The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-11-10
they had said before he made a de-
CigiOn. then left him,

they had said before he made de-
cision, then left him.
That same evening, two gentlemen
from a very wealthy church in a dis
advantageous offer as far as salary
and position were concerned, but there
were conditions and these were that
he was not to mention the prevailing
methods Of getting rich, or condemn
prominent business men of the COM
munity for having succeeded part1cu-
larly we'll in accommodating fortunes.
He was to preach the gospel as in
terpreted in the Apostles creed with
out innovations, and to confine him.
self to strictly doctrinal subjects. But
the salary would be a magnificent one,
his position would be one Of highest
honor, and he would attain world
wide reputation in the exalted place
in which they would install him. Hav-
ing stated their propositions clearly
the gentlemen departed, giving him
time to think over what they had said.
Afterward he sat long by the fire
side, gazing into the glowing depths
and misunderstanding as he used
to dream when he lay on the grass
by the brook with his face to the sky.
He thought presently that Truth in
person stood beside him, clear eyed and
immoVable, while the Spirit Of Uni
versal Brotherhood smiled down at him
from the other side, and Purity, cold
and beautiful, floated above him and
pointed to a narrow, rocky path lead
ing through dark canons and wild for
ests, but finally losing itself in dim,
distant glory.
Then there approached between these
forms, being, holding aloft a sceptre
and wearing glittering garments,
pointing upwards to where a shadowy
throne in the midst Of a vague light
appeared. Marius somehow knew this
being was ambition. Then another
form presented itself, who was busily
pouring gold from one hand into the
other and back again. He gazed at
them, fascinated, attracted, almost alb
sorbed and his old Ideals slowly re-
coded and grew faint. He saw them
going at last. and stretched out his
hands to them. why cannot I have
all of you?'' he cried. Are wealth
and Ambition Incompatible with Truth,
Purity and Brotherly love?" Think
what good I could do with money and
power! What an influence I would
wield-how soon could bring about
my dearest reforms!" But his old ia
miliar spirits came no nearer, and at
last, he thought he rose and followed
Ambition through an open doorway
into the street.
He found himself presently, preach
Ing In a magnificent church, richly
decorated with all that wealth and art
could contribute to beauty and ele-
gance. Rare Jewels, silks, plumes, en-
broideries, shone and wavered amid the
sea OF faces before him; an air of ar
tist1c refinement, of beauty and sweet
sanct1ty floated around him, and low.
rich music from an organ was waited
softly to his ears. Then suddenly, he
saw three strange figures creeping up
the broad aisle, until they stood direct
ly before the altar, the ushers appar-
emily unheeding them. One was rag
ged, trembling, dirty tramp, another,
a pit1ful wreck of womanhood lust
craWled from gutter, the other was a
little, distorted, pallid, emaciated child
one w1thered arm ending in CHASTITY
stump just below he elbow. The tramp
stood still, raised his hand as If in
command of attention, and spoke
| aloud: "Oh people, claim the right
to be heard in this the supreme hour
OF my life. You, oh high priest Of the
church! claim to preach a free saliva
ton to all, and your members claim
that they are washed clean and sim
less in the blood of the Lamb. Yet
you Will preach your corrupted gos-
pei only for fifty thousand dollars 2
year; your blood-washed members
grind gold out of the flesh and blood
| of their fellow creatures. I have been
! refused a chance to work until I am
starved, depraved, crushed out Of the
semblance Of manhood. That woman
you have robbed of her birthrfght an6
driven into a worse hell than you pic
ture for future punishment of sinners
This little child you caught ere it be.
gan to play, fastened it to a machine
twisted it's fair young life into a mon.
strosity, tore off its limbs. that vol
might pile up gold and power for your
selves. We are the legitimate fruits
of your corrupted, commercial religion
and we are your punishment. Already
you are wondering what you will dc
with us. Christ taught the universal
brotherhood of man and the Father.
hood Of God, but you have forgotten
that, and have put in it's place a ghast.
ly mockery of His religion. Upon you,
own heads be the consequences!"
| The tramp tottered forward. stag.
gered, fell-and was dead. Then q
great commotion arose, Marius tried
to move, and suddenly-awoke. The
room was dark and chilly, the fire had
nearly gone out and he was alone. But
the dream-the strange, vivid dream
was still before him, and he could moi
Danish it. Long, long he pondered up.
| on it and at last he said:
| "Yes, I must leave the pulpit alto.
gether If 1 would be true to my ideals
The Christ spirit has been forgotten