2. A description of the "Century Session" held by the demons having in charge the Theatre interests of Satan.
The College of Theatres lay between the second and third divisions of the Schools of Literature. The numerous structures were built on so large a scale, and after such winning designs, that the attention of many travelers was attracted to them and thereby to the performances given within their walls.
Here could be found some of the graduates of the Schools of Literature who were constantly engaged on one or another of the stages.
All these theatrical attractions belonged to the first grade and formed a part of a great system of Theatres which lay in seven grades, one below the other, each serving its part to engross the human mind with the carnal and sensual things of life.
The performances of the first grade were practically free from the vulgar touches found, with increasing intensity, as one goes downward toward the seventh grade which lay beneath the Midway in the Valley of Temptation.
In these Satanic Theatres of the first grade respectability is maintained purposely so as to ensnare as many professing Christians as possible, for there are many in the ranks of the church who are building with nothing but wood, hay, and stubble. The scheme works so Well that the Devil is trying to form a "Stage Trust," and get all the talent of the King"s Highway to unite. Thus Satan seems to encourage morality in order to carry out his deeply laid schemes of moral pollution.
I looked into the inward workings of this terrible system. I saw mult.i.tudes descending downward from the first grade, many of whom ceased not until they had pa.s.sed through all the seven grades. The scenes and revelations that came to my eyes beggar all description.
My heart sickened as I beheld the millions wallowing in the mire of fleshly l.u.s.ts, apparently living for no higher purpose than to see the latest novelties of expressing lewdness and sensuality.
"This is brute life, indeed," I soliloquized, "for it can be easily seen that the hearts of these people are so seared and their ears so dull that they have no desire for the music of celestial choirs, or the ecstacies that rise from heart-communion with G.o.d."
I also saw that there were numberless underground connections between the lower Theatres and the Schools of Suicide, and with the varied haunts of Prost.i.tution that infested the whole region.
This startling fact also forced its way to my attention:--_the money flowing from the entire seven grades fell into one treasury_, so that they who moved in the supposed moral atmosphere of the first and second grades were, nevertheless, patrons of the whole iniquitous business.
At once I thought of the churches that were in sympathy, or league, with this part of the work along the Broad Highway. And I inwardly uttered these sad sentences:
"_It is no more a mystery why such churches have lost their holy influence and their warmth of spiritual life, while worldliness flourishes from the pew to the pulpit_."
[Ill.u.s.tration: The Devil"s Subst.i.tute to the Prayer-Meeting (The Christians left their Bibles at home.)]
Mr. World and Miss Church-Member spent several seasons of leisure in the Theatres of the first and second grades. Finally he invited her to accompany him to a Refined Vaudeville in the third grade Theatre district. It happened to be on the same day of the week that she had formerly been accustomed to attend prayer meeting. This fact awakened memories of bygone days, and brought feelings of sadness to her heart.
Mr. World, by an artful diversity of language, arrested her mind and calmed her conscience as he playfully remarked: "This will be a good subst.i.tute for the prayer-meeting."
I saw the two enter the Vaudeville with many other church-members that mingled with the jostling crowds. These Christians left their Bibles at home, while some took as a subst.i.tute their opera gla.s.ses. They can see through these better than they can through their Bibles.
While Mr. World and Miss Church-Member tarried at the Theatres, I was permitted to see a conference of the evil spirits that had in charge the Theatre interests of Satan. The conference met at the opening of the year 1901 what was called "The Century Session."
For the time I was lost to all other surroundings, and I could hear all and see all as if I occupied the best seat. The unusual parliament seemed to be held underground, and yet one could enter directly from the surface of the earth.
The a.s.semblage was controlled by a highly honored chief, cool and deliberate in manner. Every kind of imp imaginable could be found in the number that const.i.tuted the many committees.
I witnessed every part of the diabolical proceedings, and will here disclose a portion of these doubly sealed secrets.
After all preliminaries were brushed away, I heard seven ominous clangs, and silence reigned supreme. The chairman rose to speak. What a mingling of light and darkness! How truly Satanic his every feature and every move! How earnest his brief address, every word in the interest of Satan"s blasting work.
"Give heed, oh, ye co-workers, bound under oath to give a true report!
Our cause has made advances, and our work calls for the ripest service we can give. _The theatre modernized is fast winning the church. All honor, ye spirits who played your parts so well!_ The century has just closed, but not our opportunity. Let coming years be one of mightier conquest. Down with the narrow truth and morbid righteousness, and all things else that check our onward marching!" For a moment the chairman was silent. Then, as he raised his hand, I heard a hideous clang which proved to be the signal for the report of "The-Moral-Effect-of-the-Theatre"
committee. Forthwith the whole committee stood _en ma.s.se_ before the chairman. "Our work goes on with speed," cried the leader of the gang.
"In every district we are gaining ground."
"I have watched your progress with joyful pride," answered the chairman, as he smiled in h.e.l.lish glee. "But I noted the sharp conflicts you had with certain reformers in the churches."
"Some of them we cannot conquer," despairingly admitted the leader.
"Grieve not over forts you cannot take, but make good use of those that have surrendered."
"They are firing our guns splendidly," quickly intercepted the leader, as he rose and read the following report:
1. "We have labored earnestly in the ranks of the church until many more of her members now believe that the moral effect of our Theatres is helpful.
2. "We have succeeded in dividing the members of many churches on this question, and have witnessed, with pleasure, the many kinds of quarrels that have resulted therefrom.
3. "We have succeeded in turning the tide of many periodicals, so that the defense of the Theatre, as a moral stimulant, is more general than ever."
As the leader closed his brief report, the chairman offered his compliments, and the host cheered with vigor.
The committee retired. The chairman again lifted his hand and two clangs were heard. This was the signal for the appearance of the "Park-Theatre" committee.
"Good tidings, or ill?" tersely asked the chairman.
"Good tidings of the first degree," cheerily replied the leader of the committee as he proceeded to read his doc.u.ment:
1. "We labored, with all zeal, to carry out the schemes concocted previously.
2. "We have succeeded in locating a series of free Theatres at every summer park where we could possibly induce the management to admit them.
3. "These Theatres, even though they be of a third or fourth cla.s.s, are doing a great service for us by implanting a taste for other grades.
4. "By this happy medium we are winning young people and church-members by the thousand, for they can attend these Park exhibitions without being severely criticised.
5. "We are careful to give them enough immoral and sensual bait to draw them further. (Wild applause.)
6. "These innocent Park Theatres must not be abandoned, for they are a sure training school. We hereby pledge ourselves anew to go forth more earnestly to our tasks." (Furious applause over the whole a.s.sembly.)
"Have you met with any hindrances to your work?" queried the chairman of the meeting.
"Many indeed. Some Parks refuse our cla.s.s of Theatres, while others are closed to every cla.s.s. But our committee is determined to push ahead."
"Onward, ye comrades," urged the chairman. "Buy up the stock of every Park, if possible, and furnish recreation for the church. Do not become too bold at first in the introduction of lewd and foolish plays, or you may be fought by the popular churches."
"Hardly possible," replied the leader. "So many in the church are glad to wink at these incongruities, for they are thereby given a chance to satisfy their carnal appet.i.tes without being cla.s.sed with the regular Theatre crowd."
"This is one of our happiest modern hits," chuckled the chairman, as the committee turned away, amidst the mad-like cheering,
Next I saw that the chairman raised his hand, and at once I heard three sharp clangs which were the signal for the "Church-Choir" committee.
"What has the church-choir to do with the Theatre," thought I, as I saw the obedient host answering to their call.
"What tidings, good or ill?" asked the chairman in a tone of confidence.
"Progress slow, but sure," briefly answered the leader of the committee as he stepped a little nearer to the chairman to give his report.
"Ours is a difficult task. Some choirs are hedged about that we cannot so much as reach them with suggestions. Nevertheless, we have succeeded in many sections, notably in certain large cities. We report, with pride, that some churches have engaged genuine theatrical singers to render special selections during the regular Sunday services. Is it not an evidence of our success when the opera-stage singer of Sat.u.r.day night furnishes the chief solo for church-goers on Sunday morning?