The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1878-04-25
INGERS0LLFILLE.
a Very Remarkable Dream by Chap
lain McCabe.

INGERS0LLFILLE.
A Very Remarkable Dream by Chap
lain McCabe.
From the Christian Union
I had dream that was not all a
dream. 1 thought was on long jour
ney through beautiful country when
suddenly 1 came to a great city with
walls fifteen feet high. At the gate
stood sentinel, whose shining armor
reflected back the rays of the sun. As
1 was about to salute him and pass into
the city, he stopped me and said:
"Do you believe in the Lord Jesus
CHRISTI"
answered, "Yes, with all my heart. "
"Then," said lie, you can not enter
here. No man or woman who acknowl-
edges that name can pass in here.
Stand asidel" said he, "they are COM
ing"
1 looked down the road, and saw a
vast multitude approaching, 1t was led
by military officer.
"Who is that?" l asked Of the senti
mel,
"That." he replied, "is the great Col,
Robert Ingersoll, the founder OF the City
of Ingersollville."
"Who is hep" vcntured to inquire.
He is 4 great and mighty warrior,
who fought in many bloody battles for
the Union during the great war;"
I felt ashamed of my ignorance of
history, and stood silently watching the
procession. l had heard of a Col. In
gersoll, who resigned in presence of the
enemy, but, of course, this could not be
the man.
The procession came near enough for
me to recognize some of the faces. |
noted Wilbur T. Story, of the Chicago
Times. A great wagon followed him,
containing steam press. Then came
Charles A. Dana, also followed by q
press.
All the noted infdels and scoffers of
the country seemed to be there. Most
of them passed in unchallenged by the
sentinel, but at last a meek-looking in
dividual with white necktie approach
ed, and he was stopped. [ saw at a
glance it was rockingham.
"Do you believe in the Lord Jesus
Christi" said the sentinel.
"Not muchl" said rockingham.
Everybody laughed, and he was al
lowed to pass in.
There are artists there, with glorious
pictures; singers with ravishing voices;
tragedians and comedians, whose names
have q worldwide fame.
Then came another division of the
infdel host. Saloon-keepers by thou
sands, proprietorr of gambling hellse
brothels, and theaters, all-all march
ing in.
| looked, and high sfoat above the
mass was a banner on which was in
scribed:
what has Christianity done for the
country?" and on another which was
inscribed: Down with the churches !
Away with Christianity-it interferes
with our happiness" And then came
murmur OF voices, that grew louder
and louder until ashout went uplike the
roar of the Niagara. Away with him !!
Cruelty him!" 1 felt no desire now to
enter 1ngersollyille.
As the last of the procession entered,
a few men and women with broad-brim-
med hats and plain bonnets made their
appearance, and wanted to go in as
missionaries, but they were turned
rudely away. A jealous young meth
odist exhorter with a Bible under his
arm asked permission to enter, but the
sentinel swore at him awfully. Then l
thoughtI saw Brother Moody apply
ing for admission, but he was refused.
could not help smiling to hear Moody
say as he turned away sadly:
Well! they let me live and work in
Chicago; it is very strange they won't
let me into Ingersollville.
The sentinel went inside the gate and
shut it with bang; and I thought, as
soon as it was closed, mighty angel
came down with great iron bar and
barred the gate on the outside, and
wroteupon it in letters of fire: Doomed
to live together six months" Then he
went away and all was silent, except the
noise of the revelry and shouting that
came from within the city walls.
The Chaplaiu's dream describes the
peace and prosperity of the land after
this exodus to Ingersollville, and the
utter ruin of Ingersollville at the end
of six months by taxation for iails, pen
itentiaries, asylums. People were leav-
ing it as fast as they could. He thus
concludes:
1 interviewed some of the inhabi.
tants of the abandoned city, and asked
few of them this question:
"Do you believe in hell?"
I can not record the answers, they
were terribly orthodox.
One old man said: "I've been here
on probation six months, and / don'l
want to join"
l knew by that he was an old Meth
odist backslider. The sequel Of it al
was great revival, that gathered in {
mighty harvest from the ruins of In
geraollville,