Books: Mr. World and Miss Church Member

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8. If you see some vile conditions of humanity, send out, in your
writings, vials of vileness. "Like cures like." If any part of the
church cries, "poison, poison!" you may justify yourself by the fact
that the so-called "poison" in your productions will only neutralize
the poison so prevalent in society, on the same principle that poison
is administered to a sickly body in order to effect a cure.

9. You are always safest when you are true to nature, even though some
sentimental people may charge you with being vulgar.

10. Words of profanity are not allowable if they are the mere expression
of the author, but any foul or profane expression may be quoted. An
author should not be charged with the impropriety of his characters
who are merely taken from actual life.

The above ten commandments, if properly interpreted and obeyed, will
surely lead to literary success.

Then Mr. World escorted his confiding friend from hall to hall of this
second grand division, and at many intervals they could be seen spending
a quiet season on the lawns which surrounded the entire structure.

Their tastes were now more in harmony than ever, and their friendship
was fast reaching that intimacy where each one was searching for pearls
in the deep ocean of the other's love.

CHAPTER XII.

THE THEATRE.

1. Mr. World and his friend tarry at Satan's Theatres which lay in
seven grades, one below the other.

2. A description of the "Century Session" held by the demons having
in charge the Theatre interests of Satan.

The College of Theatres lay between the second and third divisions of
the Schools of Literature. The numerous structures were built on so
large a scale, and after such winning designs, that the attention of
many travelers was attracted to them and thereby to the performances
given within their walls.

Here could be found some of the graduates of the Schools of Literature
who were constantly engaged on one or another of the stages.

All these theatrical attractions belonged to the first grade and formed
a part of a great system of Theatres which lay in seven grades, one
below the other, each serving its part to engross the human mind with
the carnal and sensual things of life.

The performances of the first grade were practically free from the
vulgar touches found, with increasing intensity, as one goes downward
toward the seventh grade which lay beneath the Midway in the Valley
of Temptation.

In these Satanic Theatres of the first grade respectability is
maintained purposely so as to ensnare as many professing Christians
as possible, for there are many in the ranks of the church who are
building with nothing but wood, hay, and stubble. The scheme works so
Well that the Devil is trying to form a "Stage Trust," and get all the
talent of the King's Highway to unite. Thus Satan seems to encourage
morality in order to carry out his deeply laid schemes of moral
pollution.

I looked into the inward workings of this terrible system. I saw
multitudes descending downward from the first grade, many of whom
ceased not until they had passed through all the seven grades. The
scenes and revelations that came to my eyes beggar all description.
My heart sickened as I beheld the millions wallowing in the mire of
fleshly lusts, apparently living for no higher purpose than to see the
latest novelties of expressing lewdness and sensuality.

"This is brute life, indeed," I soliloquized, "for it can be easily
seen that the hearts of these people are so seared and their ears so
dull that they have no desire for the music of celestial choirs, or
the ecstacies that rise from heart-communion with God."

I also saw that there were numberless underground connections between
the lower Theatres and the Schools of Suicide, and with the varied
haunts of Prostitution that infested the whole region.

This startling fact also forced its way to my attention:--_the money
flowing from the entire seven grades fell into one treasury_, so that
they who moved in the supposed moral atmosphere of the first and second
grades were, nevertheless, patrons of the whole iniquitous business.
At once I thought of the churches that were in sympathy, or league,
with this part of the work along the Broad Highway. And I inwardly
uttered these sad sentences:

"_It is no more a mystery why such churches have lost their holy
influence and their warmth of spiritual life, while worldliness
flourishes from the pew to the pulpit_."

[Illustration: The Devil's Substitute to the Prayer-Meeting (The
Christians left their Bibles at home.)]

Mr. World and Miss Church-Member spent several seasons of leisure in
the Theatres of the first and second grades. Finally he invited her
to accompany him to a Refined Vaudeville in the third grade Theatre
district. It happened to be on the same day of the week that she had
formerly been accustomed to attend prayer meeting. This fact awakened
memories of bygone days, and brought feelings of sadness to her heart.
Mr. World, by an artful diversity of language, arrested her mind and
calmed her conscience as he playfully remarked: "This will be a good
substitute for the prayer-meeting."

I saw the two enter the Vaudeville with many other church-members that
mingled with the jostling crowds. These Christians left their Bibles
at home, while some took as a substitute their opera glasses. They can
see through these better than they can through their Bibles.

While Mr. World and Miss Church-Member tarried at the Theatres, I was
permitted to see a conference of the evil spirits that had in charge
the Theatre interests of Satan. The conference met at the opening of
the year 1901 what was called "The Century Session."

For the time I was lost to all other surroundings, and I could hear
all and see all as if I occupied the best seat. The unusual parliament
seemed to be held underground, and yet one could enter directly from
the surface of the earth.

The assemblage was controlled by a highly honored chief, cool and
deliberate in manner. Every kind of imp imaginable could be found in
the number that constituted the many committees.

I witnessed every part of the diabolical proceedings, and will here
disclose a portion of these doubly sealed secrets.

After all preliminaries were brushed away, I heard seven ominous clangs,
and silence reigned supreme. The chairman rose to speak. What a mingling
of light and darkness! How truly Satanic his every feature and every
move! How earnest his brief address, every word in the interest of
Satan's blasting work.

"Give heed, oh, ye co-workers, bound under oath to give a true report!
Our cause has made advances, and our work calls for the ripest service
we can give. _The theatre modernized is fast winning the church. All
honor, ye spirits who played your parts so well!_ The century has just
closed, but not our opportunity. Let coming years be one of mightier
conquest. Down with the narrow truth and morbid righteousness, and all
things else that check our onward marching!" For a moment the chairman
was silent. Then, as he raised his hand, I heard a hideous clang which
proved to be the signal for the report of "The-Moral-Effect-of-the-Theatre"
committee. Forthwith the whole committee stood _en masse_ before the
chairman. "Our work goes on with speed," cried the leader of the gang.
"In every district we are gaining ground."

"I have watched your progress with joyful pride," answered the chairman,
as he smiled in hellish glee. "But I noted the sharp conflicts you had
with certain reformers in the churches."

"Some of them we cannot conquer," despairingly admitted the leader.

"Grieve not over forts you cannot take, but make good use of those
that have surrendered."

"They are firing our guns splendidly," quickly intercepted the leader,
as he rose and read the following report:

1. "We have labored earnestly in the ranks of the church until many
more of her members now believe that the moral effect of our Theatres
is helpful.

2. "We have succeeded in dividing the members of many churches on this
question, and have witnessed, with pleasure, the many kinds of quarrels
that have resulted therefrom.

3. "We have succeeded in turning the tide of many periodicals, so that
the defense of the Theatre, as a moral stimulant, is more general than
ever."

As the leader closed his brief report, the chairman offered his
compliments, and the host cheered with vigor.

The committee retired. The chairman again lifted his hand and two
clangs were heard. This was the signal for the appearance of the
"Park-Theatre" committee.

"Good tidings, or ill?" tersely asked the chairman.

"Good tidings of the first degree," cheerily replied the leader of the
committee as he proceeded to read his document:

1. "We labored, with all zeal, to carry out the schemes concocted
previously.

2. "We have succeeded in locating a series of free Theatres at every
summer park where we could possibly induce the management to admit
them.

3. "These Theatres, even though they be of a third or fourth class,
are doing a great service for us by implanting a taste for other grades.

4. "By this happy medium we are winning young people and church-members
by the thousand, for they can attend these Park exhibitions without
being severely criticised.

5. "We are careful to give them enough immoral and sensual bait to
draw them further. (Wild applause.)

6. "These innocent Park Theatres must not be abandoned, for they are
a sure training school. We hereby pledge ourselves anew to go forth
more earnestly to our tasks." (Furious applause over the whole
assembly.)

"Have you met with any hindrances to your work?" queried the chairman
of the meeting.

"Many indeed. Some Parks refuse our class of Theatres, while others
are closed to every class. But our committee is determined to push
ahead."

"Onward, ye comrades," urged the chairman. "Buy up the stock of every
Park, if possible, and furnish recreation for the church. Do not become
too bold at first in the introduction of lewd and foolish plays, or
you may be fought by the popular churches."

"Hardly possible," replied the leader. "So many in the church are glad
to wink at these incongruities, for they are thereby given a chance
to satisfy their carnal appetites without being classed with the regular
Theatre crowd."

"This is one of our happiest modern hits," chuckled the chairman, as
the committee turned away, amidst the mad-like cheering,

Next I saw that the chairman raised his hand, and at once I heard three
sharp clangs which were the signal for the "Church-Choir" committee.
"What has the church-choir to do with the Theatre," thought I, as I
saw the obedient host answering to their call.

"What tidings, good or ill?" asked the chairman in a tone of confidence.

"Progress slow, but sure," briefly answered the leader of the committee
as he stepped a little nearer to the chairman to give his report.

"Ours is a difficult task. Some choirs are hedged about that we cannot
so much as reach them with suggestions. Nevertheless, we have succeeded
in many sections, notably in certain large cities. We report, with
pride, that some churches have engaged genuine theatrical singers to
render special selections during the regular Sunday services. Is it
not an evidence of our success when the opera-stage singer of Saturday
night furnishes the chief solo for church-goers on Sunday morning?
This is winning certain people to the Theatre, for in many instances
they cannot wait until the next Sunday; so they visit several theatres
during the week to keep their spiritual strength renewed."

Then the demons cheered to the echo, and I listened with a sad, heavy
heart.

The leader continued:

"We are also endeavoring to get the regular church-choirs to imitate
the popular theatrical stars. Of course, we do not oppose the use of
religious words, if we cannot induce them to sing our selections. We
are aiming to create a taste for the up-to-date novelties in music,
in contrast to the old dry singing in certain churches of the King's
Highway." (Prolonged applause.)

As this tall, wiry demon continued to unfold his deep-laid plans, I
well understood why Satan has selected the church-choir as an objective
point, and has delegated so large a number of imps to do work in that
special direction. I then cried within me: "Oh, that these churches
would not use their choir-corners as an advertising medium for the
Theatre! And that choirs, in their musical devotions, may be led by
the Spirit of God rather than by the imps of Hell!"

This committee retired with special encomiums.

The chairman rose and I heard four sonorous clangs which summoned the
"Ministerial" committee. At once its members, in their sedate and
portly attitudes, surged down the massive aisles.

I shuddered as I saw the variety of these mean Satanic faces, portraying
a depth of vileness, mingled with shrewd and scholarly insight. With
great care I studied this pack of Hell-hounds, gathered from the ends
of the earth, now standing in sullen mood, ready to give their report.

"What tidings, good or ill?" asked the chairman.

"The tidings are good," replied the famous leader. "By our efforts we
have silenced many a voice which formerly thundered against us. To-day
many more ministers are in sympathy with the modern Theatre of the
higher grades, although not a few of these must hold their views in
secret. Others speak apologetically, and still more come out in bold
defense of what they term the 'Select Theatre.'"

"What do you consider the most hopeful line of your work?" further
asked the chairman.

"Our work in the theological schools," quickly responded the leader.
"Special sections of our committee have labored with stealthy vigor
to capture the preacher before he reaches the pulpit. The last years
of the century have witnessed phenomenal gains for our cause. By winning
the theological student early to our Theatrical theories we are likely
to gain his heart and sympathy in after years. Our success along these
lines is the most hopeful sign of the times, and bespeaks the ushering
in of more sensible conditions. (Furious applause.)

"Before retiring," continued the leader, "let me quote the utterances
of a certain broad-minded clergyman: 'The clean Theatre of the twentieth
century will be, and ought to be, the moral prayer-meeting for
Christians, while the spiritual prayer-meeting will be held in the
church as usual.'"

The whole army of devils cheered like madmen. I was so aroused that
I felt that ecclesiastical lynch law should be applied to any minister
whose utterances caused such jubilee among the legions of Hell.

I could not remain to hear the report of:

"The Moral Play" committee,

"The Variant Dance" committee,

"The Sacred Concert" committee and other committees whose names I could
not learn.

CHAPTER XIII.

SCHOOLS OF LITERATURE. THIRD DIVISION

1. Seven separate halls described.

2. The far-reaching schemes of Satan to pollute the Press and the Pen.

Mr. World and Miss Church-Member, after spending several hours at the
Theatres, moved toward the vast groups of buildings comprising the
third division of the College of Literature. The structures lay in a
semi-circle facing a magnificent court, in the center of which there
was a park of surpassing loveliness. On an immense arch, over the
center of the park, these words were hung in shining letters:

THIRD DIVISION:

TRUE CHRISTIANITY AND LITERATURE.

As Mr. World and his charming companion entered this great central
court, they were quite overcome by the size and beauty of the three
score halls, each one widening as its depth increased. Some towered
one thousand feet in the air while others sent their proud domes, as
it were, into the clouds.

The two companions mingled with the multitudes, engaged in the common
pleasures of this open court, and watched with poetic delight the
sparkling fountains, while sweet strains of music from scattered
orchestras lent their charms to the soul. The shrubbery, flowers and
plants, as well as the works of sculpture and pictorial art, all
appeared as if angel fingers had been employed in their production and
arrangement.

The season here spent by Miss Church-Member was the happiest that she
had yet experienced since she had left the King's Highway. To think
that she was now living in the threshold of True Christianity, in its
relation to literature, was at once novel and refreshing to her mind,
for she now claimed to be a more faithful Christian than ever before.

During their protracted stay at this division they visited the following
halls, each one devoted to a specific purpose:

Hall No. 3. "The Bible from a Literary Standpoint."

Hall No. 8. "The Best Literature for a Sunday School Class."

Hall No. 9. "The Best Literature for Sunday school Libraries."

Hall No. 13. "The Best Literature for a True Christian to Read."

Hall No. 16. "Literature for a Christian's 'Grip' when on a Vacation."

Hall No. 27. "The Sunday Newspaper and Other Publications."

Hall No. 38. "The Best Way of Conducting a Religious Newspaper."

Mr. World spent a day with his appreciative friend under the teaching
of Hall No. 3. The professors were exceptionally brilliant, and so won
the confidence of their many hearers that what they said seemed to
have more weight than even the Bible. They tried to demonstrate that
the literary style of the Bible was far below par.

When they entered Hall No. 8 they were surprised to see how large a
number of Sunday school workers and teachers were already there. The
meeting that day was held largely in the form of an open parliament,
and a discussion was in progress concerning the use of the Bible in
the class during the study of the lesson.

"Would it not be preferable," asked an interested visitor, "to use the
Bible in the class during the study of the lesson, and use the special
helps only for preparation?"

"Don't think of it, don't think of it!" abruptly answered the teacher.
"It would only be a step backward."

"It appears to me," continued the visitor, "that our young people ought
to become more familiar in using and handling the Bible, and if it
were used in connection with the study of the lesson it would surely
prove to be a valuable help, even beyond what the present system
affords."

"And would you throw aside all the very valuable side lights to the
lesson that are being produced in such rich variety and abundance?'
hurriedly asked a Sunday school teacher who was present on a furlough.

"Nay, nay," earnestly spoke the visitor, "let the press go on, but let
not its fruit be substituted for the bread of life. Fruit is good,
delicious and healthful, but we need the staff of life. _Let the real
actual Bible be handled and used in the teaching of the lesson. Then
whatever else is wise to use as an auxiliary help may be brought into
service_. That is my platform, pure and simple."

The leader of the meeting was agitated. He impatiently rose to his
feet before the last words had fallen from the visitor's lips.

"Let us use reason," he said, with a light vein of sarcasm in his
voice. "Is it not true that the average child sees enough of the Bible
in his home and in the public schools, and that he greatly relishes
a change when he comes to the Sunday school?"

"That's only too true," spoke up the worldly element who were there
in large numbers.

"Let me assure you," continued the speaker as he was warming to his
theme under false fires of devilish sophistry, "in the day when the
Bible was used in the Sunday school classes, spiritual ignorance
abounded more than now."

"Why not be satisfied with rapid advancement, instead of inviting
retrogression in knowledge, and a double decimation in Sunday school
attendance, by compelling scholars to go searching through a book as
uninteresting and unfathomable to them as the Bible?"

"One great hindrance to Sunday school work is its pious and
sanctimonious tendency. If the schools of the twentieth century are
to be successful, we must have less of that Bible stiffness in them,
and still more of an open sociability."

The worldly element and some of the Sunday school teachers were now
cheering heartily. But the speaker continued:

"Instead of going to an extreme that means death to the Sunday school
by advocating that an army of cold Bibles should go walking into the
service, I should rather advocate a change in the other direction, for
I am even opposed to the tons of cheap literature filled with cloudy
opinions that are now being scattered throughout our schools. We need
lesson helps that are interspersed with incidents of adventure, and
startling stories that have fire and life in them. Let some publisher
take the hint.

"Then the boy or girl whose daily reading may consist of that style
of writing will find the Sunday school more congenial to his nature,
and he will go there with a bound. In that manner you are certain to
win the boy's heart, after which you can, with tact, send the spiritual
truth deeper into his soul. From such a scholar keep the Bible as far
away as possible It is not even necessary to lay stress on the fact
that the lesson text is, taken from the Bible.

"If the teacher can succeed in holding his respect for the Sunday
school, then, in after years, when he is more matured and is better
able to reason, you may bring the Bible itself more directly to his
attention, and you will secure better results than are prevalent to-day
in the Sunday school world."

The audience cheered lustily. In this cheering Mr. World and his
companion joined. The visitor, who was deeply grieved at the warm
reception of such destructive doctrines, arose to speak, but the
intolerant cried out: "Away with him! We want no more bigotry and
one-hundred-years-behind-the time speeches!" At the suggestion of the
chairman he was hurried from the room to appear before a commission
on lunacy.

The speech had its desired effect. The great majority of the audience
were convinced that the Bible was not a "drawing card," and that it
should not be introduced into the class study if it could possibly be
avoided. A few pledged that they would do all in their power to effect
a revolution in the present system of lesson helps.

Mr. World and Miss Church-Member left this hall and entered Hall No.
9. It was a rare privilege for them to walk through the largest Sunday
school library in the world, where many committees were at work
selecting books for their respective Sunday schools.

Satan had so ingeniously managed the composition of these books, and
so artfully arranged them on the endless shelves, that one could
scarcely discern the good parts of a book from the bad, or determine
in which section of the hall the largest percentage of good books could
be found. In this way committees almost invariably picked up
considerable chaff with the wheat.

I looked at Blackana and sighed: "Oh! Blackana, how long will these
things be? If only a conflagration would reduce the contents of that
hall to ashes!"

"Ah! mortal," he coldly replied, "these things will never be destroyed,
for the building is fire proof. Surely the Sunday school should get
as much of its library as possible from a source so well protected."

"For what fiendish reason?" I asked as I was moved with indignation.

"Nothing fiendish about it. Satan can furnish books at less cost, and
thereby be of material financial help to the Sunday school. Furthermore,
he is able to furnish a larger variety and a more inviting class of
books, with more spicy fiction, and less of that deadness so generally
characteristic of the books coming from the hand of a narrow-minded
Christian."

"Silence, thou agent of the Devil! Thou art again dealing in falsehood.
When thou speakest to me, speak truthfully or hold thy tongue in
quietness."

He rolled his eyes at me, but spoke no more.

In the early hours of the following day I saw the same two companions
enter Hall No. 13 devoted to "The Best Literature for a True Christian
to Read." They moved leisurely from table to table scanning and reading
the books and booklets which, in great variety, lay before them.

Weariness urged them to a seat in the lecture department where they
were entertained by a scholarly address on "_Choice Literature for a
Christian._"

"It must not be forgotten." said the speaker in one part of his address,
"that the mind can be ruined by lack of vigorous exercise. In the
physical body the stomach would become weak and sickly were it not
compelled, quite frequently, to digest strong foods or a great variety
of them. So also the mind, in order to reach its true development,
needs a wide variety of thought-food. Not alone that of a
sickly-sentimental or sanctimonious kind which in its place is all
right, but such a variety as will best stimulate the mind in a
well-rounded, liberal education. In particular, a good Christian should
peruse such literature as will inform him thoroughly concerning the
enemies of Christianity. He should not spurn, but rather study
infidelity, skepticism and every other hostile movement, so that he
may be able the better to appreciate his own position. The Bible is
not so much a book for reading, as a book of reference, and therefore
a Christian's loyalty to Christ must not be measured by his reading
and studying the Bible, but by his success in locating the enemies of
the cross and studying their designs, looking over their encampments,
and estimating the strength of their weapons. If he becomes thus
acquainted with the foe, he is in better position to order an advance,
or to effect a treaty whereby much strife may be avoided."

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