The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-19

be obscured from some cause to the or
binary human vision. Let us suppose
Gas Is the fact) that the Sheol of the Old
Testament, the Hades of the New, is the
PrisonHouse of the former inhabitants
OF the ante-diluvian world, and that God
In his mercy determined to send to them
Gndeed some believe that Christ did
visit them) apostles and preachers to Of
fer to them terms of reconci iation. Let
lis imagine one claiming to be herald
of the Precipitation which was made for
sin to visit these unhappy tenants of the
shades OF darkness with al, offer of pardon
Let it be taken as fact that this mes
'enger purports to be fully commissioned,
and to proceed with tall authority to as
'emble these spirits, and deliver to them
the message of God Which is to this
effect, that if they will repent heartily OF
their wickedness, and accept the saliva
ton which is offered them through Jesus
Christ their prison doors shall be opened,
and they shall be taken to that Paradise
to which the Jews, as an expression OF
their highest ideas OF felicity, gave the
name of Abraham's Bosom"
Now let us suppose farther that one
of the messengers who undertakes to
carry this offer of pardon is DIR. Swing,
the author of the late article on "The
Failure of the Southern Pulpit" What
would DR.. Swing do on his arrival in
Hades? What arrangements would he
probably make in order to get at the be-
ings whom he was Gas he would claim
commissioned to invite to make their sub
mission to God? We are not left to con-
lecture in this matter, we have the data
necessary to guide us as to the course he
wvuld pursue on entering these regions
Ne acquire this knowledge by going to
Jhlcago, and observing the methods
winch he there employs Ill preaching the
gospel to the people of that city We
find the following in the Christian at
Work:
If one wishes to hire seat in Professor
Swings church in Chicago he can take the
choice of one In the parquet dress circle, or bal
cony. 1T he should lall TO find TO suit IN
either OF these places he can have box The
best seats IN the parquet rent from ten dollars to
twenty i've dollars year; seats In the dress cir
Gle for fifteen dollars; the most desirable boxes
rent tor one hundred and twenty five dollars a
year, and one considered pretty good but not
so situated that bonnet dress will show off
TO great advantage, can be had for one hundred
dollars. A single seat for one service can be
had tor the sum of ten cents. The society pays
as 1t goes, and it is in hourishing condition.
Professor Swing is to have a salary of $4,000
the coming year. The church revenues for the
yearJust closing were more than $4,000.
We may fairly gather, we say, from
this the idea which would govern
DIR. Swing if he found himself in the
circumstances we have supposed
He would rent hall, and ask an ad-
mittance fee-only ten cents for the rab-
BILE, and he would have parquet and dress
circle for the quality. A number of yet
more select boxes, with easy chairs and
velvet hangings, would be fitted up for
oil OliC NillOl OuOo VI OuS SdI I'll GQ6
kings of the nations" 1t would cost $40
perhaps to get the best of these. There
would be no mixing up of the masses"
with the best classes of society For even
Pl5 box $50 situated that bonnet or
cross of course we know little about ante
costumes would show off to
great advantage" would be let for an
evening.
The company assembled, DR.. Swing
would proceed probably to delivera splen-
lid discourse on the Dignity of Man
Or the True Mission Of Art, and wind mp
BY observing that it made very little diff
ference what they believed provided they
we're sincere; that for his part he be-
ieved it was his duty to offer them the
gospel at $4,000 year, and that if they
would come the next Sunday he would
give them some very fine musicAhaving
brought very fine opera singer along
with him, together with lot of stereo-
'copic views of the Yosemite Valley.
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