The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-19
CHAPTER xxuI

man who wanted to be different. His name was Carlyle Vesper. Some thing he said caused the Doctor to invite him to lunch at the Crayon Club.
 It appeared that Mir. vesper had an idea for a virtuous organiza- ton, and what was much more re- markable, he seemed to have the money, in the backing of Mrs John James Piggott, intransigent old widow Of the Silver Mine and International Railroad, and of Miss Ramona Tundra, who had started as child star in the motion pie lures and was ending as a child adult who patronized faith-healers.
 Carlyle Vesper was as simple as Cardinal Newman During years as a commonplace bookkeeper he had dreamed of a Christian church In which the director would not be a pope or an archbishop or a stated secretary or any kind of paid min ister, but Jesus Christ himself
 Vesper flowed on. T guess what I want is just a gayer and more modern group of Quakers. My or Ranization will do nothing but sug- gest to every man and woman and child that God really did make him 8 priest, and that he can pray by himself or in company with others just as he is moved. l want to call it the Every Man Priest Fratern- ity.
 "Oh, yes, I've thought about this for 70 years, but I'm not much of an executive. If we only had a man like youl"
 "Uh-uh-how much would you plan to pay?'
 T hadn't thought about it. We have 10 thousand dollars in the treasury now Would half Of that be enough for years salary?'
 I'm afraid I couldn't even think of it for less than six thousand a year"
 "Oh, I'm sure that as this world s goods go, six thousand would be very little for a man of your exper- fence and your love for suffering humanity. Shall We agree on that and get to work. Brother Gideon?' THE Every Man Priest Fra l. ternity office. on 43rd Street in New York, was so much like the office of the Association to Pro- mote Eskimo Culture that Dr. Planish was confused.
 But when he went through the files, he found that this shop was notably different from that of Cap tain Gishorn, who was as method ical about the affairs of the Devil as Carlyle Vesper was slipshod about the service of the Lord. Here were, unanswered letters - one, actually, a query from the wealthy chain store man, Albert Jalenak, about the Fraternity's aims.
 He found that vesper hadn't even elected" as organizations playfully call it, an impressive front of general officers and honorary di- rectors. He fretted, All Vesper real ly has here is his idea which isn't new, and the support of Mrs. Pig gott and Ramona Tundra, which isn't ironclad. I've got to go see those old girls and find out where we are"
 He telephoned, inviting himself to meet them at tea at the old Piggott residence on lower Madison avenue. LIE felt at home In that ancient H hallway, with teak throne and & marble Psyche holding a gas- lighted torch. He felt that he na- lively belonged to this house with its resounding memory of past grandeur and of the epoch when a mans goodness could be exactly measured by the number of his millions. Nor was he embarrassed by the craggy old woman and the slim faded actress who awaited him on a worn satin couch behind a tea-table with Georgian hot water kettle resembling Mont-St.- Michel
 He accepted tea - yes, thanks, he would have just & wee drop of rum in 1t; he didn't ordinarily in- diilge, but it was raw today.
 He mentioned his professorship. his deanhood, his installation of rustic education and Esximos.
 All this presented modestly. with many little razor-blades of comment which showed that he understood the ladies own posi- ton. They listened with increasing trustfulness until his actors in- stinct. so important to salesmen of philanthropy, told him that the time had come to play Old Family Doctor.
 He gravely pushed the tea table away, took both of Mrs. Piggotts aged hands, and started building his great second -act speech:
 Dear Mrs. Piggott, and you, dear girl" (Miss Tundra was, he calculated, at least 35), both of you. I have shockingly bad news, Let's take 1t in our stride and take 1t with a brave smile, and get 1t over. The Every Man Fraternity can't go on. It's finished"
 MP"
 we have at the moment only So,044.3T in the treasury. and need I tell you two, who have handled weightier business affairs than most mere men ever thought of, thtAt NC SohAQl CfNi bCklf to spread this gospel of simplicity and unworldliness for less than ea6 900 of ra starterp So-but what . pityl--well have to let the whole thing go,"
 In the look that Mrs, Piggott and Miss Tundra exchanged his expert eye appraised further 70 thousand, He hit again. quickly
 And not only that, but a more spiritual matter. Carlyle Vesper Is seer and saint " the most tor- giving man I've ever encountered, Yet well, l suppose he's one of these impractical souls that have to be managed, You would think that with his training in account aney and ofiee technique, he'd at least answer letters from poor, groping, soul-hungry seekers"
 He had not much farther to go ~r~=sF==-------T----s7-