The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1922-02-08
THE DEVIL
(By Arthur B. Rhinow)

FRI f. came down from
Jerusalem to see the Prophet. He wonder
ed why he had retired to the solitude when
the people were asking for him. He found him
sitting on a stone. A group Of men were about
him, men with hunger in their eyes.
The scenery was one of contrasts. Rugged
hills framing fields of flowers; in the distance the
Jordan rushing southwark. And the Prophet
seemed to blend with it all. But Uri Ben Ahith-
ophel saw none of that.
81 have come to see you about your work"
he began.
u, The Prophet looked up.
~ think your work looks very promising.
You have made a good start. Now what you need
is somebody to manage your campaign. I have
had a good deal of experience in affairs like that,
and I should like to"
A snake ~wriggled through the grass and dis
appeared in the tumble of rocks.
Il "Now what you need, first Of ALL" Uri con-
tinued after he had recovered, "is to gain the
favor of influential people. AS l said before,
you have begun well. People are talking about
you, and you know if you can get people to talk
about you you have gained a great deal. They
even say you have performed miracles. Now
there is no reason why you shouldn't make a big
success of your enterprise. And 1 say, the first
thing to do is to get the backing of influential
people.
"Now, there is Annas, the high priest, for in
stance. Believe me, he is the most powerful man
in Israel. If you could get him to indorse you,
that would help immensely. And of course some
prominent Pharisee, also. Annas, you know, is a
Sadducee, and you cannot afford to take sides.
With two such leaders backing you, you could
not fail. And l believe my connections would en-
able me to enlist that support. One only has to
know how to approach men like that in the right
way; and I have had experience. All / would
ask you to do is not to say or do anything to
offend them. That would never do. You under
stand that, of course. All the rest you can leave
to me. And all I ask of you for myself is a pro-
mise to remember me when you enter into your
kingdom, so to speak. That's all.
Sand believe me, without such men as Annas
your enterprise will never amount to very much.
Get the right people interested first"
The Prophet studied the lilies lovingly.
"And after you have had the Endorsement of
those men," Uri went on, "then you ought to be
careful about the disciples you choose. Get men
that are representative, men of the better classes,
men that impress the people. Then you will be
do anything without money. For instance, I am
able to control means, and you know you cannot
just now thinking of a certain rich young ruler.
Fine fellow, and he has great possessions"
"The prophet has chosen his disciples" one
of the men answered. There was a deep glow in
his eyes, and he held a bag.
"What kind of men are they?" the inter-
viewer asked quickly.
"Oh, Galilean fishermen, a publican, and 9th
er men of that kind"
Uri Ben Ahithophel shook his head.
FISHERMEN and publicans? That will never
do. Why did he choose them? 2"
Because they believe in him."
"Well, that's all right so far as it goes. But
this is a practical age, and we must be practical
to succeed. Look at the way the Romans do
things, and our own politicians. They're shrewd.
And even a religious movement must be conducted
in the right way. Imagine how Annas would
launch a campaign like that. And it is very i'm
portant to get the right kind of people to push
things. You look as though you might be a help
to him, but those other men are just muscle and
dreams"
Uri Ben Ahithphel again turned to the Pro-
phst. He saw him take a reed and write on the