Mr. World and Miss Church-Member: A Twentieth Century Allegory

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politics. All seen during a thrilling journey with Blackana through this

-ultimate triumph of r

hadows perpetually darkened the Broad Highwa

until the whole region swarmed with teeming millions

re numerous large openings through which imps of darkness were

Blackana. "Words are inadequate to tell of the places to which they l

n Blackana whose evasive answer ha

ern nothing," I murmured. "How can I be

ide you to the nethermost realms now unseen by you.

d to my better Friend who bade me go and be assured that a body-gua

stood in the dark valley at one of the openings, now appearing ten-fold larger tha

as he advanced through the monstrou

owed. Downward and inward we went, with no light but a

spectral all things were, for more than a thousand grimy faces

th; we go to a better place," he answer

ve elevators, ever in busy motion, ca

or the first time, to see his face clearly. No light reveals th

mpathy, 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,

greater depth and go no farther," were the words tha

na! I fear not the deepest de

nd where is your armor

til I find a foe wo

mountains, were the more refined legislative halls of Satan; while below us, at varying and te

ushered me into an elevator, holding me as we dropped down and down with increasing veloci

d, and that lent warmth to my heart and calmness to my nerves. "To what great depth are we fa

ngs to reach the first grand level, not stopping at the

d of such a descent before?" But I still thought of my ten thousand, e

r I felt the hand of Blackana still pressing me down l

nty furlongs a second and our speed is still incre

ed bars of the floor. I saw the glimmering light of

nto an immense cavern whose dimensions were apparently as limitless as the space between the earth and

er of the earth, and was abundantly used in the construction of vast halls whose overarch

is this?" I aske

hole region are ever busily engaged in determining upon their policy and methods of operation, and in endeavoring to influenc

place is far from the

be such clos

uman family, for there are thousands of wires leading from this dark realm to each government centre of earth. S

ilding divided into many sections. "Here is

s power in law. Thousands were here engag

ns, for the section where I stood was devoted to Asi

with the Western world that I may see the very

d to the operators communicating with some who were in authority at Washington, and wit

ever cease?"

days and nights of earth

when suddenly I heard some one mention a name with which I was familiar. I was attracted c

e a law," said the operator,

heaps of gold if you succeed," were the

their ear. I failed the last time, but I hope to succeed at my next endeav

ion. Go and speak to the chairman of the committee and early influence his mind in o

d hear the answ

ost envied his privilege, wishing that I might al

saw the fiendish program carried out at each point. Thousand

strict Satan's laws to these underground

Know you not that oth

shed to death so far

r me, I fear nothing. I am invincible, and should you take me to the deepest de

"cease your senseless s

e counter-currents of his heart, but neverth

evil spirits we entered the central car and fell a

. I looked out over what seemed to be a new world with more l

ore hideous by the variety of evil spirits who added their din

e. We are here connected with every state or divisional government in the world, an

iniquitous schemes pressed upon me. I heard the bands of music

reat structure more secluded than the electrical stations. Here the state laws

ative centre, and I saw, to my horror, some state l

incorporated into the laws of the states in the country where I hold residenc

ng of law," was hi

n. "The time must come when the power of this level will be blasted forever.

k, and I heard a noise as if a shower of great stones had crashed into the roof and sides of the building. The legislators quaked with fear and all looked

asked as I looked wo

t not! Be content to

rce or power can so well-nigh destroy this wr

des, as if loath to speak. He rolled his heavy eyes as

ined, and the most disastrous feature is that they go bounding from the buildings of this level ever downward and work their ruin from kingdom to kingdom, until they have wrou

number until these legislative halls shall be broken to rise no more, and their inmates

ang at me in

such liberty of speech here! Why fling insults i

Blackana fell backward at my very words. Sullen, but c

t?" he gru

next level bel

voted to the government of counties, cities, bo

take me to the

kes us where things have no weight. It is the lowest haunt outside of Hell

ut by the strength of Him who bids me go.

r the great hand of Blackana. We passed region after region of infernal lights, ea

wful burning amidst a company of hobgoblins o

far from it!" answered Blackana. "We are now in the lowest legislative center where foul fiends inven

ther to move along without effort, seeing the pictures of

thout foundations or floor. Here, amidst uncanny noise

lowed, beggar human description. From all parts of the great hall the

me by the hand, spoke! t

ir galling bitterness grinds me still. I have craved for this hour when I mig

e, Blackana attracted his attention, and at once the

man through these nether levels until he has seen the workings of our underground plans and schemes. He must never see the light of day, lest

hairman who seized me by the back and held me aloft in his right ha

d chairman fell backward, and I dropped unharmed to his

eet and waved a wand. "Silen

ns were brought to a stand, an

airman with a show of boldness, but in secret quaking. "Power unlimited, ev

talk thus boldly

lood of Jesus, and have no super

and furiously demanded. "Tell me whi

extent of these secret operations, I will now return to the brotherhood of man and sound the alarm of a coming reformation. O, beware ye multitudes that now rise against me! I am not alone, nor forsaken. By faith I see armies of the living G

ousness will some day triumph over

ing all around me with a rush of wild demons w

Unseen, for I saw, shining far above me, a beauti

s military hosts, converging as from infinite depth of space, burst into sudden view, revealed by a dazzling light which filled the