"What more is required of me in order that I may join your church?"

inquired Mr. World in a voice of deepening earnestness.

"Nothing more than to express your willingness," responded the two.

Your morality is beyond suspicion, and your fulfillment of the duties of citizenship has always been praiseworthy; therefore your religion is quite exemplary. It lacks but your admission into the church."

"I would have joined before now had it not been for a radical element potent in the councils of the church, and especially for the narrow views entertained by your minister. If you had another pastor, one of more liberal cast of mind, it would not only influence me to join, but many of my wealthy and honorable friends would do so as well."

"It certainly is a sad state of affairs," sighed Miss Church-Member.

"We are losing heavily by reason of such narrowness. I thought differently at one time, but these gla.s.ses have given me a wider and clearer range of vision."

"Your words indicate a sound judgment," commented Mr. World, and the two church officials listened eagerly. "Why should the church compel a man to journey on a path so narrow that he can scarcely make any progress?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mr. Elder, unable to push through the narrow pa.s.s of Consecration, was compelled to take the "Shorter and Broader Way to Heaven."]

"A sensible view of it," said Mr. Elder, "for I have learned by experience that it is impossible to travel far in the way you mention.

I tried it until recently, when I gave it up in disgust. I patronized an old established exchange store, disposed of a part of my outfit, and got in exchange something up-to-date, as you see from my appearance.

I then endeavored to walk on the old path, but soon came to an especially narrow place called Consecration. I could not squeeze through. I struggled hard and long until one came to me and said: 'Let go what thou hast under thine arms and belted to thine heart, and them shalt go through with ease and rejoicing.' That was asking too much of me, for I paid a high price for these things and was minded to hold to them at all cost. I then endeavored more earnestly to push ahead, but found that I could not. As I looked around me, in despair, I saw a path leading to the left, under a beautiful arch, whereon I read this inscription:

A SHORTER AND BROADER WAY TO HEAVEN.

"This path I took and have been traveling comfortably thereon, especially since I found this still Broader Way into which it led. If only all church-members would know the comforts and advantages of this way, they could no longer refuse to travel it."

"They are finding it out more and more every age," said Mr. World with a complacent smile. "The church and the world ought to be one and, according to the teaching of the Bible, how could this be better accomplished than by having the church come down to the level of the world, and from that point lift the world upward. That was Christ's method and example. The church of to-day should not wish to be greater than her Lord."

The two church-officials looked at each other in surprise. "Without doubt that is broad-minded theology," first spoke Mr. Deacon.

"It is indeed refreshing in contrast with what we must hear repeatedly from the troublesome element in the church," added the other.

"Will you not tell us how you also came to reach this favored place?"

inquired Miss Church-Member, as she gave her attention momentarily to Mr. Deacon.

"It came about in a very odd manner. I had been wearing an old-style robe of righteousness, and gradually came to see that it was totally out of harmony with the higher thought of the age; so much so that I became odious to many liberal-minded people. A sharp struggle ensued between my conscience and my judgment. In the midst of this conflict I came to a place which offered to accept my old garments in exchange for seasonable attire. 'Anything for peace,' thought I; so I entered the establishment and selected this apparel, and these additional advantages. It cost me nothing but the mere willingness to exchange, and would I not have been foolish to refuse so much at so small a price?"

"Without a doubt," quickly answered Miss Church-Member. The others forcibly confirmed her answer.

"After I had completed my bargain I continued my diligence in the work of the church and in traveling on the good old Narrow Way. I came to a place called G.o.d Praise, and got through with little difficulty; but voices from unseen creatures spoke terror to my soul. In this unhappiness I trudged along until I came to a narrow pa.s.s known as Sacrifice. Through it I could not go. I struggled again and again. I also heard a voice saying unto me: 'If thou wilt wear the garments of salvation, and cast off these things of earth, then thou mayest pa.s.s through all thy sacrifice with ease and sweet delight.'

"The voice troubled me much, for I feared it spoke the truth. There did I spend a long season in mortal dread and doubt, and thought I would rather die than suffer thus. Suddenly, as if blind to it before, I saw a sign apparently moving in circles about me. It settled to my left and thus it read:

TO HEAVEN WITHOUT SACRIFICE.

"At once a smooth path opened to view, and I chided myself for having been blind to it so long. I entered upon it and hastily pursued my journey, and soon from thence pa.s.sed upon this Broad Gauge Road. I traveled hereon for a long time when, to my delight, I came across Mr.

Elder. I a.s.sure you we have had companionable seasons. We are on our road to Heaven and expect eventually to reach that place. Many persons of the Narrow Gauge Road have told us that we are wrong, deceived, and would be hopelessly lost if we do not change our course, but methinks that those people are disregarding the Bible where it saith, 'Judge not that ye be not judged'; and 'Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly.'"

"Ah! Mr. Deacon," quickly complimented Mr. World, "you must be a champion in the use of Bible truth. How can these bigots expect to stand when such Scripture condemns them? It will be a joyful time for all of us when these self-righteous critics shall have pulled the beams out of their eyes and be able to see us in our real innocence."

While Mr. World was speaking these words he a.s.sisted Miss Church- Member into their strange vehicle and, when his last sentence was ended, they bade a hearty farewell to the two acquaintances and smoothly glided on, not tarrying to hear the words of commendation which each church-official was speaking simultaneously.

CHAPTER VI.

SATAN'S LAW DEPARTMENTS

(_Underground._)

1. An allegorical representation of Satan's underhanded methods in law and politics. All seen during a thrilling journey with Blackana through this underground regions (level below level) where the laws of h.e.l.l are hatched.

2. A realistic climax,--ultimate triumph of right in the civil realm.

I now saw two mountains so high that their shadows perpetually darkened the Broad Highway which covered the wide valley between them.

In this Shadowy Vale many held permanent residence, until the whole region swarmed with teeming millions of every tongue and tribe on the face of the globe.

At the base of the mountains, on each side of the way, there were numerous large openings through which imps of darkness were constantly pa.s.sing. Most of them were habited as angels of light.

"Tell me the mystery of those dismal openings," I asked as I turned to Blackana. "Words are inadequate to tell of the places to which they lead. To know aright one must see," he answered with marked indifference.

For a moment I silently looked upon Blackana whose evasive answer had so greatly aroused my curiosity.

"Beyond those ominous portals I can discern nothing," I murmured. "How can I be privileged to see what is there hidden?"

"Come with me," coldly invited Blackana, "I will guide you to the nethermost realms now unseen by you. This I do not willingly, but I am thus commanded."

Not wishing to receive my orders from the mouth of a demon, I talked to my better Friend who bade me go and be a.s.sured that _a body-guard of ten thousand would ever be at my side, though I saw them not._

On wings, swifter than the wind, Blackana and I covered the intervening s.p.a.ce. We stood in the dark valley at one of the openings, now appearing ten-fold larger than before, and the mountains reared their imposing crests as if to an endless height.

"Follow me," grimly spoke Blackana as he advanced through the monstrous arcade into the deepening darkness.

I remembered the ten thousand, and feared not as I followed. Downward and inward we went, with no light but a horrid glare casting its uncertain rays athwart our path.

"Is this the pa.s.sage-way to Destruction?" I cried, as I saw how spectral all things were, for more than a thousand grimy faces had already added their fitful glances to the glimmering scene.

"The pa.s.sage-way to h.e.l.l is not so smooth; we go to a better place,"

he answered, without so much as turning his head.

We finally stopped at a line of ma.s.sive elevators, ever in busy motion, carrying the throngs upward or downward.

As we paused, Blackana regarded me silently. I was then able, for the first time, to see his face clearly. No light reveals the countenance of a demon so well as the light of his own region.

I stood as if paralyzed under his awful eyes. Oh! thought I, can two orbs picture such infinite depth of remorse; such absence of tenderness; such barrenness of sympathy, far beyond the most care-worn look of earth? Then, pervading all these lineaments of despair were the positive characteristics of his nature--malice, envy, and hatred. These lent their repulsive fires to his eye, already overcharged with insidious gleamings. I suddenly thought of my ten thousand, and my fears subsided.

"It were better for you to remain a stranger to the greater depth and go no farther," were the words that finally came from Blackana's scarcely moving lips.

"Fulfill your mission, Blackana! I fear not the deepest depth when I am thus equipped."