1. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member fail to see the Ways and Means Committee at work.
2. They are directed to the city where expert inventors are constantly employed in devising weapons and all kinds of devices.
3. They see a few inventions which are just being perfected to facilitate the services of the churches along the King’s Highway.
After Mr. World’s remarkable experiences on the Observatory, he gladly called for his friend, Miss Church-Member, who accompanied him on another branch of the Mountain Trolley.
They alighted at a station called Progress, and proceeded on the Broad Highway. Neither of them became wearied in listening to the experiences of the other during their brief separation.
Ere long they came to a large hall which was used by the Ways and Means Committee of the Broad Highway.
They obtained permission to visit the interior of the hall, hoping thereby to see the famous committee in session. But, after being escorted from room to room by a guide, they were informed, upon reaching the main auditorium, that the committee was holding a secret session, and that no visitors would be allowed to enter during that day.
“How soon will visitors be admitted?’ asked Mr. World, with a shade of disappointment in his tone.
“Not until the matter now under consideration is settled. It may be two hours, perhaps two days,” was the indefinite reply.
“And where can we spend the interim with most profit and interest?” further interrogated Mr. World.
The guide, looking through a window, described a path leading to a lofty summit. “When you reach that elevation,” explained he, “you will see, in the busy vale beyond, the Wizard City.
“Most of the experiments performed in that wondrous vale are closed forever from the view of mortal man; but so much of the work as you are allowed to see will interest you for many days.”
“In my opinion such a privilege is greater than the one we are here denied,” smilingly spoke Miss Church-Member.
“True indeed, my friend, unless the climbing of the hill should prove to be a more arduous task than you imagine,” cautioned Mr. World.
“Each of you will be pleasantly surprised,” promptly affirmed the guide, “for they only can climb to that summit who do so willingly, and by them it is easily accomplished.”
“Is there no shorter way thither than by that winding path?” slowly asked Mr. World.
“There is but one shorter route, and that is underground. No one is permitted to go that way until he has passed the summit and has reached the seventh degree in the secret service of our Master.”
“Ah! so there is an underground connection between this place and the Expert Inventors?” said Miss Church-Member in a low tone, and with a look of suspicion.
“Be not in the least alarmed. The Ways and Means Committee and the Expert Inventors work in harmony, each supplementing the work of the other. It is therefore essential that between them there be as close connection as possible, not only for convenience of travel, but for insuring secrecy.”
“Then why are the two places so far apart?” queried Miss Church-Member.
“Everything is perfectly arranged. If you could see the underground world between the two sites you would readily observe the logical relation of all parts. But the bell rings; I must go,” continued the guide. “If you wish further information you may obtain it at the office,” and with a courteous bow he withdrew.
That same day I saw the two travelers climb with ease to the summit from whence they beheld the most curious sight that had yet met their gaze since their fellowship had begun.
Down in the long and deep sloping vale before them, shut in from all the world, lay a large city of fantastic structures.
The weird outlines of this marvelous city extended downward into the darkness of the earth, while the height of its buildings varied from the common even unto the amazing.
The form of the city, and the shape of its buildings, were the most bizarre features of all. Only a few of the edifices bore resemblance to any which the travelers had ever before seen.
Toward one end of the city they saw a cluster of buildings which, taken as a whole, resembled a gigantic tree towering to a great height and covered with strange foliage.
In the “Wizard City” Satan devises novelties, such as
“Angelette” for choir singing the “Service Regulator” for taking the
Holy Spirit’s place in worship, etc.
At the other end of the city the structures were divided into more than a hundred groups, resembling somewhat variously-shaped balloons of monstrous size.
The sides of the city were constructed somewhat after the manner of immense Ferris wheels, of amazing diameter. The compartments therein actually moved up or down according to the range of vision desired by the Inventors in their experimenting.
The central part of the city was the most notable of all. Here, with an average diameter of ten hundred feet, rose a circular structure tapering irregularly until it settled to a point six thousand feet in the air. Around this, as a center, ranged terraces, hanging gardens, aerial boulevards, and spiral electric railways.
After viewing this wonderful valley for many hours, the companions took one of the perfected automobiles and covered the long gradual descent to a depth of ten thousand feet perpendicular.
As they neared the base, I looked at Blackana, and asked: “How long have those Schools of Invention been in operation?”
“Since the creation of man.”
“What is the real purpose of their existence?”
“To invent devices and weapons helpful to our cause in peace or war, and more particularly to concoct new schemes for the use of the churches along the King’s Highway and the Way of the World.”
“Oh! that the earth might see all this foul inwardness, and discern aright the bland deception with which those subtle plots are executed!”
A Satanic smile covered the features of Blackana as he assured me that the earth does know of these things, and has known of them for ages, but is too well pleased with them to offer serious opposition.
In disgust I turned from Blackana and saw that Mr. World and Miss Church-Member had reached the suburbs of the Wizard City where they read this unexpected notice over a large brazen gate:
NONE ADMITTED EXCEPT THEY TO WHOM THE PORTER OPENETH.
“Ah! all our toil may be in vain,” sighed Miss Church-Member.
They stood for a brief time in a quandary, discussing how one may know whether or not the Porter will open the gate. Finally the stalwart Porter approached them and spoke: “With what motive and for what purpose would ye enter?”
Mr. World, with native tact, was ready with an answer: “I am in full sympathy with the work done in this city and have with me my friend who is still a member of a church standing along the King’s Highway.”
The Porter advanced with graceful bearing and bowed to Miss Church-Member. “Perchance,” said he, “you have come to receive some new ideas for the benefit of the church?”
“You have surmised it,” she blushingly replied. “The church to which I belong is sadly behind the age in its methods of work. I am hoping that the inventive genius of this city can give me some features new and attractive, that I may, in my missionary work, help to introduce them into antiquated churches.”
“Yours is a worthy mission,” politely said the Porter, “and I herewith hand you a card which will admit both of you into the department of the city, number seven hundred and seventy-seven.”
Instantly the gate flew wide open, and the happy couple passed through joyfully. They walked by the many fairy-like buildings, closing their eyes to all the special scenes so that they might give their first attention to the department indicated by the Porter.
With little difficulty they found the place desired, and handed the card to a curator who conducted them to the general manager.
“I infer, by this card,” said the manager, “that you are hoping to find some new schemes to facilitate the work and service of the church.”
“That is our aim,” answered Miss Church-Member.
“I am glad that you are so ambitious to keep apace with the times. In this marvelous age of mechanism all things are done by devices and machinery, and the church that would keep step with the spirit of progress must also be run by mechanism. The services of such a congregation should be controlled by a rigid methodical law, so that everything will move like clock-work. The church of to-day, in its movement towards form and ceremony, is approaching the highest laws of universal harmony. This hopeful tendency is most helpful to the soul of man and most pleasing to God.”
“Just my idea exactly,” chimed in Mr. World. “The churches along the King’s Highway are stubbornly fighting these modern improvements. They are very slow in catching up with the spirit of the age. Does that not seem true, Miss Church-Member?”
“I must confess I see it more clearly now than ever. Nature is run by unerring, unchangeable law; why should not all spiritual operations come under the same principle? Formality, after all, is the highest point to be reached.”
“Your mind easily grasps the truth, I perceive,” responded the manager. “What can bring things into better form than to get as much machinery as possible into church worship? In this building a thousand experts are constantly employed in devising and perfecting mechanical arrangements to facilitate the services of the church. Perhaps you would be pleased to see some of the results of our work by passing through some of the sub-departments?”
“For my part,” replied Miss Church-Member, “I am more than passingly interested in these things, and if Mr. World does not object to accompany us, I will be grateful to improve this opportunity to look upon your work.”
After completing preliminary arrangements I saw the manager conduct his two visitors on the easy running elevator to the floor which was devoted especially to singing.
“As it is your wish,” said the manager “to see the latest, we will not tarry at these lesser rooms, but proceed immediately to the corner of the chief experts where I will be pleased to show to you the best novelty on the floor.” They walked down the long room, passing on each side of the aisle one set of busy workers after another. They stopped at one of the far corners and beheld, in advance, the latest novelty to be used for singing in church service.
It was an artificial woman, neatly attired and filled with a complicated mechanism so constructed that when certain electric keys were touched by the unseen operator, articulate sounds like unto a human voice issued forth, while the expression of the whole face, and the natural-like heaving of the breast, all moved in harmony with the artificial sounds. The invention so much resembled a living creature of beauty that Miss Church-Member at first thought it was really human.
Mr. World was so well pleased with the novelty that he unconsciously seated himself upon a couch and looked on in amazement. The beauty of the female form attracted his attention as much as the voice that pealed forth bewitchingly from the lips.
“The greatest thing in the world!” he said after a period of ecstatic silence. “The church that gets such a singer into its choir will have a packed house at every service.”
“I never so much as dreamed of such a thing before. Have any of the churches yet tried the experiment?” wonderingly asked Miss Church-Member.
“The time has not yet come,” replied the manager. “Our experts have been perfecting this fine piece of mechanism for many years, but it is not yet quite satisfactory. We shall continue until it is well-nigh perfect. In the meantime we are trying to prepare the way so that the people will gladly receive such an addition to their church machinery. It is our intention to be able to supply _angelettes_, (for that is the name by which this invention will be known) of any size, and with apparel suitable for any special or ordinary occasion of church worship. The angelette is to be so perfected that it will render vocal music without a break. That will be a happy day when people can worship God without aging themselves hoarse or without being annoyed by the discords so prevalent in congregational and choir singing and, moreover, have none of the evil effects that come from choir quarrels.”
“I can plainly see,” commented Miss Church-Member as they moved toward another floor, “that the church is only in the morning twilight of its progress. The wonders of today will pale into insignificance at the coming of the greater things.” They dropped to a lower floor and stepped from the elevator.
“This floor is devoted to the ‘_Order of Church Service_’” explained the manager. “It is indeed surprising to see what a variety of devices are here suggested to get the churches to pin themselves down to a fixed law of service in such a way that all else must bend to it or appear ridiculous. Some churches, claiming to be led by the Spirit, are constantly out of order. One cannot even imagine what is coming next. That is a foolish, haphazard way of conducting a religious service. We are doing all we can to correct these errors. I will take you at once to the expert’s room and let you see the latest piece of mechanism which we hope very soon to offer for public use.”
Far out in one end of the building I saw the three enter a room where men were busily engaged at work.
“Will you kindly show these two visitors the workings of your new invention called the ‘Service Regulator,’” requested the manager as he looked at the chief inventor.
A large curtain was raised and there it hung. No larger than a family clock. The inventor opened a door of the Regulator, and carefully explained its works. He called their attention especially to a roll of blackboard canvas that passed from an upper to a lower cylinder when the Regulator was running.
I heard the inventor, in explaining, use these words: “The minister arranges the program in advance and then marks the whole order of service on the canvas roll, allowing as much time for each part of the service as he thinks proper. The canvas is then replaced and the Regulator hung on the wall. When the minute comes to commence services, the Regulator is wound with a key and it starts to run. The canvas, in passing down at a fixed rate, informs the congregation of every change in the service, just as it had been previously planned.”
“What think you of it?” asked the manager, after the partial explanation.
“I do not believe that the church of the King’s Highway to which I belong could use it. It would tend only to confusion,” said Miss Church-Member.
“Only till they become accustomed to it,” explained the inventor. “After a few weeks of use its value would be demonstrated. Then the congregation would not part with it under any consideration. You see, Miss Church-Member,” he continued as he offered them easy chairs, “there would be a definite time to close the service. The Regulator would move with the precision of a clock, and nobody would complain about the preacher speaking too long, for he would stop at a fixed time. It is so arranged that a little bell rings five minutes in advance of the time to stop preaching. It is sometimes a great satisfaction for the hearer to know when the sermon is nearly ended, and the Regulator would be a blessed boon to some preachers who find it difficult to stop talking after they get ‘warmed up,’ as they call it.”
“How beautiful the thought that the bells of the Regulator would call the congregation to prayer, and a bell bid the time to change the devotion from prayer to song. You must not forget that this device is intended to educate the minister, choir, and congregation to a fine degree of accuracy in all their public devotions. See what opportunity this device offers for the display of ingenuity and tact on the part of a minister! He can, on the blank spaces, have a few pictures drawn. These will be interesting to children who cannot comprehend his sermon, or to an adult who loses the thread of the discourse. Does it not seem like a good thing for the church?” he asked, as he turned his gaze upon Miss Church-Member.
“It seems more and more that way, and no doubt it will prove helpful if it gets a fair trial. How does it suit _your_ fancy?” she inquired of Mr. World.
“It seems to me that all churches who know a good thing when they see it will get it at any cost. It just meets my idea exactly. I like to see things done decently and in order in the church. It always makes me nervous to get into a church where enthusiasm runs away with the meeting. It makes me feel somewhat as if I were in a trolley car that is running down grade while the motor-man has lost control of the brakes. It makes it uncomfortable to stay or to run.”
“Have any of the churches introduced this novelty yet?” inquired Miss Church-Member.
“None as yet. We are waiting for certain developments before placing us when the time is ripe.”
The manager then offered to conduct them to another floor which was devoted to the interests of the Prayer Meeting, but Miss Church-Member, having lost her interest in such kind of services, expressed a desire to visit some other part of the city.
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