Books: Mr. World and Miss Church Member
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W. S. Harris >> Mr. World and Miss Church Member
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Many, in passing by, who saw the book would have examined it had it
not been for their modesty.
But one man, whose curiosity was stronger than his judgment, took the
book and commenced perusing it. While thus engaged the invisible strands
of influence drew the captive from the Narrow Way until he found a
series of books and illustrations to enchain his attention, and Satan
succeeded in totally winning his heart.
I saw another book thrown to the edge of the Pilgrim's Path. This was
taken by a woman who opened its pages and saw its evil tendencies.
Although drawn by the invisible chord, she did not step from the path,
but threw the book as far to one side as she could, and proceeded on
her journey happily singing:
"Yield not to temptation,
For yielding is sin.
Each vict'ry will help you
Some other to win."
This only enraged the wily foes, and they became more determined than
ever to continue their work of deception and ruin.
From one point or another I saw this dreadful work progressing. Each
station used a different kind of bait, pleasing or attractive to some
passing pilgrims. Here the enemy reaps a continual harvest
notwithstanding all the preaching, advice, and influence brought to
bear upon pilgrims to induce them to eschew all attractions not plainly
found upon their own pathway.
Some, whom Satan could not attract by a bait, he would catch with
snares, many of which I saw in operation, each guarded continually by
trusted servants of the Evil One.
One of the subtlest of these snares consisted of a series of small,
curiously shaped buildings. They stood as near to the King's Highway
as Satan could place them, while glaring signs informed the pilgrims
that they could here obtain knowledge upon any subject. Each building
was so constructed that, at the will of a secret operator, it could
be moved noiselessly from its resting place.
Many an unsuspecting traveler who craved for a solution to some mystery
would step into one of these neat rooms, and meet with a most cordial
reception.
I saw a man of more than usual intelligence, who had been faithful to
his Master, stop and read the sign over these buildings: "Bureau of
Information: All Mysteries Solved."
"Here," thought he, "in this humble place I can perhaps find some
pearls of thought which more inviting waters never yielded to me." He
stepped in, not noticing that he thereby stepped to one side of the
way.
"Can I have a mystery solved here?" asked the visitor.
"Without doubt, sir," was the confident response of a dignified
professor who was in attendance.
"Can you tell me the origin of sin?" asked the visitor.
Just then I saw the building commence to move as the professor commenced
to explain the difficult question.
The professor talked so interestingly to the visitor that he held his
attention until the building was moved, by the secret process, to the
brow of the mountain, and over to the great building known as the
"Devil's Theological School."
"Perchance, my words," said the speaker, "are insufficient to fully
satisfy your mind. Go now from the rear door to the College where all
such perplexing questions are made clear."
The visitor seizing, as he thought, a golden opportunity, gladly
consented and, to his great surprise, found a building of magnificent
proportions into which he entered.
After listening a very short time to Satan's teaching on the origin
of sin, he emerged from the school with a heavy bundle of opinions on
his back, and failed to find the Old Way. After wandering and stumbling
about on this summit of human learning, he finally found the Broad
Highway whereon he could carry his vain burden with ease.
These bureaus of information have ensnared so many learned men,
including ministers and professors, that the King of Glory has here
placed special signs of warning to all travelers; these have saved
many men from the snare of "the fowler."
I saw three young college students about to enter one of the bureaus.
There stood an aged pilgrim near by who shouted:
"Come! ye young men, out of the snare of the Devil, or ye will be taken
captive by him at his will!"
The voice sounded so friendly that they hesitated long enough to discern
that the building did not touch the King's Highway.
Then they remembered that they had been told long before to go by the
King's Highway, and not to turn to the right hand nor to the left, nor
even to step from the path, lest they should slip and fall to their
hurt. So they passed on about their Father's business.
Near the edge of the King's Highway I saw another device to catch men
unawares. It was invented in the Wizard City and had been successfully
used by Satan for many centuries.
It was an _artificial woman_, dressed in modest apparel, and so
constructed that the arms were uplifted and the heart plainly visible,
making the curious image just unnatural enough to attract the attention
of all pilgrims.
Over the head of the image these words were written: "Touch this magic
heart for the charms that follow."
It was ridiculous to see how many of the young and old, in passing
over this way of life, stepped from the path and tried the experiment.
One man I saw who ventured to touch the mystic heart, and ere his eyes
could look into the face of the image its arms embraced him in a
tightening grasp.
Away the image moved with graceful ease into Elysian bowers of sensual
joy. There he remained to breathe its poisoned air and feed upon the
husks of such a clime.
I also saw a man of riper years who looked curiously at another image
similar to the one that had just moved away. At first he was doubtful
whether to test it or not, and as he stood in consideration he raised
his eyes and saw these words plainly written over the King's Highway:-To
ALL DESCENDANTS OF ADAM:
Beware, O pilgrim, of this woman's heart, Lest you should from the
Narrow Way depart; For if you touch a secret chord within, You're borne
away to wider fields of sin.
He read this sign a few times and also heard the voice of a good friend
who told him that he had seen thousands go to ruin by not heeding this
warning. Nevertheless he was urged by curiosity and carnality, and
being hardened by former acts of disobedience and seeing nothing but
innocent pleasure before him, he yielded to his baser desires.
"O! rescue me, Mr. Law, I am in the clutches of this woman," was his
beseeching cry, not long after. But I saw that no one came to his help.
There were many such places in this valley where men, both young and
old, were enticed; many of whom could not have been caught by the
snares of vice at other places along the Broad Highway.
I saw also, farther down the valley, that Satan used all manner of
traps and nets to catch the silly and the foolish. That which attracted
my attention the most was a series of stations built close to the
King's Highway. At each place Satan employed a company of expert men
who were trained to use a lasso. I saw certain men and women of the
King's Highway who became so inflated with their own vanity and
imaginations that they rose head and shoulder above their humbler
comrades, thus enabling the lasso of Pride to get hold of them. Some,
by heeding advice, escaped; others submitted to the drawing power and
landed in the kingdoms of the World where they could worship their new
god with increasing ardor.
There was also a certain young man who doted so much on his own ways
that his head rose unusually high. He was, therefore, easily caught
by a lasso called Conceit. Good friends came to his rescue and told
him to realize at once that he was nothing, and thereby he would
suddenly become so small that he would drop completely out of his
trouble.
But he said that he could not believe a lie, whereat the lasso tightened
still more about his neck, and he succeeded by still further struggling
to remain a very brief time on the King's Highway; but being in pain,
he soon yielded to the inevitable and went to worship before the shrine
of his own god.
I also saw that the women of the King's Highway were an exceeding great
army, mighty in battling against the foe, much to the discomfiture of
Satan and his allies.
To counteract the influence of this sex Satan has plied his ingenuity
ever since the beginning. In his Pharaoh fashion he has so manipulated
the customs of the world that woman is trampled under foot in
uncivilized lands, and in lands of light she is ostracized by sections
of the Christian church and despised in the civil realm. And yet, with
a faithful heart, she suffers this indignity and, looking up from
underneath this weight, she offers to the powers that crush her down
the holiest sacrifice that one can give.
O spirit of the age, like flowers of Heaven, Thy fragrance will not
die, but live eternal; And woman shall, some holier, happier day,
Attain her highest glory in the world.
Yet notwithstanding all these means wherewith Satan has made the path
of woman so hard to travel, he has discovered that he can not disgrace
her by any means so effectually as through the old temptation.
Consequently Satan has kept the seed of the central tree of the garden
and still raises, on the broad uplands of Hell, _forbidden fruit_
which, through engrafting processes, has come to many varieties.
This mysterious product of the tree, so suited to the natural palate
of womankind, is provided abundantly on each side of the King's Highway
along the whole length of the Valley of Temptation, and is offered,
ostensibly, free of charge.
I watched, with chagrin and horror, the subtle influences of this
fiendish work, seeing young women and those of riper experience go
down alike under this intoxication of Hell.
As I looked again at the whole Valley, what sad sights of intemperance
painfully greeted my eyes!
The intervening ground was a veritable bed of iniquity, for it swarmed
with half-clothed inebriates who patronized the miserable and filthy
hovels of lowest resort, while inebriates, in finer array, entered the
apartments which were decorated and finished in all the beauty that
wealth could afford, and supplied with alcoholic beverages under a
fashionable bill of fare.
I could see the same Devil controlling all, and the same gutter or the
same Hell receiving all who did not yield to the agencies of eternal
life.
Among the many temperance organizations that operated throughout the
valley I observed a band of women who threatened to overthrow the evil.
They had, by long persistent effort, discovered the underground
connections between the distillery and the saloons, and therefore they
were endeavoring to kill the traffic at the head. This movement at
first created laughter in the ranks of the foe, but the women have
continued patiently and have built a thousand batteries from which
they hurl projectiles of death into the camp of intemperance. Since
then the agents of darkness have ceased their laughter and instead
have set to building defences behind which they hope to carry on their
business with impunity.
But the bands of women have entered into an eternal agreement, pledged
their faith one to another, and have been calling upon Heaven for help;
therefore they declare that no flag will be lowered, and no gun will
be silent until the great wall around the city of their foes shall
fall, either at a long blast of the horn or a continuous volley from
their ramparts.
CHAPTER IX.
THE TOWER OF TEMPTATION.
1. The tower affords the most advantageous view of the world and a
most discouraging view of the King's Highway.
2. The triumphant flight of Mrs. Discouraged from the tower's top to
a place on the King's Highway called "Victory by Faith."
3. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member ride from the tower's top in Satan's
new air ship.
Mr. World and Miss Church-Member continuing on the Broad Highway,
entered the Valley of Temptation with all its gaiety and outward
happiness. This valley is known by the pilgrims of the King's Highway
as the Devil's Heaven, for here the tinsel of the world, the pomp of
society, and the wealth of material grandeur are manifested in all
their glory.
"An exceedingly pleasant valley," said Mr. World as they drew nearer
to the scenes of activity on each side of the way.
"Beyond my anticipation, indeed. Our journey is growing more and more
delightful," she joyously replied.
As they journeyed on Miss Church-Member came into agreeable fellowship
with some of her former Christian associates who, by looking over into
the territory of the World, coveted its ways and were snared by one
or another of Satan's devices to catch the unwary. The larger portion
of these new recruits were firmly convinced that they were still
traveling on the road to Heaven, even though they had fully left the
Narrow Way.
Miss Church-Member congratulated her comrades of earlier years on their
happy choice of a wider and more pleasant path, and they accepted her
invitation to spend a season together in the valley.
These new associates were welcomed most cordially by Mr. World who
left nothing undone that might add to their comfort or pleasure.
The merry company passed down the valley and paused at a magnificent
temperance saloon which occupied nearly the whole space between the
two Highways. Into this place of attractive rooms I saw many enter
from the King's Highway, much to the displeasure of their great Master.
In this infernal guise Satan seduces many an unsuspecting traveler to
take one more step downward toward the lowest service of his kingdom.
Mr. World courteously offered refreshments and conducted his friends
into the "Ladies Parlor" where they drank alleged unfermented wines,
and admired the sculpture and works of art which adorned the place.
They were then offered their choice of porter, sweet cider, root beer,
hot punch (special for a cold), or eggnog for a weak heart. Thus each
one was enabled to find a beverage directly suited to his need or
taste, for some had contracted a cold, while others were suffering
with cardiac troubles.
Not far from this respectable place, and connected secretly therewith,
stood a group of buildings patronized by the lower order of criminals
and inebriates. These haunts bore a black reputation.
Mr. World and his joyous companions, by reason of their refined natures
and good standing in the church, would not so much as look at such
despicable resorts, but continued their journey until they came to a
wider section of the valley where they saw numberless rescue bands at
work, but especially a great army of Endeavorers presenting a formidable
front.
"Whence came this company so great that it cannot be numbered?" asked
Mr. World in a state of nervous agitation.
One of the new companions quickly answered: "They come from the King's
Highway and are trying to capture the kingdom of this world and bring
it into subjection to God. I know all about them and can testify that
they are a mighty and glorious band." The regiments of this great host
were marching on, each soldier equipped with the full panoply of his
station. Many of the pilgrims on the Broad Highway trembled at the
presence of so powerful an army. It has caused the enemy much concern
how to meet and, if possible, conquer this foe. This army of Endeavorers
constantly grows and, according to the claims of the enemy, the most
successful plans to oppose it are not yet matured. Satan has promised
his forces that he would utterly rout these daring legions as soon as
some new inventions of war can be perfected.
The merry companions, not being moved with anger, endured the gigantic
display of this host without chagrin.
Mr. World quieted his rising fears and urged his comrades onward past
the Tobacco Station until they reached the centre of the valley where
the King's Highway was the roughest, and the Broad Highway the
smoothest.
Here was built the most remarkable structure of the valley. A high
tower of imposing strength occupied the whole space between the two
highways. Its foundations were broad and totally covered the King's
Highway with a massive arch.
This was known amongst Christians as the Devil's Tower, or Tower of
Temptation. It was built by Satan, and was said to afford the finest
view of the world to all who would consent to take a ride upward in
its electric carriage.
The location of the tower was perfectly adapted to the purpose intended.
Scarcely any pilgrims _en route_ for Heaven passed by without taking
a view of the sights.
Before this mountain was built, a high mountain-cliff, on one side of
the valley, was used by the agents of darkness for the same purpose.
Thereon David ascended and saw the prosperity of the wicked until envy
filled his soul, and his "steps had well-nigh slipped." Had it not
been that by faith he looked to a mountain far away, and understood
the end of the prosperous worldly minded, he might have there fallen
to his death.
Upon this mountain Satan took Christ, the Son of God, and showed him
all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said unto
him: "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me."
From this tower Judas saw the wealth of the world, and there was
begotten within him an inordinate craving for earthly gain which at
last dragged him down to a miserable end.
As time rolled on, Satan erected this magnificent tower higher than
the loftiest crag of the mountain. I saw that Mr. World and his
companions were looking at the exterior finish of the tower, after
which they stepped to the base and spent some time in watching the
many schemes that were employed to induce disheartened Christians to
take the Broad Highway after descending the tower.
They saw that one of the most successful of these schemes was a series
of little offices occupied by fortune tellers of reputed ability. In
one of these they saw an old woman with a mysterious face. She professed
to be able, by her strange conjuring, to reveal the future of any life.
A certain Mr. Downcast, who was a church-member and had just come from
the top of the tower, visited this fortune teller, and by her
descriptions of his happy future on the Broad Highway he was induced
to travel thereon at once.
Mr. World and his companions decided to get the benefit of the broad
view which could be had from the top of the tower. They entered a car
at the base and were delighted by the gentle ascent toward the clouds.
Upon reaching the top of the tower they Were approached by an obliging
attendant and furnished with spy glasses of great power with which
they could see more distinctly the beauty and greatness of the world,
and the roughness and inconvenience of traveling the King's Highway.
_To each one was also given an ingenious pocket mirror in which could
be seen, at any time, the inconsistencies of church-members._
I saw throngs of people circling the top of the tower, and many evil
agents busily engaged in the interest of their master.
There had just come from the King's Highway a group of church-members
upon whom the scenery had a doleful effect. Some were filled with
melancholy, and some were sullen, while despondency sent germs of slow
death into other minds.
These conditions enabled Satan to destroy more easily all hope within
them of ever succeeding on a way that appeared more rugged than ever,
and also made them more desirous to taste the joys of this present
life which now lay before them in such a winning way.
I then saw one called Mrs. Discouraged who had never before seen so
much of the world at once. She stood on the edge of the tower not far
from Mr. World and his companions, and listened to one of the polite
attendants who had given her also a spy glass.
Mrs. Discouraged looked down upon the natural comforts of life which
were here seen to best advantage. She saw, with ease, the Broad Highway
presenting a picture of happiness as far as the glass could reach.
Then did one of the smooth-tongued attendants speak to another group
of pilgrims who also had just come from the King's Highway.
"Witness the glory of the Broad Highway and see how it goes down this
valley ever into finer stretches of country. See on yonder distant
elevations that magnificent University of the World built at an enormous
cost and sacrifice for the accommodation of all travelers. Each one
of you who reaches the lower end of this valley should take the Mountain
Trolley and spend a season at those schools. They occupy some of the
grandest buildings in the world. Focus your glasses and behold the
great sight."
Continuing he said: "The path you see leading down there, in this other
part of the valley, is called King's Highway, very rough indeed, as
you all can see. Thereon it is hard to travel and difficult to stand
still. It is so narrow that if a traveler should stand still, he is
constantly harassed or pushed about by those who wish to pass on. The
other highway furnishes a marked contrast, for there a person may stand
still without annoyance to himself or anyone else. The way is so wide
that he can even sit on an easy chair and yet not be in the way of
others who wish to hasten on. The one who built this Wider Way kept
in mind the convenience and comfort of travelers.
"The so-called King's Highway," still continued the attendant, "is
beset with many dangers, and passes through many places similar to the
one far down the valley." They all looked through their glasses and
saw the Meshes of Doubt on each side of the Narrow Way.
"Those are the sorts of places," concluded the speaker, "that one must
constantly pass through in the service of an imaginary king."
Mrs. Discouraged saw all these things and heard all these words. She was
so disheartened that she knew not what to do.
"Have I served my God in vain?" she questioned inwardly. "Must all my
testimonies fall to the earth? Surely the way of the world seems to
be an easy way, and more suited to a person in trouble."
She suddenly fell on her knees, as she was wont to do in such
emergencies, and, behold, I saw her, on wings of prayer, fly in triumph
from the tower's top, down the valley, over the Meshes of Doubt, and
land on the King's Highway in a most glorious place called Victory by
Faith. She thence went on her way rejoicing.
[Illustration: The great victory of Mrs. Discouraged who, on wings of
prayer, escaped from he Tower of Temptation to a place called Victory
by Faith.]
Then did the attendant on the tower speak of her in ridicule. "The
poor mortal, in her insanity, has descended to a bad level and must,
of necessity, climb yonder terrible hill which, as your eyes bear
testimony, is the last part of the Narrow Way visible from this tower."
"She went, however, in a miraculous way. Those wings were sure and
steady, and I was pleased with the swiftness of her flight," said Mrs.
Diligence who was also a pilgrim from the King's Highway.
"Without doubt," answered the attendant, "but she went with heavy labor
of her wings. Had she told me that she wished to take a flight, I could
have given her a finer trip in one of the aerial ships lately invented
by the experts of the Wizard City. I will summon one. Look no more at
Mrs. Discouraged with wings, but fix your eyes toward the east, and
you will soon witness the floating car whereon thousands go out daily
from this tower into pleasant places."
As he said this he gave a signal, and soon the strangely shaped airship
came in sight, to the delight of all who saw it.
"It must be far better," said one of the spectators, "to travel in a
car like that, than to be working your wings in the air."
"A thing of beauty." "The greatest invention of the century." "It moves
as easily as a bird," were some of the various sentences that were
spoken enthusiastically as the object drew nearer.
"Shall we ride in it?" quickly asked Mr. World as he turned to the
little group at his side.
The new companions who so recently came from the King's Highway
timorously fell back at his abrupt suggestion, but Miss Church-Member
offered to accompany him.
As the aerial machine was stopping at the tower Mr. World and Miss
Church-Member speedily exchanged words of farewell and prepared for
the new ride.
They were soon numbered with a host of expectant passengers on board.
The lines were loosened and the weird airship cut the wind like a large
bird on wing, and sped away to the pleasure grounds along the Broad
Highway where most of the passengers, being blinded by sin, found such
delightsome fellowship that they refused thereafter to travel on any
other than the Wider Way.
CHAPTER X.
DARK SCHEMES OF SATAN.
1. The two companions land far down the valley on "The Midway," whence
they take the Mountain Trolley and visit the underground Schools of
Suicide.
2. Satan's primitive address on Literature.
The aerial car carried Mr. World and Miss Church-Member to the far end
of the Valley of Temptation where they spent a delightful season in
the pleasures of sense and sight.
They lingered mostly on the wide intervening space between the two
paths which was known in this part of the valley as "The Midway." Here
they saw a large number of pilgrims from the King's Highway who were
engaging in one or another of the endless amusements which can be
enjoyed without stepping altogether on the Broad Highway.
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