is some sharper\u2019s\nscheme to rob the people of their money.\u201d\n\nMr. World was near enough to hear her answer and with evident disgust\nhe asked: \u201cWhere can one get reliable information on this subject,\nanyhow?\u201d\n\n\u201cAt one of the Missionary Colleges, of course,\u201d answered two or three\nin unison. \u201cYes, and I know from past experience that you will soon\nbe at one. This station and this literature is all the evidence we\nneed,\u201d added Mrs. Lucre-Love.\n\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member thence walked alone and soon beheld\nthe great Missionary College whose higher domes kissed the lower clouds\nof heaven.\n\n\u201cSurely some great missionary enthusiast must have erected these\nedifices,\u201d said Miss Church-Member as they were turning to enter the\nsection devoted to Home Missionary Work.\n\nThe entrance ways were so crowded with students and visitors that Mr.\nWorld escorted his companion with difficulty to the plaza toward which\nthe twenty-one halls of this section converged.\n\nThe view of this part of the College from the plaza was at once\nbeautiful and inspiring.\n\nHall No. 4 was the first place they decided to enter. Over the door\nthese words were hung:\n\nHOME MISSION WORK FINANCIALLY CONSIDERED.\n\nHaving reached the interior, Miss Church-Member, in particular, was\nsurprised to see the many busy thousands in the large rooms of the\nhall, and to note with what carefulness every item of expense was kept\nof all the Home Mission Work of the world.\n\nThen they sought the main lecture-room whose large seating capacity\nwas already well taken with a motley crowd of students and visitors.\n\nThe lecturer was a woman of shrewd appearance. Her face was void of\nsympathy and her voice somewhat masculine. Her address was over one-half\nfinished when the two companions entered, They listened carefully to\nher words which were in part as follows:\n\n\u201cWe are not to worship money, yet we are to guard against squandering\nit. The person who wastes one dollar sets a bad example to others and\nbrings injury to himself. Woman is criticized for wastefulness in\ndress. I stand here to defend her, not because she is altogether\ninnocent, but because her accusers are equally guilty in the same and\nin other directions. The money wasted in Home Missionary Work would\nfeed the starving of all the world. Where does this money come from?\nThe greater part of it comes from the purses of those who are burdened\nwith all manner of financial obligations. What right have such people\nto rob others of their dues in order to support Home Mission Work? O,\nthat the time may soon come when consistency will be manifested, and\nso much money no longer wasted in this sentimental manner!\u201d\n\nThe speaker proceeded, but the interest of the two listeners was\nflagging; so they quietly left the room.\n\nThey next entered Hall No. 17, devoted to \u201c_The Results of Home\nMissionary Work_.\u201d But after remaining a very short time Miss\nChurch-Member declared that she was interested more directly in\nForeign Missionary Work.\n\nIn deference to her wishes he at once accompanied her to the second\nsection of the Missionary College, which was much larger than the\nfirst. Miss Church-Member led the way into one of the large halls where\nSatan, through his agents, gave special instruction concerning \u201c_The\nCondition of the Heathen._\u201d They listened to four speakers from whose\nbrief addresses they received food for thought.\n\nThe first speaker expounded the theory that \u201c_Ignorance is Bliss_,\u201d\nand declared that the heathen were happy and comfortable in their\npresent condition.\n\nThe second lecturer argued, at greater length, that the heathen were\nfree from all responsibility as long as they were left alone, and that\nif God held them accountable, then their vague worship answered for\na good conscience, and therefore they would reach Heaven by a simpler\npath.\n\nThe third speaker declared that the heathen were now as God had made\nthem, and therefore just as they should be. To establish this theory\nhe used garbled arguments of predestination.\n\nThe fourth assured the audience that the heathen, in due order, would\nrise to loftier conceptions by the same natural processes as the\ncivilized peoples of to-day have risen from their rude primitive\nconditions.\n\nAfter examining some heathen relics the two companions spent some time\nnear-by in a hall of the same section devoted to \u201c_The Effects of the\nGospel on the Heathen._\u201d\n\nIts teachers were very emphatic in their utterances. They affirmed\nthat the Gospel did not benefit the heathen, except that it brought\nto them civilization with all its attendant responsibilities and vices.\n\nOne lecturer to whom they listened was very fiery. In a scathing manner\nthe speaker pronounced censure on the Christian church for her\nill-advised policy in Foreign Missionary Work.\n\nMr. World and his close friend left the second section of the College\nwithout pausing to visit the recitation rooms where Satan\u2019s Missionary\nExperts were constantly teaching graded classes. In a few moments they\nentered the largest edifice of the Missionary College which was erected\nfor the special purpose of teaching \u201c_The Comparative Need of Home and\nForeign Missionary Work._\u201d\n\nUpon entering, Miss Church-Member was surprised at the interior\narrangements of the rooms and the exceptional beauty of their finish.\n\nAfter a much needed rest in one of the sub-departments, they went to\none of the higher floors, hoping to hear another lecture on some\nmissionary theme.\n\nMr. World smiled as they entered the room and saw that a woman occupied\nthe platform. In a jovial manner he remarked that \u201cwomen must be the\nbest missionary orators.\u201d\n\nThe speaker was keen-eyed and shrewd, and well knew how to use sophistry\nin pathos and wit. She expounded to the audience the doctrine of Satan\nunder whose service she was pledged to loyalty.\n\n\u201cWe are all missionaries,\u201d she commenced, \u201cand cannot escape the\nresponsibility which is imposed upon us. Our duty is imperative. We\nstand at the open door of opportunity and enter so slowly into the\nfields of work all around us. When one sees rank bigotry and\nnarrow-mindedness on every hand, he feels like blushing that he ever\nsent money to convert the heathen in far-away lands. The heathen at\nour own doors are more blood-thirsty than the cannibals of distant\nclimes. I appeal to you all, noble women especially, to rid your minds\nof the fallacy of foreign work and do the foreign work at home, even\ninside your own doors. (Applause, principally among the men, in which\nMr. World heartily joined.) I must confess that, at one time, I was\nalmost overcome by this craze of evangelizing the world. My delusion\nwent so far that I could see visions of China, Africa, or the remote\nislands of the sea, and even imagine that I heard voices calling me\nthither. One night I dreamed a dream, the kindest of them all. I saw\na woman standing on the shore of a river, her children drowning at her\nside. But she, unmindful of her own blood, was hastening to launch a\nboat into the stream that she might rescue a sinking dog on the farther\nshore. \u201cUngrateful wretch,\u201d I cried aloud on my bed so that I was\nawakened by my own voice. I was so moved by the dream that I could\nsleep no more that night, but sought for some one to make known unto\nme the interpretation thereof. I soon learned, to my personal shame,\nthat I was that woman. I then and there vowed that I would no more be\nguilty of so great a crime. (Great applause, with cries of \u201cnoble\ndecision!\u201d \u201ccommon sense!\u201d) From that hour I assure you that I have\nbeen trying to evangelize the world--not the one across the river,\n(applause) but the one on this side. (Applause.)\n\n\u201cI have been working at my own home and find a task almost too great\nfor me to do. If I should ever see the day when I get through with my\nown family, including my husband, (great applause among the women) I\ncan then commence busying myself with my neighbors\u2019 affairs and tell\nthem also how to become perfect. (Laughter and applause.)\n\n\u201cGod never made a greater world than when he instituted the home. The\nwoman who becomes inspired with international evangelization would do\nwell if she would learn how to season victuals and cook them aright\n(shouting and applause among the men) and to give proper care to her\nhome and her children. This is home missionary work.\u201d (Continued\napplause.) The speaker was about to be seated, but the applause was\nrising, so she stepped forward again. \u201cIf this kind of missionary work\nbe adopted, then the church will no longer be drained by repeated\ncollections for missionary work, and that money will flow into better\nchannels and prove an impetus to trade.\u201d She stepped quickly from the\nstage while the final burst of applause rang loud and prolonged.\n\n\u201cThat was the greatest and most sensible missionary speech to which\nI have ever listened in my life,\u201d chuckled Mr. World as he was moving\ntoward the door with his companion.\n\nI learned from Blackana that this Missionary College of the Devil has\nwrought great mischief in the missionary operations of the church, ad\nthat Satan glories in the fact that he has succeeded in sending these\nnefarious doctrines to the hearts of so many church-members and thereby\nkept a large part of the world in spiritual darkness.\n\nThen I took a passing glance at the King\u2019s Highway and saw a shining\npilgrim communing with God and casting his eyes over the hills of Time,\nlooking for the coming of his Redeemer. From his lips this prayer\narose, like sweet incense to Heaven: \u201cO God, hasten the day when thy\nchurch will unite and go forth into all the world to preach the Gospel,\ninstead of so large a part of it giving ear to the teaching of Satan\u2019s\nmissionary schools, thereby delaying the coming of thy dear Son!\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX.\n\nTHE RIVAL CHURCHES.\n\n1. The two companions visit a church on the By-Path and are disgusted.\n\n2. Then they are delighted with the services of the Church of the World\nwhose minister they visit.\n\n\nI saw the two happy companions leaving the Missionary College and\nproceeding on the Broad Highway. They were engaged in censuring the\nchurch for what they conceived to be its waste of time, talent, and\nmean in trying to convert the heathen.\n\nThis harmony of opinions was most pleasing to Mr. World. It was in\nsweet contrast to what he had previously experienced in his earlier\nacquaintance with Miss Church-Member. Her likeness to him and her love\nfor him were becoming more noticeable as their fellowship continued,\nfor she observed _through her faithful lenses_ that his moral purity\nand refinement were above par.\n\nWhile they were yet criticising the church, Mr. World espied, not far\nahead of them, another path leading to the right. \u201cBehold the narrow\npath yonder,\u201d he exclaimed in a somewhat surprised manner. \u201cIf it were\nnot for a happy change in you, I would now be subjected to a score of\nsickly sentiments as to leaving this way and going with you to a harder\none. Have I conjectured rightly?\u201d he asked in a cheerful vein.\n\n\u201cIt is all too true,\u201d she confessed. \u201cIf people could but see their\nfolly before placing it on exhibition, what a blessing it would be to\nall around them!\u201d\n\nOn the By-Path stood a small church within easy reach of the Broad\nHighway. As they came nearer to the place of worship they heard music\nwhich attracted them to the very door of the church.\n\n\u201cLet us enter,\u201d she suggested.\n\n\u201cI shall enjoy your pleasure,\u201d he courteously replied. \u201cOnly see to\nit carefully that your glasses are properly adjusted, lest some strange\nglimmerings of light should bring pain or ruin to your eyes.\u201d\n\nI saw Miss Church-Member re-adjusting her lenses while they were\nentering the church and taking seats in the rear of the room.\n\nThe minister led the congregation in a fervent prayer which seemed to\nbe altogether too Puritanical in the estimation of Mr. World and his\nfriend. The preacher began his sermon. As he proceeded his countenance\nbecame more radiant. His clear eyes sparkled aright, and as he preached\nChrist and Him crucified even his raiment seemed bright and shining.\n\nIt proved to be a memorable meeting. A few who evidently intended to\nridicule were pricked in their hearts and, much to the disgust of some,\ncried out: \u201cWhat must I do to be saved?\u201d\n\n\u201cFools who came to scoff remained to pray.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is affectation in the extreme,\u201d whispered Mr. World scornfully.\n\n\u201cQuite enough of it, indeed,\u201d she returned.\n\nThe whole affair seemed to her so unreal that her mind could scarcely\nbelieve that she was ever connected seriously with such a method of\nworship.\n\nStill worse than all, through her warped vision and the aid of her\neye-glasses well adjusted, she was led to discern a wicked motive in\nthe mind of the minister. His utterances also appeared miserably narrow.\n\nAt the request of Miss Church-Member they left the room, congratulating\nthemselves that they were not compelled to remain longer.\n\n\u201cAll this reminds me of how simple and foolish I once was,\u201d she said\nplaintively as they descended the front steps. \u201cIs it possible that\nI was ever seriously connected with such a kind of worship? Yet\nignorance is the mother of endless follies. Can we find no better place\nof worship than this?\u201d\n\n\u201cBetter by far! I can easily lead you to a church where great varieties\nof truthful and yet comfortable doctrines are preached, pleasing to\nthe ear, and fascinating to the senses. No blunt fellow stands in its\npulpit, but rather a cultured and highly refined gentleman of modern\ntype who delights to keep apace with the customs of the age. If you\ndesire, I will gladly accompany you thither. It would be sad indeed\nwere you to be turned away from religion altogether just because your\nown church is so unsuited to your advanced ideas.\u201d\n\nThe face of Miss Church-Member brightened, and she quickly expressed\nher desire to accompany him to such a church. Therefore Mr. World\nimproved the first opportunity and conducted her to a large and\nbeautiful edifice.\n\n\u201cHere,\u201d he said, \u201cis the kind of church to which I am inclined. I give\nvery liberally to the support of the Gospel as here preached. I like\nthe broad-mindedness and liberal spirit which is manifested within the\ndomain of this denomination.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn what else does this church differ from the one to which I belong?\u201d\nshe asked. \u201cIn this denomination your conscience is not always pricked\nand you can do many innocent things without being called a sinner. You\nmay also consult your personal feelings relative to church duties. One\nis not bound down by a galling yoke of ecclesiastical tyranny. Best\nof all, this is an up-to-date church. You can learn something about\nscience, philosophy, and civil government. In your church one must\nlisten to the thread-bare doctrines of the Bible, much to his personal\ndiscomfort. Your minister exercises a censorship over the consciences\nof his members from which I prefer to be excused. In fine, I can say\nthat nothing is developed there but a long face and a sanctimonious\nsoberness.\u201d\n\nThey entered the church, and were conducted to a front pew.\n\nThe opening services were enrapturing to Miss Church-Member, and seemed\nunlike anything she had ever heard. The operatic rendition of the\nmusic, the ritualistic cast of the prayer and the soothing effect of\nthe rhetorical essay which took the place of a sermon, all exercised\na fascinating influence.\n\nAs the minister neared the close of his essay, he said: \u201cChrist intended\nthat man should enjoy liberty in this life, and that he should educate\nhimself in the best schools of art, science, and literature. Therefore\none has a right to seek, in this infinitely great world of ours, for\nsuch things as will best educate his natural and spiritual being. If\nthe theatre can supply part of this demand, let him go, as a student,\nand drink into his soul through the senses of sight and hearing. If\nthe dance can elevate him somewhat in demeanor and classical grace,\nlet him go there as a student. If some milder types of indulgence can\nbring him into a more thorough knowledge of the weaknesses of human\nnature, let him indulge, but only as a student with sincerest motives.\nIn general, I would say, that your conscience is a reasonably safe\nguide and you cannot go far wrong by obeying its dictates. Be a student\nall the days of your life; familiarize yourself with both the virtues\nand the vices of human kind that you may be better qualified to defend\nthe right and resist the wrong.\u201d\n\nAt the conclusion of the services I heard the minister announce that\nthe church would hold a \u201crazzle-dazzle\u201d party on Friday evening, at\nwhich he hoped there would be a good attendance, as the church treasury\nwas in sad need of replenishment. He also announced that all the\nprayer-meetings would be discontinued for two weeks, so as to permit\na thorough practice for the coming Cantata. After the dismissal of the\ncongregation the two continued on their journey, which was ever opening\nto them new avenues of delight.\n\nMiss Church-Member expressed supreme satisfaction regarding the\nscholarly sermon to which she had listened, and confessed that she had\nnever heard a preacher in her own church take such advanced positions\nconcerning the nature of human liberty.\n\nMr. World felt elated because his companion had found such exquisite\ndelight in the worship of the same church to which he adhered. He also\nremembered, with pleasure, that they had safely passed the little\nchurch on the By-Way, which represented the same doctrines as the\nchurch to which his now confiding friend belonged.\n\n\u201cWould it not be more in keeping with your advanced Christianity if\nyou were to withdraw your membership from your present connection and\njoin a church more fitting to your degree?\u201d were his suave words of\ninvitation.\n\n\u201cThat would be a natural question to consider after I know the rules\nand regulations of the church to which I intend to go.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat only indicates your wisdom,\u201d said Mr. World insinuatingly. \u201cSince\nyou desire more congenial Christian fellowship, why not give your\nattention to the church toward which I lean?\u201d\n\n\u201cAn agreeable suggestion,\u201d she said. \u201cWhere can I get the desired\ninformation?\u201d\n\nHe answered the question by taking her to the home of the minister,\nand there introducing the subject.\n\nShe was very favorably impressed by the courteous reception accorded\nher by so great and dignified a person.\n\n\u201cYou come seeking knowledge of the church. I assure you, my young\nfriend, that I will gladly answer any questions. May I take the\nprivilege of asking you whether you have ever belonged to any church?\u201d\n\nShe flushed with shame. \u201cI will be true and tell you all. I had a great\nexperience some years ago, when I was seeking Christ. In answer to my\nearnest petitions, I saw the most welcome beams of light that ever\ntouched my poor soul. I knew I was converted to Christ and continued\nin his service ever since, although somewhat differently since I came\ninto fellowship with Mr. World. I joined the church in which I was\nconverted and still hold my membership there.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow did you get so well acquainted with the happy Mr. World?\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member answered half in quaint humor and half in pathos:\n\u201cI, at one time, thought he was a very wicked fellow, and in a prayerful\nmood I endeavored to rescue him. I knew he would not come by his own\neffort to my way of thinking, so I entered into an alliance with him\nfor the purpose of quietly leading him unto the King\u2019s Highway. I soon\nsaw the bigotry of my former self, and through the kindness of Mr.\nWorld I have already been aided in my vision and improved in dress,\nand, better than all, I have enjoyed the privilege of worshiping my\nGod in a more fitting temple, where true freedom is preached and\npracticed.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen it is your purpose to continue being a Christian, although you\nhave left the King\u2019s Highway?\u201d asked the delighted clergyman.\n\n\u201cAs long as I live I will hold to my religion,\u201d she said emphatically.\n\n\u201cThen you are sound indeed both in purpose and doctrine. Did you wish\nto be visibly connected with our church?\u201d\n\n\u201cI wish to know first its rules and conditions of entrance.\u201d\n\nThe minister opened his Guide Book and, duly adjusting his spectacles,\nread in a pleasing manner: \u201cAnyone wishing to unite with this church\nmust comply with the following rules and regulations:\n\n\u201cRULE I.--He must reach a reasonable degree of respectability, or\nendeavor to do so.\n\n\u201cRULE II.--He must not wear clothing so plain as to attract undue\nattention.\n\n\u201cRULE III.--He must not tolerate or countenance the common nuisances\nso prevalent in the churches of the King\u2019s Highway.\n\n\u201cRULE IV.--He must ever manifest a liberal spirit so as to keep in\ntouch with the progress of the world.\n\n\u201cRULE V.--He may engage in any practice that will give enlightenment\non either the dark or the bright side of life. Members of this church\nought to have a well-rounded education.\n\n\u201cRULE VI.--He must never take advantage in buying or selling, except\nin such cases like Jacob\u2019s, where he can bring good to himself or\nprofit to the church.\n\n\u201cRULE VII.--He must never give way to his temper, except in such cases\nwhere his personal liberty or his church is attacked.\n\n\u201cRULE VIII.--He is to cultivate grace and etiquette through whatever\nchannel possible.\n\n\u201cRULE IX.--He is to be faithful in attending the services of his own\nchurch, except in cases of sickness or disinclination.\n\n\u201cRULE X.--It must be his constant aim to reach Heaven by traveling\ndiligently on a way wide enough to hold the attention and respect of\nan enlightened age.\n\n\u201cThese are our general rules. We have several thousand regulations\ncovering every phase or avenue of life.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat I have just now heard are certainly not as iron-clad as the rules\nof my church. Nothing is said of conversion, or spirituality, or of\nthe Holy Spirit, or of the other Persons of the Trinity,\u201d commented\nMiss Church-Member.\n\n\u201cNo, not of anything that is antiquated or, in other words, \u2018out of\ndate.\u2019 The main church on earth must deal with practical things.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you call \u2018conversion\u2019 in your church, or do you not believe\nin it?\u201d\n\n\u201cBeyond any doubt we believe in conversion. Just as soon as a person\nconfesses his faith in our general rules he is converted, and is at\nonce a good Christian. The Bible says that if one will only believe\nhe is safe: or \u2018saved already\u2019 as the true Greek rendering has it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen you hold to the Bible strictly?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are the only church that does really and truly hold to the Bible.\nWe believe and teach it as it is preserved for the ages in the original\nHebrew and Greek.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut I notice that many of your rules seem to be at variance with\ncertain parts of the Bible,\u201d she boldly declared.\n\n\u201cTrue enough, but those certain parts of the Bible do not belong to\nthe genuine Scriptures. Whatever you find in the Bible contrary to our\nrules and regulations you can safely conclude is an interpolation and\ndoes not form a part of the inspired Word. Let me assure you, Miss\nChurch-Member, that our discipline was written with great care by\neminent scholars of the Hebrew and Greek; therefore how could there\nhave been any error in it?\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member was slightly confused, and evidenced by her manner\nthat she was ready to depart.\n\n\u201cMay I ask before you go,\u201d continued the minister, \u201cwhether you are\nwilling to join our church?\u201d\n\n\u201cI have been thinking,\u201d she replied, \u201cthat I could do more good in my\nown church, not by fighting it, but by using _my_ influence quietly\nin trying to get some of its members to be more like I am. I have\nalways had a missionary spirit. In that way I might satisfy my earlier\nambitions and lead some one out of the mist into a better light.\u201d\n\n\u201cA very bright idea,\u201d testified Mr. World, advancing with Miss\nChurch-Member toward the door.\n\n\u201cAnd may you succeed in your plans,\u201d added the minister as they were\nstepping from the room. \u201cThere are millions who belong to my church\nin spirit, but who hold visible connection with some radical church\nof the King\u2019s Highway. They are doing great service in eradicating\nold-time methods and planting the banners of a new liberty such as we\nthree enjoy.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI.\n\nFROM THE VALLEY OF CONVICTION TO THE DEVIL\u2019S AUCTION.\n\n1. Depression of Miss Church-Member\n\n2. The Merry Village.\n\n3. The Famous Cross Roads.\n\n4. The Devil\u2019s Auction.\n\n\nAs Mr. World and Miss Church-Member proceeded on their journey they\nwere frightened by a man who, with his hands uplifted and agony pictured\non his face, came running toward them, shouting: \u201cLet good sense control\nyou and go no farther! Enchantment, spirits, witches, and unnamed\nhobgoblins dwell in every part of this hideous valley!\u201d\n\n\u201cOh, terror! What can this mean?\u201d nervously asked Mr. World, as the\nstranger stood panting for breath.\n\n\u201cAll a mystery! Even the air is filled with poison and weird music.\nI am thankful that I have escaped with my life.\u201d\n\n\u201cCome, come, Mr. Sin-Sick, tell us more about it. We may thereby profit\ngreatly,\u201d said Mr. World with more composure.\n\n[Illustration: As Mr. World and his companion were entering the valley\nof Conviction a terrified man came running towards them. He ran away\nfrom the preaching of the gospel.]\n\n\u201cI had just been traveling farther down the valley of Thoughtfulness\nand Conviction when I heard multitudes shouting praises to One whom\nthey called their Redeemer, each waving aloft a banner bearing the\nimprint of a cross. On the cross I saw these words: \u2018For God so loved\nthe world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth\nin him should not perish, but have everlasting life.\u2019 When I came\nnearer to the confusion I was suddenly seized with a peculiar conviction\nwhich brought grief to my soul; and, had I not made this timely retreat,\nI might have been brought under the power of those strange creatures.\nOh, take heed and go with me some other way.\u201d\n\nMr. World readily consented, but Miss Church-Member was inclined to\ncontinue, confessing that she had once been a singer in such a valley,\nand surely no harm could befall them there. Mr. World thought it was\nthe part of wisdom not to oppose her at this time, although he feared\nthat she might be induced to leave him. He consented to go, pretending\nthat it made no difference to him which way he traveled; but, as they\nwalked on, the wary fellow was very careful not to step from the Broad\nPath.\n\nWhen they came in sight of the valley Miss Church-Member lifted her\nglasses to test the strength of her eyes. Memory brought stinging grief\nto her heart. She commenced sighing for the old paths and also wept\nthat she had for so long a time abetted her former enemies.\n\nHer companion became alarmed at the new turn. \u201cBe not so fool-hardy,\u201d\nhe warned. \u201cYour eyes are being needlessly ruined. Quickly replace\nthose glasses lest you become totally blind.\u201d\n\nShe obeyed promptly and thus the intensity of conviction passed. Had\nher spiritual ears been open, she might have heard an angel sadly\nsinging:\n\n  \u201cOh, hear the song of love that fills the air!\n  Oh, heed the voice that pleads in touching prayer!\n  Both fall upon your conscience now in vain,\n  Through vile deceit your nobler self is slain.\u201d\n\nIn this vale she heard the word of God preached powerfully, and the\ncalling of the Holy Spirit in unmistakable sweetness, but how could\nit affect one who wore such treacherous glasses and who considered her\ncondition so favorable?\n\nShe passed through the valley with her faithful friend without being\nlured from the Broad Highway.\n\nOn the verge of the valley I saw a curiously shaped building and read\nthese words over it:\n\nTONS OF LAUGHTER: CHEAP ADMISSION.\n\nA man with a strong voice stood along the path and cried out: \u201cWhoa!\nWhoa! Ye travelers of this way! Come hither and drive away your cruel\ncares. Here is the greatest exhibition in the world. Smile and walk\nlightly, laugh and grow fat!\u201d\n\nMr. World and his associate, however, did not enter this place, but\npassed on through the entire Merry Village. On each side of the way\nthey saw an endless variety of gaudy advertisements, each one setting\nforth some leading feature of some frivolous, indecent, or gay\nperformance.\n\nMiss Church-Member was not tempted as was her companion to spend time\nat such places. So he, in order to hold her company, sacrificed his\ndesires and passed on without complaint.\n\nI now turned and spoke to Blackana who still mutely sat at his appointed\npost. \u201cTell me the meaning of the Merry Village being located so near\nthe Valley of Conviction.\u201d\n\nWithout the faintest murmur he replied: \u201cMany of the millions who pass\nthrough the valley are strangely affected with a sad countenance and\na heavy heart, which indeed drive them into a frenzy so that they go\ntoward the King\u2019s Highway. Satan intends by the attractions of the\nMerry Village to divert the thought of all such travelers and hold\nthem in the bounds of the Broad Highway. You will soon come to the\npath on which more people go to the narrow, rugged way than on all\nother paths combined. Were it not for this happy village, and the\nplaces beyond, many more would drop out of our ranks.\u201d\n\nI doubted not the words of Blackana, and as I looked out again upon\nthe Broad Highway, I saw that the two companions had just left the\nMerry Village and had come to the well beaten road leading to the\nright.\n\nHere stood a preacher who, in tearful earnestness, urged all travelers\nto go the right way. I saw many heeding his words and go running on\nthe new way after throwing away many cumbrous things.\n\nAt this place I saw some parting with their friends. One, in particular,\nI noticed who was pleading with another not to go, and ever clinging\nto him in bodily strength. Many who desired to leave the Broad Highway\nwere similarly prevented.\n\nIn the fork of the road stood a number of large churches in each of\nwhich services were held every hour of the day. These were the Devil\u2019s\nchurches, and were supplied by a courteous and shrewd class of\nministers. On the left side of the way was a large garden and a series\nof groves, each filled with a merry throng of pleasure-seekers. Bands\nof music made the air resonant, and every device known to the world\nof sport could be found in full fling in these varied resorts where\nintoxicating drink was the main beverage, and dancing and gambling\nwere the chief delights.\n\nThe Broad Highway was especially wide at this junction. It led onward\nbetween the Devil\u2019s churches and the pleasure grounds.\n\nThe greatest confusion prevailed on this wide area. Many missionaries\nfrom the King\u2019s Highway were busily engaged in speaking to the throngs\nthat had come through the Valley of Conviction.\n\nThere were also many friends of the Devil, in vulgar attire, persuading\nthe multitudes to rest in the joyful grove, while other agents of\nSatan, in more saintly manner, urged attendance upon the church\nservices.\n\nThus I observed the heedless throng from the Valley of Conviction being\nattracted by the music and passing through the pleasure grounds, while\nan alarmingly large number attended the churches in the fork of the\nroads. A few stoics, without pausing, passed on along the Broad Highway.\n\nOnly a few, comparatively, could be persuaded to turn their steps\ntoward the King\u2019s Highway.\n\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member stood for a long time watching the\never-changing panorama of the surging crowds. He was desirous of\nvisiting the groves, but Miss Church-Member was too piously inclined.\nSo they were halting between these two desires when a saintly looking\nperson approached them.\n\n\u201cTo what place are you journeying?\u201d the beautiful stranger asked.\n\n\u201cWe are journeying to a place called Heaven,\u201d promptly answered Miss\nChurch-Member.\n\n\u201cCongratulations, indeed,\u201d spoke the stranger as he smiled. \u201cYou belong\nto the better class of travelers. Some, I fear, who go this way will\nmiss Heaven. They are too much attracted by the frivolities of life\nand never have a desire to go to church.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut we love the church,\u201d spoke up Mr. World. \u201cHowever we have had\nlittle time and no opportunity to enter one for some time.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou are welcome to the services in one of yonder buildings,\u201d said the\nstranger as he pointed toward the group of the Devil\u2019s churches. \u201cThere\nyou can listen with pleasure and profit to the latest style of\npreaching, and the special music will prove entertaining. You should,\nwithout fail, attend church, or you will never increase in spiritual\nknowledge.\u201d\n\nWithout further hesitation the two pushed their way through the crowd\nand entered one of the churches where they were greeted warmly and\nushered to a prominent seat.\n\nThe minister had already begun to speak and was growing eloquent as\nhe warmed to his theme. They listened with absorbing interest to every\nword that fell from his lips.\n\n\u201cInto this church,\u201d the minister said, \u201ccome the wearied of heart,\ntroubled perchance with inward fears resulting from the weird\noccurrences along the pathway through the Valley of Conviction. We bid\nyou cast aside your thoughts of trouble and be at peace. There is a\ncalmness you should covet untouched by such conviction.\n\n\u201cThey who sing and preach in that valley are low subjects of ignorance\nand folly, and happy for you if you succeed in totally forgetting all\nyou saw or heard while passing through. Why should you worry about\nyour condition? Are you not good enough? You have come hither from\nrespectable parents, perhaps received Christian baptism, and can easily\ndistinguish between right and wrong. Why should cruel daggers now\npierce your heart? What you have done or expect to do is surely pleasing\nto your God. If you belong to the church, you are doubly safe. Let\ntime change, or worlds fall, the church will stand forever. If you\ncontinue faithful here, you will have a glorious end; only be not\ninfluenced by the contemptible advocates of the Narrow Way, who show\ntheir vanity by their professions of superior sanctity. Be satisfied\nwith the good, old, staid principles of this church, and be not swept\naway by every wind of doctrine that is blasting the earth with its\nsulphurous breath. Rejoice in your pilgrimage and let conviction no\nlonger sadden your life.\u201d\n\nAfter continuing at some length in this strain, the minister announced\nthat a quartette would render an appropriate selection just received\nfrom the mountain-tops of Apathy.\n\n[Illustration: The Devil\u2019s Auction Here many church members, and others,\npay their all for a few baubles of worldly pleasure.] The congregation\nseemed to be greatly pleased as these words were sung with a show of\nsentiment:\n\n  \u201cCome, ye that struggle\n  With thoughts of conviction;\n  Continue no longer\n  Such burdens to bear.\n  Throw off forever\n  This needless affliction;\n  And taste of the pleasures\n  That wisdom would share.\n  \u201cThere\u2019s rest for the soul\n  In blissful forgetting;\n  \u2019Tis bought by the prudent\n  At moderate cost.\n  Then cast to the winds\n  Thy worry and fretting,\n  And live in the sunshine\n  Where shadows are lost.\u201d\n\nAt the conclusion of the services Mr. World conducted his friend from\nthe church, and as they were moving again toward the surging crowds\nthey heard the voice of an auctioneer.\n\n\u201cLet us tarry a moment,\u201d he urged as he turned his footsteps to that\npart of the Broad Highway known as the Devil\u2019s Auction.\n\nA large company of men, women, and children were giving earnest heed\nto the auction which had been in progress all day.\n\nThe auctioneer held in his hand a gaudy bauble of worldly pleasure.\nHe cried in the full strength of his voice that such beautiful specimens\nof pleasure were very rare. At once the bidding for it grew lively.\nIt was soon thrown out to a reckless mortal who seized it with unusual\navidity.\n\nThen a door was opened in the rear, and lo, I beheld a series of rooms\nfilled with baubles of every conceivable kind, enough to satisfy all\nwho came for such lightsome things. One of extraordinary beauty was\nnext offered. \u201cWhat do I hear for it?\u201d lustily shouted the auctioneer.\n\nThe whole host bent forward eagerly to get a nearer view of the new\nattraction.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll give one hour of time!\u201d said an aged man.\n\n\u201cAn hour of time is bid, an hour of time! Who\u2019ll give more?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll give one day!\u201d joyously bid a thoughtless youth. He received it,\nand walked off in high glee.\n\n\u201cHere is another! A novelty just out!\u201d boldly cried the auctioneer.\n\nHow anxiously all stepped forward, each one wishing to scrutinize the\nlatest kind of pleasure offered.\n\nThe highest bidder was a restless youth who offered his all for the\ncoveted prize.\n\nMiss Church-Member was but little interested in these proceedings and\nurged her companion to the next auction-stand where certain rights and\nprivileges were sold.\n\nOn the stand stood a glib-tongued fellow who announced that he would\nfirst offer for sale the _Right to Sell Intoxicating Drink_. \u201cHow much\ndo I hear?\u201d shouted the auctioneer as the cosmopolitan crowd looked on.\n\n\u201cHundred dollars per annum!\u201d cried the people of one state.\n\n\u201cOne hundred, one hundred, going at one hundred!\u201d\n\n\u201cTwo hundred dollars!\u201d bid the representatives of another state.\n\n\u201cThree hundred dollars!\u201d was another offer that immediately came in.\n\n\u201cThat is far below the value!\u201d shouted the auctioneer. \u201cRemember, all\nthis money we get for licensing the saloon will go for charity or to\nhelp educate and civilise the people!\u201d\n\nThousands upon thousands cheered to the echo, while the wicked\nauctioneer and his allies were highly pleased at the spectacle.\n\n\u201cThree hundred, three hundred! Altogether too low a sum for so great\na privilege!\u201d\n\n\u201cFive hundred dollars!\u201d cried the authorities of another state.\n\n\u201cGoing at five hundred, five hundred, five hundred!\u201d rapidly and\nhilariously yelled the auctioneer, and the crowd cheered lustily.\n\n\u201cStill going at five hundred, five hundred! Who\u2019ll give six hundred?\nFirst, second, and last warning, and sold at five hundred dollars to\nthe state represented by yonder group of delegates!\u201d\n\nThus the program continued, and the right to sell liquor under\nrespectability was sold at varying prices. Mr. World and Miss\nChurch-Member left long before the auction was ended. They paused not\nat the other centers where Satan\u2019s agents were selling their worthless\nand death-dealing merchandize to the children of men.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII.\n\nTHE DEVIL\u2019S HOSPITAL.\n\n1. Miss Church-Member, suddenly attacked with heart trouble, is hurried\naway to the Hospital.\n\n2. She receives the attention of Satan\u2019s fiendish surgical operators.\n\n3. A visit through the various wings of the Hospital and sub-offices.\nThe horrifying work described.\n\n\nThe travelers of the Broad Highway pushed onward by millions, seemingly\nunconscious of their end. Miss Church-Member had become so well\naccustomed to the ways of the world that she could now adapt herself\nwith more ease to all the exigencies of the journey.\n\nIn the midst of her favorable circumstances she was nursing the germs\nof an insidious disease which rendered her heart weaker and weaker.\nAt times short, but sharp pains were felt; and more than once her hand\nflew to her breast in evidence of the inward struggle.\n\nHer disease reached a climax after she had gone not far beyond the\nValley of Conviction. She was walking along in a happy mood, when she\nsuddenly felt a pang in her heart and mentioned the circumstance to\nMr. World who was still her faithful companion.\n\n\u201cWhat can it be that has been giving you this trouble for so long a\ntime?\u201d he asked.\n\n\u201cI know not,\u201d she faintly replied as she stood still and pressed both\nhands to her heart.\n\nThoroughly alarmed, Mr. World called for help while he supported her\nwith his arm.\n\n\u201cIt seems strange,\u201d gasped Miss Church-Member in a brief interval of\nrelief, \u201cthat, with all the pure air along this way and the variety\nof things to engage my attention, I should be seized, at shortening\nintervals, with these cruel and unbearable heart-pangs. Oh, that I\nmight be free from this intruder\u2019s grasp! What shall I do? Where shall\nI go? I feel again the edge of the invisible blade!\u201d\n\nAt this she threw her arms upward and, shrieking in agony, was about\nto fall as she was caught by Mr. World.\n\n\u201cLet us hurry her off to the nearest hospital,\u201d promptly suggested one\nof the bystanders who had responded to the call for help. An ambulance\ncarried the fainting Miss Church-Member to one of Satan\u2019s hospitals\nnear by.\n\n[Illustration: An ambulance carried the fainting Miss Church-Member to\none of Satan\u2019s hospitals near by.]\n\nThe chief physician ordered the apparently lifeless form to be taken\nat once to an examination room, granting Mr. World the privilege of\nremaining by the side of his suffering friend. A quick investigation\ndisclosed the fact that Miss Church-Member had been overcome by a\npartial paralysis of the heart, induced by intense mental anxiety\ndating from the time when she had passed through the Valley of\nConviction.\n\n\u201cNot a serious case,\u201d said the suave doctor in reply to a question\nfrom the anxious Mr. World. \u201cAn operation will take away, almost\nentirely, the cause of this trouble.\u201d\n\n\u201cWill you not explain to me the trouble, and the nature of the\noperation?\u201d nervously asked Mr. World.\n\n\u201cCertain nerves which ramify through the human heart have been affected\nemotionally by the nonsensical teachings of the King\u2019s Highway. These\nteachings are commonly known us \u2018Narrow-Gauge Ideas.\u2019 If these nerves\nare rendered insensible, there is scarcely any trouble of that kind\nagain. We can, by an intricate operation, paralyze the mother-nerve\nleading to the heart, and thereafter you may expect to find the heart\nof this woman almost dead to the foolish influences that needlessly\nsend conviction and remorse into so many lives.\u201d\n\nWhile the physician was rapidly speaking these words, the surgeon had\narrived, and they forthwith proceeded to the operating room.\n\nMr. World watched the attendants as they carried Miss Church-Member\naway. He saw her no more that day, but heard that the operation was\nsuccessful, and that the patient was resting quietly.\n\nOne of the managers of the institution, knowing that Mr. World was\ncompanionless, offered to escort him through the various departments\nof the Hospital. To this he gave his hearty consent.\n\nThey first went to the tower which proved to be a magnificent point\nof view. Here he could see far and wide, for the building itself was\nsituated on elevated ground, and the tower rose far into the air.\n\nOn one side of the Hospital stretched away the Broad Highway more\npleasing at this point of the route than at many others, and far away\nit seemed to lead into pleasant woodland realms.\n\nOn the other side of the building passed the King\u2019s Highway, which,\nat this point, was exceedingly rough and uninviting to the view.\n\nThus I saw how the shrewdness of Hell was exercised in locating\nhospitals at such places.\n\n\u201cIgnorance is the mother of all that folly,\u201d said Mr. World with a\nfeeling of self-satisfaction, \u201cI see a long line of separate buildings\njust below us--there along the King\u2019s Highway. What purpose do they\nserve?\u201d\n\n\u201cThose are medical offices under the supervision of this hospital-\nstaff. Any one traveling on the Narrow Path, and falling sick there,\nmay enter for help and restoration. If the case be difficult, or\nrequiring an operation, or even special nursing, the patient is brought\nto the hospital.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you successful in most of your operations, especially with those\npatients who come from such a rugged path?\u201d\n\n\u201cFortunately we succeed in effecting a cure in almost every case. We\ncan only deal with those who voluntarily come to our medical staff.\nMany, in sad need of our help, pass by all our special offices without\never seeking advice.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre your patients foolish enough, after having been treated, to go\nback to that jolting road, and thus again invite their ills?\u201d\n\n\u201cMost of our patients go hence on the more delightful way which you\nsee, and on which you have come hither.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat diseases most commonly affect those who come to your physicians\nand hospitals for help?\u201d\n\n\u201cLet me answer your question by taking you down to those offices. You\nmay there observe for yourself.\u201d\n\nI saw Mr. World and his escort enter a physician\u2019s office which stood\nas near the King\u2019s Highway as Satan could build it.\n\nThe doctor was examining a church deacon who, by reason of his disease,\nfound it hard to travel on a way so narrow and rugged. He was given\na vial of medicine with specific directions.\n\nAfter the patient had left, the doctor smiled derisively and pocketed\nhis fee with ghoulish delight.\n\n\u201cWhat ailed that man asked?\u201d Mr. World. \u201cCan you tell me the cause of\nhis malady?\u201d \u201cHe has been eating and eating sermons, exhortations, and\npious literature, and has done scarcely any work for his so-called\nMaster. Eating much and working little generally results in gout or\nrheumatic diseases. There are large numbers in the church coming here\nfor treatment who are similarly affected. I suppose such Christians\nenjoy eating better than they enjoy working.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo you prepare them for better service on the King\u2019s Highway?\u201d\n\n\u201cNever! My business is to give them such medicine as will make all\nkinds of spiritual food repulsive to them. Then, rather than starve,\nthey go to the fat lands on the Broad Highway for which my medicine\nprepares them. There they eat of the fruit forbidden by their former\nMaster, for it is sweet-tasting withal. Some go on in the forbidden\nkingdoms until death, and hold an honorable place in their first church.\nOthers are dealt with more summarily on account of the radical views\nentertained by certain bigots who wage warfare against a man who finds\ndelight in gardens other than his own.\u201d\n\nThe electric bell summoned the doctor to the door. He opened it, and\nthere stood a pilgrim from the King\u2019s Highway.\n\nShe entered and, fully exhausted, sank into a chair.\n\n\u201cWhat is the difficulty?\u201d asked the physician in a cool manner.\n\n\u201cSomething terrible indeed, or else my comrades accuse me unjustly.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith what do they charge you, Miss Goodly-Minded?\u201d he questioned, as\nhe felt her pulse.\n\n\u201cI am accused of being out of order just because I do not run all the\ntime to prayer-meeting and to other services of the church. They say\nI am not fit to travel this way, and therefore I have found it very\ndifficult to get over some of the obstacles. Weariness and fatigue\nhave almost dragged me to the earth. My persecution will prove to be\nmy death unless you can give me some medicine to relieve me.\u201d\n\n\u201cLet me see your tongue,\u201d the physician requested. This done, he\ncontinued: \u201cAh! I can easily see, by your coated tongue, that you have\nalready eaten more good things than you could digest. If there is any\nerror, it is because you have already gone to church too much. I have\nmedicine to cure you.\u201d\n\nAt that he walked into another room and opened a secret door. I saw\nhim pour a liquid from a large bottle labeled, \u201cSatan\u2019s Malaria Cure.\u201d\nIt contained a mixture of unbelief, ridicule, and self-righteousness.\nHe filled a small vial with sugar pellets and saturated them with the\nmixture from the large bottle.\n\n\u201cTake four globules every hour,\u201d he directed, as he gave her the\nmedicine, \u201cand I would further advise that you travel for your health.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat climate would be most helpful to me?\u201d she asked, for she was a\nlady of considerable means and could go where she wished.\n\n\u201cA colder climate where you will be free from the noonday sun, and\nbreathe in a new atmosphere. This medicine will do the rest.\u201d\n\nShe passed out of the door just as a feeble man was entering. He was\nan old pilgrim and evidently suffering much.\n\nThe doctor seized him by the hand with a strange vigor not even\nunderstood by Mr. World.\n\n\u201cSo you are under the power of \u2018La Grippe,\u2019\u201d saluted the doctor.\n\n\u201cUnder the power of something, I am sure, for everything is wrong with\nme, and everything seems wrong to me,\u201d was the slow answer.\n\nThe doctor soon diagnosed his case, and gave him powders with\ndirections.\n\n\u201cIt did not take you very long to attend to him,\u201d said Mr. World, after\nthe aged man left the office.\n\n\u201cI deal with so many of that class that I keep the medicine ready. La\nGrippe is a splendid thing for my trade. It is affecting more pilgrims\njust now than any other disease. Some churches are more than decimated\nby the ravages of this plague.\u201d\n\nThe manager then conducted Mr. World into another office where the\ndoctor was just giving medical attention to a young lady who was\nsuffering with spiritual quinsy. It was so severe that she could not\ntestify for Christ, and she wilfully passed by the \u201cGreat Physician\u201d\nwho could have healed her blessedly. She also passed by all the angels\nof mercy who throng the King\u2019s Highway. She turned a deaf ear to all\nthe singers who sang, \u201cThen why will ye die?\u201d Finally she was heavily\npressed by her disease and, seeing a physician\u2019s office which she could\nenter without climbing a step, she went in and chose rather to be\ntreated by a doctor of the Devil, as if dead to all the offers of mercy\nwhich she had rejected.\n\nShe accepted his treatment without question, and even felt at ease in\nconscience, thinking that the easy, bland method of this physician was\nin every way preferable to the searching methods adopted by the Healer\nDivine.\n\nShe regained her voice, but it lost that sweet accent of heaven which\nonce had characterized it. It was now difficult and embarrassing for\nher to pronounce the name of Jesus.\n\nAll this proved painful and intolerable, so she took a by-path to the\nleft called \u201cUnchastity\u201d where she found a whole vocabulary of speech\nmore suited to her utterance.\n\nShe spent the rest of her days in the habitations of immorality along\nthe Broad Highway, unmindful of the tears and kindly solicitude of her\nentreating friends.\n\nInto the third medical wing the two went only to see the fiendish\nprogram carried on there as in the other offices. The first patient\nthey saw was a young man who, through the misguidance of a weakling,\nwas persuaded to enter the office.\n\nThis physician, with a smile on his face, but vile purpose in his\nheart, administered wilfully the very medicine that gave a transient\ngratification to the patient\u2019s craving for narcotics, and which would\nfinally cause the appetite to break out anew into an inward burning\nand gnawing, swinging a master\u2019s sash over him.\n\nThe physician told him that his taste was inherited, and it would\nconsequently require much patience ere he could be cured. He gave him\nthe devilish medicine, and urged him to continue using it until the\nbottle was drained to its dregs.\n\nAt first it gave the promised relief, but the young man, now more\ndeeply contaminated by this concoction of Hell, raged in wilder passion\nthan ever, and verily ran to his utmost on the By-Path of intemperance\nuntil the flower of his youth and manhood was blasted to the blackest,\nand his sense of honor lost in the hovels of vice and corruption which,\nin great variety, stood along the Broad Highway.\n\nThe book-keepers of Hell placed an additional mark to the credit of\nthis doctor, while the church looked on the young man\u2019s fall somewhat\nindifferently, having been hardened by the frequency of similar\noccurrences.\n\nAt the request of Mr. World the manager conducted him back to the\nhospital building and proceeded to show the various departments to him.\n\nThere was some commotion in one of the operating rooms just as Mr.\nWorld entered. It proved to be the preliminary work necessary for\ndressing a severe scalp wound.\n\nIt happened that a certain woman, named Mrs. Criticiser, who belonged\nto an active church, attempted to injure a good and holy man by hurling\nstones at him.\n\nShe noticed that the little stones did him no harm, so she seized one\nof larger size and hurled it at him with great force. He, being a pure\nman, and standing on a rock, was not even touched by the missile. But\nit struck the great rock on which he was standing, rebounded with\nunexpected force, and struck the head of Mrs. Criticiser with stunning\neffect.\n\nIt was seen that the stone had made an ugly gash on her head, more\nsevere and painful than she intended to inflict on the good Mr. Class\nLeader. Her friends, being acquainted with the Devil\u2019s Hospital,\nnaturally carried her there for necessary attention.\n\nMr. World saw Mrs. Criticiser brought into the room in a semi-conscious\ncondition and watched the whole operation.\n\nThe surgeon declared that a scar would be carried on her head all\nthrough life. Indeed there is no balm in Hell to cure the wounded head\nor heart so as not to leave a scar. Had she gone to the \u201cGreat\nPhysician,\u201d and asked Him aright to apply the \u201cBalm of Gilead,\u201d her\nhead would have been healed aright.\n\nThe manager then escorted Mr. World into one of the wards which was\ncrowded to overflowing.\n\nThey tarried at the bedside of a man whose left arm and right leg were\nbandaged. There lay the poor fellow awaiting the slow processes of\nhealing for his fractured bones.\n\nIt was on this wise that this man, a certain Mr. Treacherous, came to\nthis sorry plight.\n\nHe was an ambitious member of the church, and aimed to be elected to\nan office therein. His admirers were too few, so the majority vote was\ngiven for another, named Mr. Wisdom.\n\nThis so aroused the jealousy of Mr. Treacherous that he was moved to\nseek amends for what he considered a stinging and crushing defeat.\n\n\u201cThis will I do,\u201d said he, \u201cI will dig a deep ditch across Mr. Wisdom\u2019s\npath of success, and will shrewdly cover it from view, and as he chances\nalong that way, in the course of his service, he will surely fall into\nthis ditch to his hurt. Then will I glory in his downfall, so that the\nstings of this, my defeat, will not prick me so sharply.\u201d\n\nSo Mr. Treacherous, in the blackness of the night, digged the ditch\nand covered it ingeniously. Then he waited day after day to hear of\nMr. Wisdom\u2019s injury or death, that he might have cause for rejoicing.\n\nNow Mr. Treacherous, since his defeat, was so heavily weighed down\nwith envy and a desire for revenge that he could not sleep soundly,\nand was wont to walk about the house in a somnambulistic manner.\n\nOne night, under the influence of one of these strange spells, he went\nfrom the house and walked over the path that led to the ditch.\n\nTo his great dismay and double disgrace he waked not until his body\nstruck the bottom of the ditch. He was bruised and some of his bones\nwere broken. Thus he lay there in agony and cried all night long for\nhelp.\n\nEre the morning broke he wished a thousand times that he had not dug\nthe ditch so deep, or rather, had not dug it at all.\n\nA band of searchers found him and, lifting him from his disgrace, they\nhurried him to this hospital, for he was not minded to humble himself\nstill more by going to another place where Mr. Wisdom and his kind\nfound relief in time of trouble.\n\nIt is likely that Mr. Treacherous will never be able to walk again as\nperfectly as he did before, for it is the reputation of surgeons and\nphysicians of this hospital, in dealing with cases of such extreme\nfolly, that they so manipulate an operation as to render the patient\nincapable of complete recovery.\n\nMr. World and his congenial escort moved on from patient to patient,\npassing many hundreds who had met with accidents on the Broad Highway.\n\nMany had been wounded by the \u201csword of the Spirit\u201d and were now hoping\nto be cured by the processes here in vogue.\n\nIn passing on through another ward their attention was called to a\nwoman who lay on a couch and seemed to be suffering more than she was\nable to bear.\n\nMr. World inquired concerning her, and was told that she was one Miss\nBusy-Body, a member in good standing of a radical church. She came to\nher grief in this strange manner: she had a special aptitude for\nsweeping before other people\u2019s doors, and could always find dirt, even\nif she could not find anything better.\n\nShe had been told repeatedly to sweep before her own door, but she did\nnot heed this wise counsel, for she often said that there was no dirt\nvisible about her own home.\n\nOne day she went forth as usually, broom in hand, and swept the dirt\nfrom other doors than her own, much to the annoyance and provocation\nof her neighbors, for she always raised the dust incontinently.\n\nNow by her continual neglect at home the filth had accumulated to such\nan extent that when she returned home and attempted to enter the door,\nher foot slipped on the greasy step, and she fell, breaking her collar\nbone, two of her ribs, and otherwise injuring herself.\n\nThe manager told Mr. World that many such cases came to them for help\nevery day--some from the King\u2019s Highway and still more from the Broad\nHighway.\n\nThey soon came to the bedside of one named Mr. Jealousy who occupied\na private room. He was somewhat convalescent when Mr. World saw him.\n\nMr. Jealousy at one time was an active member of the church, but he\nundertook to stab Mr. Stability in the back. But Mr. Stability had a\ngood back-bone so strong that no knife that Mr. Jealousy could handle\nwas able to penetrate it.\n\nOne time in desperation Mr. Jealousy flung himself violently upon his\nimaginary foe. But his blade broke, and he himself fell upon it, cutting\na terrible gash in his side. He was taken to this hospital for help.\n\nThus did Mr. Jealousy bring upon himself the disfavor of his church\nand he was forthwith expelled, for he refused to give the required\npromise of reformation.\n\nMr. World and the manager now came to a large door.\n\n\u201cIn this room,\u201d said the manager, \u201cwe keep all our cancer patients.\nWe have a large number of them and, since they require special\ntreatment, we keep them separate to facilitate the work of the\nphysicians and nurses.\u201d\n\nI saw them enter the room, and heard the words of surprise that fell\nfrom the lips of Mr. World as he saw the magnitude of this department.\n\n\u201cThese are they,\u201d explained the chief of the division, \u201cwho came here\nthrough \u2018profane and vain babblings.\u2019\u201d\n\nMr. World then passed through the leprosy ward where he saw quite a\nfew who were once cleansed by the Divine Healer, but who, failing to\ngive thanks for their recovery, suffered fatal relapse and were now\nin the last stages of this dread disease.\n\nThis place was so loathsome to him that he was hastened into the General\nDepartment where he saw all manner of patients, each in his particular\ndilemma.\n\nA great number of this section were suffering from disordered livers,\nand of these not a few came from the church.\n\nOne such, who was a wealthy man, had so far protruded his\ndisagreeableness upon the community that the church officials\nvoluntarily gave him medicine for his liver. This was of no avail. He\nstill grew more irritable and complained about the preacher, the sexton,\nthe choir, and even his own wife. The weather never suited him, and\nwhen he gave any testimony about religion it was always a partial\noutline of the supposed or real sorrows and troubles of the Christian\npilgrimage.\n\nWhile suffering from one of his morbid spells, he listened to the voice\nof the tempter who persuaded him to seek help at the hands of the\nphysicians under the control of this Hospital. These doctors dosed him\nuntil they persuaded him to submit to an operation, and the wicked\nsurgeon knew how to render him still more liable to trouble after his\nimaginary restoration toward which he was looking when Mr. World saw\nhim.\n\nWhen he leaves this Hospital he can never be cured from the fiercer\nsubsequent attacks unless he be born again, and such an event Satan\nknows is very unlikely to occur.\n\nMr. World, in passing, spoke to quite a few who were suffering from\nspiritual dyspepsia, consumption, and a great number of other ailments\nwhich had developed into chronic form, or had made necessary the\nsurgeon\u2019s cruel knife, and then, turning to his obliging friend, asked\nif he could not now see Miss Church-Member.\n\nHe was taken into a special department arranged for those who were\nconvalescent.\n\nWhen she saw her faithful and loving friend, Miss Church-Member smiled\nfor the first time since the operation.\n\nThe pleasant interview soon ended at the behest of the nurse, and Mr.\nWorld was asked if he wished to enter the secret departments\nunderground. This question aroused his curiosity and led to a lengthy\nconversation after which he expressed a desire to visit the secret\nchambers.\n\nHe was conducted into a dark office and asked to sign a pledge that\nlay on a desk.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII.\n\nSATAN\u2019S SECRET SERVICE.\n\n1. While Miss Church-Member is convalescent, Mr. World alone visits\nthe underground apartments where secret sins are taught.\n\n2. The last horrible stages of vice represented.\n\n\nI saw Mr. World standing in a shadowy room and reading the conditions\nof entering \u201cSatan\u2019s Secret Service.\u201d He was soon surprised by hearing\na voice from a gloomy corner: \u201cYou cannot gain entrance to these secret\nabodes unless you sign that pledge.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe meaning of the pledge is not clear to me. Who will explain it?\u201d\nasked Mr. World somewhat tremulously.\n\n\u201cYou can read between those lines all you wish. Those sentences must\nbe their own interpreters, and you must choose to sign or withdraw\nfrom this room, just as you prefer,\u201d came the firm answer from the\ndark corner.\n\nBefore Mr. World could decide what particular course to take, a hand\ngently touched his shoulder. He turned to see who stood in the rear.\n\n\u201cO, Mr. World, thou needst not fear to sign the pledge and enter the\nsecret service of our great and glorious master,\u201d were the words that\ngreeted him in a friendly tone.\n\n\u201cWho art thou, and how camest thou here?\u201d asked Mr. World in suspense.\n\n\u201cI came here from \u2018going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up\nand down in it.\u2019\u201d Then, without uttering another word, the strange\nvisitor lifted the pledge from the desk and read it audibly:\n\n   \u201cInto these darker chambers let me go,\n   I promise to conceal its scenes of woe,\n   And solemnly declare, as here I stand,\n   That I will aid this secret working band.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat can there be about that pledge not suited to your wish? It means\nthat you are to have your eyes opened to behold new things, and also\nto learn the secret laws of life, healthful to your marrow and your\nbones.\u201d\n\nMr. World hesitated no longer. He signed the document forthwith, and\na pass-word was whispered into his ear.\n\nSuddenly a door opened at one end of the room, through which Mr. World\nwalked into a large cavern which was illuminated only by faint\nglimmerings of light.\n\nHe could discern faintly that many creatures were there whose uncanny\nnoises, freighted with oaths and blasphemies, sent their sulphurous\nfumes around. Although Mr. World was accustomed to foul scenes and\nprofanity, yet he was sickened at this deeper touch of Hell.\n\n\u201cWhere am I and how came I here?\u201d he cried out excitedly. A woman came\nquickly in response to his outcry.\n\n\u201cYou are in a place of liberty and personal license,\u201d she answered.\n\u201cHere you are free from the annoyances of narrow-minded pilgrims from\nthe King\u2019s Highway, and you may spend a season in pure delight in these\nsecret abodes which you will find more and more suited to the cravings\nof your natural heart and mind.\u201d\n\nNow Mr. World was a somewhat judicious man, and although he would not\nsanction what he called church fanaticism, yet he had some self-respect,\nand had never allowed himself to reach the slum-level of society.\n\n\u201cHere I cannot and will not stay. Are there no other apartments to\nwhich I can go?\u201d he asked, as the woman offered him a glass of wine,\nand in a sensual way entreated him to remain.\n\nMr. World was a lover of wine, but was suspicious of the place, and\nso he moved to go and found great difficulty in getting to another\ndoor, which, at last, he reached only by determination, and, giving\na pass-word, he went into the first regular department of Satan\u2019s\nSecret Service.\n\nThis place, which was secretly connected with the Wizard City, was one\nof Satan\u2019s centers from which originated schemes and devices to commit\nand practice embryonic murder.\n\nI saw in this dark cavern the sons and daughters of earth, high and\nlow, noble and ignoble, and my heart bled within at what I further\nwitnessed.\n\nMr. World passed through from one section to another, studying carefully\nthe secret processes in vogue, while illustrations, drawn by the artists\nof the Devil, instead of sending the blush of shame to his cheek, only\nfed his inner curiosity and verily aroused his baser passions.\n\nHaving finished, he gave the pass-word and was admitted to a\nsub-department called Foeticide.\n\nThis section, and the one he had just left, were located directly under\nthe physicians\u2019 offices along the King\u2019s Highway. It could be seen\nthat there was direct connection between these offices and the horrible\nsubterraneous apartments through which Mr. World was now passing.\n\nSo many unnatural and horrible things were practiced in this sub-\ndepartment that Mr. World was shocked beyond measure, for he had never\ndreamed of the extent of the malpractice to which his eyes here bore\ntestimony.\n\nAll these things, while at first revolting, were only hardening his\nown heart to such an extent that, before he had passed through the\nlast wing of the department, and heard the apologetic words of those\nwho were in charge, he concluded that these agencies conduced to much\ngood.\n\n\u201cOh!\u201d thought I, \u201chow the light of Hell casts a strange coloring over\nthe things of earth, thereby creating false theories of mortal life.\u201d\n\nBy means of the pass-word Mr. World was enabled to visit the next\ndepartment where he witnessed sights more revolting than in any place\npreviously entered. Here groveled the youth under the power of so-called\nstimulating medicaments.\n\nMr. World, with all his wickedness, was chilled with horror at these\nunderground spectacles.\n\nNoticing his evident disgust, one came to him and offered soothing\nexplanations to which he listened very attentively.\n\n\u201cThis is a blessed place,\u201d spoke the newcomer. \u201cWe, who are skilled\nin crime, give the youthful an expert training in the ways of pollution\nand kindred types of immorality. It is far better to teach the young\nto sin aright and with least damage to themselves, than to place them\nunder all restraint and see them fall more wretchedly than these.\u201d\n\nWith all the moral turpitude of Mr. World he was scarcely ready, at\nfirst hearing, to accept this grinding sophistry of Hell.\n\n\u201cAre you quite sure, my friend, doubted Mr. World, that you are speaking\nwords of soberness to me? Do you feel proud of the results of the work\nhere accomplished?\u201d\n\n\u201cProud indeed, for our master has given us encomiums for the splendid\nwork accomplished. You see, Mr. World, it is a settled fact that young\npeople will sin, notwithstanding all the influence exerted to the\ncontrary. Such as we can persuade we take under our direction, and\ntry, as soon as possible, to harden them in personal crime. Our\nphysicians have special medicines to inflame their propensities, so\nthat they may, by continual burning, consume themselves and spare the\nyouth from otherwise being tormented day and night in these flames of\npassion. Are you so dull, Mr. World, that you cannot grasp such\nself-evident truth?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt seems now somewhat clearer to my mind, but still my eyes behold\nsuch horrid scenes around me.\u201d\n\n\u201cI cannot question that,\u201d continued the smooth-tongued agent of\ndarkness, \u201cyet what you see are but the lower stages. If you could\nlook beyond these dark corridors and see the types of womanhood which\ngrow out of this under-soil, you would no longer breathe in doubt or\nlook with shuddering frame on scenes around you. All good things come\nforth through putrefaction. Then why should you despise the\nputrefaction? Be content, Mr. World, and as you walk along the path\nof life, remember this great College underground, and recommend its\nsalient features to the rising generation. You have signed the pledge\nand promised to aid this secret working band. So do it with a vim,\nkeeping in view the blossoms and the fruit of after-growth.\u201d\n\nMr. World was completely won by this false and devilish reasoning, and\nlooked on the whole program of shame quite philosophically.\n\nHe took full cognizance of the far-reaching effects of this section\nand, after an interview with one of the head physicians, he proceeded\nto visit the next section.\n\nBut what he saw there will not be told. No pen can describe and no\ntongue relate the loathsome filth of this last stage of immorality.\nAn awful stench filled the air arising from medicines of last resort\nand from the putrefying flesh that clothed the living skeletons.\n\nIt was by mistake that Mr. World got into this place. The door opened\nto admit a few \u201cUnfortunates,\u201d as they were called by the attendants,\nand Mr. World, standing near by, entered without permission.\n\nHe was no sooner inside the door than he was frantically seized by a\nsunken-eyed creature.\n\n\u201cO man of health, deliver me from this inner eating and from the grave\nthat opens to me its mouldy mouth!\u201d was the heart-rending cry that\ngrated on the ears of Mr. World.\n\nAnother, hearing this pleading cry, came rushing toward the same spot\nand sobbed piteously:\n\n\u201cOh! Mr. World, have pity on me! I had help when I had means and\nvitality. Oh! give me some relief now.\u201d\n\nMr. World was so terror-stricken that he could not speak, but struggled\nwith all his might to escape from the place.\n\nHe gained double strength, but of no use. These two men imagined that\nthey had a claim on him by reason of his name, and therefore held on\nwith tightening grasp. For a moment Mr. World ceased his struggling\nand looked at his two pitiable beseechers.\n\n\u201cI can give you nothing. Why torment me thus?\u201d he tremblingly gasped\nwith abated breath.\n\n\u201cIn our better days we gave all we had to the world and now we need\nhelp. Surely you can give it.\u201d They became furious and ranted the more\nat the thought of their past folly.\n\n\u201cWhy come to me? Go to Mr. Flesh, or ask the Devil for help,\u201d pleaded\nMr. World.\n\n\u201cWe have served the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. All have failed\nus miserably. To whom else can we go but to anyone within our reach?\nOh! forsake us not in this awful plight!\u201d\n\nPoor Mr. World, unable longer to bear the sickening and threatening\nattack, sank to the filth-covered floor and groaned aloud.\n\nAt once a fierce and powerful being came to the rescue and, flinging\nthe two unfortunates aside, lifted Mr. World to his feet and looked\ndown upon him with his awful eyes.\n\nMr. Intemperance lay crouching near the side of Mr. Lust, each smarting\nunder the pain of his fall.\n\n\u201cHow came you to this place?\u201d sternly asked the monster.\n\n\u201cBy walking in at the door,\u201d answered the terrified Mr. World.\n\n\u201cWithout permission?\u201d he further asked.\n\n\u201cThere was no one there to ask, and I, being out sight-seeing, thought\nI might also enter in here.\u201d\n\nThe monster seized Mr. World by the arms and looked at him in a still\nmore frightful manner.\n\n\u201cYou are not yet ready to come into this region, and if you will\nsolemnly pledge me that you will never reveal what you have seen here,\nI will conduct you safely to the door; if not, you must remain here\nwithout a ray of hope until death gives relief.\u201d\n\nMr. World humbled himself and gave double assurance of secrecy. Then\nthe grim creature conducted him a little to one side and bade him look\ndown into a deep and dark yawning chasm.\n\n\u201cDown there,\u201d commenced the Old Monster, \u201cruns the Black River deep\nand wide. The stream, coming from its distant source, drains the filthy\nrealm of human society, and not far hence it enters into the boundless\nocean of eternal death. The wild sounds which you hear are the unseen\ndashings of its never-ceasing waves, and the moans of those who have\nfallen victims to its merciless currents.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIV.\n\nTHE LAST WARNING.\n\n1. Miss Church-Member is now induced to frequent the haunts of vice\nin the \u201cWicked Valley.\u201d\n\n2. The blessed work of Warning as given by rescue bands from the King\u2019s\nHighway.\n\n3. The heedless throngs passing by.\n\n4. The experiences at this place of Mr. World and Miss Church-Member.\n\n\nThere was a joyful meeting in the reception room of the Hospital when\nMr. World, returning from his underground experiences, met his beloved\nfriend Miss Church-Member who had recovered sufficiently to resume the\njourney.\n\nIn joyful spirits they sauntered forth on the wide and pleasant path,\naway from the Hospital and toward their imaginary Heaven.\n\nMiss Church-Member\u2019s face was more cheerful and her footsteps more\nbuoyant than at any time since she left the Valley of Conviction.\n\nMr. World, observing her favorable condition, complimented her with\nthese words: \u201cBlessed be the memory of that Hospital, for I can see\nthat your face is no more covered with the cloud of care that once\nrobbed you of so many joys. The unkind intruder has drifted away, and\nnow the light radiates from your every feature. It is also plainly\nevident that you are no more tormented by a troubled conscience.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am glad that my sufferings have not been in vain,\u201d she modestly\ndeclared. \u201cMay the new light which you so readily notice in my face\nadd to the pleasantness of our journey and the profit of our lives.\u201d\nTheir conversation grew more and more pleasant as they passed through\na long stretch of woodland. They could see beyond, them, and in the\nrear, the legions that were traveling the same path and in the same\ndirection.\n\nEmerging from the woodland they saw that their path came again in close\nproximity to the King\u2019s Highway.\n\nThe intervening space between the two paths, called the Wicked Valley,\nwas all astir with every form of evil as practiced in the world of\nsin. In this vale nearly every traveler on the Broad Highway tarries\nawhile, and many are lured away from the Highway of the King here to\nmingle with the servants of Mammon.\n\nMr. World and his friend paused opposite a cluster of magnificent\nbuildings with frontage toward the Heavenly Way. Some were used by\nvulgar theatricals; some devoted to the sensual dance; some were\noccupied by the Devil\u2019s maid-servants in prostitution, and many others\nwere used as haunts of intemperance and personal pollution.\n\nAll along the road to perdition at thousands of places stand such\nclusters of buildings, each under the command of one of Satan\u2019s most\nefficient leaders.\n\n\u201cHere,\u201d said Mr. World, \u201clet us take a long rest. If you have your\nglasses properly adjusted you can see new beauty behind magnificent\nwalls.\u201d\n\nShe looked at first doubtfully. \u201cAh! I never frequented such places\nbefore. I would not as much as look at them.\u201d\n\n\u201cI doubt not your word, Miss Church-Member, but remember you are growing\nolder and wiser. You are no more a narrow-minded creature influenced\nby prejudice and sophistry.\u201d\n\nShe was now in a condition to imagine that much of her earlier\ninstruction was erroneous. She had not forgotten the teaching of the\nsermon in Mr. World\u2019s church. Subsequently she reasoned that the only\nway to learn the taste of forbidden fruit was to eat of it.\n\n\u201cI will enter these buildings as a student,\u201d she soliloquized. \u201cI will\nbe cautious. Surely I have sufficiently clear judgment to discern\nbetween good and evil.\u201d\n\nThe crafty Mr. World, having won her confidence, escorted her all\nthrough the Wicked Valley. By a continual palliation she yielded one\npoint after another until her virtue was sacrificed on a cursed altar.\n\nSatan assisted her in solving many perplexing problems when she reeled\nin the realm of doubt.\n\nAt the conclusion of their protracted visit I heard the wicked Mr.\nWorld say to his beloved friend: \u201cYour eyes are completely cured. You\nmay now with safety lay aside the glasses. I hope you will never have\noccasion to use them again.\u201d\n\nOf the multitudes that tarried here from the Narrow Way very few went\nout at the front door. Having stultified themselves, they passed from\nthe rooms at the rear, and thenceforth traveled on the other path more\nsuited to their changed natures.\n\nThe two congenial companions, proceeding on their way, soon overtook\na company of church-members.\n\nIn the social intercourse which ensued each one resented the criticisms\nof those who refused to leave the Old Path.\n\n\u201cVerily,\u201d said one, \u201cI now enjoy more liberty. I believe the road to\nHeaven should be as broad-gauged as possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cCertainly it should,\u201d said another. \u201cThose who want to climb hills\nand continually suffer inconveniences may do so. As for me, I want to\nreach Heaven on the easiest road. I believe this course leads to\nParadise just as directly as the other.\u201d\n\nThese utterances were highly complimented by Mr. World, and he said\nthat he was to be congratulated on meeting and associating with such\ncongenial people. \u201cOn the way on which we are now traveling one can\nreach his reward as certainly and as speedily as on any other route.\nIn addition, one can here enjoy natural and graceful pleasures which\nof course are not tolerated under the eyes of selfish and narrow-minded\nbigots.\u201d\n\nI saw Mr. World and Miss Church-Member, now more intimate than ever,\npass on alone, ever walking more hastily. Satan had told them, during\ntheir stay in the Wicked Valley, that the faster they journeyed the\nsooner and the more certainly would they reach their reward.\n\nNot far from the Wicked Valley there is a section called the Place of\nWarning. It has been maintained for thousands of years by virtuous\nworkers from the King\u2019s Highway. It is the last warning-station that\ntravelers pass before reaching the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and\nhere with tearful earnestness do the Shining Pilgrims of the cross\nspeak their words of last caution, sing their sweet hymns of warning,\nand put forth every other loving endeavor in the hope of snatching\nsome from the thoughtless throngs that go rushing by toward the Dark\nValley.\n\nI listened and heard a voice from the Place of Warning speak to a\nmotley crowd that were passing.\n\n\u201cWhither go ye, whither go ye?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe go to a better place called Heaven,\u201d answered one of the company.\n\n\u201cThen come hither and go on the Path of Life. The way on which ye are\nnow traveling leadeth unto everlasting death.\u201d\n\n\u201cAha! Aha! Aha!\u201d cried they all. \u201cWe are well informed about the way\nand need no foreign voice to give direction.\u201d\n\nThen came the solemn hymn of warning in words so tender and clear that\neach one could hear every sentence:\n\n  \u201cThere\u2019s a sad day coming,\n  A sad day coming.\n  There\u2019s a sad coming by and by;\n  When the sinner shall hear his doom:\n  \u2018Depart, I know you not.\u2019\n  Are you ready for that day to come?\u201d\n\nCHORUS:\n\n\u201cAre you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready for the judgment day?\u201d\n\nThe words had not yet died on the air when a young man ran hastily\nfrom the company toward the Way of Life. His companions then gave vent\nto their ridicule, some even going after him and endeavoring to pull\nhim back, but without avail.\n\nSome sang an idle song to drown the hymn of warning that still rang\nin their ears. Others engaged in boisterous conversation, and still\nothers mocked with foul profanity. They passed on, and as far as I\ncould see them they were pushing on to the Valley of Death.\n\nI saw another man who was heavily burdened with pieces of timber on\nwhich was written: \u201cFaults of Church-Members.\u201d He also came to the\nPlace of Warning.\n\n\u201cThrow off the cumbersome weight you are carrying on your back, and\ntravel on the way where your burden will be light,\u201d came a friendly\nvoice from the Rescue Station.\n\n\u201cI am not so foolish as to throw away my only hope,\u201d he answered with\nunthankfulness in his tone.\n\n\u201c\u2018Your only hope,\u2019\u201d repeated the voice of warning, \u201chow can you explain\nsuch foolish words?\u201d\n\n\u201cWith passing ease. I will soon come to the River of Death and with\nthese boards I can make myself a raft whereon I can pass over safely.\u201d\n\nThen spoke the voice of warning clearer than before:\n\n\u201cO, foolish man! Knowest thou not that the River of Death, toward which\nthou art rapidly moving, cannot be crossed in a bark so frail? I have\nseen millions who tried in vain to ride its angry currents, but they\nsank beneath its dark waters. Come, O mortal man, if thou hast nothing\nbetter on which to depend, listen to the voice of wisdom and come,\nwithout delay, to the Path of Glory.\u201d\n\nBut the man passed on. I watched him till he reached the river, and\nsaw him go from the shore in his self-constructed raft.\n\n\u201cI sink! I sink! Save me!\u201d he, cried in utmost agony of terror as his\nlittle raft whirled about, leaving the poor self-deceived fellow to\nthe mercy of the waves.\n\nI saw others as they passed the Place of Warning. Thousands and tens\nof thousands, some now totally deaf to every voice of warning, some\nwith cotton-filled ears, and others with instruments of music with\nwhich they drowned the calls of warning.\n\nMany more passed by who carried little balloons of self-righteousness\nwith which they expected to rise above the murky River of Death.\n\nA young woman, who moved more cautiously, stopped at the Place of\nWarning and listened attentively.\n\nDirectly a voice spoke to her: \u201cNot far hence, O mortal woman, there\nis a wide river. It surges on forever. No one who goes this way can\nescape its waters. Listen now to the voice of Wisdom. Leave this\nblood-marked way of misery and woe, and come to these happier dominions\nwhere \u2018her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cSurely I will not be lost,\u201d she replied. \u201cI am depending on the mercy\nof God who is too kind to be unjust. I will come out all right in the\nend.\u201d\n\n\u201cTake heed, my friend,\u201d pleaded the warning voice. \u201cYou are hoping for\nmercy at the dividing line between time and eternity. Better forget\nnot what the Scripture saith. \u2018He that is unjust, let him be unjust\nstill: and he which is filthy let him be filthy still.\u2019 So thou canst\nnot wilfully neglect so great salvation and hope that God will cover\nat last all thy folly. \u2018Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the\nday of salvation.\u2019 \u2018To-day, if ye hear his voice, harden not your\nhearts\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cYou have said nothing new to me. They are the old thread-bare passages\nthat I have heard from my youth up, and I am minded to accept a broader\nview of these statements than you seem to take of them.\u201d\n\nAt this she tossed her head haughtily and continued her journey,\nresolving more firmly than ever that she would not spend eternity\noutside the Gates of Heaven.\n\nWhen she came to the Dark Valley and to the angry swelling currents,\nher pitiful prayer broke out from the long-covered depth of her soul.\n\u201cMercy, O mercy, to a wretch like me!\u201d But no hand came to her rescue.\n\nI saw Mr. World and Miss Church-Member as they approached the Place\nof Warning. They heard the sweet music, rendered so excellently, but\ngave no attention to the sentiment expressed by the words. They listened\nonly to the harmony of sounds.\n\n\u201cO, Miss Church-Member!\u201d pleaded a voice, \u201cyou who were once so\nearnestly engaged on the King\u2019s Highway, will you not, before you reach\nthe River of Death, forsake your perilous course and walk on the path\nof life eternal?\u201d\n\nThese words, which would have once brought conviction to her heart,\nonly brought vanity to her head. \u201c\u2018Judge not, that ye be not judged,\u2019\nand go speak to the lost, not to me so well equipped to meet the direst\nfoe. Turn your words to those on the other path, who go hobbling along\nin misery, not fit to live or die.\u201d\n\n\u201cCome, come!\u201d put in Mr. World, \u201cyour pearls before swine are only\ntrampled under foot. Forget not so quickly the teachings of our Lord.\u201d\n\nAs they passed on, in a self-righteous manner, she cheerily looked\ninto his face and said: \u201cIt was kind in you to come so promptly to my\nrescue. I might have prattled there a whole day and yet not have shown\nthem half their folly.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXV.\n\nTHE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.\n\n1. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member getting farther from the light.\n\n2. They drift into the deepening shadows where the path could be\ntraveled only one way.\n\n3. The terrible experience of the two companions contending with the\nimps of the dark valley.\n\n4. Their sad and tragic end as they catch a glimpse of what they might\nhave been.\n\n\nAfter leaving the place of the Last Warning, the Broad Highway grew\ndarker and darker as it steadily diverged from the King\u2019s Highway.\n\nThe little light that Satan\u2019s pilgrims do enjoy is borrowed from \u201cthe\npath of the just that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.\u201d\n\nMr. World saw the deepening shadows and endeavored to be as cheerful\nas usually, hoping thereby to prevent any alarm in the mind of his\nfaithful friend.\n\nThe path, though wide, was now steeply descending, and travelers often\nslipped on the steeper inclines.\n\nI saw that the two companions descended with difficulty, cautiously\nwatching every footstop, lest they, like many others, should fall to\ntheir hurt. They now gave but little attention to the things along the\nway, and when they did pause for rest on the easier grades, they found\nthe meadows more barren and everything more dark and dank.\n\nMiss Church-Member had been painfully conscious of these unhappy\ncontrasts, and asked repeatedly the meaning of all that her eyes beheld\nand her heart realized, but Mr. World, true to his nature, partly\nallayed her fears with words of hope and glowing promises.\n\nBut I heard her again ask with a quivering voice: \u201cWhere is the light\nthat so lately lent its blessed cheer, and whither go we stumbling\ndownward in the dark?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe only go in the darkest hour that comes before the dawn,\u201d he said\nwith a firm voice but a trembling heart. \u201cBe hopeful, my dear, I will\nnot forsake you.\u201d\n\nHer heart was not calmed, for she could see his distress which he had\nhoped to conceal, and no one could minimize the surrounding scenes\nwhich now seemed like omens of death.\n\nThey stood still, and learned, upon inquiry, that they were standing\nin the Shadows of Premonition.\n\nMr. World could no longer endure the strain. His bold attitude gave\nway to his rising fears, for he saw that his wasted life was ending\nwith no opportunity of redeeming its days. His whole body quivered as\nthey walked still farther in a desperate effort to find relief.\n\nMiss Church-Member was almost overcome as she continued looking upon\nthe ominous darkness around. She soon realized that her only refuge\nwhom she had seized by the arm proved miserably weak in this hour of\ngreat need.\n\n\u201cOh! Mr. World,\u201d she cried, in utmost agony of mind, \u201cwhere have you\nled me? Save me ere I perish!\u201d\n\nHe spoke not, but with his aspen fingers he pointed backward toward\nthe sloping Highway. Then with all eagerness they endeavored to retrace\ntheir steps, but somehow they could do no more than stumble and fall,\nand when they were making their most desperate effort to return they\nheard a voice from someone invisible. This voice announced to them\nthat here the path could be traveled only one way. The same voice urged\nthem to push through the shadows and face their end like heroes. At\nthis their hope died within them, and they had no more courage to\nstruggle up the hill. They stood again in their wretched dilemma and\nheard the sound of distant waters, doleful to their ears, and from\nthis they could distinguish the bitter wails of those who also found\nthat they could not return.\n\nMr. World and Miss Church-Member cast their eyes heavenward and\ndiscerned that they were standing in a very deep valley. _They saw the\ndim outlines of all their past evil life. Their deeds stretched away\nat interminable length, and in the aggregate they were piled, like\nledge upon ledge, until they verily shut out the mercy of a just God._\n\nHere they stood in the first shadow of their self-constructed Hell.\n\n\u201cOh, what a valley!\u201d shrieked Miss Church-Member, as her consciousness\nnow revealed to her more in one second than all the fanciful dreams\nof a life-time evolved.\n\nAnd Mr. World was undone. He knew not which way to turn. He was\nspeechless as he saw so clearly the worthless product of his life\u2019s\nwork almost overarching him.\n\nFinally Mr. World cried out excitedly: \u201cIf we cannot go back, neither\nwill we go forward!\u201d\n\nThen a grim monster spoke in a slow, dead tone: \u201cNo one remaineth here;\naway, away from this place!\u201d\n\nMiss Church-Member was terrorized at the presence of so cold a creature\nand frantically cried out: \u201cI cannot and will not endure it! Can I not\ngo back to the Voice of Warning?\u201d\n\n\u201cBack? Never! No one who comes thus far ever goes back. During the\nearthly life of one called Jesus there was but one snatched from these\nlowlands, and he was the thief on the cross.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf there was chance for a thief, there might be hope for me,\u201d she\nsighed as her wretched face brightened.\n\n\u201cHope for you?\u201d repeated the cold-hearted monster. \u201cNone whatever, and\nfor none of your kind who come thus far. Pass on, make room for the\nthousands coming this way, the sound of whose tread you already hear.\u201d\n\nLooking at Mr. World she pitifully sobbed: \u201cWhy do you not help me?\nYou have brought me here; plead my cause.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlas, I cannot even plead my own!\u201d He could say no more, for he took\na longing glance backward, over the hills of time, where he could truly\nsee, for the first time, the horrible depth of his folly.\n\nThen came the monstrous creature again and sternly commanded them:\n\u201cTarry no more on this side of the river\u2019s brink.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Struggling with the real and imaginary imps near the\nBlack River in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.]\n\nThey tasted the bitter fruits of opportunities lost, and felt the awful\npangs of a soul without hope as their reluctant footsteps carried them\non through the valley made dark by the shadow of their own deeds.\n\nI then heard the discordant and agonizing wails of poor Miss\nChurch-Member and her wretched companion; but the sounds fell\nharmoniously on the ears of Satan who listened to them chiming with\nthe music of Hell, in its deathlike rhythm, as it reverberated forever\nfrom the depth beyond them, and from the throngs passing by.\n\nMiss Church-Member could no longer hold fast to Mr. World. It took\nboth arms to contend with the real and imaginary imps who stood grinning\nat her folly, and grievously tormented her from all sides.\n\n\u201cO mercy! mercy! Where am I?\u201d she shrieked. \u201cHow can you be so\nheartless, Mr. World? Why not rid me of these fiends?\u201d\n\n\u201cCry to me no more!\u201d he groaned out in anguish. \u201cI am also overwhelmed\nwith foes and fears that verily drag me down with infernal and\nrelentless grasp.\u201d\n\nThis only deepened her pathetic cry, for she saw that she was lost\nforever, and realized anew that Mr. World was unable to give help,\ncontrary to all his promises of the past.\n\nThen did, they look forth, and beheld afar off the Valley of the Shadow\nof Death through which the King\u2019s Highway passed. They saw that its\nfoot-sore pilgrims leaned upon a rod and staff, and that they were\nsupported by the pierced hands of a Friend that sticketh closer than\na brother.\n\nNeither did the pilgrims fear any evil nor tremble at any foe, for\nChrist was their all in all, and his lovely light lit the whole valley\nuntil it was all aglow with heavenly radiance.\n\nThis vision revealed to Mr. World and Miss Church-Member the place\nwhere _they_ might have been, and pierced their hearts as with a\nthousand daggers.\n\nThey soon stood on the verge of the Awful River which was filled with\nthe filth and slimy putrefaction of the world, the fungus growth of\nsociety, and the scum of all nationalities. From these currents came\nunearthly sounds, doleful lamentations, melancholy and hopeless.\n\nNot far down the stream they saw the fitful light of an eternal burning\nwhose ghastly glare lit the water crests of the Black River.\n\nI saw a relentless monster, in deep silence, stretching forth his bony\narm, and with his icy fingers he pushed the two companions from the\nbrink of the river, thus bringing them face to face with the last enemy\nwhose sharp sting they felt as they were being overwhelmed by the\nmerciless waves.\n\n[Illustration: When they who journey on the King\u2019s Highway reach the\nRiver of Death, they are met by a convoy of angels and borne aloft to\nthe gates of the Celestial City.]\n\nTheir heart-rending cries for mercy brought no relief. They had sinned\nagainst all light, and had even spurned the last kindly warning. The\nDoor of Hope was shut forever.\n\nAs they were sinking to rise no more they caught another vision of the\nShining Pilgrims of the King\u2019s Highway, and saw that when they reached\nthe brink of the River of Death they were met by a convoy of angels,\non whose snowy pinions they were borne aloft to the very gates of the\nCelestial City which apparently stood on white clouds.\n\nTHE END","title":"Mr. World and Miss Church-Member: A Twentieth Century Allegory","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":60196}