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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24179-8.txt b/24179-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..989a014 --- /dev/null +++ b/24179-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3980 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Conversion of a High Priest into a Christian +Worker, by Meletios Golden + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Conversion of a High Priest into a Christian Worker + + +Author: Meletios Golden + + + +Release Date: January 6, 2008 [eBook #24179] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONVERSION OF A HIGH PRIEST INTO A +CHRISTIAN WORKER*** + + +E-text prepared by Tamise Totterdell, Curtis Weyant, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 24179-h.htm or 24179-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/1/7/24179/24179-h/24179-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/1/7/24179/24179-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed between equal signs appeared in bold face + in the original (=bold=). + + + + + +CONVERSION OF A HIGH PRIEST INTO A CHRISTIAN WORKER + +Edited and Presented by + +REV. M. GOLDEN + +Second Edition + + + + + + + +[Illustration: FARMHOUSE, WHERE REV. M. GOLDEN WROTE HIS CONVERSION] + + +[Illustration: GREEK-AMERIKAN-CHRISTIAN-ASSOCIATION] + +New York +1912 + +Copyright Office of the United States of America +Library of Congress--Washington, D. C. + +In conformity with section 55 of the Act to Amend and Consolidate the +Acts respecting Copyright, approved March 4, 1909, said book has been +duly registered to the name of Rev. M. Golden, of Rutland, Mass. + +Entry: Class A, XXc., No. 251121, Oct. 29, 1909. +Copyright, 1910, by REV. MELETIOS GOLDEN. +Entry: Class A, XXc, No. 275323, Nov. 10, 1910. + +The Trow Press +New York + + + + +TO + +My own loving father, who did sow the seed of a brave Christianity in my +young heart, while only eight years of age, calling me by his death-bed, +on my knees, with his right hand resting upon my head, in his last words +to me, saying: + +"My boy, I leave you; God will be your Father, and Jesus His Son your +Saviour; keep away from unholy associates, and heed not unlawful advice, +but work for righteousness and help those that are in need; and we shall +meet again." And his spirit went into eternity; to which destination I +direct all my efforts in life. + + This Book is dedicated by a grateful son, + REV. MELETIOS GOLDEN. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. FAREWELL 17 + + II. ARRIVAL 36 + + III. FIRST DAY IN NEW YORK 49 + + IV. HIGH PRIEST 57 + + V. PHILOSOPHY VS. CHRISTIANITY 66 + + VI. GOD'S PROVIDENCE 76 + + VII. NEW YORK TO CALIFORNIA 92 + + VIII. HONORABLE SUBMISSION 104 + + IX. PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF PRACTICAL TRUTH 114 + + X. GREEK-AMERIKAN-CHRISTIAN-ASSOCIATION 133 + + XI. CONCLUSION 151 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Farmhouse _Frontispiece_ + + Rev. M. Golden in Street Attire as High Priest 36 + + The World's Wonder, Acropolis of Athens, Greece 52 + + H. R. H. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, + K. G., etc. 68 + + Rev. M. Golden, the High Priest in Church Ceremonial + Attire 84 + + Rev. M. Golden, Captain of the Salvation Army 100 + + Rev. M. Golden, the founder of the + Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association 126 + + Greek Peasant Woman 132 + + + + +Conversion of a High Priest into a +Practical Christian Worker + +SECOND EDITION + + _Edited and Presented by_ + Rev. MELETIOS GOLDEN + + _Founder of the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association._ + + _HIGH PRIEST OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH._ + + _Grand Representative of the St. Stephen's Monastery, + Mt. Athos, Turkey._ + + _Archimandrides of the Virgin Mary's Monastery, Salamis and + Athens, Greece._ + + _Lieutenant, Officer, in the Royal Gendarmery of Greece._ + + _Grand Chaplain and Orator of the Supreme Council of the A. A. + Scottish Rite, Greece._ + + _Captain of the Salvation Army, U. S. A._ + + _Member of the Massachusetts Consistory S. P. R. S., Thirty-second + Degree, Boston, Mass._ + + _Evangelist to the Greeks in the United States, etc., etc._ + + _New York._ + 1912. + + + + +PREFACE + + +In placing this second edition in the hands of my readers I most +gratefully acknowledge the splendid assistance of my subscribers, and +the kindness with which this book has been received by the General +Public, who made it possible for me to accomplish my intended purpose, +ever since I left home, that I should give, to the general public, an +account of my conversion into a practical Christian worker, knowing that +there are a great number of intelligent minds, among the priests, in the +Greek-Russian and Roman Catholic churches, who would make good soldiers +of Jesus Christ, and some of them might develop into heroes of Truth and +Righteousness, if they could only deny themselves of the luxuries and +lofty life attached to their priesthood. And this problem of selfishness +is an absolute barrier not only to their own Salvation, but to many a +soul, who might have been saved from sin, and be converted to God, and +usefulness, but for the Priest. + +The solution of the problem was the clue which aided me to escape from +the labyrinth of doubt; and now, standing upon the rock of unshaken +faith, I offer the clue that guided me to others. + +A work of this kind is called for by the spirit of the age. Although the +signs of the times are said to be propitious, yet there are constant +developments of undisciplined and unsanctified minds both in Europe and +America, which furnish matter of regret to the philanthropist and the +Christian; and though there are great controversies--going on at +present; in relation to the man's spiritual interests, central point of +all this heated contest has been the "Cross of Christ:" yet the most +obnoxious obstacle in the way of progress as to the realization of +"God's Kingdom on earth" it is, and from all quarters the same +exclamation uttered, the priest. + +Men and women entrusted with responsibilities of raising children in the +Christ-like way, for the future development of this great country, will +find valuable facts in this volume, which I have endeavored to write, in +order to meet the exigencies among, not only certain people, but among +many well-bred and well-cultured priests. + +In criticising this work, the intelligent reader is respectfully +requested to take into account the peculiar circumstances under which +this book is written. + +I was only six years old--in the English language--many miles away from +any literary assistance, and fifty miles from the Boston Public Library, +where I could derive many testimonies and opinions of undisputable +authorities to strengthen my religious opinions and actions, which are +tested in the most practical way by all conditions and under all +circumstances, from the ostentatious pomp of a high priest to a loving, +lowly worker in the slums of Chicago. + +The place, where this book is written, is a farm situated in the +picturesque county of Worcester, and it might rightfully have attributed +to the effect of the inspiring natural surroundings in this farm that I +was enabled to master my views in framing them according to the +linguistic requirements of the American reader, using the every day +language for the historical part of my subject; and maintaining the more +classical expression for the men with the tendencies to argue, just to +make a show of their higher knowledge, thus trying to excuse themselves +for not submitting all their powers to the Will of God. + +It has been said, all misery comes to the human race mainly from two +causes; firstly, through misconduct: and secondly, through misfortune: +therefore; since there is the self-evident truth, in the axiom, that, +when the cause is diagnosed, the remedy is near at hand, let us work +unitedly to remove the cause of all misery, be it in the Greek people, +or Jewish, or Gentiles, and by the light of the Gospel's truth, let us +put forth all our efforts, while here on earth, in establishing +happiness and good will to all men. + + REV. MELETIOS GOLDEN. + + NORTH RUTLAND, Mass., 1910. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +_Farewell_ + + +It was the year 1903, on a very beautiful day, one of those April days, +that are well known and appreciated by those who have been fortunate +enough to travel around the purple bathed Mediterranean coast, that his +royal highness, the prince of Greece, Andreas, went abroad to meet his +sweetheart, who afterwards became his wife and princess of Greece. It +was a confidential royal talk, the betrothal of Prince Andreas, but for +the newspaper man, who learns everything, and he can keep a confidential +talk as much as Mrs. Green did when she promised to her husband to keep +all to herself that confidential talk they had one night, and the first +thing in the morning speaking to Mrs. Jones over the fence she +confidentially delivered that confidential talk and in the same manner +all over fences and telephones, wherever they were procurable, to save +the time, the talk went round the town and came back to Mr. Green's +ears, and he only blamed himself for being the fool to trust his wife. +So, when Prince Andreas, came down to Piraeus, the seaport of Athens, to +board on the fashionable French S. S. Messengerie-Maritime, he was +surprised by the throngs of people that gathered at the pier to greet +him "good luck" in his royal love affairs, because the Greeks pay more +attention to the royal love affairs, than they do in paying their +royalties to fatten more highness and highnesses than any other Kingdom +on the face of the earth. + +The Kingdom of Greece, little more than two millions of people, pay to +King George, for his annual allowances six times as much as the ninety +millions of people to the President of the United States. And every +creature of royal blood, in Greece, draws as high an allowance, as +nearer to the throne his or her rights happen to be. Besides, many +thousands of acres of the best land in Greece, is granted to the members +of the royal family; thus causing the immense emigration of all these +Greeks, whom you meet in every corner, in the United States, trying to +make an honest living, by shining your shoes, or working in the +construction of railroads in America and Mexico. + +The Greek, though born and raised among the most beautiful vineyards +that made the historical and famous Nectar for the Gods, yet when he +leaves his home to go abroad, he takes his last glass of intoxicant, +till he settles himself, in a new adopted motherland, and makes a +comfortable home for the queen of his heart, because home life is the +ideal of every Greek and he is a model as head of the family, in his +moderate means trying to raise children to his generation and give them +the best he can afford. Hopeful, that some Socrates or Demosthenes might +develop out of his offspring. The Greek has never been identified with +any unlawful or criminal movement of the so-called Anarchistic or +Socialistic. The Greek at all times and under all circumstances is an +example as a law-abiding citizen. + +Greek history is the pride of all the civilized world, and in the +opinion of a most distinguished sociologist, the United States is the +Greece of this age, and he thinks that it is the irresistible law of +gravitation and sympathy that the tide of emigration draws the Greeks +from the ancient Greece into this new and glorious Greece. And the +writer was very little surprised when told that Boston is the Hub of +America, or in the language of the Archaeologist, the Athens of the +United States, and there and then he made his resolution to make his +home in Boston, should he ever find the way clear to come to America. +The joyful dream of his life has become reality, and for the last six +years from his personal observations traveling a little more, perhaps, +than the average American traveler, from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific +Coast, he is privileged to know that the spirit of the Ancient Greece is +not only confined in the Hub, but, hospitality and the love of art and +beauty prevails in the very heart of every true American man and woman, +even in the remotest village and hamlet, and he has yet to know the time +or the place where he did not feel perfectly at home. Therefore, there +is no regret on his part for bidding farewell to the land of the Gods +and the city which had been the birthplace of taste, of art and beauty +and eloquence. The chosen sanctuary of the Muses. The prototype of all +that is graceful and dignified and grand in sentiment and action. + +History and philosophy, oratory and the elements of mathematical science +claim as their birthplace the city of Athens, where Paul, the greatest +apostle of Jesus Christ, uttered his immortal oration to the Athenians, +on the Areopagus (Mars Hill). And he, dignified, temperate, high-minded +and learned in all wisdom, of his age, Paul, confessed that he was +standing in the midst of the highest civilization, both of his own age +and of the ages that had elapsed. + +Paul, with his face towards the north having immediately behind him the +long walls which ran down to the sea, affording protection against a +foreign enemy. Near the sea on the one side the harbor of Piraeus, on +the other that designated Phalerum, with crowded arsenals, their busy +workmen and their gallant ships. Not far off in the ocean the Island of +Salamis, ennobled forever in history as the spot near which Athenian +valour chastised Asiatic pride, and achieved the liberty of Greece. The +Apostle turning towards his right hand to catch a view of a small but +celebrated hill rising within the city near that on which he stood, +called the Pnyx, where standing on a block of bare stone, Demosthenes +and other distinguished orators had addressed the assembled people of +Athens, swaying that arrogant and fickle democracy, and thereby making +Philip of Macedon tremble, or working good or ill for the entire +civilized world. Immediately before him looking upon the crowded city, +studded in every part with memorials sacred to religion or patriotism, +and exhibiting the highest achievements of art. On his left, somewhat +beyond the walls, the Academy, with its groves of plane and olive-trees, +its retired walks and cooling fountains, its altar to the Muses, its +statues of the Graces, its Temple of Minerva, and its altars to +Prometheus, to Love, and Hercules, near which Plato had his country +seat, and in the midst of which he had taught as well his followers +after him. But the most impressive spectacle laying on his right hand, +that small and precipitous hill "The Acropolis" where clustered together +monuments of the highest art, and memorials of the national religion, +such as no other equal spot of ground has ever borne. The Apostle's +eyes, in turning to the right, would fall on the north-west side of the +eminence, which was here and all round, covered and protected by a wall, +parts of which were so ancient as to be of Cyclopean origin. The western +side, which alone gave access to what, from its original destination, +may be termed the fort, was, during the administration of Pericles, +adorned with a splendid flight of steps, and the beautiful Propylaea, +with its five entrances and two flanking temples, constructed by +Mnesicles of Pentelican marble at a cost of 2012 talents, which is the +equivalent of about four millions of American dollars. In the time of +the Roman emperors there stood before the Propylaea, equestrian statues +of Augustus and Agrippa. On the southern wing of the Propylaea was a +temple to the Wingless Victory; on the northern, a Pinacotheca, or +picture gallery. On the highest part of the platform of the Acropolis, +not more than 300 feet from the entrance-buildings just described, stood +and yet stands, though shattered and mutilated, The Parthenon, justly +celebrated throughout the world, erected of white Pentelican marble, +under the direction of Callicrates, Ictinus and Carpion and adorned with +the finest sculptures from the hand of Phidias. + +Northward from the Parthenon was the Erechtheum, a compound building +which contained the temple of Minerva Polias; the proper Erechtheum, +called also the Cecropium, and the Pandroseum. This sanctuary contained +the holy olive tree sacred to Minerva, the holy salt-spring, the ancient +wooden image of Pallas, etc., and was the scene of the oldest and most +venerated ceremonies and recollections of the Athenians. Perhaps, for +this reason, King George of Greece, in celebrating his 25th anniversary +on the Throne, he gave upon this rock of Acropolis, that remarkable +banquet to all crowned visitors, 175 in number from every royal family +of Europe. At this memorable event, the writer held the office of "man +at arms" on the Acropolis, although he was the youngest officer in the +Royal Gendarmery of Greece, at the time. + +Between the Propylaea and the Erechtheum was placed the colossal bronze +statue of Pallas-Promachos, the work of Phidias, which towered so high +above the other buildings, that the plume of her helmet and the point of +her spear were visible on the sea between Sunium and Athens. Moreover, +the Acropolis was occupied by so great a crowd of statues and monuments, +that the account, as found in Pausanias, excites the reader's wonder, +and makes it difficult for him to understand how so much could have +been crowded into a space which extended from the southeast only 1150 +feet, whilst its greatest breadth did not exceed 500 feet. + +On the hill itself where Paul stood, was the temple of Furies, and in +the court house of Areopagus, there was the altar to Athene Areia. + +In all historical probability, Paul, stood exactly on this place when, +"=to the unknown God=" as his text, he delivered the understanding of "The +True and Living God," who made the world and all things therein, and he +made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the +earth. + +The writer, consequently, in bidding farewell to his beloved Athens, he +knew that he was going as a brother among members of the same family of +humanity in a land where man is free to worship God, not in hypocrisy +and deceit, but in Spirit and in truth. + +On the same beautiful April day that Prince Andreas was going abroad, +the writer went aboard on the same S. S. Messengerie-Maritime, unaware +of H. R. H.'s presence there, notified only at the last moment by the +agent of the company, Mr. Christopher of Piraeus, who was on board +himself going to Italy on a business trip. Mr. Christopher, by being a +member of the same fellowcraft in which the writer was the Grand +Chaplain, he took pains to secure a very comfortable stateroom for his +brother Chaplain. + +Now I was following Mr. Christopher and an officer of the S. S. to +locate myself in the suite provided for me, and as we were obliged to +pass through the reception hall there I found myself face to face with +the King George, and the following dialogue occurs. + +King--Where are you going, Father? + +I--On a recreation trip, Your Majesty. (I should have said, on a +reformation trip.) + +King--I hope you will have a bon voyage. + +I--Your Majesty's wish, God grant it to be so, and I pray that His +Favour shall crown with joy, all the desires of H. R. H.'s, the Prince, +in his journey. + +King--With your prayers, Father, I believe H. R. H. will be well +successful. + +And with one of his well known diplomatic smiles that contain manifold +meanings, King George bid us farewell, and in a few moments the big +whistle blew and a gentle vibration of the boat gave the notice that we +were on the move. I went into my cabin and looking through the hole that +was doing duty of a round window, I beheld the monument of Themistocles +passing slowly, and when I could see that no more, I felt something +melting in my heart and over-flowingly coming up into my eyes in the +shape of two drops of burning water. I took them on the tips of my +fingers and after kissing them with all the tenderness of a loving +heart, I sprinkled them into the apeiron, farewell to my loved ones left +behind me, while the big S. S. in full steam was now carrying me faster +and faster into the unknown and uncertain. + +I did not leave my cabin and there took my meals for two reasons; first, +H. R. H. expressed the wish to take his meals at the regular +first-class dining table, with all the mortals therein, and I had little +desire to meet him anyway; and second because I wanted to be alone to +indulge undisturbed in my thoughts and study them and keep notes of them +for my future use. + +The history tells us that it took thirty years for the greatest +philosopher that was ever born to give his definite opinion as to the +immortality of the soul. And if a philosopher like Socrates, after +thirty years of constant study, he knew one thing, that he knew nothing, +it is absurd to dare say that we shall ever know more than Socrates did, +and in regard to the most perplexed problem of the human soul we can +only rejoice in the fact that we are placed in a more advanced position +above Socrates, that we can look upon these problems with more light, +and that is the light that comes from Galilee. + +Alone as I was in my cabin I thought of Socrates, I thought of +Confucius, of Buddha, and in fact I thought of the many ancient and +modern leaders of great movements, and of new thoughts, my admiration is +insistent to everything that is noble and pure in sentiment and praxis, +but there is only one leader, whom my spirit admires the best and I +worship him with love and devotion, the man who gave his life for me. I +knew I was free through his death and I was happy. The Hierarchical +church was opposing me unreasonably; my own dearest and nearest +relatives did not understand me, their strongest argument being, how +could I sacrifice such a high office and deny a promising greater +future and still be in my right mind? + +Not being satisfied in my own heart, much less convinced in my mind, I +made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, in order to find out whether Jesus was +the only Saviour of mankind without the necessity of a priest. It was +then and there, while kneeling on my knees upon that rock of Golgotha +that came to me with startling force and clearness that I must be a +follower of Jesus Christ and not a representative. All men may live on +the Christ-like way and be happy, but the man who dares personify +himself with the authorities belonging only to Jesus, that man must be a +faker; "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life +for his friends" and I knew Jesus was my friend, the only friend left to +me, while every other friend had forsaken me. In that little cabin I +felt his companionship, and looking at the clock on the dresser I beheld +in the mirror a pleasant face smiling at me. The hour was nearly +midnight and I retired, singing "He promised never to leave me alone." + +The voyage from Piraeus to Naples is said to be the best and grandest in +Mediterranean, and in company of a royal fellow traveller might have +been interesting even to the most eccentric Yankee, but to me it was a +monotonous event, and the second evening while I was walking for some +exercise on the deck, H. R. H. came up to me graciously expressing his +regrets for not seeing me at the table, and inquiring if I was not +feeling well, but he soon noticed my laconical way in excusing my +absence, and he withdrew, leaving me alone in my admiration of a grand +view on a moonlighted nature in the Mediterranean. And the only thought +occupying my mind was; how soon could I get to America? For this reason +perhaps, I decided to take steamship for New York at Naples, Italy, +instead of going to Marseilles, chief seaport of France on the +Mediterranean, thus forfeiting my rights on S. S. Messengerie-Maritime, +that had been paid from Piraeus to Marseilles. + +Happily, Mr. Christopher was also representing the S. S. Co., of Fabre +Line, and the S. S. Germania of the same company was scheduled to depart +from the harbor of Naples in a few days. It certainly was a pleasure and +an opportunity of which we took advantage to visit the most interesting +places in and around Naples, the city of far famous and at the same time +notorious, for there the stranger notices, in every step, the beauty of +Italian art and the Neapolitan filth combined in the most peculiar +texture. + +Making good use of the little time which we had at our disposal, we took +the train and went up to see the City in which the Pope entombed himself +a living mummy rather than to co-operate with the civilized world in +building God's Kingdom on earth. + +In looking over my memorandums I have just discovered a description that +I kept about the Eternal City. The historical facts therein are +supported by undisputable authority. And I think it apropos beneficial +to my readers, if it will be placed at their hands before the closing of +this chapter. + +On the river Tiber, about fifteen miles from its mouth in the plain of +what is now called the Campagna, stands the famous capital of the +Western World, and the present residence of the Pope, the City of Rome. +The surrounding country is not a plain, but a sort of undulating +table-land, crossed by hills, while it sinks towards the southwest to +the marshes of Maremma, which coast the Mediterranean. In ancient +geography the country, in the midst of which Rome lay, was termed +Latium, which, in the earliest times, comprised within a space of about +four geographical square miles the country lying between the Tiber and +the Numisius, extending from the Alban Hills to the sea, having for its +chief city Laurentum. Here, on the Palatine Hill, was the city of Rome +founded by Romulus and Remus, grandsons of Numitor, and sons of Rhea +Sylvia, to whom, as the originators of the city, mythology ascribed a +divine parentage. The origin of the term Rome is in dispute. Some derive +it from the Greek Romee, "strength," considering that this name was +given to the place as been a fortress. Cicero says the name was taken +from that of its founder Romulus. At first the city had three gates, +according to a secret usage. Founded on the Palatine Hill, it extended, +by degrees, so as to take in six other hills at the foot of which ran +deep valleys that in early times were in part overflowed with water, +while the hill-sides were covered with trees. In the course of the many +years during which Rome was acquiring to herself the empire of the +world, the city underwent great, numerous, and important changes. Under +its first kings it must have presented a very different aspect from what +it did after it had been beautified by Tarquin. The destruction of the +city by the Gauls caused a thorough alteration in it: nor could the +troubled times which ensued have been favourable to its being well +restored. It was not till riches and artistic skill came into the city +on the conquest of Philip of Macedon, and Antiochus of Syria, that there +arose in Rome large handsome stone houses. The capture of Corinth +conduced much to the adorning of the city: many fine specimens of art +being transferred from thence to the abode of the conquerors. And so, as +the power of Rome extended over the world, and her chief citizens went +into the colonies to enrich themselves, did the masterpieces of Grecian +art flow towards the capital, together with some of the taste and skill +to which they owed their birth. Augustus, however, it was, who did most +for embellishing the capital of the world, though there may be some +sacrifice of truth in the pointed saying, that he found Rome built of +brick, and left it marble. Subsequent emperors followed his example, +till the place became the greatest repository of architectural, +pictorial, and sculptural skill, that the world has ever seen: a result +to which even Nero's incendiarism indirectly conduced, as affording an +occasion for the city's being rebuilt under the higher scientific +influences of the times. The site occupied by modern Rome is not +precisely the same as that which was at any period covered by the +ancient city: the change of locality being towards the north-west, the +city has partially retired from the celebrated hills. About two-thirds +of the area within the walls, traced by Aurelian, are now desolate, +consisting of ruins, gardens, and fields, with some churches, convents, +and other scattered habitations. Originally the city was a square mile +in area. In the time of Pliny the walls were nearly twenty miles in +circuit: now they are from fourteen to fifteen miles round. Its original +gates, three in number, had increased in the time of the elder Pliny to +thirty-seven. Modern Rome has sixteen gates, some of which are, however, +built up. Thirty-one great roads centered in Rome, which, issuing from +the Forum, traversed Italy, ran through the provinces, and were +terminated only by the boundary of the empire. As a starting point a +gilt pillar (Milliarium Aureum) was set up by Augustus in the middle of +the Forum. This curious monument, from which distances were reckoned, +was discovered in 1823. Eight principal bridges led over the Tiber: of +these three are still relics. The four districts into which Rome was +divided in early times, Augustus increased to fourteen. Large open +spaces were set apart in the city, called Campi, for assemblies of the +people and martial exercises, as well as for games. Of nineteen which +are mentioned, the Campus Martius was the principal. It was near the +Tiber, whence it was called Tiberinus. The epithet Martius was derived +from the plain being consecrated to Mars, the god of war. In the later +ages it was surrounded by several magnificent structures, and porticoes +were erected, under which, in bad weather, the citizens could go +through their usual exercises. It was also adorned with statues and +arches. The name of Fora was given to places where the people assembled +for the transaction of business. The Fora were of two kinds--fora +venalia, "markets," and fora civilia, "law courts, etc." + +Until the time of Julius Cęsar there was but one of the latter kind, +termed by way of distinction Forum Romanum, or simply Forum. It lay +between the Capitoline and Palatine Hills: it was eight hundred feet +wide, and adorned on all sides with porticoes, shops, and other +edifices, on the erection of which large sums had been expended, and the +appearance of which was very imposing, especially as it was much +enhanced by numerous statues. In the centre of the Forum was the plain +called the Curtian Lake, where Curtius is said to have cast himself into +a chasm or gulf, which closed on him, and so he saved his country. On +one side were the elevated seats or suggestus, a sort of pulpits from +which magistrates and orators addressed the people, usually called +Rostra, because adorned with the beaks of ships which had been taken in +a sea-fight from the inhabitants of Antium. + +Near by was the part of the Forum called the Comitium, where were held +the assemblies of the people called Comitia Curiata. The celebrated +temple, bearing the name of Capitol, of which there remain only a few +vestiges, stood on the Capitoline Hill, the highest of the seven: it was +square in form, each side extending about two hundred feet, and the +ascent to it was by a flight of one hundred steps. It was one of the +oldest, largest, and grandest edifices in the city. Founded by +Tarquinius Priscus, it was at several times enlarged and embellished. +Its gates were of brass, and it was adorned with costly gildings: whence +it is termed "golden" and "glittering," aurea, fulgens. It enclosed +three structures, the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in the centre, the +temple of Minerva on the right, and the temple of Juno on the left. The +Capitol also included some minor temples or chapels, and the Casa +Romuly, or Romulus, covered with straw. Near the ascent to the Capitol +was the asylum (Cities of refuge). We also mention the Basilicę, since +some of them were afterwards turned to the purposes of Christian +worship. They were originally buildings of great splendour, being +appropriated to meetings of the senate, and to judicial purposes. Here +counsellors received their clients, and bankers transacted their +business. The earliest churches, bearing the name of Basilicę, were +erected under Constantine the Great. He gave his own palace on the +Caelian Hill as a site for a Christian temple. Next in antiquity was the +church of St. Peter, on the Vatican Hill, built A.D. 324, on the site +and with the ruins of temples consecrated to Apollo and Mars. It stood +about twelve centuries, at the end of which it was superseded by the +modern church bearing the same name. + +The Cirei were buildings oblong in shape, used for public games, races, +and beast-fights. The Theatra were edifices designed for dramatic +exhibitions: the Amphitheatra (double theatres, buildings in an oval +form) served for gladiatorial shows and the fighting of wild animals. +That which was erected by the Emperor Titus, and of which there still +exists a splendid ruin, was called the Coliseum, from a colossal statue +of Nero that stood near it. With an excess of luxury, perfumed liquids +were conveyed in secret tubes round these immense structures, and +diffused over the spectators, sometimes from the statues which adorned +the interior. In the arena which formed the centre of the amphitheatres, +the early Christians often endured martyrdom by being exposed to +ravenous beasts. + +In modern Rome there are various things to excite the curiosity of the +stranger, but in my observations I could only see four elements +predominating above everything, monks, nuns, priests and beggars. They +form a continued procession all day long of the most spectacular +carnival that could be seen in any of the Babylons of the world. + +And now while in Rome, we might ask the question: Who founded the church +at Rome? The question is equally interesting, if not important to the +Protestant and to Catholic. The Romish church assigns the honour to +Peter, and on this grounds an argument in favour of the claims of the +Papacy. But strict search in and about all the obtainable sources of +knowledge, it does give no sufficient reason for believing that Peter +was ever even so much as within the walls of Rome. Thus, by all inspired +documents there is one title clear left to Pope and his scheme, +"unaccountable falsifier." As an ordained High Priest in the Greek +Orthodox Church, I have been for many years studied in this particular +subject. The Libraries in Mount Athos gave me all the opportunities that +the high and exalted position, which I held, could afford, to find the +truth concerning the claims of the Pope. The Fathers of the Church, +Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostomus, and all the +host of Ecclesiastical authorities agree unanimously that the Lord Jesus +never intended to concede any right of supremacy, to Peter, over the +other apostles. Otherwise He (Jesus) would never have said those +wonderful words (Matt. 20, 25, etc.), and Peter himself disclaiming the +assertions of the Papacy (Pet. 1, 5, 3, etc.). And it is certain that +there is no instance on record of the apostle's (Peter) having ever +claimed or exercised this supposed power, but on the contrary, he is +oftener than once represented as submitting to an exercise of power upon +the part of others, as when, for instance, he went forth as a messenger +from the apostles assembled in Jerusalem to the Christians in Samaria, +and when he received a rebuke from Paul. Now as a matter of fact, if +Peter was ever Great, that was, when he repented for denying his Master. +Repentance, therefore, is the only hope left for the Pope, if he ever +expects to hear the blessed voice "Feed my sheep." + +In these days of enlightenment and progress, while humane feelings are +taking the place of spite and hatred among the civilized nations, and +religious prejudice is giving way to good will and tolerance, Rome is, +from the Vatican point of view, the stumbling-block of every honest +effort in the purification of the individual heart and the uplifting of +the millions of souls that are downtrodden under the sandals of hyenical +monks. When the Pope, a few months ago, rejected Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. +Fairbanks, two models of manhood and virtue, he made it clear to the +world that he is suffering incurably, from barbaritis, and that his case +is hopeless. But, it is to be hoped that as Rome is already regenerated +politically and socially, so, we pray that in not far distant day, Rome, +shall also be regenerated spiritually. + +In the meantime we shall continue our journey, and now we hurry back to +take the S. S. Germania from Naples to New York. And when I was well +located on board, I kissed good-bye to my friend and brother +Christopher, thanking him for his assistance and bidding to the old +world FAREWELL! FAREWELL! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +_Arrival_ + + +Sunday morning the 16th of May, 1903, the very handsome S. S. Germania, +cast anchor in the docks of Brooklyn. Indeed, there is no particular +significance in a steamship arriving in the harbor of Brooklyn and New +York, for they come by hundreds from all parts of the world, every day +in the week and many of them every Sunday of the year. It is for the +diligent observer that there are more lessons to be drawn from a day +passed along the Brooklyn bridge than there are in the most exclusive +circles of the 400. And if I am allowed to make any comparison at all I +should put it in the following short sentences. The former lessons would +be of a heart from which all arteries transport the necessary elements +to keep up undiminished the vitality of this great cosmopolitan body, +while the latter uncontrovertibly is only a part of the body, and +unfortunately it is the stomach that consumes lavishly even to the core +all that the whole body can produce. Yet to an every day passer-by +neither when he travels across the Brooklyn bridge rubbing elbows with +the scores of the masses of humanity that hasten their way unconsiderate +by nobody, nor when in his big red or yellow automobile hurrying up +Fifth Avenue he is planning in his mind a new scheme how to make more +money, or he is the heir of riches untold and many millions are waiting +for him to be scattered in all winds, his social standard to keep up and +his neighbor's honor to bring down and as a rule to accomplish his own +destruction, the time is of no value unless there is some profit in it +for the only scope in his life is self gratification. + +[Illustration: REV. M. GOLDEN In His Street Attire as High Priest] + +The S. S. Germania in splendor and commodities could proudly be called +the Mauretania or Lucetania of the Fabre Line, a very commendable +company judging from the good officials and desirable attendants we had +on board the Germania. Her arrival at the present voyage had exceptional +significance, and if every S. S. which arrives this side of the ocean +had parallel instances it would be only a matter of time when all the +legislators which are engaged in making the emigration laws would find +themselves out of business, because the Kingdom of God that knows no +divisions and no distinctions of nations and races should soon be +established to make a heaven on earth and there it would be one +Lord--one faith--one baptism for all human races, and all men could then +move in the different parts of the world without any credentials and +they could be welcome everywhere as members of the same family do when +they live within the boundaries of love. + +Since the invention of Logos in the art of making history worth +reading, through the ages the historian derives his intelligence from +all sources apt to contribute to his object and unsparingly he treats +zoology, botany and all kingdoms ending in some kind of y, just to serve +his purpose successfully. And the writers of the Scriptures are not +exempted to this rule, inspired as it were, they mentioned almost every +known and unknown animal which our forefather Noah saved in his Ark, and +if the ass plays so an important part in the Book of books, Germania +surely is entitled to some consideration in the history of my +conversion. + +It will be impossible for me to even attempt to skiagraph all that took +place on board the Germania from the time we left Naples of sunny Italy +till we arrived in the docks of Brooklyn, eleven and one-half days' +voyage with only a short stop at Gibraltar, that fortified rock for +which Great Britain is ready to play all her power just to maintain that +dry and ungraceful rock, but, the key of two seas, and in Azores Islands +to exchange mail, our journey was a never to be forgotten continual +holiday. + +One odd incident that kept our merriment all these days, was the +symptomatical number thirteen. The S. S. Germania was carrying on board +several hundred emigrants, mostly from sunny Italy, they were +representing all conditions and descriptions coming to America to make +their fortune, which but a few exceptions is a sweet hope into every +emigrant's heart and though often proves to them that it was only a +dream, and there are millions of emigrants all over this land who after +many years of hard work they are still struggling for a mere existence, +yet they come and they shall continue to come for it is the rule of the +universe; they simply cannot resist the law that governs and moves the +Sympan. And the S. S. Germania was well occupied in its various +compartments, but there were only ten of us voyagers in the reserved +first cabins, and at meal time with the first Captain at the head of the +table and one Commissioner representing the Government and the first +physician of the boat then we made up the number 13; and though I am not +a superstitious person I was the first one to call the attention to that +fact, and there the fun began. The fellow voyagers insisting that should +any danger of tempestuous and stormy gale threaten their safety they had +to cast lots to know for whose cause the evil came, and as I was the +only representative of the religious sentiment, in all probability I had +to undergo the same experience as Jonah had, yet our fears did not even +approach any realization but instead as it was desirable to all on board +we enjoyed a very pleasant voyage all the way and the Captain himself +unreservedly with his boyish cheerfulness expressed his gratification +for all that came out so perfectly satisfactory. And the Captain being +desirous to commemorate the agreeable event he gave the night before our +arrival at Brooklyn a unique banquet in the big reception hall with +various symbolical decorations in honor to his excellency the number 13. +And to make the event more memorable the Captain himself went around the +boat visiting all the emigrants and selecting 13 of the most musical +Italian boys and girls with their harps, mandolins and tambourines, a +perfect stringed band, and while our merriment was in its zenith he +conducted them on the upper deck where the reception hall was located +into the adjoining room and without warning we began to hear the waves +vibrating through the walls into our hall and soon our ears were filled +with divine melodies. They were playing Tosca, Puccini's most inspired +composition and the translation of these people behind the walls it +really contained that pathos which all artists agree, yet unable to +explain how so many children of sunny Italy became world-wide famous for +the embodiment of that musical and harmonious pathos of which Tosca is +the favorite piece of the greatest living tenor Caruso. + +In an unfortunate event that occurred to me some time ago I lost the +names of my fellow voyagers on that memorable trip on the Germania, yet +I can well recollect that there were two American newly-wedded couples +from the western cities, just returning home from their extensive +honeymoon trip abroad, and there was a gentleman, very refined and well +cultured in literature whom we called, the Athenian, as he hailed from +Boston, which in the language of all foreigners is the Athens of the +United States, and there was the Jew merchant from Chicago, and another +gentleman, an Italian professor, who was going to occupy an exalted +position in one of the Roman Catholic Institutions in New Orleans, and +to our delight there was Miss Maria, the only beloved daughter of Dr. +Achilles Rose of New York. Dr. Rose is not only a very prominent +practitioner as a physician in New York, but he is acknowledged as an +eminent authority by the most exclusive Academies of Europe concerning +medical matters, as well as a great linguist in the ancient and modern +languages, and a number of publications contributed to the scientific +research are the monuments of his convincing penmanship. His daughter +had just finished a long course in the best college "Arsakeion" +exclusive institution for girls in Athens, Greece; and she was well +qualified to teach the Ancient and Modern Greek language as well as any +professor in the American colleges and universities. I had to go +carefully myself in order to keep pace with her in the exactness of +pronunciation of the Greek words, and when listening to her telling some +of the joyful experiences she experienced in learning this wonderful +Greek language I felt like a Sunday school scholar impressed by her +rhythmical and melodious harmony in pronouncing every word and sentence +that sound like the old Greek music which even Apollo himself would be +glad to listen to. + +With Miss Maria Rose there was Miss Margaret, a tall slender figure with +every characteristic of a genuine Kentucky girl, a very respectable +maiden, she was caressing for Miss Maria Rose with motherly tenderness, +she was the playmate and constant companion of Miss Maria now passing +the bridge of her teens; yet Miss Margaret could not tolerate seeing her +leaning on the rails of the Germania, she appeared presumably afraid +that some terrible whale might swallow her little Maria whom she loved +as much as a mother could love her own child, a pleasure which she +never had, to know and to love a child of her own, and Maria appeared to +appreciate the kindness of her governess. + +Now to make up the list of the ten voyagers there was also your obedient +servant, coming over to America to study religious, social and +industrial conditions. An account of his reasons for taking this step +shall be given later on. At this time I must proceed to complete my +acquaintances on board the Germania. From the first day on board I find +myself in very friendly terms with every one of my fellow voyagers, and +before I knew it I was the father of them all. As a High Priest dressed +in my church garbs, they just pasted in front of my name the monkish +title, Father, which I never accustomed myself though my official church +name consists of about a half a dozen titles. + +The Captain of the Germania, a typical French gentleman very agreeable +in all his ways, with my little French enabled me to make myself +understood. I had the pleasure of passing many a moment in pleasant +conversation with him, and when I wanted to speak to the Americans, my +heart was longing to learn all I could from them, as they were so kind +to me, and with Miss Maria's assistance I never went lonesome, her +acting as interpreter between me and the Americans, for by that time I +was not able to even pronounce correctly a sentence in the English +language. + +With all these acquaintances my time was well occupied and to my +personal delight, by chance, I found my constant companion in the person +of Dr. Lucretius, the first physician of the Germania, an Italian +gentleman. By tokens and signs we found that both of us belong to that +great body of men that knows each other as brothers in every corner of +the inhabited world. It was he, Dr. Lucretius, who came to my cabin on +the morning of the 16th of May, at about 5 a. m., and knocking at the +door, said, Father Golden, we are now entering into the harbor of New +York, and if you want to enjoy a grand view of the surrounding country +you had better come out on the upper bridge. I shall be there waiting +for you to explain some of the most beautiful sceneries that you have +ever looked upon in your life. And he was correct, without any +exaggeration, for when I leaped from my bed and dressed myself as fast +as I could I went to meet my friend and brother, Dr. Lucretius. + +Rushing up to the bridge I greeted him "Bonjorno, mio fratello" shaking +his hand at the same time, almost I cried out, this certainly is an +artificial imitation of the entrance to Bosphorus, and if it were not +for that great statue and mausoleum of Liberty, which I could see ahead +of me, I would surely believe that I was dreaming, it is like entering +the harbor of Constantinople, and just at this point, looking into the +face of my esteemed friend, Dr. Lucretius, I said to him; let us hope +that the day is not far distant when we shall salute the God-giving +Liberty in the heart of the great city of Constantinople. That was six +years ago and every word I said it came out of my mouth as a prayer of +my heart in all my sincerity. Today I do thank God for it is a reality. +Turkey is free! But she is like a child; she needs the guidance of a +strong hand to guide her in the path of righteousness and love to God +and bring her to Christ who is the only one to give Liberty and Freedom +"For whom He made free, is free indeed." Turkey has accomplished the +greatest part of her own salvation, yea, she has done more than many of +the so-called Christian empires expected her to do. They are now rubbing +their eyes, and of course it is their purpose in order to save their +commercial interests, they are going to put in her way all the obstacles +they can to overthrow the new Constitution, and if Turkey fails in her +reformation this time, it would not be only her own fault. A great share +of the responsibility rests upon the shoulders of every American man and +woman who solemnly declares to stand by and be a protector of the +principles laid down by Washington, the father not only of his own +country, but most of the civilized world. Unless America arises equal to +the occasion there is every reason to entertain all kinds of fears from +the Middle and Western Europe's diplomats. + +How many American active missionaries are there in Constantinople, +Smyrna, Aidin, Saloniki, Adana, Ephesos and every city in Turkey today +working for the regeneration of the people who dared and successfully +broke down from his throne a Sultan? Wake up, my dear reader and gird +yourself with the noble armor of your manhood and your womanhood and do +the best, the very best of your ability to help the millions of mothers +and children over in Turkey, they are starving for spiritual food, they +are crying to you as your own brothers and sisters of the same family of +humanity; will you close your ears and not listen to their cry? or will +you open your heart, your sympathy and your pocket-book and send off all +the missionaries you can to do the work? I pray that you will, and God +will reward you in Heaven and down here He will keep the days of your +life sweet in splendid memory that you have done your part in the +salvation of all mankind. + +The opportunity may occur again to discourse this very heart aching +subject. Now, as we approach the colossus of Liberty, Miss Maria Rose +made her morning appearance and before we all could exchange the "Bon +Jour" salutations to her, she gracefully grasped the gentleman from +Boston by the arm and walking up and down the bridge with soldierly +step, began in an apparently joyful voice to sing, audibly "My Country +'tis of thee, sweet land of Liberty" and just as she was getting more +enthusiastic in her song, the gentleman from Boston uttered a loud cry +"Strawberries--fresh strawberries," and as by explosion a heartiest +laughter went out of every mouth on the bridge, and the waves received +on their wings that expression of our gratitude to carry it to the end +of their destination, while the Germania drew us nearer and nearer to +the land of the free and the home of the brave. + +A call came to us all at this moment that the custom officers from New +York were already in the reception room waiting for us to make our +declarations in accordance with the customary law, and by the time I had +complied with my duties, to that respect, I heard a stentorian voice +"Cast Anchor" and turning around in a semi-circle, with center on my +right toe I endeavored to unfold the meaning of the exciting motion. +Sailors and officers of the boat rushing in all directions, it seemed as +though they were preparing for a great battle, and determined to win. +The big S. S. Germania was tied in the docks of Brooklyn and every +voyager was ready to bid her farewell. The steward of my cabin, +uncalled, he was on my side, and the thought came to me that it was his +last chance for his gratuities from me anyway. He looked upon my face +like a child expecting his Christmas presents, and said, with a fainting +smile, Father, your trunk is on its way to your destination and here is +your valise and I am awaiting your pleasure to direct you to the Sixth +Avenue Elevated Station, which will take you to the 123rd Street and +Seventh Avenue, Harlem, according to your wishes to reach your dwelling +place. The bell of the Germania was ringing eight o'clock a. m., when I +was bidding farewell to my steward with the instructions how to reach +the Elevated Station, and turning to the first corner from the docks of +Brooklyn, a familiar voice I heard behind me calling "Father," and +instantly a hand took hold of the sleeve of my garment, and looking +backward I saw Miss Maria Rose with her governess, Margaret, and the +gentleman from Boston, who was still holding my garment, and in good +humor said, he, in his broken French, Now Father, we could not tolerate +to see you go all alone in the streets of New York dressed in these +robes, because if you only attract the curiosity of some mischievous +children there is no telling what may happen to you, if they mistake you +as a carnival dressed this way just for sport; but, Miss Maria Rose, +hastened to aid, interrupting the gentleman, Father, you have good luck, +today is Sunday and early in the morning you will be saved from great +things which might happen to you otherwise. Besides we are going as far +as 59th Street and the gentleman from Boston, he is going to take the +train at 125th Street, Harlem, and there you will be within a few blocks +from the house you desire to go to. + +They bought the ticket for me and soon the Elevated was crossing the +Brooklyn bridge. The grand panorama on both sides of the bridge brought +the thought into my mind that if the architects of America were able to +accomplish such a wonder as this, they would certainly have easier times +to build the Babel Tower without any confusion of tongues; but my breath +went out of my breast and for a moment I thought that the beating of my +heart stopped, when we reached that curving at 110th Street and 8th +Avenue, New York. The magnificent sight from that tremendous height, +looking to my left at the mammoth advertising boards, the velvety green +fields and at the top of the hill that Episcopal church, which will be +when finished another architectural wonder, and looking to my right at +the Central Park which we just swiftly passed, now I see the flat roofs +of the buildings and on many of them the washing of the family hanging, +forgotten perhaps, from last Saturday, it is indeed a grand sight which +the inhabitants of New York in that section, by being accustomed to it, +very little appreciate. + +9.30, my friend from Boston, said, as we were descending the stairways +on the 125th Street and 8th Avenue, as he looked at his time-piece. If +it were not for my train which I must take at 9.58 I would gladly +accompany you to your place, yet, said he, you only have two blocks to +walk southward and one eastward and you will see the number on the left +hand side, and with a cordial hand shake he jumped on the electric car +passing at the moment on 125th Street towards New York-Boston R. R. +station, to board his train, and I started on my way to the place where +I was going to make my temporary home. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +_First Day in New York_ + + +It is not my purpose in this little volume to make any boast of myself +as an historian. Bookmaking is not my profession; neither do I propose +to go into extensive details more than it is necessary to harmonize the +coincidents of events as they occurred and the effect they produced in +the development of an unusual Christian career, and God knows that my +only desire is to reconcile the opposing privileges of a meek and lowly +Christian worker, to be equal if not greater to those of a High Priest +who in his fulness of life though one of the most active ecclesiastical +officials in the highest circles of church and society, his firm belief +in success, knowing of no fear, and daringly climbing up in higher ranks +among philosophical societies, holding such an exalted position in the +most ancient Christian church. The church that holds the undisputable +proof as the first authentical apostolic establishment with founder the +apostle of the Gentiles himself. And who is the student of the +Scriptures, be he a Christian or philosopher of the Epicurean or the +Stoic system that could reasonably argue that the oration on the +Areopagus made by Paul to the Athenians being the masterpiece and model +of the most convincing speeches ever made in the Christian era? That +this High Priest, while enjoying all the comforts and privileges +belonging to his high office, together with its honors and gorgeous +trappings, does not attach any over-weening importance to ecclesiastical +dignity, neither does he consider a "comedown" the step he has taken, +but he gives the simple, yet convincing reason that he just follows the +process of evolution in Christianity, doing the will of his Master who +promised to all mankind one Lord--one Faith--one Baptism. And for the +last six years he has proven that it is possible for a man to begin from +the very bottom of life, his nearest and dearest relatives opposing him, +with no friends to understand his desires and his ambitions, to be a +wanderer in a great country like the United States, and travel from the +Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Ocean, proud to always be able to support +himself and also help someone on his way. Exercising the principle of +the Apostle Paul, working hard for his living, stranger not only to the +ethics and customs of the people whose sympathetic hearts he was coming +to win, but unable to even put two sentences together in their own +language, and today here he is to tell you the story, as true as your +beautiful breath that keeps your soul and body alive, and the only favor +he asks from you is that when you severely criticise the grammatical and +syntactical site in the execution of this work, you may in your +kindness, remember that his only resource to derive any philological +assistance, was a twenty-five cent Webster's dictionary, bought from a +second-hand book store. + +This is my first day in New York. And looking around to find the number +of the house where I was going to stay, my thoughts were so animated as +to feel that all the arteries and veins of my body through my feet were +kissing the ground upon which my heart would soon appease with its +Maker. + +A few people, going to the Low Mass, I should judge by the solemnity of +their walk, men and women, sent curious glances at the stranger dressed +in the robes on the street. By this time approaching the 7th Avenue and +not finding the desired number I was just directing my steps towards a +gentleman dressed in some kind of uniform to inquire about the place, +when a young man tipped his hat in front of me and raised the finger of +his right hand and pointed to the sign of the florist's store just a few +steps backwards. I could then plainly read the name on the board above +the door. It was the name very dear to me, which, with longing heart I +was looking for. Almost immediately a man came out from that same store +with a broad smile on his face and with a gentle bow, as though asking +my permission, he took my valise thus relieving me just in time, and +leading the way into the store I saw another gentleman behind a counter +preparing a large floral design from the rarest flowers of the season, +for the funeral of a most distinguished politician of Harlem. + +Although I yield to no man in the appreciation of a good smiling face +and here I had two of them and the most typical faces which are +prominent in the making of this heterogeneous republic, John, +representing the Huguenot and Dutch, and Jack whose father and mother +were Irish, and Jack was Irish too. Both these gentlemen with pantomimic +actions in a few words which now I know were English words but at that +time I could not tell if they were Chinese or Hindoo. They tried to make +me understand that Mr. George N., whom they knew I was looking for, as +they had heard him speaking of me and they saw my photograph, and they +were waiting notification of my coming, and that they were struck by +ecstasy at my sudden appearance, he was at breakfast and that he would +soon be back so I had better step into his office and rest myself while +waiting for him. The expectancy to meet my friend George N., it +lengthened every moment for me waiting in that little office. +Twenty-four years since I saw him last when I was only ten years old, +and even if I had not seen his photograph in all these years I could +distinguish him among ten thousand. He was my first teacher in the +grammar school; neighbor in my home and a very great distant relative. +He always took especial interest in my scholarship. My childhood and +school days were not all that I could desire for me, to be, for I was an +orphan, yet it was that orphan who always carried the first or the +second honors in the annual examinations. It was for this reason, +perhaps, that my teachers were all well pleased with my progress. The +past is only a memory, yet when we look back in the light of our +sincerity we can trace every point and every reason that contributed to +our success or failure in our lives. It is not a vision neither is there +a mere kinetoscope procession. The High Priest is here waiting to +meet his teacher with the same solemnity as in the old school days when +he had to meet his teacher after some of his occasional mischiefs. With +these and other agreeable memories relishing my time in that office, I +heard a loud applause in the store and the words "Father is here," +aroused my inquisitiveness and before I could leave my chair, there was +at the door of the office standing the man whom I wanted to see. Sturdy +and resolute with two slow steps he now extends a welcome hand to me and +as he called me by my childish nickname in response said, I, my teacher! +Yes, said he, How do you do my Father? Why didn't you let me know when +you were coming so I could meet you at the pier; How long have you been +wandering to find this place? And many other complimentaries, but, you +must, he went on saying, change your appearance at once, for I am not +going to disgrace myself and you too, if we dare to walk on the streets +with you dressed in robes like this. Let us go up stairs in my room, and +I believe you can be fitted with a new suit of clothes made to order for +me which I was ready to try on today, as the tailor just sent them here +a little while ago. Then you must have a very clean shave, my goodness, +there is a whole mask to come off your face and the long black hair you +have, you can make some money by selling it to any fashionable lady. +Now, Father, you have to hurry, because the barber shop closes at 12 +o'clock and you only have the necessary time to change your dress. + +[Illustration: THE WORLD'S WONDER, ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS, GREECE] + +The clothes which George N. offered for my transfiguration with the +exception of being made for a man one inch taller than my own stature +they didn't look very awkward upon me and to escape curiosity he took me +through the alleys of a narrow passage into the 124th Street, where an +elderly German kept a barber shop and when he was through cleaning that +over burdened head of mine, he was almost exhausted, and liable to a +fine, if any policeman happened to see him working on Sunday after 12 +o'clock. The barber closed the door of his shop allowing time for us to +just step out and we hastened our way back to the store, now walking on +7th Avenue. Jack, whose name already is mentioned here, is one of the +leading flower decorators in New York City. He could make a cross of +flowers look like a picture, and he could make a bouquet for the most +particular bride, he could decorate a little chapel around the corner +and make it look as artistic as he could decorate a rich mansion in the +most exclusive Riverside Drive. Jack made as much money as any of his +high grade fellow traders in Harlem, and he had no home +responsibilities, his widow mother being what we might call well-to-do, +for she owned considerable real estate in that vicinity, yet, Jack, +every Monday morning had to obtain a loan for his carfare, and more than +half a dozen young ladies all around Manhattan were particularly +interested in Jack's welfare. This is Sunday and one o'clock in the +afternoon, and Jack should be enjoying his holiday, and there were +already two of his female chums waiting for him on the sidewalk. Yet +Jack had always some more time to spare to accommodate his employer +George N., who as now entered the store he gave the synthematical +pass-word "that's all," which in the language of the employer and +employees it means "The boys may now go home." + +But Jack, as he took a glimpse on me, in all his Irish calibre he almost +screamed: Help! St. Patrick, what a metamorphosis is this? Is that you, +Father? You look now to me more like a butterfly out of a caterpillar +than anything in Ireland. Say, girls, calling his friends from the +outside, come in you girls, I take the honor to introduce you to the +Father ..., but, my soul, I am ashamed to call you Father, so +fashionable a gentleman as you look now. You shall not call me Father, +said I, as long as you see me dressed like a gentleman. I shall not, +Jack said, and with his girls took his departure, while George N., who +interpreted all this merriment, took a fresh white rose and put it in my +buttonhole. Let us go for lunch, said he and I followed gladly for I +felt it was a timely call. + +As George N. is a bachelor he takes his meals in no particular place, +anywhere from Harlem Casino or Palm Garden or Manhattan Club to a ten +cent lunch counter. Today he took me into a dollar a plate restaurant on +125th Street. Before I was through with my dinner, George N. made the +remark to me saying "if you always enjoy the American cooking the way I +observe you doing, you will never starve in America, I assure you." It +was the wisest prophecy that George N. ever made about my future in +America. + +After dinner we visited Grant's Tomb on Riverside Drive and on our +return he gave me instructions how to find the Waldorf Astoria hotel +where Aleck, one of his nephews had a position, and that Aleck would +make arrangements for the night for me and that the following morning +George N. would wait for me to discuss my plans for the future. I left +him and when I was in my room which Aleck provided for me, the time was +well nigh midnight. + +After the day's excitement I hoped that a good night's rest would +refresh me anew and the next morning would find me prepared for the work +I chose to devote my future life in this New World. With a lightning +quickness my mind examined all my past life and with the same speed I +made my conclusions that there was no more any pleasure for me to look +back, neither was there any attraction in that garb which so often is +the representation of hypocrisy itself. I felt so happy for my decision +and with a grateful heart I bent on my knees in prayer to Him who lay +down His life for my freedom and my salvation, and as an evidence of my +good health, the night passed undisturbed in sound sleep and in the +morning when Aleck called me for breakfast I felt that every fibre of my +body was springing for action, and with the last touch leaping from my +bed the first day of new life went into history. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +_High Priest_ + + +For the benefit of those who ignorantly, if not deliberately by deceit, +misled to believe that the priest has any authority, which the truly +converted Christian could not exercise, the present chapter is offered +in the spirit of love without any fear of contradiction or dispute, +because the facts given here are well established upon the Scriptural +Truths and the reader may at all times maintain the proofs to disprove +refutable arguments of persons whose only purpose is to serve their own +individual interests. + +The priest, one who officiates in secret offices, it is the definition +given in Webster's dictionary. And from the most authentic Biblical +concordances we derive the following information: The priest under the +law was a person consecrated and ordained of God, not only to teach the +people and pray for them, but also to offer up sacrifices for his own +sins and those of the people. The priesthood was not annexed to a +certain family, till after the promulgation of the law of Moses. + +Before that time the first born of every family, the fathers, the kings, +the princes, were priests, born in their city and in their own homes. +Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham and Job, Abimelech and Laban, Isaac and +Jacob, offered themselves their own sacrifices. In the solemnity of the +covenant that the Lord made with his people at the foot of Mount Sinai, +Moses performed the office of meditator, and young men were chosen from +among the children of Israel to perform the office of priests. But after +that the Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to serve him in his +tabernacle, and that the priesthood was annexed to the family of Aaron, +then the right of offering sacrifices to God was reserved to the priests +alone of this family. + +Duties of the priests: The priests were required to prove their descent +from Aaron, to be free from all bodily defect or blemish; must not be +observed mourning except for near relatives; must not marry a woman that +had been a harlot; or divorced, or profane. The priest's daughter who +committed whoredom was to be burned, as profaning her father. The +priests were to have the charge of the sanctuary and the altar, which +being once kindled the priest was always to keep it burning. In later +times, and upon extraordinary occasions, at least, they flayed the +burnt-offerings and killed the Passover. They were to receive the blood +of the burnt-offerings in basins and sprinkle it around about the altar, +arrange the wood and the fire, and to burn the parts of the sacrifices. +If the burnt sacrifices were of doves, the priest was to nip off the +head with the finger nail, squeeze out the blood on the edge of the +altar, pluck off the feathers, and throw them with the crop into the +ash-pit, divide down the wings, and then completely burn it. He was to +offer a lamb every morning and evening, and a double number on the +Sabbath, the burnt-offerings ordered at the beginning of months, and the +same on the feast of Unleavened Bread, and on the day of the First +Fruits; to receive the meat-offering of the offerer, bring it to the +altar, take of it a memorial, and burn it upon the altar; to sprinkle +the blood of the peace-offerings upon the altar around about, and then +to offer of it a burnt-offering; to offer the sin-offering for the sins +of a ruler or any of the common people; to eat the sin-offering at the +holy place; and the same way to offer offerings for all the kinds of sin +and the priest should eat these offerings at the holy place; to offer +for the purification of women after child-birth; to judge of the leprosy +in the human body or garments (it is remarkable that the Jewish race +from the beginning, has been all through the ages a heavy victim of +leprosy). The priest was to make the ointment of spices; to prepare the +water of separation; to act as assessor in judicial proceedings; to +encourage the army when going to battle, and probably to have charge of +the law. + +The emoluments of the priests: The perquisites of the priests were many +and various, and as Philo calls them very rich, and this statement holds +good all the way down to the Christian priest who inherited most of the +virtues of his Jewish predecessors. Thus no wonder for the priests to +keep their people in dense ignorance of the historical originality of +the priesthood. And the high priest, besides all duties and privileges +already mentioned as common to him and the ordinary priest, he must not +marry a widow, nor a divorced woman, or a profane, or that had been a +harlot, but a virgin Israelitess. He must not eat anything that died of +itself, or was torn by beasts; must wash his hands and feet when he went +into the tabernacle to offer the mass. The high priest was the divinely +inspired judge and truly he was the supreme ruler till the time of +David, and again after the captivity. He would ask counsel of the Lord +if a new ruler was worthy or not and accordingly grant or regret the +appointment of the ruler. It is the privilege which the Pope derives +from Eleazar and trying to exercise this privilege against the rulers of +Europe for fifteen centuries became the menace in the progress of +humanity. The high priest had also unlimited power upon the funds of the +sanctuary. And it may be out of proportion in this book to give a +complete description of all the privileges and regalia of the high +priest, yet the reader could easily imagine the frivolities +unfortunately existing even today in the ceremonial dress of the high +priest, and to confirm this fact he only has to enter in the first +Russian or Greek or Roman Catholic church at any day of some special +celebration and there he cannot help but observe an imitation of the +lamentable vanity of a high priest of the old Jewish faith. And the +truth is visible to the naked eye. Would ever sincerity and priesthood +meet in one and the same person it would make the most paradox +phenomenon, and such exceptional occurrences are very rare in the +ecclesiastical horizon, for virtue and priesthood are the very logical +antithesis, and chemically speaking they are protogon matters not +yielding to adulteration. Between priesthood and Christ there is an +abyss of argument, but there is no bridge to join both sides. Priesthood +on one side in the most pharisaic manner imposing its superfluous +authority upon all mortals. And Jesus the Christ of God with his wounded +side, in the most emphatic manner, condemning the pharisaic scheme, +which is a continuation in the Greek--Russian--Roman Catholic church: +"For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on +man's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of +their fingers." And if the words of the blessed Christ himself speaking +in the 23d chapter of Matthew, have no effect upon the consciousness of +the priest, there is all vain to any other way trying to bring him into +the light of wisdom. In the history of all mankind there are three +distinct stages of priesthood, and in its two former stages it had been +a complete failure, in its present stage is falling so fast, and it is +condemned, already, by all reasoning minds, that it is only a matter of +time before the human race shall be free from these parasites. The +priest, of the Jewish faith, failed because he was inhuman, the priest +of the Greek idolatry failed, because he was a philosophical fraud; and +the priest of the present time, shall fail, because he is the very +opposing visible enemy of God's kingdom. The sacerdotal office of the +priest, is anti-christian. + +Here we shall attempt to only describe one piece of the dress of the +high priest, the breast-plate (rationale); a gorget, ten inches square, +made of the same sort of cloth as the ephod, and doubled so as to form a +kind of pouch or bag, in which was to be put the urim and thummim, which +are also mentioned as is already known. The external part of this gorget +was set with four rows of precious stones; the first row, a serdious, a +topaz, and a carbuncle; the second, an emerald, a sapphire, and a +diamond; the third, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst, and the fourth, +a beryl, an onyx and a jasper, set in a golden socket. Upon each of +these stones was to be engraven the name of one of the sons of Jacob. In +the ephod in which there was a space left open sufficiently large for +the admission of this pectoral, were four rings of gold, to which four +others at the four corners of the breast-plate corresponded; the two +lower rings of gold being fixed inside. It was confined to the ephod by +means of dark blue ribbons, which passed through these rings; and it was +also suspended from the onyx stones on the shoulder by chains of gold, +or rather cords of twisted gold thread, which were fastened at one end +to two other larger rings fixed in the upper corners of the pectoral, +and by the other end going around the onyx stones on the shoulders, and +returning and being fixed in the larger ring. And a splendid ornament +upon the breast was a winged scarabaeus, the emblem of the Sun, and the +unavoidable portion of the ceremonial dress peculiar to the high priest +was the miter, mitre or Cidaris, a head gear of gold and silver and +precious stones whose magnificence we would not dare to describe in +this work, but the reader may in his life be fortunate enough to see one +of these wonderful paraphernalia on the head of some of the now-a-days +self-styled representatives of Jesus Christ, who came to seek and save +the lost and he did not make of himself a show in these follies of the +old Jewish faith that proved a failure. + +That the priests in Israel more than once by their indulgence went down +to idolatry, the old testament abounds in evidences, but I shall only +mention the incidents of Eli the high priest and his two sons, Hophni +and Phinehas. Josephus says, the high priest had also the very +idolatrous symbolical meanings of every part of his dress, which being +made of linen signified the earth; the blue color denoted the sky, being +like lightning in its pomegranate, and in the noise of its bells +resembling thunder. The ephod showed that God had made the universe of +four elements, the gold relating to the splendor by which all things are +enlightened, the breast-plate in the middle of the ephod resembled the +earth, which has the middle place in the world. The girdle signified the +sea, which goes around the world. The sardonyxes declared the sun and +moon. The twelve stones are the twelve months of signs of the zodiac. +The mitre is the heaven, because above all. The seven lamps upon the +golden candlesticks represent the seven planets, and so on every article +had a reference to some particle of the Egyptian Deities. But the time +came when man understood better God's plan of salvation. And divinely +inspired they fearlessly stopped all these idolatrous practises. + +Who could dare say, at the beginning of the sixteenth century that God +could only through Jesus Christ save a soul without the necessity of a +priest? Yet today even the priest himself would not dare say, not in a +civilized community, that his presence is necessary for the forgiveness +of sin. But what of the millions of people that are drifting away from +God with the idea, that the priest is taking care of their souls? Am I +criticising the priest? God forbid, for I am not. There are good and bad +priests, as far as their personal character is concerned, as there are +good and bad professional Christians, I have met in my Christian +experience. But I will say, in the authority of the word of God, that +the man who diligently searcheth the Scriptures and sincerely read his +Bible and still he insists in holding his sacerdotal office and call +himself a priest, he is deceived or he is deceiving. + +"Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec." Christ is +the only priest, holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and +made higher than the heavens, who needeth not daily, as those high +priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the +people's; for this he did once, when he offered up himself. + +The Church makes men high priests which have infirmity but the power of +God makes every man a high priest, who offers up himself to live and +work for the salvation of all. "Whosoever believeth in Him should not +perish, but have everlasting life." God's promises are true and the +reader has only to study the Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, to be +convinced that the sacerdotal office of the priest sooner or later has +to go out of existence as the spirit of Christ spreads upon the hearts +of men and women and the knowledge of His salvation makes them "Priests +unto God and His Father" and thus establish God's kingdom upon the solid +foundations of love. Then shall they all be made unto kings and priests, +and they shall reign upon the earth. (Rev. 1-6, etc.) + + + + +CHAPTER V + +_Philosophy vs. Christianity_ + + +In Plato's dialogue upon the duties of religious worship, a passage +occurs the design of which appears to be to show that man could not, of +himself, learn either the nature of the Gods, or the proper manner of +worshiping them, unless an instructor should come from Heaven. The +following remarkable passage occurs between Socrates and Alcibiades: + +Socrates--"To me it appears best to be patient. It is necessary to wait +till you learn how you ought to act towards the Gods, and towards men." + +Alcibiades--"When, O Socrates, shall that time be? And who shall +instruct me? For most willingly would I see this person, who he is." + +Socrates--"He is one who cares for you; but, as Homer represents Minerva +as taking away darkness from the eyes of Diomedes; that he might +distinguish a God from a man, so it is necessary that he should first +take away the darkness from your mind, and then bring near those things +by which you shall know good and evil." + +Alcibiades--"Let him take away the darkness, or any other thing, if he +will; for whoever this man is, I am prepared to refuse none of the +things which he commands, if I shall be made better." + +Philosophy, led the Greeks to Christ, as the Law did the Jewish. The +wisdom of the world in their efforts to give truth and happiness to the +human soul, was foolishness with God, and the wisdom of God--Christ +crucified--was foolishness with the philosophers, in relation to the +same subject; yet it was divine Philosophy. An adopted means, and the +only adequate means, to accomplish the necessary end. Said an apostle in +speaking upon this subject, the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek +after wisdom; but we preach Christ Crucified, unto the Jews a +stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are +called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God, and the wisdom of +God. The Jews, while they require a sign, did not perceive that +miracles, in themselves, were not adopted to produce affection. And the +Greeks, while they sought after wisdom, did not perceive that all the +wisdom of the Gentiles, would never work love in the heart. But the +apostle preached--Christ crucified--an exhibition of self-denial, of +suffering, and of self-sacrificing; love and mercy, endured in behalf of +men, which, when received by faith, became "The power of God, and the +wisdom of God," to produce love and obedience in the human soul. Paul +understood the efficacy of the Cross. He looked to Calvary and beheld +Christ crucified as the Sun of the Gospel system. Not, as the Moon, +reflecting cold and borrowed rays; but as the Sun of righteousness, +glowing with radiant mercy, and pouring warm beams of life and love into +the open bosom of the believer. + +It is stranger that among philosophers of succeeding ages there has not +been wisdom sufficient to discover, from the constitutional necessities +of the human spirit, that demand for the instruction and aid of the +Messiah which Socrates and Plato discovered, even in a comparatively +dark age. And in the whole history of human mind there is not a more +instructive chapter at once stranger and sad, interesting to our +curiosity and mortifying to our pride, than the history of Platonic +philosophy sinking into gnosticism, or in other words, of Greek +philosophy merging in Oriental Mysticism; showing, on the one hand the +decline and fall of philosophy, and, on the other, the rise and progress +of Syncretism. Perhaps, also, it is the most remarkable instance on +record, that out of the religious, moral, and political, in one word, +the intellectual corruption which brings on the fall of great and mighty +nations, as it doubtless was with Babylon and Thebes, and so we know it +to have been with Athens and Rome, God's providence educes pure +principles and higher hopes for the nations and people that rise out of +their ashes, and who, if they will be taught wisdom and principle, +righteousness and peace, by the errors and sufferings of those who have +preceded them, may rise to higher destinies in the history of men's +conduct and God's providence. + +The reader most sincerely is asked to devote the required time in any +public library and study this very interesting subject of "Gnosticism" +from which the most detrimental system in the Christian era was +originated, "The Monasticism." In this ecclesiastical order the writer +had been distinguished with the rank of "Archimandrites." + +[Illustration: H. R. H. PRINCE ARTHUR, DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND STRATHEARN, +K. G., ETC.] + +To what extent the celibacy of monks and nuns debased the fundamental +principles of Christianity there are a number of publications whose +authors are eye-witnesses of the orgies practised in their own +monasteries, and the writer in his superior office in two of the leading +monasteries had had the opportunity to acquire all the necessary +evidence to demolish every one of these hell-pits, to many a young man +and young woman innocent, otherwise, before entering there, and drive +away all these parasites that have no consideration to any civil or +moral law and live upon the sweat of the brow of the long-suffering +Church slaves. + +Within the bounds of philosophy, at this stage of our progress it will +be useful to recapitulate the conclusions at which we have arrived, and +thus make a point of rest from which to extend our observations further +into the plan of God for redeeming the world, for "I am not sent but +unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel." This view is the more +appropriate as we have known in the history of God's providence with +Israel, which presents them as a people prepared (so far as imperfect +material could be prepared) to receive the model which God might desire +to impress upon the nation. They were bound to each other by all the +ties of which human nature is susceptible, and thus rendered compact and +united, so that every thing national, whether in sentiment or practise +would be received and cherished with unanimous, and fervent, and lasting +attachment; and, furthermore, by a long and rigorous bondage, they had +been rendered, for the time being at least, humble and dependant. Thus +they were disciplined by a curse of providence, adopted to fit them to +receive instruction from their Benefactor with a teachable and grateful +spirit. + +Their minds were shaken off from idols; and Jehovah, by a revelation +made to them, setting forth his name and nature, had revealed himself as +Divine Being, and by his works had manifested his Almighty power: so +that when their minds were disabused of wrong views of the Godhead, an +idea of the first, true, and essential nature of God was revealed to +them, and they were thus prepared to receive a knowledge of the +attributes of that Divine essence. + +They had been brought to contemplate God as their protector and Saviour. +Appeals the most affecting and thrilling had been addressed to their +affections; and they were thus attached to God as their Almighty +temporal Saviour, by the ties of gratitude and love for the favor which +he had manifested to them. + +When they had arrived on the further shore of the Red Sea, thus prepared +to obey God and worship him with the heart, they were without laws +either civil or moral. As yet, they had never possessed any national or +social organization. They were therefore prepared to receive, without +predilection or prejudice, that system of moral instruction and civil +polity which God might reveal, as best adapted to promote the moral +interests of the nation. + +From these conclusions we may extend our vision forward into the system +of revelation. This series of preparations would certainly lead the mind +to the expectation that what was still wanting, and what they had been +thus miraculously prepared to receive, would be granted: which was a +knowledge of the moral character of God, and a moral law prescribing +their duty to God and to men. Without this, the plan that had been +maturing for generations, and had been carried forward thus far by +wonderful exhibitions of Divine wisdom and power, would be left +unfinished, just at the point where the finishing process was necessary. + +But besides the strong probability which the previous preparation would +produce, that there would be a revelation of moral law, there are +distinct and conclusive reasons, evincing its necessities. + +The whole experience of the world has confirmed the fact, beyond the +possibility of scepticism, that men cannot discover and establish a +perfect rule of human duty. Whatever may be said of the many excellent +maxims expressed by different individuals in different ages and nations, +yet it is true that no system of duty to God and man, in any wise +consistent with enlightened reason, has ever been established by human +wisdom, and sustained by human sanctions; and for many reasons, such a +fact never can occur. + +But, it may be supposed that each man has, within himself, sufficient +light from reason, and sufficient admonition from conscience, to guide +himself, as an individual, in the path of truth and happiness. A single +fact will correct such a supposition. Conscience, the great arbiter of +the merit and demerit of human conduct, has little intuitive sense of +right, and is not guided entirely by reason, but is governed in a great +measure by what men believe. Indeed, faith is the legitimate regulator +of the conscience. If a man has correct views of duty to God and men, he +will have a correct conscience; but if he can, by a wrong view of morals +and of the character of God, be induced to believe that theft, or +murder, or any vice, is right, his conscience will be corrupted by his +faith. When men are brought to believe--as they frequently do in heathen +countries--that it is right to commit suicide, or infanticide, as a +religious duty, their conscience condemns them if they do not perform +the act. Thus that power in the soul which pronounces upon the moral +character of human conduct, is itself dependent upon and regulated by +the faith of the individual. It is apparent, therefore, that the +reception and belief of a true rule of duty, accompanied with proper +sanctions, will alone form in men a proper conscience. God has so +constituted the soul that it is necessary, in order to the regulation of +its moral powers, that it should have a rule of duty, revealed under the +sanction of its Maker's authority; otherwise its high moral powers would +lie in dark and perpetual disorder. + +Further, unless the human soul be an exception, God governs all things +by laws adopted to their proper nature. The laws which govern the +material world are sketched in the books on natural science; such are +gravitation, affinity, mathematical motion. Those laws by which the +irrational animal creations are controlled are usually called instincts. +Their operation and design are sketched, to some extent, in treatises +upon the instincts of animals. Such is the law which leads the beaver to +build its dam, and all other animals to pursue some particular habits +instead of others. All beavers, from the first one created to the +present time, have been instinctively led to build a dam in the same +manner, and so their instinct will lead them to build till the end of +time. The law which drives them to the act is as necessitating as the +law which causes the smoke to rise upwards. Nothing in the universe of +God, animate or inanimate, is left without the government of appropriate +law, unless that thing being the noblest creature of God: the human +spirit. To suppose, therefore, that the human soul is thus left unguided +by a revealed rule of conduct, is to suppose that God cares for the less +and not for the greater: to suppose that He would constitute the moral +powers of the soul so that a law was necessary for their guidance, and +then revealed none: to suppose, especially in the case of the +Israelites, that he would prepare a people to receive, and obey with a +proper spirit, this necessary rule of duty, and yet give no rule. But to +suppose these things would be absurd; it follows, therefore, that God +would reveal to the Israelites a law for the regulation of their +conduct in morals and religion. + +But physical law or necessitating instinct would not be adapted in its +nature to the government of a rational and moral being. The obligation +of either to the soul would destroy its free agency. God has made man +intelligent, and thereby adapted his nature to a rule which he +understands. Man has a will and a conscience; but he must understand the +rule in order to will obedience, and he must believe the sanction by +which the law is maintained before he can feel the obligation upon his +conscience. A law, therefore, adapted to man's nature, must be addressed +to the understanding, sanctioned by suitable authority, and enforced by +adequate penalties. + +In accordance with these legitimate deductions, God gave the Israelites +a rule of life--the moral law--succinctly comprehended in the Ten +Commandments. And as affectionate obedience is the only proper obedience +he coupled the facts which were fitted to produce affection with the +command to obey; saying, "I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out +of the land of Egypt, and from the house of bondage." Therefore, if ye +love the Lord ye shall surely keep His commandments. + +Further, the only begotten Son of God, who, in order to fulfil the law +gave himself a ransom for the salvation of all mankind, made the plan +clearer to "Whomsoever believeth on Him?" saying; "This is My +commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." + +Therefore, John, whom history acknowledges as the Socrates of the +Christian philosophy in his personal knowledge of Divine revelations, +was glad to testify to the fact that "God is Love." + +And now with my whole soul lifted up to God I can sing: + + My heart is fixed, eternal God: fixed on Thee, + And my unchanging choice is made, Christ for me! + He is my Prophet, Priest, and King, who did for me salvation bring + And while I've breath I mean to sing, Christ for me. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +_God's Providence_ + + +In facts from Christian and philosophical standpoints it has been +demonstrated that the infallible Supreme Ruler of all human spirits has +made His final provision for the safety of each and every individual +soul for its temporal and eternal welfare. Now I must prove to my +readers' perfect satisfaction that to discard all the dignities and +privileges of a high priest and become a lowly worker for Christ, it is +not a mere accident nor is it an act of necessity as far as temporal +necessities are concerned; but, it is a magnificent living monument of +God's Providential manifestations. In order to protect my reader in his +judgment from any undue prejudice I have taken pains to present herewith +all the obtainable facts in regard to God's Providence existing and +exercising its office upon even to the most microscopical atom. Because, +it is required by the law of justice, to comprehend this great attribute +of God's Providence, in order to understand, how, all things work +together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called +according to His purpose. + +The Latin etymology of the word Providence is from (Providentia, +Pro-videre), and originally meant foresight. The corresponding Greek +word (Pronoia) means forethought. By a well-known figure of speech, +called metonymy, we use a word denoting the means by which we accomplish +anything to denote the end accomplished; we exercise care over anything +by means of foresight, and indicate that care by the word foresight. On +the same principle the word Providence is used to signify the care God +takes of the universe. As to its inherent nature, it is the power which +God exerts, without intermission, in and upon all the works of his +hands. In the language of the school-men it is a continual creation +(creation continua). But defined as to its visible manifestations, it is +God's preservation and government of all things. As a thing is known by +its opposites, the meaning of Providence is elucidated by considering +that it is opposed to fortune and fortuitous accidents. + +Providence, considered in reference to all things existing, is termed by +Knapp universal; in reference to moral beings, special; and in reference +to holy or converted beings, particular. Every thing is an object of +Providence in proportion to its capacity. The Disciples, being of more +value than many sparrows, were assured of greater providential care. By +Providence being universal is intended, not merely that it embraces +classes of objects or greater matters, but that nothing is too minute or +insignificant for its inspection. + +Providence is usually divided in three divine acts, Preservation, +Co-operation and Government. 1. By preservation is signified the +causing of existence to continue. 2. Co-operation is the act of God +which causes the powers of created things to remain in being. It is not +pretended that the existence of the powers of the things are ever +separated, but only that they are distinguishable in mental analysis. +Co-operation varies with the nature of the objects towards which it is +exercised. 3. Government, as a branch of Providence, is God's +controlling all created things so as to promote the highest good of the +whole. To this end every species of being is acted upon in a way +confirmable to its nature; for instance, inanimate things by the laws of +physical influence; brutes according to the laws of instinct; and free +agents according to the laws of free agency. Moreover, as Providence has +respect to the nature which God has been pleased to design to each +various object, so, in common with every other divine act, it is +characterized by divine perfections. It displays omnipresence, +omniscience, omnipotence, holiness, justice, and benevolence. It has +been sometimes contended that Providence does not extend to all things, +or to unimportant events, and chiefly for four reasons. Such an +all-embracing providence, it is said, would (1) be distracting to the +mind of God; or (2) would be beneath His dignity; or (3) would interfere +with human freedom; or (4) would render God unjust in permitting evil to +exist. In reply to these objections against a providence controlling all +things without exception, it may be observed that the third and fourth +suggest difficulties which press equally, in fact, upon all hypothesis, +not only as to providence, but as to creation, and which shall be more +fully explained in the sequel. + +As to the first objection, that the minutiae of the creation are so +multifarious as to confuse the mind of God, we are content to let it +refute itself in every mind which has any just sense of divine knowledge +and wisdom. The second objection, that some things are beneath God's +notice, if it be not a captious cavil, must result from pushing too far +the analogy between earthly kings and the King of kings. It is an +imperfection in human potentates that they need vicegerents; let us not +then attribute such a weakness to God, fancying him altogether such a +one as ourselves. Again, it is to this day doubtful whether the +microscope does not display the divine perfections as illustriously as +the telescope; there is therefore no reason to deny a providence over +animalcula which we admit over the constellated heavens. What is it that +we dare call insignificant? The least of all things may be as a seed +cast in to the seed-field of time, to grow there and bear fruit, which +shall be multiplying when time shall be no more. We cannot always trace +the connections of things. We do not ponder those we can trace: or we +should tremble to call anything beneath the notice of God. It has been +eloquently said that where we see a trifle hovering unconnected in +space, higher spirit can discern its fibres stretching through the whole +expanse of the system of the world, and hanging on the remotest limits +of the future and the past. In reference to the third and fourth +objections before mentioned, namely, that an all-embracing providence is +incompatible with divine justice and human freedom, it should be +considered that, in contemplating God's Providence, the question will +often arise, why was mortal evil allowed to exist? But as these +questions meet us at every turn, and, under different forms, may be +termed the one and the only difficulty in theology, it is already +considered in the previous chapter of this work, and may therefore +require the less notice in the present article. We should in all +humility preface whatever we say on the permission of evil (such as, +mysticism, in religious bodies) with a confession that it is an +inscrutable mystery, which our faith receives, but which our reason +could not prove either to be or not to be demanded by the perfection of +God. But, in addition to the vindication of God's ways which may be +found in the over-ruling of evil for good, the following theories +deserve notice:-- + +1. Occasionalism, or the doctrine that God is the immediate cause of all +men's actions. It is so called, because it maintains that men only +furnish God an occasion for what he does. It degrades all second causes +to mere occasions, and turns men into passive instruments. + +2. Mechanism. Many, alarmed at the consequences which occasionalism +would seem to involve, have embraced an opposite scheme. They criticise +the definition of the laws of nature, and contend that occasionalism +derives all its plausibility from adroitly availing itself of the +ambiguities of language. They would have us view the creation as a +species of clock, or other machinery, which, being once made and wound +up, will for a time perform its movements without the assistance or even +presence of its maker. But reasons press too far the analogy between the +Creator and an artisan. So excellent a man as Baxter was misled by this +hypothesis, which evidently is as derogatory to God as occasionalism is +fatal to the moral agency of man. + +3. The authors of the third scheme respecting the mode in which +Providence permits sin sought to be "Eclectics" or to find a path +intermediate between Mechanism and Occasionalism. In their judgment, man +is actuated by God, and yet is at the same time active himself. God +gives man the power of action, and preserves these powers every moment, +but he is not the efficient cause of free actions themselves. This they +say, is involved in the very idea of a moral being, which would cease to +be moral if it were subjected to the control of necessity, and not +suffered to choose and to do what it saw to be the best according to the +laws of freedom. But it is asked, why did God create men free, and +therefore fallible? It were presumption to think of answering this +question adequately. It belongs to the deep things of God. But, among +the possible reasons, we may mention, that if no fallible beings had +been created, there could have been no virtue in the universe; for +virtue implies probation, and probation a liability to temptation and +sin. Again, if some beings had not become sinful, the most glorious +attributes of God would never have been so fully exerted and displayed. +How could His wisdom and mercy and grace have been adequately +manifested, except by suffering a portion of His creatures to become +such as to demand the exercise of those attributes? How else could He +have wrought the miracle of educing good from evil? In this connection +we may allude to the third chapter of Romans, where as in other +passages, it is declared, that the good which evil may be over-ruled to +produce, cannot palliate, much less excuse, the guilt of sinners, or of +those who say, "Let us do evil that good may come." + +Among the proofs of Divine Providence may be reckoned the following:--1. +One argument in proof of Providence is analogous to one mode of proving +a creation. If we cannot account for the existence of the world without +supposing its coming into existence, or beginning to be; no more can we +account for the world continuing to exist, without supposing it to be +preserved; for it is as evidently absurd to suppose any creature +prolonging as producing its own being. A second proof of Providence +results from the admitted fact of creation. Whoever has made any piece +of mechanism, therefore takes pains to preserve it. + +Parental affection moves those who have given birth to children to +provide for their sustenation and education. It is both reasonable and +scriptural to contemplate God as sustaining the universe because He made +it. Thus David, having promised that the world was made by God, +immediately descends to the course of his Providence. (Ps. xxiii. 6.) +The creation also evinces a Providence by proving God's right to rule, +on the admitted principle that every one may do what he will with his +own. + +A third proof of Providence is found in the divine perfections. Since, +among the divine perfections, are all power and all knowledge, the +non-existence of Providence, if there be none, must result from a want +of will in God. But no want of will to exercise a Providence can exist, +for God wills whatever is for the good of the universe, and for His own +glory; to either of which a Providence is clearly indispensable. God +therefore has resolved to exercise His power and knowledge so as to +subserve the best ends with His creation. "He that denies Providence," +says Charnock, "denies most of God's attributes; he denies at least the +exercise of them; he denies his omniscience, which is the eye of +Providence; mercy and justice, which are the arms of it; power, which is +its life and motion; wisdom, which is the rudder whereby Providence is +steered; and holiness, which is the compass and rule of each motion." +This argument for a Providence might be made much more impressive, did +our limits allow us to expand it, so as to show, step by step how almost +every attribute, if not directly, yet by implication, demands that God +put forth an unceasing sovereignty over all His works. + +A fourth proof of God's Providence appears in the order which prevails +in the universe. We say the order which prevails, aware of the +occasional apparent disorder that exists, which we have already noticed, +and shall soon treat of again. That summer and winter, seed time and +harvest, cold and heat, day and night, are fixed by law, was obvious +even to man who never heard of God's covenant with Noah. Accordingly the +ancient Greeks designated the creation by a word which means order +(cosmos). But our sense of order is keenest where we discern it in +apparent confusion. The motions of the heavenly bodies are eccentric and +intervolved, yet are most regular when they seem most lawless. They were +therefore compared by the earliest astronomers to the discords which +blend in a harmony, and to the wild starts which often heighten the +graces of a dance. Modern astronomy has revealed to us so much +miraculous symmetry in celestial phenomena, that it shows us far more +decisive proofs of a Ruler seated on the circles of the heavens, than +were vouchsafed to the ancients. Moreover, many discover proofs of a +Providence in such facts as the proportion between the two sexes, the +diversities of the continents, as well as human nature and the nature of +all things continuing always the same; since such facts show that all +things are controlled by an unchanging power. + +An objection to proofs of Providence, derived from the order of the +universe, is thought to spring from the seeming disorders to which we +cannot shut our eyes. Much is said of plagues and earthquakes, of +drought, flood, frost and famine, with a thousand more natural evils. +But it deserves consideration whether, if there were no Providence, +these anomalies would not be the rule instead of the exception; whether +they do not feelingly persuade us that that curse of nature is upheld by +a power above nature, and without which it would fall to nothing; +whether they may not be otherwise necessary for more important ends than +fall within the scope of our knowledge. + +[Illustration: REV. M. GOLDEN + +The High Priest in Church Ceremonial Attire] + +A fifth proof of Providence is furnished by the fact that so many men +are here rewarded and punished according to a righteous law. The wicked +often feel compunctious visitings in the midst of their sins, or smart +under the rod of civil justice, or are tortured with natural evils. With +righteous all things are in general reversed. The miser and envious are +punished as soon as they begin to commit their respective sins; and some +virtues are their own present reward. But we would not dissemble that we +are here met with important objections, although infinitely less, even +though they were unanswerable, than beset such as would reject the +doctrine of Providence. + +It is said, and we grant, that the righteous are trodden under foot, and +the vilest men exalted; that the race is not to the swift, nor the +battle to the strong; that virtue starves, while vice is fed, and that +schemes for doing good are frustrated, while evil plots succeed. But we +may reply: + +1. The prosperity of the wicked is often apparent, and well styled a +shining misery. Who believes that Nero enthroned was happier than Paul +in chains? + +2. We are often mistaken in calling such or such an afflicted man good, +and such or such a prosperous man bad. + +3. The miseries of good men are generally occasioned by their own +faults, since they have been so fool-hardy as to run counter to the laws +by which God acts, or have aimed at certain ends while neglecting the +appropriate means. + +4. Many virtues are proved and augmented by trials, and not only proved, +but produced, so that they would have had no existence without them. +Many a David's noblest qualities would never have been developed but for +the impious attempts of Saul. Job's integrity was not only tested but +strengthened by Satan being permitted to sift him as wheat. Passions, +experience and hope were brought as ministering angels to man, of whom +the world was not worthy, through trials of cruel mockings and +scourgings. + +5. The unequal distribution of good and evil, so far as it exists, +carries our thoughts forward to the last judgment, and a retribution +according to the deeds done in the body, and can hardly fail of throwing +round the idea of eternity a stronger air of reality than it might +otherwise have done. All perplexities vanish as we reflect that, "He +cometh to judge the earth." + +6. Even if we limit our views to this world, but extend them to all our +acquaintances, we cannot doubt that the tendencies, though not always +the effects, of vice are to misery, and those of virtue to happiness. +These tendencies are especially clear if our view embraces a whole +life-time, and the clearer the longer the period we embrace. The +Psalmist was at first envious at the foolish, when he saw the prosperity +of the wicked; but as his views became more comprehensive, and he +understood their end, his language was, "How are they brought into +desolation as in a moment; they are utterly consumed with terrors." The +progressive tendency of vice and virtue to reap each its appropriate +harvest is finally illustrated by Bishop Butler, best of all perhaps in +his picture of an imaginary kingdom of the good, which would peacefully +subvert all others, and fill the earth. Indeed, as soon as we leave what +is immediately before our eyes, and glance at the annals of the world, +we behold so many manifestations of God, that we may adduce as a sixth +proof of Providence the facts of history. The giving and transmission of +a revelation, as the Mosaic and the Christian--the raising up of +Prophets, Apostles and Defenders of the Faith--the ordination of +particular events, such as the Reformation--the more remarkable +deliverance noticed in the lives of those devoted to the good of the +world, etc., all indicate the wise and benevolent care of God over the +human family. But the historical proof of a Providence is perhaps +strongest where the wrath of man has been made to praise God, or where +efforts to dishonor God have been constrained to do him honor. Testimony +in favor of piety has fallen from the impious, and has had a double +volume, as coming from the unwilling. They who have fought against the +truth have been used by God as instruments of spreading the knowledge of +it, awakening an interest in it, or stimulating Christians to purify it +from human additions, and to exhibit its power. The scientific +researches also with which infidels have wearied themselves to overthrow +a revelation have proved at last fatal to their daring scepticisms. Too +many histories, like Gibbons', have been written as if there were no God +in the heavens, swaying the sceptre of the earth. But a better day is +approaching; and it is exhilarating to observe that Alison, the first +British historian of the age, writes in the spirit which breathes in the +historical books of the Bible, where the free actions of man are +represented as inseparably connected with the agency of God. If we may +judge of the future by the past, as the scroll of time unrolls, we, or +our posterity, and some think glorified spirits in a yet higher degree, +shall see more and more plainly the hand of God operating, till every +knee shall bow. Judgments, now a great deep, shall become as the light +that goeth forth. The tides of ambition and avarice will all be seen to +roll in subserviency to the designs of God. To borrow the illustration +of another, "we shall behold the bow of God encircling the darkest +storms of wickedness, and forcing them to manifest His glory to the +universe." + +As a seventh ground for believing in Providence, it may be said that +Providence is the necessary basis of all religion. For what is +religion? One of the best definitions calls it the belief in a +super-human power, which has great influence in the human affairs, and +ought therefore to be worshiped. But take away this influence in the +human affairs, and you cut off all motive to worship. To the same +purpose is the text in Hebrews: "He that cometh to God must believe that +He is, and He is a rewarder of such as diligently seek Him." If then the +religious sentiments thrill us not in vain--if all attempts of all men +to commune with God have not always and everywhere been idle--there must +be a Providence. + +In the eighth place, we may advert for a moment to the proof of +Providence from the common consent of mankind, with the single exception +of atheists. The Epicureans may be classed with atheists, as they are +generally thought to have been atheists in discourse, and a God after +their imaginations would be, to all intents and purposes, no God. The +Stoics were also atheists, believing only in a blind fate arising from a +perpetual concatenation of causes contained in nature. The passages +acknowledging a Providence in Cicero, Seneca, Plutarch, and all the +ancient moralists, are numerous and decisive, but too accessible or +well-known to need being quoted. + +In the last place, the doctrine of Providence is abundantly proved by +the Scriptures. Some times it is declared that the Most High ruleth in +the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will; as much as to +say that nothing can withstand His power. Again, lest we may think some +things beneath His notice, we read that He numbereth the hairs of our +heads, careth for lilies, and disposeth all the lots which are cast. The +care of God for man is generally argued, a fortiori, from His care for +inferior creatures. One Psalm (xci) is devoted to show the providential +security of the Godly: another (xciii) shows the frailty of man; and a +third (civ) the dependence of all orders in creation on God's Providence +for food and breath. In Him, it is elsewhere added, we live, and move, +and have our being. He, in the person of Christ, sustaineth all things +by the Word of His power, and from Him cometh down every good and +perfect gift. But nowhere perhaps is a Providence so pointedly asserted +and so sublimely set forth as in some of the last chapters of Job; and +nowhere so variously, winningly, and admirably exhibited as in the +history of Joseph. + +And nowhere could be found more brilliantly illuminating its substance +than in our own hearts and lives. The fool hath said in his heart, there +is no God. To undervalue God's Providence it is the most dreadful insult +that a fool could dare conceive in his mind against God's existence. But +the wise hearken to His voice. + + My son, if thou wilt receive my words, + And hide my commandments with thee; + So that thou incline thine ear to wisdom, + And apply thy heart to understanding; + Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, + And liftest up thy voice for understanding; + If thou seekest her as silver, + And searchest for her as for hid treasures; + Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, + And find the knowledge of God. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +_New York to California_ + + +When I was but a little boy, I can well recollect, a nice little pond in +the hollow of two hills beautifully situated, near the school house +where the pupils would enjoy the intervals of their school time. How I +would wonder at the experiment of throwing a stone in the pond and +watching anxiously the circles of water growing larger and larger till +reaching the banks of the pond and there they would break, as though in +despair for the limitations of their enlarging tendencies. It seems to +me, now, a parallel despair threatens my heart, for being obliged to +compact this story of my conversion. Yet, in view of the fact that the +American reader is a greater admirer of quality rather than quantity, I +must content myself by giving a brief account on the practical side of +my personal experience as a Christian worker, among the rich and the +poor, the high and the low classes and masses, in cities and towns, +sunshine or clouds, rain or snow, by day or by night; I made myself +servant unto all men, that I might by all means save some, and this I do +for the Gospel's sake. And, it is only proper, to confess, publicly, +that I am prepared to suffer all things, for the love which I feel in my +heart to be of some service to my own people, an historical race of +people they are, drifting away from God, blindly allowing blind priests +to lead them into the ditch. There is a cheering prospect about this +people, for whose salvation I have devoted my life, that when Christ +enters into the heart of a Greek, there is very little hope left for the +devil to induce him to be a backslider. A truly converted Greek soul is +worthy of all the joy that the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner +that repenteth. How much more rejoicing shall be there, if we get +converted all the Greeks that are living in the United States and use +them as a kindling matter to start the fire of salvation in the hearts +of the millions of people under the Greek and Russian church slavery, +all round the Mediterranean countries? + +With this and many other social and industrial problems laying upon my +heart, I find the atmosphere, in New York, too close for any opening and +very little encouragement for a beginning. And the atmosphere grew more +asphyxiating every day with the arguments of my friend George N. He +never had any sympathy with the subject so dear to my own heart, his +highest ambition being money-making, for which end he relinquished the +Presbyterian pulpit, after being duly graduated from a Presbyterian +Seminary for ministerial ordination. It was only natural that our +thoughts and our ambitions should face each other suspiciously from the +diametrical opposite ends. And with all due respect to my old teacher +and gratefully acknowledging his hospitality for entertaining me many a +day, I find out that at the best I had to be in his mercy, as long as I +was not able to explain myself, to the American people, speaking in +their own language. And, as difficulties have always had a peculiar +effect upon my personal character; to face them, and fight them out with +one object in view to die or to win, I left New York right after +Christmas of 1903, in the midst of an unusually severe winter, rather a +wanderer; but determined to ramble among the American people and learn +the language by ear, which proved in my case, and I believe, it is in +every case, to be the best school for learning the correct pronunciation +of any language you might desire to speak, and be not laughable when you +address the natives of that language. + +Where should I direct my wandering steps, it was the all important +question, under my consideration in the first place. Boston: I had been +scouring the ground before, and from a thorough-going I was convinced +that to begin in a place where the most superstitious, if not fanatic, +Greeks are situated, at all appearances it should be a wonderful failure +without any dose of wisdom in it; while I was not able to take my stand +before the people, whose sympathies I needed in judging my purposes and +my efforts. In the great wild West, way out there, where some of the +best easterners by leaving their homes and their comforts therein, and +enduring all the hardships of pioneering life they succeeded at last to +put a solid foundation of a new and permanent civilization +astonishingly wonderful not only in the development of this great land +of liberty but revolutionizing the whole commercial and social system of +the world. + +Who hath known the mind of the Lord? We have been taught, that His +purpose is to glorify Himself through human agency, and we know that all +the great movements in history were originated in an insignificant way +by insignificant persons at the beginning. Who could say, at the time, +when the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river, and +there she drew out of the water an ark with a child in it, that that +child would be the chosen one of God to deliver his people from the +Egyptian bondage? Or, when, a poor carpenter with his wife went up from +Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea in a small village of +Bethlehem, and Mary brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in +swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room +for them in the inn; that that baby was the King of Kings, Christ the +Lord and Saviour of all mankind? + +That, humble fishermen would be the heralds of glad tidings, to those +who accept Christ as their Saviour? That an altruist monk should leave +his monastery, thus violating his vows to Pope and the church, to be the +mouthpiece of the Truths of Christ's Gospel, and become the father of a +Reformation that brought down the Romish pride, for all time and raised +the banner of personal liberty in Him who is the Only One to save every +soul that cometh unto Him without the necessity of a priest? That such +men as John Wesley, Moody, and a number of others, to accomplish great +things for the advancement of God's kingdom? And the greatest religious +living man, General William Booth, who, with his ingenious and prototype +system, is doing more for God and humanity, than all religious bodies +put together? Their beginning was insignificant. + +These names, a few of the many, I thought to mention for the +encouragement of those who always try to find some excuse, for not doing +all they can, to realize that for which they every day pray, "Thy +Kingdom come." As for me, I know, that there is nothing impossible with +Jesus, and it is only according to our faith, and the work which we put +in it, that we reap the results of our efforts. + +When I left New York, I made a short stop-over at New Jersey, and one +snowy morning I went to the R. R. station and purchased my ticket for +Athens, Ohio, because, in studying geography, I noticed that there are +quite a number of towns in the United States by the name of Athens, and +I was very desirous to visit the Athens, Ohio, and see if there was any +Acropolis or monuments to compare with the Athens, Greece. The train +arrived at Athens, Ohio, R. R. station just on time, not to miss my +dinner at a nearby restaurant, where I inquired if there were any Greek +people in the town. A very gentle young lady, waiting on the table gave +me instructions to find a candy store kept by a Greek, where she took +her ice cream. I found the place and the Greek who was a real good +natured middle-aged man and his family living on the floor above the +store. He received me kindly and after a short conversation he said he +thought I could make a suitable help for him and he offered me the job +without asking any questions as to my identification. I had no thought +of staying at that place and declined the offer. By the same Greek I was +glad to learn that Athens, Ohio, though there is no Acropolis and no +Socrates there; yet, she is a nice little college town and the Greek was +doing a rushing business with the students. The next train was for St. +Louis, Missouri, and I was very anxious to see the Mississippi river, so +I went on that train. The great bridge on the Mississippi river and the +Union station at St. Louis are two buildings that could make honor to +any city in the world. I left my luggage at the parcel-room and started +out to find a hotel, where I could have the best accommodations for the +smallest amount of money. When I located myself the best that I could, +the next thing I thought to look around for a job, as I liked to stay in +St. Louis till the opening of the World's Fair in the year 1904. I +bought a newspaper: I could then read some English, but speak very +little yet. The advertisement which attracted my attention was a short +one "Wanted young man willing to work, apply, at given number and +street." It was Saturday yet I was anxious and willing to work, so, I +went to answer the ad. By asking in every corner some man in uniform, +not knowing at the time if they were policemen or conductors in the +electric cars, I find the street and presently I saw the number above +the door of a great big livery stable. I looked over the newspaper, and +the number was correct. I was not prepared for the surprise and for a +moment I hesitated to enter. The thoughts came to me by bunches: for the +first time in my life I was looking for an honest work to make an honest +living, and the first place, God's Providence, brought me, was a stable; +and what a big stable that was. I never knew anything about stables and +horses: what could I do there? Instantly my feet began to move backwards +when a thought came as a lightning: what do you care if it is a stable, +or a dowager's palace? It is work that you want, and it is much more +honorable to work in a stable and be right with God, than to live in the +luxuries as a High Priest and be an hypocrite. Labor, it has always been +an object of my admiration, though, labor is set forth as a part of the +primeval curse, "in the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread" and +doubtless there is a view of labor which exhibits in it reality as a +heavy, sometimes a crueling burden. But labor is by no means exclusively +an evil, nor is its prosecution a dishonor. + +These impressions, false though they are, have wrought a vast and +complicated amount of harm to men, especially to the industrious +classes, causing these classes, that is, the great majority of our +fellow-creatures, to be regarded, and consequently to be treated even in +Christian lands, as a parish caste, as hereditary "hewers of wood and +drawers of water" doomed by Providence, if not primarily by the Creator +himself, to a low and degrading yoke, and utterly incapable of +entertaining lofty sentiments, or rising to a higher position; to be +restrained therefore in every manifestation of impatience lest they +should temporarily gain the upper hand, and lay waste the fair fields of +civilization; and to be kept under for the safety of society, if not for +their own safety, by social burdens and the depressing influences of +disregard and contempt. + +A better feeling, however, regarding labor and laborers, is beginning to +prevail: these motions, which breathe the very spirit of slavery whence +they are borrowed, are in a word dishonored, while they are gradually +losing their hold on the heart, and their influence on the life. +Individuals arising from time to time from the lowest levels of social +life to take, occupy, and adorn its loftiest posts, have irresistibly +shown that there is no depression in society which the favors of God may +not reach. Especially has a wider and more humane spirit begun to +prevail since man has learned more accurately to know, and more +powerfully to feel, the genius and the spirit of the Gospel, whose +originator was a carpenter's son, and whose heralds were Galilean +fishermen. Reason and experience too, in this as in all cases, have come +to revealed truth, tending forcibly to show that labor, if under certain +circumstances it has a curse to inflict, has also many priceless +blessings to bestow. Yet, when it fell to my lot, to submit myself in +that class and be a laborer and earn my bread by the sweat of my brow, +it was a critical moment to decide upon. And just at this moment a man +of small stature came out of the stable, and as I looked suspiciously, +he asked me if I wanted anything. I want this job said I, showing to him +the ad in the paper. With a few sharp glances at me standing now like a +marble; all right, he said; you just put on your working clothes and +come here on Monday morning at 5 a. m., and we will have something for +you to do. I left him and on my way back home I entered the first +clothing store and purchased an outfit of working-man's clothes. The +next day was Sunday and I spent the day in my room, praying that God +would sustain me in my new career. At night I had very little sleep, +making my plans for the future, or building my castles in the air, and +early Monday morning I was at the stable before 5 a. m. Soon the little +man appeared and after the customary ceremony in taking my name and +address, he led the way into the inner part of the stable in front of a +huge heap of horse manure. There, he says, you just shovel that out of +the window, and handing to me a big fork, for the operation, he +disappeared. + +There are certain happenings in our lives indelibly written in our +memory, which cannot be effaced by the stream of time, and one week's +experience in this stable was sufficient to engrave the deepest lines in +my heart of sympathy and mercy for sinful, suffering humanity. It has +been said in the old Greek mythology that the greatest achievement of +Hercules was when he undertook to clean the stable of the king Augeus +at Argos. But should Hercules lived in this stable for one week, I doubt +that his name would ever appear in the list of demigods. + +[Illustration: REV. M. GOLDEN + +Captain of the Salvation Army] + +It is beyond the limits of self respect to even attempt a brief account +of all that took place in that stable, but sufficient to say that I went +in there one individual and by Saturday I came out ten thousand strong. +And I had to put up in St. Louis one more week in a bath house, with +much work and expense to get back into my one individual, and hasten my +wandering steps towards Chicago, with a stop-over at Springfield, +Illinois, where I had references to meet a gentleman, professor of the +Greek language in one of the colleges there. When I arrived at the house +of the dear professor, he, began to speak to me from a book, in an +exameter homerean tone, and I understood about as much as the faithful +who goes to church and the priest reads the mass in Latin. At +Springfield I lost my satchel and with it my Greek documents, which +might have been very interesting to the reader, yet, I hope in my next +publication to have reproductions of those documents from the original, +which I can easily obtain from Athens. + +Chicago is my next stop. The Babylon of the West. Last week of January, +1904, the weather 12 degrees below zero. All the idles of Chicago hired +by the city hall could not keep control of the snow on the streets. I +located myself in a furnished room on Wabash Avenue, and bought a paper +to find a job, but my experience in the stable at St. Louis, took away +from me all the courage to select any kind of work from the paper, yet I +was very anxious to settle for a while in Chicago, in that third +cosmopolitan city of the world, London and New York being respectively +first and second. + +Chicago offers great opportunity to a student of religious, industrial +and social conditions, and when, by chance, I secured employment in a +leading warehouse, a very good paying position, under the circumstances, +I devoted all my spare time visiting the Greek quarters, incognito, and +studying everything that came within my observation, and attending all +kinds of public meetings of various denominations and societies, which +proved a great help to me in learning the proper pronunciation of the +English words, in fact for five years I did not speak five times in the +Greek language. + +One morning I read in the paper the following announcement: "The Knights +Templar of the United States have made their plans to celebrate the 29th +triennial conclave of Knights Templar to be held in San Francisco, Cal., +September 4 to 9. The occasion will be of universal character, +representatives from all the world; and Great Britain will send to this +imposing ceremony the highest officials that control the affairs of the +chivalric order of Freemasonry in the British Isles. The Earl of Euston, +most eminent and supreme grand master of great priory of England and +Wales and the dependencies of the British crown, were coming with +credentials to represent Edward VII, the king of England." I was +looking forward to my visit to California, since I left New York, but I +never expected the time for me to go there would come so soon as it did. +I was longing to see a great gathering of Freemasons, of this class of +men, that, in every country represents the highest ideals of good +citizenship. + +With a few days preliminary preparations, I bade good-bye to my +employer, and well supplied with recommendations from some influential +friends and acquaintances which I had made in Chicago, I saw myself off +to California, on the forenoon train, the 25th of June, 1904. + +The trip was uneventful, excepting the unbearable heat and dust, +especially going through the States of Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico, +and the number of Indians, which, for the first time in my life I beheld +in their own skin living and moving contented as though they still were +the dominating race on the continent, with their square faces painted in +various colors, wrapped in their blankets, and bare-footed, their feet +being very much like those of a mud turtle, they were the real thing. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +_Honorable Submission_ + + +There was a time when the Eastern part of the United States looked upon +San Francisco as the coming New York of the Pacific Coast, but since the +disastrous earthquake in the year 1906, the stream of progress as a +great commercial center has been turned rather towards the Northern +Pacific Coast, yet San Francisco with its great harbor, the ever +increasing commercial developments and number of other advantages, still +is a magnificent attraction to the homeseeker, who for the last few +years has been very sceptical in his preference on account of existing +unfavorable conditions regarding the city's government which is the prey +of dishonest politicians. For this and many other reasons I should never +make my home within the limits of the city of San Francisco. There are +beautiful localities within short distances, desirable in every respect +and beyond the claws of the city hall of San Francisco. + +Mount Tamalpais, I believe, is a most pleasant location for the lovers +of nature. Words fail, and it is beyond the ability of my pen, to even +attempt to describe, the beauties which nature has bestowed upon the +Mount of Tamalpais. Situated just across the bay of San Francisco, by +the way of Socialito, on the train to Mill Valley and whence on the +crookedest railroad in the world, climbing 2000 feet above the tide of +water, we reach the lower top of the mountain, and there we find +accommodations to entertain kings and princesses, and the most eccentric +Yankee. Yet, I am assured, that scarcely one-tenth of the visitors to +California, have ever had the exceptional privilege to spend 24 hours, +on the top of Mount Tamalpais, and thereafter all through their lives +enjoy the most wonderful recollection in all God's creation. + +The Alps in Europe are too stupendous to be compared with this +majestically magnificent mount of Tamalpais. The Himalaya in Asia are +too brutish to be considered as a rival of this gentle and illustrious +sky-scraper. The Olympus and Parnassus of Greece are out of season to be +paralleled with this up-to-date marvelous throne of their Majesties the +Kings of America. There is the Tamalpais Hotel, a real palace, where the +guests can rest and from the verandas or the windows of their own rooms +observe the animating sights on the left hand side the snow-covered +top-heads of the mountains and following to the right look down upon the +valleys and behold the myriads of orange and lemon and all the +fruit-bearing trees blooming all the year around and decorated like +brides in their wedding procession, not only for a few moments, till the +law ties the knot, but forever as long as the life-giving climate of +beautiful California lasts and time shall be no more. + +When I went up to the Mountain, looking for employment, because I +wanted to locate myself in such a place, if I could, till the +celebration of the Knights Templar was over, I was surprised to find +that the General Manager of the Hotel and the R. R. Station was a lady, +of a striking majestical appearance, she was the controlling power of +the whole business on Mount Tamalpais, and she was not a suffragette +either. But she was a loving mother of two beautiful children, a typical +Yankee girl, well up in her teens, supervising over the chambermaids, +and variously assisting her mother, and an active boy of sixteen, the +good-fellow of everybody, and especially to the Chinamen employed in the +kitchen. Mr. Johnson was the husband and father of this happy family, +and he occupied the position of butler of the house, receiving orders +from his beloved wife. + +I presented my credentials to Mrs. Johnson and she, being satisfied, was +very kind to give me the charge of two tables to wait upon in the dining +room. It seemed as though I made good as a waiter, judging by the coins +which the customers, began to forget, beneath their plates, in leaving +the table, some call it tips, I called it real money. + +September was well at hand, one day old, and Mrs. Johnson was very +anxious to have the premises well decorated, and a big arch should be +erected at the entrance, with the sign, "WELCOME," to Knights Templar, +as news came from San Francisco, that the Knights were already in +possession of the Golden Gate. Mrs. Johnson was almost in despair, +unable to find someone among that great army of employees, to have any +artistic ideas of decorating or even to make a few flower designs and +put up the arch out of some green foliage. We were all green, in that +respect. But as I always find myself at hand, wherever help is to be +rendered, I offered my services, and by what I could remember from my +friend Jack, in New York, how he could decorate everything to a good +taste, I have been able to put up a nice decoration and the third of +September, 1904, the flags of all nations were waving and everything was +ready for the reception of the Knights Templar. Mrs. Johnson was pleased +to the extent of presenting me with an extra three dollars and relieving +me from the dining room, she appointed me in charge of the pavilion, an +out-doors building, where the Knights Templar would privately entertain +their families and lady friends. In this position I was enabled to see +more of the high American life than I ever dreamed of before. The +English Lord, and the Parisien Dame de Honor, were eclipsed as they +would look like pygmies by the side of the sunshining, bright-hearted +American gentlemen, and the sweet and graceful demigoddess American +lady. But my enthusiasm reached its zenith when a gentleman from +Pittsburg, in company with his ladies, after an enjoyable dinner, at the +pavilion, he left under his plate a shining five dollar gold piece; at +the sight of the unexpected I made a sign to which the gentleman was +obliged to respond, and that settled it, there was no mistake about it, +the man and I were brothers and the coin was intended as my tip. And +afterwards the incident occurred repeatedly during the celebration of +Knights Templar in San Francisco. + +Now, if everything in this world was just a procession like that of +Knights Templar in San Francisco, and everybody was happy as the people +I have seen on Mount Tamalpais, then there would be no sorrow, and there +would be no pain; in fact this world would be the paradise on earth. +But, alas! regretful as it may be, yet it is only the simple truth, that +it is only the minority that are real happy, while the vast majority of +men and women and children in this world are just a mass of suffering +humanity, and if the investigations of religious societies, +sociologists, and psychologists, are true, the cause of all misery in +this world is misconduct or misfortune, which in one word is, sin, that +brings misery. And there is where my purpose in life begins. I am out +against sin. But to fight sin, it is absolutely necessary to be a +soldier of the man who gave his life for the salvation of all mankind. + +President Emeritus Eliot of Harvard University, a man of colossal +thought-machine, man, who controls the unprejudiced intellectual minds +of America, in his address on "The Religion of the Future," is quoted as +saying: "I venture to add that I am not at the hold of any proud +world--whatever; second, that such little part of the world as I am best +acquainted with loves the Lowly Nazarene--and does not hate Him; +thirdly, that I have met during my life most of the sorrows which are +accounted heaviest; fourth, that Jesus will be in the religion of the +future, not less, but more, than in the Christianity of the past." All +efforts without Jesus, trying to better the world, shall fail. It is and +will be the opinion of all sane minds for many generations yet to come. +This was my opinion and the only imposing motive that brought me down on +my knees on the 14th of October, 1904, in a poorly furnished hall where +the Salvation Army had the Sunday night's meeting. I gave my heart to +Jesus, for life and for eternity, to be his and his alone. And I knew, +there and then, that I was honorably converted. + +To make the surrender complete I offered my services to the Salvation +Army, that I should use all I had, my time and my talent, to uplift the +down-fallen humanity and help to make this world better. Major Harris +Connett and Adjutant Allison Coe, were the officers in charge of the Los +Angeles Salvation Army and they received me into their ranks and for ten +months I was engaged in this wonderful organization, visiting the sick, +praying in the saloons, in the slums and everywhere doing all that I +could to promote the cause of Jesus in bringing souls into his fold. But +nothing gave me so great pleasure as the poor children of Los Angeles at +Christmas time when I was dressed in the Santa Claus clothing +distributing presents to them. I never felt happier in all my life even +in the best days as a High Priest. + +After passing successfully my preparatory studies in Los Angeles, word +came from the Headquarters that they wanted me in the college Training +Home, in Chicago, to take the course of officership; and the 15th of +August, 1905, finds me sweeping the back yard at the Training Home, West +Adams St., Chicago, Illinois. + +Were it possible for every man and woman who pretends to be a minister +of Jesus, to pass six months in any of the Training Colleges of the +Salvation Army, then there should be fewer ministers, but far more +useful, in the betterment of the world, than many of them that are under +the present conditions. + +It is the most psychological system, in these Training Colleges that +brings out all the virtues that every heart possesses and every bit of +iniquity that may be hidden in the personal character of the man or +woman who willingly denies himself or herself of all prospects and +pleasures in this world just for the only purpose to live and love and +serve the suffering humanity. There are exceptions to the rule among the +officers of the Salvation Army, once in a great while some one will +prove unworthy to the cause, but these exceptions are common in every +human institution, and they are so few in the Salvation Army that fully +justifies the public confidence upon this marvelously developing great +movement. + +I went through the theoretical and practical work for which I could make +a whole volume of the experiences in the slums of Chicago, where I had +to reprove a policeman, whom I found in a saloon drinking in full +uniform, while in the back room there was a girl not over fifteen years +old, in the company of a most reckless middle-aged man, both +exceedingly intoxicated and still drinking. I dismissed the man, and +sent the girl to the rescue home, where she would be taken care of. + +The 17th of January, 1906, I received my diploma as an active member of +the National First Aid Association of America, and my commission as a +Captain in the Salvation Army, and I was appointed in charge of No. 4 in +Chicago. I went to my quarters and there was not kindling wood enough to +start a fire, and no coal; and the weather 14 degrees below zero, half +the glass panes of the windows broken, and everything in the house +frozen, and the Corps indebted to the extent of 175 dollars, that I was +expected to pay. You have to put yourself in a position of this kind in +order to appreciate the circumstances under which I was placed. Yet, +when everything seems dark, and there is no visible way out of the +difficulty, it is then that with Jesus on our side, we shall always find +some way. The first consideration in a missionary work should be to get +souls converted to God. With much prayer and great faith upon the +Almighty, I began my work, and when the Spirit spread all round that +community and the sinners began to flock into the fold of Jesus, there +was a change in a very short time. The old debt was paid, and we had +comfortable quarters to lay our heads; and the roll-call of the Corps +increased, and God was glorified, and there is a Corps, till this day, +in Chicago, which they call the big 4 of the Salvation Army. + +The San Francisco disaster came and the Salvation Army called me into +its relieving department to help the sufferers. After which they +appointed me assistant to the Illinois Division, where for two years I +made a deeper and more thorough study of the various departments in +operation. + +In April, 1908, I visited England with the desire to study closer and +more extensively the methods, and see for myself the great works which +the Salvation Army has accomplished in the British Isles. + +On my return to the United States I was appointed divisional solicitor +for the Northern New England, where, splendid success was the result of +my efforts, and there was a great field to work in and every opportunity +to do good. + +But in searching my heart's ambition I find that it was high time for me +to turn all my energies toward the people for whose Salvation I was +ordained a High Priest in the Church, and although the Church failed in +its mission, yet, to uplift my people is still the aim of my life. + +After much thought and due consideration of my obligations to the +Salvation Army, I came to the conclusion that in view of the fact that +following an unsuccessful correspondence with the Salvation Army, the +National Headquarters refused to grant me a leave of absence, and +insisted that I should go back West, while I knew that the field where I +was called to fight the battle of my life was right here in New England, +the best thing for me to do remained to send in my resignation, and I +did so, thus thrusting myself entirely upon the hands of God. + +And though as yet I have received no reply from the National +Headquarters, my resignation is final, and now I am free, and my work +unmolested of all denominational differences, dogmas and doctrines, +which in the light of the Ecclesiastical history has always been the +fatal cause of failure, in the Churches, to accomplish their mission in +the Salvation of the world. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +_Practical Effects of Practical Truth_ + + +The necessity of faith, as a primary element in all acceptable religious +exercises, has already been noticed. A feeling of entire dependence upon +God for spiritual mercy is the only right feeling, because it is the +only true feeling. It is necessary, according to the foregoing view of +the subject, in order to offer acceptable prayer, that man should +possess a spirit of faith and dependence upon Christ. The principle upon +which Christ acted in relation to this subject, as well as His +instruction concerning the duty of prayer, fully confirm the preceding +thoughts. He seldom performed an act of mercy, by miracle or otherwise, +unless those who received the mercy could see the hand of God in the +blessing:--"If thou canst believe, thou mayest be cleansed," was His +habitual sentiment. As if He had said--Your desire for the blessing is +manifest by your urgent request; now, if you can have faith to see God +in the blessing, so that He will be honored and praised for conferring +it, I will grant it; but if you have no faith, you can receive no favor. + +This little book could easily occupy thrice as large a size as its +present volume, had I taken into account all the blessings which God +has bestowed upon my faithful prayers and upon His children, using me as +an instrument of His hand. But I must content myself by referring to +only two cases, which had had exceptional significance and gratifying +joy not only to my own heart, but to every Christian worker. + +With the individuals spoken of I am well acquainted, having frequently +conversed with them all on the subjects of which I shall speak. Their +words in these cases may not have been exactly remembered, but the sense +is truly given. + +The first case, is a story, told all by itself, and the second case, is +a letter of a dear girl, whose mother was a down to the bone Roman +Catholic. The daughter accidentally came to our meeting and gave her +heart to Jesus. The mother thinking that the worldly pleasures might +drive her newly converted daughter away from Jesus, and being very +anxious to get her daughter back into the Catholic parish, she gave a +party to all the young people from the same parish. And there was plenty +of song and dance, but the daughter did not show up. The mother with a +number of the guests went into the daughter's room where the girl in +seclusion was reading her Bible; the young people almost carrying her +into the reception hall, sat her upon the stool in front of the piano, +earnestly asking her to play for them while they were dancing. But, the +girl, lifting up to God her angelic heart and voice, she began to play +and sing, softly "Nearer My God To Thee," the tears streaming down her +cheeks; they were tears of joy for the saved girl, but the young people +could not stand it and they ran away, while the converted girl bended on +her knees in prayer for them, and her own mother's salvation. + +Case 1.--For love of the Christ:--John Davis was the only child of a +Chicago banker. The wealth and social prominence of his father had +surrounded him with every comfort and luxury, and his growth from +boyhood to incipient manhood had been tenderly watched over by his fond +parents. + +All the hopes of his parents were centered in their only child. Mr. +Davis looked forward to the time when John would become his partner, and +that his son might be fitted in every way, engaged the best tutors +procurable to attend to his education. John had graduated with honors +after four years of college work, which was marked by the thorough and +earnest application on his part. His father watched his progress with +growing pride and with fullest confidence in his son's ability, arranged +to take him into partnership at the proper time. + +Seemingly the future for John was one of brilliant promise. But John did +not show an eager anticipation for the future as planned for him. A life +devoted to business was to him a selfish one. Something within him was +insistently calling him to a higher vocation; although apparently +acquiescing to his father's plans, the prospect daily became more and +more distasteful to him. + +From his mother, a woman of singular devoutness and piety, John had +received a careful religious training, and he could not reconcile the +idea of a life devoted to self with the truths he had reverently +accepted as his faith. Daily he met with examples of shamefully degraded +manhood, of pitiful want, and of unhelped suffering. His soul went out +in pity towards these unfortunate ones, and at such times the voice +within imperiously summoned him to follow in the footsteps of Him whom +he worshiped as Lord and Saviour. + +On the other hand Reason urged filial obedience to the wishes of his +father. That his mother would understand and encourage him should he +heed the call of his soul, John did not for an instant doubt. Not less +clearly, however, did he recognize the attitude his father would take to +such a course; for his father, while refraining from scoffing at beliefs +cherished by his wife and friends, made no secret of his own disbelief +in them. + +The life which would appear to his mother and himself as noblest of all +would seem quixotic and senseless to his father. Besides, his father had +set his heart on John's becoming his partner in business. John dreaded +to disappoint him, yet stronger and stronger grew the call of that inner +voice which now all but dominated him. + +One evening as he sat with his parents he surprised them by saying: "Now +that I have finished my college course it is time for me to choose my +vocation, to strive to be of benefit to my fellow men." + +"All arrangements have been made, John," responded Mr. Davis, "you may +begin at once if you so desire. Your mother and I thought, however, that +you were entitled to a vacation after your college work. However we can +use you at the bank the moment you are ready," laughed Mr. Davis. + +"That is just what I desire to talk over with you, father," returned +John. "For weeks I have felt that the future you have designed for me is +too narrow--too selfish. With my Master's Call sounding in my ears, the +thought of devoting my life to any business, however high its position +in the eyes of the world, is intolerably repugnant. + +"I know how firmly your heart has been set upon my joining you in +business, and I cannot tell you how hard it is for me to disappoint you +at this late hour, but Christ has called me to preach to His people. I +feel and know that only in so doing shall I find true happiness and +contentment. + +"You surely, father, will not oppose my doing that which every fibre of +my body tells me is my duty." + +The eyes of Mrs. Davis filled with glad tears, and a prayer for Divine +guidance for her son went up from her heart; but annoyance and +displeasure plainly showed on Mr. Davis' face. At length he said: + +"I had thought it definitely settled that you were to assist me, and on +the strength of that belief I have made several important changes in my +business with the view of affording a proper position for you. Your +decision declining to accept it will inconvenience me not a little. + +"With all due consideration for your religious beliefs, I feel it my +duty as your father, John, to express my disappointment of the +profession you at present seem inclined to adopt. However you are +entering man's estate, and it is for you to decide as to your career. I +shall, however, insist upon one thing: that you take a good vacation +before making your final decision. + +"If, upon your return you are of the same mind, I shall not oppose you, +although to speak frankly, John, I am not a little disappointed. + +"Anyway a good western trip will greatly benefit you, and I shall not be +at all surprised if on your return your conception of your duty has +undergone important modifications." As if signifying that he desired to +discuss the subject no farther, Mr. Davis rose and left the room. + +Keenly feeling his father's disappointment and displeasure, John +instinctively turned to his mother for sympathy. Mrs. Davis stepped to +his side and with a fond caress said: + +"Thank God you have made this choice; I shall do all in my power to help +you." + +"Thank you, mother dear. I believe you understand me, and know how +sincere is my desire to do what I can for my fellow men. + +"I do so long to lead some of them to Christ; for many are wandering in +darkness, just waiting for some one to reach them a helping hand. + +"In deference to father's wishes I shall take a vacation; though it can +by no possibility alter my determination. On my return I shall begin +active work without delay. + +"I have education enough to preach the simple truths of God's love. I +wish to preach to sinners, not to saints. I shall ask no salary and have +no denomination. My Church will be Christ." + +After tenderly embracing his mother, during which the souls of mother +and son united in a prayer to the Most High, John bade her "Good night" +and retired. + +The following week found John on his way to South Dakota, his plan being +to make his first stop of any length at Aberdeen. + +He arrived there at night and the following morning mounted his bicycle +for a trip through the surrounding country. + +It was a new world to him. His first thought was: how splendid the roads +were for wheeling, they seemed even better than the paved streets of the +city. + +He cast his eyes over his surroundings. On all sides was the vast +expanse of prairie, ending only in the horizon--the fields of grass and +grain, moving in the wind like the waves of the sea; overhead the blue +sky, stretching out in a dome unbroken by hill or forest. The sun above +him seemed to shine with a brighter splendor than he had before known. + +The beauties of nature filled the soul of this city-bred youth with +wonder and admiration. + +He rode on and on. + +At one moment the joyous song of a lark captivated him; at another, the +capering of some colts, or a sleek herd of cattle quietly grazing in a +nearby pasture attracted his attention; or a colony of prairie gophers +which dived excitedly into their burrows at his approach, amused him +with their antics. + +At last he began to wonder how far he had gone. + +Seeing nearby a large, well kept farm-house, he rode up to it, to +procure such rest and refreshment as it might afford him, before +undertaking his long ride back to town. + +His knock at the door was answered by a beautiful girl, apparently about +fifteen years of age. John explained his errand to her, and requested +such courtesies as could be granted without putting the people of the +house to undue inconvenience. + +The girl expressed her regrets that her parents were away in town, but +saying that she expected them home very soon, she invited him in, and +ushered him into a cool, spacious sitting-room. + +Mutual introductions followed and John learned that the name of his fair +young hostess was Lily Long, "but," said she, with a slight blush, +"father calls me the Queen of the Prairie." + +They visited together for some little time, until Lily, exclaiming that +her father and mother were coming, went out to greet them. + +Left to himself, John glanced around him. + +An old-fashioned piano stood in one corner of the room. He noted also an +ample, well filled book-case at one end of the room. + +"Music, books, and Prairie Queen. If this is a typical example of +country life, I must say that I rather like it." + +Mr. and Mrs. Long greeted him heartily and gave him a cordial invitation +to stay to dinner--an invitation which he gratefully accepted. + +And what a dinner it was; vegetables fresh gathered from the garden in +abundance; fried chicken prepared as only a farmer's wife can prepare +it; and the countless other good things which go to make dinner on the +farm. To this dinner John brought an appetite sharpened by his brisk +morning ride; he did full justice to the tempting viands, nor could he +remember so thoroughly enjoying a dinner before. + +Everything on the farm was so clean and well arranged that John began to +wish he could board there instead of in town during the remainder of his +visit; so when they had adjourned to the sitting-room, he informed Mr. +Long of his wish, and asked if it were possible. + +"But before you answer me," he added, "I should like to make myself +better known to you." + +Then he told them of his father and mother, of his own youth, and of his +college life. A natural question on the part of Mr. Long as to what +brought him so far West led to an explanation from John, who presently +found himself telling his new-found friends his future plans and +ambitions. + +"My boy," said Mr. Long, reaching out his hand, "I honor you for your +choice. You are welcome to share our home as long as you care to stay." + +Mrs. Long wiped her eyes as she pressed John to stay with them, for she +thought of her own son whom God had called home. + +Lily must have been thinking of him too, for she said: "I am glad you +are going to stay, for then I can play you are my brother." + +"I certainly shall be proud to be your brother," John answered +gallantly. + +That evening when the family gathered for prayers, Lily took her seat at +the old piano. Then John realized why they called her "Queen," for never +had he heard such a magnificent voice, so sweet, so soft, and so full of +feeling. It seemed as though she carried them nearer Heaven with her +song. + +Before John retired he wrote to his mother, telling her of the home he +had found, and of "The Queen of the Prairie." This rather amused Mrs. +Davis, for hitherto, John had had little to say in praise of young +ladies, although he was a favorite among them. + +The summer passed merrily on, and John's vacation was drawing near its +close, when one morning he received a telegram telling him that his +mother was dangerously sick. The message filled him with anxious +foreboding, and he quickly prepared to return home at once. + +Tears were on Mrs. Long's cheeks as she helped him pack, for she had not +realized before to what an extent John had taken her own boy's place in +her heart. His own eyes were moist as he bade her farewell, promising to +return as soon as possible. + +Mr. Long was ready with a team to drive him to town, and Lily was +standing beside her father. She raised a tear-stained face to him, and +said: "Goodbye, dear brother, we shall miss you." + +John was not ashamed of his own tears, for this little girl who called +him "Brother," had grown dearer to him than all the world. He stooped +and reverently kissed her snow white brow, then sprang in the buggy and +was gone. + +When John reached home, his father met him at the door. Mr. Davis' face +was ghastly pale; he had grown old with grief. + +John's eyes asked the question his lips could not frame. + +"She still lives, but the doctor says she cannot last long," said his +father in answer to his son's mute appeal. + +"She is paralyzed. She will probably recognize you, but she can neither +speak nor move." + +Without speaking John went to his mother's bedside, and saw that this +was indeed true. His mother lay as one dead. A faint spark of +recognition showed in her fast dimming eyes as he approached but other +signs of life there were none. + +Overcome with grief, John stood motionless at the bedside. + +Then in agony he turned to Him who faileth not, he fell on his knees and +prayed reverently for his mother's recovery. + +His father tried to lead him away, but John continued to pray. + +Then suddenly in that hour of anguish the grief-stricken man found his +God. Kneeling at his son's side, he implored mercy from Him whom +hitherto he had denied. + +All at once Mrs. Davis spoke, "My son." + +The doctor hastened to her side. + +In a moment he turned to Mr. Davis and said, "She is better, she will +live." + +Dr. Gordon was an unbeliever, but at that moment he realized that +something had control of life, which could act after science had failed. + +He looked at John who had not yet risen from his knees, at Mr. Davis who +was pouring out thanks to the God he had just found, then at the woman +who had been saved at the point of death. + +Like a flash came to him the knowledge of a merciful Christ, and he +joined the father and son in their prayer of thanksgiving. + +Mrs. Davis rapidly recovered her health, and John soon entered upon his +life work. He received hearty encouragement from his father this time, +for Mr. Davis had learned the Truth and found his God at the bedside of +his dying wife in such a way as to leave no place in his heart for +opposition to work in His service. + +John's work was among the poor. He visited from house to house, +preaching and praying, and extending material help when such help was +most needed. + +His sincerity and earnestness were the means of bringing light into many +darkened lives, and the message of Christ crucified was eagerly received +in response to his pleadings. + +At one broken-down house he was met by a frail woman who carried a +half-starved child in her arms. It was plainly apparent that in better +days she had been a handsome and refined woman. + +John introduced himself and asked if he could be of any help to her. + +"No," she answered, "I am afraid you cannot aid me. I am Rose Williams. +My father is a man of wealth. He is living today in luxury in a +neighboring city, and if I would leave my husband I could be clothed in +silk and satin instead of these rags, but as long as I stay with him, my +father will not help me, not even to keep me from starving. But I would +rather starve with my husband than leave him to kill himself with drink, +for I love him. + +"Drink is the cause of all my poverty and misery. Oh, if Ralph would +only let it alone." + +She ended her story in a frenzied cry which plainly showed the tension +to which she had been wrought, but John's voice was low and soothing as +he said, "Suppose you and I pray for your husband. I have great faith in +the power of prayer. Shall we not pray together?" + +Together they knelt down, and offered up an earnest prayer. Mrs. +Williams spoke in low tones at first, then with great excitement. At +last she tried to rise, but fell in a swoon on the floor. John placed +her on a couch in the room and sent at once for Dr. Gordon. + +After his examination, Dr. Gordon looked serious. + +"This is going to be a bad case of brain fever, John. From all +appearances it has been hastened by lack of proper food, but she may +pull through if she has proper care." + +[Illustration: REV. M. GOLDEN + +The Founder of the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association] + +John saw that the service of the physician was only part of what was +needed for the woman's safety. + +He went out and procured bedding and food, and his mother sent over one +of her maids, also a trained nurse. + +Soon things were made comfortable for Mrs. Williams, but she could not +rest. + +In her delirium she called continually for Ralph to come home and bring +her something to eat. + +And where was Ralph? For three days he had been laying in a drunken +stupor in the cellar of a saloon, but this evening he had sobered +somewhat, and remorse for his cruel neglect of his wife and children was +finding a place in his heart. He recalled the starving condition in +which he had left them. + +Perhaps for the first time he began to realize how dearly his wife must +love him to give up the pleasure and luxury of her girlhood home for +him, and there in that room not fit for cattle, this man cried out in +his anguish, "Oh, God, protect my wife and forgive me." + +He started at once for home but as he neared the house his heart was +filled with fear, his head began to whirl. Where was Rose? Why was +everything so still? + +He opened the door and was met by a little girl dressed in white and +with golden curls. + +How beautiful she was; she ran to him and cried, "Papa has come, Papa +has come!" + +Then he knew she was his own little daughter. + +She led him to the bed on which lay his wife, but the only words which +greeted him were, "Ralph come home and bring us something to eat." + +He called her name but she heard him not. + +Again he spoke: "Dear Rose, forgive me, forgive me." + +Dr. Gordon laid his hand on the shoulder of the stricken man and said: +"Ask your God to forgive you, your wife knows not what you say." + +He looked at the doctor a moment, then said in a low voice, "I did that +before I started home. God has forgiven me and saved me. But tell me +what I can do for my poor wife." + +It was indeed true, Ralph Williams was a changed man. The God who had +heard the prayers of the father and son at the dying woman's bedside, +and restored her to them, vouchsafed his mercy to the starving wife who +prayed for her drink-sodden husband, and in answer to it the dulled +conscience of the husband was aroused. + +Slowly Mrs. Williams improved, until one morning she said: "Is this +Heaven, and are Ralph and my children here?" + +"Yes, Rose," her husband replied, "Ralph and the children are here, and +henceforth I will do all I can to make this home Heaven on earth." + + * * * * * + +The years rolling by saw John still fighting the fight for his Maker. +Out of the gratitude Ralph Williams had felt for the Divine mercy shown +him, had sprung a determination to do all in his power towards +uplifting others. John eagerly accepted his services, and thus the +nucleus of a rapidly growing power for good was formed. + +As more and more came to know the meaning of "Christ Crucified," they +entered heart and soul into the work of spreading the truth to others +and soon a mightly cohort of Christian workers spread over the city. +Individually and with them John labored night and day sustained by his +faith and enthusiasm. + +The work of directing the efforts of so many, the nightly vigil at the +bedside of sick and dying, the continual breathing of the vitiated air +of the lower quarters of the city, gradually sapped the strength of +John, who did not know the meaning of fatigue when a call on the service +of his Christ sounded. + +At last an attack of nervous prostration made him realize his position, +and yielding to the importunities of his parents and fellow-workers, he +consented to take a vacation. + +Where should he go but to the broad, sunny prairies of Dakota, to his +dearly remembered friends, the Longs and Lily. + +She met him with outstretched arms and a glad smile of welcome. With the +glory of dawning womanhood about her she was more than ever the "Queen +of the Prairie," but by the soft light in her eyes John saw that she was +still his Lily. + +During the long pleasant vacation which followed, John gained strength +and vigor once more, and its close found him ably equipped to take up +Christ's work once more. + +Mr. and Mrs. Long were doubly sorrowful at their second parting from +him, for his heart had found its mate and Lily was accompanying him. + +He had gained a lovely bride, and more than that, an enthusiastic +helpmate. + +Together they took up the work where John had left it. Ere long the +erstwhile "Queen of the Prairie" was known as "Angel of the Poor," for +her womanly sympathy could often find its way into darkness which even +John's earnestness failed to penetrate. + +One Friday night they both came to take part in our holiness meeting, +and the Spirit revealed to them that should they submit all their powers +unreservedly to the will of God, He could use them to still higher and +more effective purposes of the cause of Jesus. So, John and Lily, side +by side, came out at the altar and offered their lives and their +services to Jesus for time and for eternity, they, becoming active +members in my corps, and a great blessing to the suffering humanity in +that community. + +Case 2.--The following letter was received from the girl already +mentioned, as the daughter of a Roman Catholic woman, who tried to drive +her converted daughter, by the worldly pleasures, away from Jesus: + + "Chicago, Ill., Oct. 5, 1906. + + Captain Golden, + Salvation Army. + + Dear Friend: + + I feel that I must let you know what the Lord has done for me, + 'through you.' + + Why I ever went to the Salvation Army meeting is more than I + know, because I have always been told that the Salvation Army + was nothing more than street beggars and a great deal more. + + So I never went to their meetings until I went to No. 4, and I + do sincerely thank God that I went, because now I can see how + far from the Lord I was wandering and so unintentionally + because I never meant to be a sinner, but I just wanted to have + a good time. But now, I can see where some of those good times + lead us. + + Captain, I often think how brave you must have been to go on + with the work at No. 4, with so little help, 'that is, earthly + help.' I am sorry that I could not help you, but you see I was + not brave like you. I could not talk about Jesus to those who + scoffed, but I do want Jesus to help me and strengthen me to do + His will. Captain, do you know there is a song that always come + to me when I am in any difficulty, 'Lead Me Saviour.' + + Yours sincerely, + + FLOY MAYHEN, + 2207, 63d St., Chicago." + +It is simply wonderful, that there is no one to lead us like the +Saviour, dear Jesus. Who died on Calvary's Cross for our redemption. And +now, dear reader, just a word to you. This volume is written for you; if +you are a converted Christian enjoying the blessings of a clean heart, +indeed, blessed you are, for "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they +shall see God." But, if for some reason, if there can be a reason for +not being saved, you kept back until this hour, I pray that you may go +down upon your knees, at this very moment, just as you are, and open +your heart to God, and let Jesus come in: and I know and you will know +that the remaining days of your life will be sweet and happy; and when +the roll is called up yonder you'll be there, in a robe of white with +the angels in the air to meet the Lamb of God, Who will say unto all +that loved Him and worked for Him, "Well done, thou good and faithful +servant: enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord." + +[Illustration: GREEK PEASANT WOMAN] + + + + +CHAPTER X + +_Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association_ + + +It is said, by Him who never told a lie, that every tree is known by its +own fruit, and the confirmation of the statement is conclusive to the +student of natural and human history. + +It was an idea of King Maximilian of Bavaria, to transmit to history a +reminder of his reign. He instructed the architects of Germany to design +a new style to be named after him. Such a style of Maximilianesque was +created. An architect--it was Semper, if I am not mistaken--when asked +to take a part in this creation of the so-called Maximilian style, +answered that such a thing could not be made to order, that a style of +building is the consequence of the history, the culture, life, and +doings of a great period of people. If such be the case with a style of +architecture, how much more must it be the case in regard to religion? + +The history of this style of Maximilian's is, that it has no history, +and consequently all efforts of pursuing eminent architects to adopt the +Maximilian style failed. This short history is that of the attempts to +create a very much needed world religion. It is not the dogma nor the +doctrines or the profession that will make it possible for all right +thinking minds to unite efforts in building a universal religion, +sufficient to satisfy the intellectual want of every people and of every +time. Attempts, all-powerful, such as Papism and Mohammedanism, failed +in their egotistic purposes to enforce upon the world an exotic +structure. Neither the fires of Torquemadas, nor the sword of Islam +could deter the bravery of civilization. The blood that was spilled by +the millions of martyrs of the lowly Nazarene served to make the history +of the man who died upon the Cross, more effective and heartfelt +world-need for the only aristurgimatical shrine in which all human +families may live in peace and prosperity. + +At a time when the world was imperilled by the treatment accorded to +Galileo for believing in the motion of the earth; and though 69 years of +age he was cast, by the tools of Vatican, into a dungeon, where he lost +his sight and ultimately his life; and Copernicus was facing the same +fate, for accomplishing a noble astronomical discovery; and Martin +Luther was persecuted by the Roman Catholic church, for trying to bring +the people nearer to God. The Greeks, a brave people, who, in the face +of starvation, for lack of food, and horrified by the sword of the +conqueror, dishonored in their holiest sacreds, pure maidens slain after +being used in the most beastly way, mothers put to death after their +children were torn off into shreds of flesh under the sword of the +barbarous Turk, young people and old aged having no rescuing place to +escape from horror and death; when all crowned heads of Europe should +bow on their knees and kiss the slipper of the holy father before they +could attain their rights to the throne of their own kingdoms; when all +the known world was trembling equally in the name of Mohammed and Pope, +these people (the Greeks) stood up, and with all the strength that was +left in their lungs, they cried out, "we prefer political slavery rather +than to be the slaves of the Pope," and for more than three centuries +the Greeks suffered such a martyrdom which if only printed it would be +more than a human heart could bear. + +The history of Greece shall remain until the end of time, and as the +peoples of the world grow intelligently and intellectually more +enlightened they will come to the appreciation of the fact that the +Greek people has contributed more material in paving the way to the +spiritual freedom and the individual liberty of the world than any other +nation on the face of the earth, and that the Greek spirit is still +living and ruling in principle in the very heart of the civilized world. + +It is essential that every nation in making up the list of its +benefactors should give the first place to the most distinguished one. +In accordance to the general law the Greek nation of today not only owes +its literary language, in part at least, to the exertions of the great +patriot Korais, but to him is accredited the prophecy, that, "the Greek +nation shall never be great again, unless regenerated in Christ." + +Adamantios Korais was born April 27, 1747, in Smyrna. From early youth +he devoted himself to the study of old and new languages. In obedience +to his father's wishes, he followed a mercantile career during the year +1772-78, without, however, neglecting the sciences. From 1782-88 he +studied medicine in Montpellier and established himself as a practising +physician in Paris. From there he worked incessantly for the education +of his compatriots, and endeavored to awaken a favorable opinion of his +nation in the Occidental countries. In 1800 he received the prize of the +Academy for an edition of the writings of Hippocrates, but before this +time he had attracted the attention of the world of learning by his +ability, and Napoleon the Great conferred upon him many honors and +titles and appointed him the medical adviser of the Court. Later on he +gained fame by his Greek translation of Beccaria's work on crimes and +their punishments. This was followed by a work entitled "De l'etat +actuel de la civilization en Greece" (Paris, 1803). This was the first +publication in Europe which gave true information on the intellectual +and moral conditions of the new Greeks. During the period from 1805-27 +he published a collection--twenty volumes--of old Greek classics, with +critical explanations and prolegomena. In the latter he gave his +patriotic teachings and advices. His greatest merit consisted in his +promoting the Greek morals and the Greek language; he eliminated as much +as possible all foreign elements, but retained all that was good and +useful from all centuries, rejecting the one-sided retention of the old +words and forms as not compatible with the understanding of the people. +He above all, helped to establish a noble literary language. On account +of his old age he could take no part in the rising of his fatherland in +1821, but aided it greatly by his patriotic pen. When Greece had gained +her independence he took an active interest in the new formation of his +country. In 1830-31 he attacked the government of Kapodistria in two +publications. He died in 1833. His autobiography appeared in Paris in +the same year. The name of Adamantios Korais will never die from the +memory of every patriot Greek, and yet his sincere opinion that "the +Greek nation shall never be great again, unless regenerated in Christ," +had little effect upon the hearts of the people, or rather upon the +hearts of the leaders of the people. + +Great nations have failed, and in every case it was the government's +corruption and neglect of duty that caused the sufferings and failures, +of which the political history is too abounding and too accessible to be +quoted. We only mention the Greek nation, perhaps the greatest and most +illustrious of all nations that ever failed in their political career, +because we are well informed and personally acquainted with the details +that brought this formerly world-wide respected and valued gem of +civilization into insignificance in the eye of the scornful, and a +plaything in the hands of the so-called great powers of Europe. + +In the year of 1902, while I was a High Priest, Archimandrites, grand +representative of the Saint Mary's Monastery, Salamis; Orator and Grand +Chaplain of the Supreme Council of Greece; and confessor in the most +exclusive societies of Athens, hearing confessions and granting +absolutions; the following incident, which is published for the first +time, and only in parts that are printable, brought me to a final +decision, that I should leave my home, my loved ones, and all the +flourishing prospects to be a Bishop, with all the comforts and luxuries +attached to a Bishopric, just because I had witnessed a few scenes of +the manifold political plots that caused the downfall of my own nation, +and my own people scattered to the four corners of the world, wandering, +struggling for their existence, while Greece, the land of the Gods, and +the home of art and beauty, was left in the hands of a few parasites, +strangers and unsympathetic feudals who have shown no mercy in straining +every material and spiritual bit from the people that still honors them +as their kings and sovereigns. + +At the time spoken of, there was an open secret to every well informed +Greek that the Queen of Greece, Olga, had been the tool of the Russian +bureaucracy, trying by means of religious influences to keep the Greeks +under the Russian political control; that the Queen Olga paid the +expenses for the education of a monk, who, on his return from Russia, +where he was graduated from the theological academies of Kiev and +Moskow, became the Queen's personal confessor, and afterwards by the +Queen's very earnest and almost scandalous activities that monk was +raised to the Metropolitan Throne of Athens, which position placed him +at the head of the Greek Church, and made him the President of the Holy +Synod of Greece. + +The Metropolitan Throne of Athens is the highest and most exalted +position that a mortal Greek could approach, and it is, in fact, the +next to the King's Throne, most influential occupation, and more +powerful, even than the Royal Throne, because, the Metropolite of Athens +is the spiritual leader of all Greeks. + +There was plenty of rejoicing in the Queen's camarilla, at the +installation of Procopios (that was the name of the monk) as the +Metropolite of Athens, and every effort, Queen Olga leading the fight, +had gone forth to assure a complete victory for the Russian bureaucracy, +over the few remaining unspoiled patriotic Greeks. + +All the characteristics of a civil war were enacted in the streets of +Athens when Queen Olga attempted to enforce upon the Greek people a new +inferior language in their Bibles, and in their holy mass--a language, +which the Greek people considered as a means to confound their +historical and religious customs and habits and subdue them into a +Russian spiritual dependency. Against the attempt there was the very +best element of the Greek scholars. Adamantios Korais fought the fight, +100 years before this attempt was made, and he distinctly and clearly +made it understood that the Attic Greek language has been, it is and +must be the safeguard of all that is beautiful in the Greek history. + +Faithful to their traditions the Greeks of the present generation fought +and won a triumphant victory. The innocent blood of the people that was +slain on the streets of Athens by orders from the Royal Palace, have +wrote with indelible letters, the anathema, which, frenzied mothers in +the sight of their assassinated sons, and overwhelmed in grief, cried +against Queen Olga, and her crown all but torn to pieces by the wronged +multitudes. + +Within 24 hours from that terrible bloody day, that will remain an +indelible stigma in the history of Queen Olga's life, the most exalted +Metropolite Procopios was a fallen ragmuffin and the most hated person +in all Greece. And when every one of his colleagues deserted him and the +King and Queen shut their door in his face, leaving him a pitiful victim +of the political plots to save the royal skin, and while there was no +visible friend to give him a helping hand when fallen from the +Metropolitan Throne, and while this monk-metropolite Procopios, in all +his glorious days had been a profound enemy against every honest effort, +especially against young priests who refused to serve his unlawful +appetites, and my own experience with this monk-metropolite Procopios is +not of the kind to be printed, yet, it was I who put my own life in a +probable danger to save him from the mob, that was ready to attack him, +and probably kill him, the day after I made his escape possible into +the Saint Mary's Monastery, Salamis, where at the time I was +Archimandrites. + +Procopios, in the opinion of his own friends, was the last man in the +Greek priesthood, qualified to occupy the Metropolitan Throne of Athens, +and totally lost his will power when he became Metropolite by Royal +favor. There was an organized clique around the Metropolitan mansion, +but the controlling power should be located within the walls of the +Royal Palace. Procopios was only an instrument transmitting orders. And +if I was allowed to publish all that Procopios himself told me, in +Salamis, it would make the Greek people sit up and take notice, but in +my vows as confessor I have to carry the confession of the fallen +Metropolite Procopios with me to my grave, unless the need arises to +serve the best interests of my beloved country. It was his last +confession upon the earth. He died and went there, where, at the great +Judgment Day, he, surely will give account for all his deeds done in the +body. + +For the first time in the ecclesiastical history of the Greek Kingdom, a +Metropolite abdicated from his throne, rejected by his closest friends, +helpless under the anathema of the people, above whom he was called to +be the spiritual leader, his life imperilled by the injured public +sentiment, Procopios, left a real wreck cast by the shore, as a warning +sign of those dangers to which every public man is exposed, when +corrupted by higher favours and neglects his duties to the people who +entrusted him with responsibilities of national importance. + +This incident, which I hope will never occur again, and many other minor +opportunities, in which I had a part to play, during that fateful Queen +Olga's attempt to adulterate the beautiful and pure Attic Greek +language, gave me the exceptional privilege to study all the works of +the political machinery in Greece. I have seen the drama enacted behind +the scenes. It is a dreadful drama that could break the neck of the +strongest long-suffering. The awful drama that is enacted in Greece at +the expenses of the people is a long, very long story; perhaps it has +its beginning with the reign of King George and Queen Olga, I will not +say, but the people of Greece, the poorest people of Europe, are +contented and well pleased that they have a King who is a great +diplomat, and he is one of the richest Kings in Europe, and their Queen, +Olga, they believe (the ignorant do) that she is a saintly woman (as all +the Russian saints are), and this ignorant Greek people, they simply +feel glad to leave their homes and their children and go into war, like +sheep into the butcher's shop, sacrifice their lives, thus destroying +their homes and the hopes of their loved ones, every time King George +calls them to arms to fight against the Turks. And King George has +always a great patriotic cause to fight the Turks. And the Greeks could +not appreciate more highly a privilege than to fight and die for the +deliverance of their brethren in Crete and for the salvation of the +unfortunate Christians in Macedonia. + +Yet, for half a century, in fact, since King George came to Greece, +there are hundreds of thousands of the best Greek patriots that have +been killed, slain, or assassinated, and nearly a billion drachmas +national debt, hanging upon the neck of every Greek, like the Damoclean +sword, but there is no deliverance for the Cretans, and there is no +salvation for the Macedonians, instead there are the traps strategically +placed across the Greek borders, so, every time the Greek patriots, in +answer to the call of their King, are sent to render a helping hand to +the sufferers, they cross the border, only to find, but too late, that +they have been trapped, under the sword of the enemy, the Turk; or they +are left at the mercy of their assassins, the Bulgars. This drama is +going on repeatedly with great success, and to the amusement of the +observing great powers of Europe. + +Occasionally there is some crippling of the territory already belonging +to the possessions of Greece, because the places are of some strategical +importance, and this reason is enough, that they should be taken away +from the Greeks. And there is a financial commission appointed by the +great powers, because King George is a great diplomat and he wants to be +sure that his allowance is coming to him increasingly, every year, from +the coffers of the Greek treasury, while the international commission +should count every penny that the Greek expends in bread for his +children. + +In the evolution of events, I believe, that there is a time coming, when +the Greek people shall rise, from the lethargy, in which they +unnaturally are slumbering, for a long time, and they shall awake and +break every fetter, and shake off their feet every chain, and their eyes +shall be opened and they shall see things that will horrify them as a +nation; then shall they know the persons responsible for their +sufferings and for the sufferings of the Cretans and Macedonians and why +Carditses was beheaded in a dungeon, without giving him the privilege of +free citizenship, to prove his reason or his sanity, without any chance +to protect his life; and where and by whom that plot was framed up, just +to turn the tide of public anger against a royal gang, thus causing the +destruction of two beautiful Greek girls, that left alone in the world +to suffer from consumption, in agony, to die with the stigma as sisters +of a would-be royal assassin. It was my privilege to take care of these +two unfortunate sisters, both suffering, and the story of these two +girls and the uprising of the Greek people against the adulteration of +their language by Queen Olga, settled my determination to fight for the +rights of my own people and my beloved country. But, the time for the +Greek people to stand up and walk on their own feet, shall come when the +prophecy of the great patriot Adamantios Korais, is no more prophecy, +but in reality the Greek people will be regenerated in Christ, and there +and then shall be a great Greek nation, not only within the boundaries +of the feudatory of King George, but within the bounds of love that +unites all the millions of people that speak the historical Attic Greek +language, and a great Greek nation shall attract the attention of all +the civilized world, once more as in the days of old. + +I know the dangers in which I am exposed for the step I have taken, +because, I know the character and the principles of the Greek people, +perhaps, as well as any living Greek, the demagogues, the priests, the +church, and the drones and parasites of the royal gang, they each and every +one and all together are going to use all their power and money that is +at their disposal, and with no regards as to the honesty of means they +shall move earth and hell to quench this movement for the regeneration of +the Greek people, but having all my trust upon the Almighty and Omnipotent +God, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, Who died that all men may be +happy, and in the right Spirit of love to God and to my fellow men, I dare +launch the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association. + +Every Greek of reputable character, and all the lovers of the Greek +ancient and modern history, are eligible to membership. It is my purpose +to endeavor by all the Christian means to bring the Greek and American +people into a mutual, intellectual and intelligent understanding. It has +been my experience in studying conditions for the last six years, that +the Greeks in the United States know very little or nothing of the +American history, government, political, social, customs and habits of +the American people, which, also, unfortunate as it may appear, yet it +is the truth, that only a very limited number of Americans whom I have +found all over the United States, are well informed of the doings in +Greece, and still fewer well acquainted and unprejudiced as to the +historical and classical importance of the Greek nation. + +It is estimated that there are about 300,000 Greek people in the United +States, representing the 12,000,000 of Greek-speaking people that is the +Greek nation extended all around the Mediterranean countries. + +When it is considered that the vast majority of the Greeks in the United +States, has never had any opportunity to attend a Christian meeting, or +hear the Gospel preached in their own language, it is to their credit +that, with all the temptations and the ambiguous associations which the +laboring class is often in contact with they have not been worse than +they are; it is an indication that the primitive and strong character of +the Greek seldom yields to temptation; they hold fast to their +historical energy and honesty. + +There has never been an attempt of any importance, neither has there +ever been any organized effort, for the regeneration of the Greek +people, and while the Home and Foreign Missions of America for the last +25 years have given the best of their spiritual leaders for the +conversion of the Zulu and the Mogul and millions of American dollars +have been expended, with insignificant returns, in trying vainly to make +real Christians out of a barbarous and semi-human race of people, and +trying to civilize the jungles of Africa, the most urgent duty has been +neglected, and some spasmodical efforts that have been put forth by the +zeal of earnest individuals, were soon exhausted, and failed, not only +for lack of financial support, but, the worst, by spiritual +discouragements, and today a noble and the most historical race of +peoples, the Greeks, are drifting in despair, away from God, politically +perishing, blind, and ignorant priests, and political demagogues leading +them fast into the ditch. + +The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; who will help +us to garner in? HELP! is the cry, the most earnest cry, that was ever +uttered from the lips and from the heart of a sincere Christian worker. + +In organizing the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association, all the latest +and most effective, spiritual and industrial methods will be employed. + +It is hoped that the organization will be incorporated under the laws of +the United States, as soon as there are members sufficient in number to +assemble in their first meeting and vote the Constitution and the +By-Laws of the Association. + +Much consideration will be given to the methods of the Y. M. C. A., and +Y. W. C. A. This two-fold Institution, which in the opinion of Christian +leaders, and the most distinguished sociologists, of the present time, +is the very best agency to approach all nations, and spread +civilization, well established upon the fundamental principles of +Christianity. + +For the last few months in my struggle trying to establish the +Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association and at the same time keep my soul +and body together providing a lean livelihood by selling this book, I +can truthfully say that I had more experiences than in all my life +before. One clergyman of the high Episcopal church in the most +fashionable Back Bay, Boston, offered to grant me the use of his church +any time I wanted to offer the mass as high priest according to the +ritual of the Greek Orthodox Church, if I would only "break off all +relations with Protestant bodies here in America." I have a letter from +this clergyman which is the most astounding fact of his inconsistency, +because he himself is an active member of the Bible Club, a purely +Protestant organization: he invited me to one of their meetings, but he +would not purchase my book to help me to my bread and butter. Another +clergyman, a member of the executive committee of City Missions, Boston, +would not purchase my book, unless I offered myself to be employed by +them at a certain salary, and he gave me his card introducing me to the +chairman of that organization. + +Last winter I began to preach to the Greeks at Kneeland street, Boston, +in the open air, and when I went to see the police captain of that +district he promised to co-operate with me and gave me his consent to go +on with my work, but the following Sunday his Lieutenant came up to me, +while I was preaching on the street, he stopped me, on the pretense, +that he was informed of a plot among the Greeks to take my life. And +when I made my complaints to the General Secretary of New England +Missions, he told me that I should have known that Boston is a Catholic +town, and that the police being informed that I was an ex-priest, they +simply would not tolerate me. Horror stricken by this statement I went +to see the captain myself, and the very same man who promised +co-operation, only a few days hence, he stood up in front of my face and +in a savage manner told me that he would not tolerate me to preach on +the streets of Boston. + +The names of all concerned are in my possession and open to +investigation by the general public. But I will omit them here for +reasons well understood. + +A number of other discouraging instances, only worked together to deeper +impress upon my heart the importance and the excellency of my high +calling. Sooner or later, in the inevitable law of evolution and +universal progress, the Greek nation must be regenerated in spirit and +in truth: and I believe that it is not only a case of courtesy, but, +there is a sense of duty for every true American man and woman to +co-operate in the uplifting of all mankind. As for me I fully appreciate +the privilege to suffer for the benefit of my fellow men, and I can +hopefully repeat Tennyson's immortal words: + + Once in a golden hour + I cast to earth a seed, + Up then came a flower, + The people said, a weed. + + To and fro they went + Thro' my garden bower, + And muttering discontent + Cursed me and my flower. + + Then it grew so tall, + It wore a crown of light, + But thieves from o'er the wall + Stole the seed by night. + + Sow'd it far and wide, + By every town and tower, + Till all the people cried, + "Splendid is the flower:" + + Read my little fable, + He that runs may read: + Most can raise the flower now, + For all have got the seed. + + + + +_Conclusion_ + + +Allow me, dear reader, to say in closing, that it is my sincere opinion +that in view of the reasonings and facts presented in the preceding +pages, every individual who reads this Book intelligently, and who is in +possession of a sound and unprejudiced reason, will come to the +conclusion that there is only one religion worth having, and that is the +religion by Jesus, of Jesus, for Jesus, which is the revelation of the +Bible, Divinely adapted to produce the greatest present and eternal +spiritual good to the human family. And if anyone should doubt His power +(which, in view of its adaptations and its effects as herein developed, +would involve the absurdity of doubting whether an intelligent design +had an intelligent designer), still, be the origin of the Gospel of +Jesus where it may, in heaven, earth, or hell, the demonstration is +conclusive that it is the only religion possible for man, in order to +perfect his nature, and restore his lapsed powers to harmony and +holiness, which is the only avenue to usefulness and happiness. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONVERSION OF A HIGH PRIEST INTO A +CHRISTIAN WORKER*** + + +******* This file should be named 24179-8.txt or 24179-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/1/7/24179 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Conversion of a High Priest into a Christian Worker</p> +<p>Author: Meletios Golden</p> +<p>Release Date: January 6, 2008 [eBook #24179]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONVERSION OF A HIGH PRIEST INTO A CHRISTIAN WORKER***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Tamise Totterdell, Curtis Weyant,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>CONVERSION OF A HIGH PRIEST<br /> +INTO A CHRISTIAN WORKER</h1> + +<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/i002.jpg" height="425" width="650" id="frontis" +alt="Farmhouse, Where Rev. M. Golden Wrote His Conversion" /><br /> +<span class="smcap">Farmhouse, Where Rev. M. Golden Wrote His Conversion</span></p> + +<div class="frontpage"> + +<p class="frontpage1"><span class="titlebig">CONVERSION OF A<br /> +HIGH PRIEST INTO A<br /> +CHRISTIAN WORKER</span></p> + +<p class="frontpage1"><br /><span class="big">Edited and Presented by<br /> +REV. M. GOLDEN<br /> +<br /> +SECOND EDITION</span><br /> +<br /> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="GREEK-AMERIKAN-CHRISTIAN-ASSOCIATION" +height="449" width="450" /></p> + +<p class="frontpage1"><span class="bigbold">New York<br /> +1912</span></p> + +</div> + +<p class="center">Copyright Office of the United States of America<br /> +Library of Congress—Washington, D. C.<br /> +<br /> +In conformity with section 55 of the Act to Amend and Consolidate<br /> +the Acts respecting Copyright, approved March 4, 1909,<br /> +said book has been duly registered to the name of Rev. M. Golden,<br /> +of Rutland, Mass.<br /> +<br /> +Entry: Class A, XXc., No. 251121, Oct. 29, 1909.<br /> +Copyright, 1910, by <span class="smcap">Rev. Meletios Golden</span>.<br /> +Entry: Class A, XXc, No. 275323, Nov. 10, 1910.<br /><br /> +</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<br /><img src="images/trow.png" alt="" width="80" height="87" /><br /> +<span class="caption">THE TROW PRESS<br /> +NEW YORK</span><br /> +</p> + +<h2 class="to">TO</h2> + +<p>My own loving father, who did sow the seed of a brave Christianity +in my young heart, while only eight years of age, calling +me by his death-bed, on my knees, with his right hand resting +upon my head, in his last words to me, saying:</p> + +<p>"My boy, I leave you; God will be your Father, and Jesus +His Son your Saviour; keep away from unholy associates, and +heed not unlawful advice, but work for righteousness and help +those that are in need; and we shall meet again." And his spirit +went into eternity; to which destination I direct all my efforts +in life.</p> + +<p> +<span class="i1">This Book is dedicated by a grateful son,</span><br /> +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Rev. Meletios Golden.</span></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table class="toc" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<td colspan="2">CHAPTER</td> +<td>PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">I.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Farewell</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#I">17</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">II.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Arrival</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#II">36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">III.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">First Day in New York</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#III">49</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">IV.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">High Priest</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#IV">57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">V.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Philosophy vs. Christianity</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#V">66</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">VI.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">God's Providence</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#VI">76</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">VII.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">New York to California</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#VII">92</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">VIII.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Honorable Submission</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#VIII">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">IX.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Practical Effects of Practical Truth</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#IX">114</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">X.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Greek-American-Christian-Association</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#X">133</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">XI.</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td> +<td class="right"><a href="#XI">151</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<table class="loi" summary="List of Illustrations"> +<tr> +<td>Farmhouse</td> +<td class="right"><a href="#frontis"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Rev. M. Golden in Street Attire as High Priest</td> +<td class="right"><a href="#street">36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>The World's Wonder, Acropolis of Athens, Greece</td> +<td class="right"><a href="#acropolis">52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>H. R. H. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, K. G., etc.</td> +<td class="right"><a href="#duke">68</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Rev. M. Golden, the High Priest in Church Ceremonial Attire</td> +<td class="right"><a href="#ceremonial">84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Rev. M. Golden, Captain of the Salvation Army</td> +<td class="right"><a href="#captain">100</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Rev. M. Golden, the founder of the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association</td> +<td class="right"><a href="#founder">126</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Greek Peasant Woman</td> +<td class="right"><a href="#peasant">132</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<h1><br />Conversion of a High Priest into a<br /> +Practical Christian Worker</h1> + +<hr class="tp" /> + +<p class="center">SECOND EDITION</p> + +<hr class="tp" /> + +<p class="center"><i>Edited and Presented by</i><br /> +<b>Rev. MELETIOS GOLDEN</b><br /> +<br /> +<i>Founder of the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association.</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>HIGH PRIEST OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH.</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>Grand Representative of the St. Stephen's Monastery,<br /> +Mt. Athos, Turkey.</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>Archimandrides of the Virgin Mary's Monastery, Salamis and<br /> +Athens, Greece.</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>Lieutenant, Officer, in the Royal Gendarmery of Greece.</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>Grand Chaplain and Orator of the Supreme Council of the A. A.<br /> +Scottish Rite, Greece.</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>Captain of the Salvation Army, U. S. A.</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>Member of the Massachusetts Consistory S. P. R. S., Thirty-second<br /> +Degree, Boston, Mass.</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>Evangelist to the Greeks in the United States, etc., etc.</i></p> + +<p class="center"><i>New York.</i><br /> +1912.</p> + +<h2>PREFACE</h2> + +<hr /> + +<p>In placing this second edition in the hands of my +readers I most gratefully acknowledge the splendid +assistance of my subscribers, and the kindness with +which this book has been received by the General +Public, who made it possible for me to accomplish +my intended purpose, ever since I left home, that I +should give, to the general public, an account of my +conversion into a practical Christian worker, knowing +that there are a great number of intelligent +minds, among the priests, in the Greek-Russian and +Roman Catholic churches, who would make good +soldiers of Jesus Christ, and some of them might develop +into heroes of Truth and Righteousness, if +they could only deny themselves of the luxuries and +lofty life attached to their priesthood. And this problem +of selfishness is an absolute barrier not only to +their own Salvation, but to many a soul, who might +have been saved from sin, and be converted to God, +and usefulness, but for the Priest.</p> + +<p>The solution of the problem was the clue which +aided me to escape from the labyrinth of doubt; and +now, standing upon the rock of unshaken faith, I +offer the clue that guided me to others.</p> + +<p>A work of this kind is called for by the spirit of +the age. Although the signs of the times are said to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span> +be propitious, yet there are constant developments of +undisciplined and unsanctified minds both in Europe +and America, which furnish matter of regret to the +philanthropist and the Christian; and though there +are great controversies—going on at present; in +relation to the man's spiritual interests, central point +of all this heated contest has been the "Cross of +Christ:" yet the most obnoxious obstacle in the way +of progress as to the realization of "God's Kingdom +on earth" it is, and from all quarters the same exclamation +uttered, the priest.</p> + +<p>Men and women entrusted with responsibilities of +raising children in the Christ-like way, for the future +development of this great country, will find valuable +facts in this volume, which I have endeavored to +write, in order to meet the exigencies among, not +only certain people, but among many well-bred and +well-cultured priests.</p> + +<p>In criticising this work, the intelligent reader is +respectfully requested to take into account the peculiar +circumstances under which this book is written.</p> + +<p>I was only six years old—in the English language—many +miles away from any literary assistance, and +fifty miles from the Boston Public Library, where I +could derive many testimonies and opinions of undisputable +authorities to strengthen my religious +opinions and actions, which are tested in the most +practical way by all conditions and under all circumstances, +from the ostentatious pomp of a high priest +to a loving, lowly worker in the slums of Chicago.</p> + +<p>The place, where this book is written, is a farm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</a></span> +situated in the picturesque county of Worcester, and +it might rightfully have attributed to the effect of the +inspiring natural surroundings in this farm that I was +enabled to master my views in framing them according +to the linguistic requirements of the American +reader, using the every day language for the historical +part of my subject; and maintaining the more +classical expression for the men with the tendencies +to argue, just to make a show of their higher knowledge, +thus trying to excuse themselves for not submitting +all their powers to the Will of God.</p> + +<p>It has been said, all misery comes to the human +race mainly from two causes; firstly, through misconduct: +and secondly, through misfortune: therefore; +since there is the self-evident truth, in the +axiom, that, when the cause is diagnosed, the remedy +is near at hand, let us work unitedly to remove the +cause of all misery, be it in the Greek people, or +Jewish, or Gentiles, and by the light of the Gospel's +truth, let us put forth all our efforts, while here on +earth, in establishing happiness and good will to all +men.</p> + +<p><span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Rev. Meletios Golden.</span></span><br /> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">North Rutland</span>, Mass., 1910.</span></p> + +<h2 id="I">CHAPTER I<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>Farewell</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was the year 1903, on a very beautiful day, one +of those April days, that are well known and appreciated +by those who have been fortunate enough +to travel around the purple bathed Mediterranean +coast, that his royal highness, the prince of Greece, +Andreas, went abroad to meet his sweetheart, who +afterwards became his wife and princess of Greece. +It was a confidential royal talk, the betrothal of +Prince Andreas, but for the newspaper man, who +learns everything, and he can keep a confidential talk +as much as Mrs. Green did when she promised to her +husband to keep all to herself that confidential talk +they had one night, and the first thing in the morning +speaking to Mrs. Jones over the fence she confidentially +delivered that confidential talk and in the same +manner all over fences and telephones, wherever they +were procurable, to save the time, the talk went +round the town and came back to Mr. Green's ears, +and he only blamed himself for being the fool to trust +his wife. So, when Prince Andreas, came down to +Piraeus, the seaport of Athens, to board on the fashionable +French S. S. Messengerie-Maritime, he was +surprised by the throngs of people that gathered at +the pier to greet him "good luck" in his royal love +affairs, because the Greeks pay more attention to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +royal love affairs, than they do in paying their royalties +to fatten more highness and highnesses than +any other Kingdom on the face of the earth.</p> + +<p>The Kingdom of Greece, little more than two +millions of people, pay to King George, for his annual +allowances six times as much as the ninety millions +of people to the President of the United States. And +every creature of royal blood, in Greece, draws as +high an allowance, as nearer to the throne his or her +rights happen to be. Besides, many thousands of +acres of the best land in Greece, is granted to the +members of the royal family; thus causing the immense +emigration of all these Greeks, whom you +meet in every corner, in the United States, trying to +make an honest living, by shining your shoes, or +working in the construction of railroads in America +and Mexico.</p> + +<p>The Greek, though born and raised among the +most beautiful vineyards that made the historical and +famous Nectar for the Gods, yet when he leaves his +home to go abroad, he takes his last glass of intoxicant, +till he settles himself, in a new adopted motherland, +and makes a comfortable home for the queen of +his heart, because home life is the ideal of every +Greek and he is a model as head of the family, in his +moderate means trying to raise children to his generation +and give them the best he can afford. Hopeful, +that some Socrates or Demosthenes might develop +out of his offspring. The Greek has never been identified +with any unlawful or criminal movement of the +so-called Anarchistic or Socialistic. The Greek at all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +times and under all circumstances is an example as +a law-abiding citizen.</p> + +<p>Greek history is the pride of all the civilized world, +and in the opinion of a most distinguished sociologist, +the United States is the Greece of this age, and he +thinks that it is the irresistible law of gravitation and +sympathy that the tide of emigration draws the +Greeks from the ancient Greece into this new and +glorious Greece. And the writer was very little +surprised when told that Boston is the Hub of +America, or in the language of the Archaeologist, the +Athens of the United States, and there and then he +made his resolution to make his home in Boston, +should he ever find the way clear to come to America. +The joyful dream of his life has become reality, and +for the last six years from his personal observations +traveling a little more, perhaps, than the average +American traveler, from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific +Coast, he is privileged to know that the spirit of the +Ancient Greece is not only confined in the Hub, +but, hospitality and the love of art and beauty prevails +in the very heart of every true American man +and woman, even in the remotest village and hamlet, +and he has yet to know the time or the place where +he did not feel perfectly at home. Therefore, there +is no regret on his part for bidding farewell to the +land of the Gods and the city which had been the +birthplace of taste, of art and beauty and eloquence. +The chosen sanctuary of the Muses. The prototype +of all that is graceful and dignified and grand in sentiment +and action.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>History and philosophy, oratory and the elements +of mathematical science claim as their birthplace the +city of Athens, where Paul, the greatest apostle of +Jesus Christ, uttered his immortal oration to the +Athenians, on the Areopagus (Mars Hill). And he, +dignified, temperate, high-minded and learned in all +wisdom, of his age, Paul, confessed that he was standing +in the midst of the highest civilization, both of his +own age and of the ages that had elapsed.</p> + +<p>Paul, with his face towards the north having immediately +behind him the long walls which ran down +to the sea, affording protection against a foreign +enemy. Near the sea on the one side the harbor of +Piraeus, on the other that designated Phalerum, with +crowded arsenals, their busy workmen and their gallant +ships. Not far off in the ocean the Island of +Salamis, ennobled forever in history as the spot near +which Athenian valour chastised Asiatic pride, and +achieved the liberty of Greece. The Apostle turning +towards his right hand to catch a view of a small but +celebrated hill rising within the city near that on +which he stood, called the Pnyx, where standing on +a block of bare stone, Demosthenes and other distinguished +orators had addressed the assembled +people of Athens, swaying that arrogant and fickle +democracy, and thereby making Philip of Macedon +tremble, or working good or ill for the entire civilized +world. Immediately before him looking upon the +crowded city, studded in every part with memorials +sacred to religion or patriotism, and exhibiting the +highest achievements of art. On his left, somewhat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +beyond the walls, the Academy, with its groves of +plane and olive-trees, its retired walks and cooling +fountains, its altar to the Muses, its statues of the +Graces, its Temple of Minerva, and its altars to +Prometheus, to Love, and Hercules, near which Plato +had his country seat, and in the midst of which he had +taught as well his followers after him. But the +most impressive spectacle laying on his right hand, +that small and precipitous hill "The Acropolis" where +clustered together monuments of the highest art, and +memorials of the national religion, such as no other +equal spot of ground has ever borne. The Apostle's +eyes, in turning to the right, would fall on the north-west +side of the eminence, which was here and all +round, covered and protected by a wall, parts of which +were so ancient as to be of Cyclopean origin. The +western side, which alone gave access to what, from +its original destination, may be termed the fort, was, +during the administration of Pericles, adorned with +a splendid flight of steps, and the beautiful Propylaea, +with its five entrances and two flanking temples, constructed +by Mnesicles of Pentelican marble at a cost +of 2012 talents, which is the equivalent of about four +millions of American dollars. In the time of the +Roman emperors there stood before the Propylaea, +equestrian statues of Augustus and Agrippa. On the +southern wing of the Propylaea was a temple to the +Wingless Victory; on the northern, a Pinacotheca, or +picture gallery. On the highest part of the platform +of the Acropolis, not more than 300 feet from the +entrance-buildings just described, stood and yet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +stands, though shattered and mutilated, The Parthenon, +justly celebrated throughout the world, erected +of white Pentelican marble, under the direction of +Callicrates, Ictinus and Carpion and adorned with +the finest sculptures from the hand of Phidias.</p> + +<p>Northward from the Parthenon was the Erechtheum, +a compound building which contained the +temple of Minerva Polias; the proper Erechtheum, +called also the Cecropium, and the Pandroseum. +This sanctuary contained the holy olive tree sacred to +Minerva, the holy salt-spring, the ancient wooden +image of Pallas, etc., and was the scene of the oldest +and most venerated ceremonies and recollections of +the Athenians. Perhaps, for this reason, King George +of Greece, in celebrating his 25th anniversary on the +Throne, he gave upon this rock of Acropolis, that +remarkable banquet to all crowned visitors, 175 in +number from every royal family of Europe. At this +memorable event, the writer held the office of "man +at arms" on the Acropolis, although he was the +youngest officer in the Royal Gendarmery of Greece, +at the time.</p> + +<p>Between the Propylaea and the Erechtheum was +placed the colossal bronze statue of Pallas-Promachos, +the work of Phidias, which towered so high +above the other buildings, that the plume of her helmet +and the point of her spear were visible on the sea +between Sunium and Athens. Moreover, the Acropolis +was occupied by so great a crowd of statues and +monuments, that the account, as found in Pausanias, +excites the reader's wonder, and makes it difficult for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +him to understand how so much could have been +crowded into a space which extended from the southeast +only 1150 feet, whilst its greatest breadth did +not exceed 500 feet.</p> + +<p>On the hill itself where Paul stood, was the temple +of Furies, and in the court house of Areopagus, there +was the altar to Athene Areia.</p> + +<p>In all historical probability, Paul, stood exactly +on this place when, "<b>to the unknown God</b>" as his text, +he delivered the understanding of "The True and +Living God," who made the world and all things +therein, and he made of one blood all nations of men +for to dwell on all the face of the earth.</p> + +<p>The writer, consequently, in bidding farewell to +his beloved Athens, he knew that he was going as +a brother among members of the same family of +humanity in a land where man is free to worship God, +not in hypocrisy and deceit, but in Spirit and in truth.</p> + +<p>On the same beautiful April day that Prince Andreas +was going abroad, the writer went aboard +on the same S. S. Messengerie-Maritime, unaware of +H. R. H.'s presence there, notified only at the last +moment by the agent of the company, Mr. Christopher +of Piraeus, who was on board himself going to +Italy on a business trip. Mr. Christopher, by being a +member of the same fellowcraft in which the writer +was the Grand Chaplain, he took pains to secure a +very comfortable stateroom for his brother Chaplain.</p> + +<p>Now I was following Mr. Christopher and an +officer of the S. S. to locate myself in the suite provided +for me, and as we were obliged to pass through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +the reception hall there I found myself face to face +with the King George, and the following dialogue +occurs.</p> + +<p>King—Where are you going, Father?</p> + +<p>I—On a recreation trip, Your Majesty. (I should +have said, on a reformation trip.)</p> + +<p>King—I hope you will have a bon voyage.</p> + +<p>I—Your Majesty's wish, God grant it to be so, +and I pray that His Favour shall crown with joy, all +the desires of H. R. H.'s, the Prince, in his journey.</p> + +<p>King—With your prayers, Father, I believe H. R. +H. will be well successful.</p> + +<p>And with one of his well known diplomatic smiles +that contain manifold meanings, King George bid us +farewell, and in a few moments the big whistle blew +and a gentle vibration of the boat gave the notice that +we were on the move. I went into my cabin and +looking through the hole that was doing duty of a +round window, I beheld the monument of Themistocles +passing slowly, and when I could see that no +more, I felt something melting in my heart and over-flowingly +coming up into my eyes in the shape of +two drops of burning water. I took them on the +tips of my fingers and after kissing them with all the +tenderness of a loving heart, I sprinkled them into +the apeiron, farewell to my loved ones left behind +me, while the big S. S. in full steam was now carrying +me faster and faster into the unknown and uncertain.</p> + +<p>I did not leave my cabin and there took my meals +for two reasons; first, H. R. H. expressed the wish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +to take his meals at the regular first-class dining +table, with all the mortals therein, and I had little +desire to meet him anyway; and second because +I wanted to be alone to indulge undisturbed in my +thoughts and study them and keep notes of them for +my future use.</p> + +<p>The history tells us that it took thirty years for +the greatest philosopher that was ever born to give +his definite opinion as to the immortality of the soul. +And if a philosopher like Socrates, after thirty years +of constant study, he knew one thing, that he knew +nothing, it is absurd to dare say that we shall ever +know more than Socrates did, and in regard to the +most perplexed problem of the human soul we can +only rejoice in the fact that we are placed in a more +advanced position above Socrates, that we can look +upon these problems with more light, and that is the +light that comes from Galilee.</p> + +<p>Alone as I was in my cabin I thought of Socrates, +I thought of Confucius, of Buddha, and in fact I +thought of the many ancient and modern leaders of +great movements, and of new thoughts, my admiration +is insistent to everything that is noble and pure +in sentiment and praxis, but there is only one leader, +whom my spirit admires the best and I worship him +with love and devotion, the man who gave his life for +me. I knew I was free through his death and I was +happy. The Hierarchical church was opposing me +unreasonably; my own dearest and nearest relatives +did not understand me, their strongest argument +being, how could I sacrifice such a high office and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +deny a promising greater future and still be in my +right mind?</p> + +<p>Not being satisfied in my own heart, much less +convinced in my mind, I made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, +in order to find out whether Jesus was the only +Saviour of mankind without the necessity of a priest. +It was then and there, while kneeling on my knees +upon that rock of Golgotha that came to me with +startling force and clearness that I must be a follower +of Jesus Christ and not a representative. All men +may live on the Christ-like way and be happy, but +the man who dares personify himself with the authorities +belonging only to Jesus, that man must be a +faker; "Greater love hath no man than this, that a +man lay down his life for his friends" and I knew +Jesus was my friend, the only friend left to me, while +every other friend had forsaken me. In that little +cabin I felt his companionship, and looking at the +clock on the dresser I beheld in the mirror a pleasant +face smiling at me. The hour was nearly midnight +and I retired, singing "He promised never to leave +me alone."</p> + +<p>The voyage from Piraeus to Naples is said to be +the best and grandest in Mediterranean, and in company +of a royal fellow traveller might have been +interesting even to the most eccentric Yankee, but to +me it was a monotonous event, and the second evening +while I was walking for some exercise on the +deck, H. R. H. came up to me graciously expressing +his regrets for not seeing me at the table, and inquiring +if I was not feeling well, but he soon noticed my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +laconical way in excusing my absence, and he withdrew, +leaving me alone in my admiration of a grand +view on a moonlighted nature in the Mediterranean. +And the only thought occupying my mind was; how +soon could I get to America? For this reason perhaps, +I decided to take steamship for New York at +Naples, Italy, instead of going to Marseilles, chief +seaport of France on the Mediterranean, thus forfeiting +my rights on S. S. Messengerie-Maritime, that +had been paid from Piraeus to Marseilles.</p> + +<p>Happily, Mr. Christopher was also representing +the S. S. Co., of Fabre Line, and the S. S. Germania +of the same company was scheduled to depart from +the harbor of Naples in a few days. It certainly was +a pleasure and an opportunity of which we took +advantage to visit the most interesting places in and +around Naples, the city of far famous and at the +same time notorious, for there the stranger notices, +in every step, the beauty of Italian art and the Neapolitan +filth combined in the most peculiar texture.</p> + +<p>Making good use of the little time which we had +at our disposal, we took the train and went up to see +the City in which the Pope entombed himself a living +mummy rather than to co-operate with the civilized +world in building God's Kingdom on earth.</p> + +<p>In looking over my memorandums I have just discovered +a description that I kept about the Eternal +City. The historical facts therein are supported by +undisputable authority. And I think it apropos beneficial +to my readers, if it will be placed at their hands +before the closing of this chapter.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the river Tiber, about fifteen miles from its +mouth in the plain of what is now called the Campagna, +stands the famous capital of the Western +World, and the present residence of the Pope, the +City of Rome. The surrounding country is not a +plain, but a sort of undulating table-land, crossed by +hills, while it sinks towards the southwest to the +marshes of Maremma, which coast the Mediterranean. +In ancient geography the country, in the midst +of which Rome lay, was termed Latium, which, in the +earliest times, comprised within a space of about +four geographical square miles the country lying between +the Tiber and the Numisius, extending from +the Alban Hills to the sea, having for its chief city +Laurentum. Here, on the Palatine Hill, was the +city of Rome founded by Romulus and Remus, grandsons +of Numitor, and sons of Rhea Sylvia, to whom, +as the originators of the city, mythology ascribed a +divine parentage. The origin of the term Rome is +in dispute. Some derive it from the Greek Romee, +"strength," considering that this name was given to +the place as been a fortress. Cicero says the name +was taken from that of its founder Romulus. At first +the city had three gates, according to a secret usage. +Founded on the Palatine Hill, it extended, by degrees, +so as to take in six other hills at the foot of +which ran deep valleys that in early times were in +part overflowed with water, while the hill-sides were +covered with trees. In the course of the many years +during which Rome was acquiring to herself the empire +of the world, the city underwent great, numerous,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +and important changes. Under its first kings it must +have presented a very different aspect from what it +did after it had been beautified by Tarquin. The destruction +of the city by the Gauls caused a thorough +alteration in it: nor could the troubled times which +ensued have been favourable to its being well restored. +It was not till riches and artistic skill came +into the city on the conquest of Philip of Macedon, +and Antiochus of Syria, that there arose in Rome +large handsome stone houses. The capture of Corinth +conduced much to the adorning of the city: +many fine specimens of art being transferred from +thence to the abode of the conquerors. And so, as +the power of Rome extended over the world, and her +chief citizens went into the colonies to enrich themselves, +did the masterpieces of Grecian art flow towards +the capital, together with some of the taste +and skill to which they owed their birth. Augustus, +however, it was, who did most for embellishing the +capital of the world, though there may be some sacrifice +of truth in the pointed saying, that he found +Rome built of brick, and left it marble. Subsequent +emperors followed his example, till the place became +the greatest repository of architectural, pictorial, and +sculptural skill, that the world has ever seen: a result +to which even Nero's incendiarism indirectly +conduced, as affording an occasion for the city's being +rebuilt under the higher scientific influences of +the times. The site occupied by modern Rome is not +precisely the same as that which was at any period +covered by the ancient city: the change of locality<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +being towards the north-west, the city has partially +retired from the celebrated hills. About two-thirds of +the area within the walls, traced by Aurelian, are +now desolate, consisting of ruins, gardens, and fields, +with some churches, convents, and other scattered +habitations. Originally the city was a square mile +in area. In the time of Pliny the walls were +nearly twenty miles in circuit: now they are from +fourteen to fifteen miles round. Its original gates, +three in number, had increased in the time of the +elder Pliny to thirty-seven. Modern Rome has sixteen +gates, some of which are, however, built up. +Thirty-one great roads centered in Rome, which, +issuing from the Forum, traversed Italy, ran through +the provinces, and were terminated only by the boundary +of the empire. As a starting point a gilt pillar +(Milliarium Aureum) was set up by Augustus in the +middle of the Forum. This curious monument, from +which distances were reckoned, was discovered in +1823. Eight principal bridges led over the Tiber: of +these three are still relics. The four districts into +which Rome was divided in early times, Augustus increased +to fourteen. Large open spaces were set +apart in the city, called Campi, for assemblies of the +people and martial exercises, as well as for games. +Of nineteen which are mentioned, the Campus Martius +was the principal. It was near the Tiber, whence +it was called Tiberinus. The epithet Martius was derived +from the plain being consecrated to Mars, the +god of war. In the later ages it was surrounded by +several magnificent structures, and porticoes were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +erected, under which, in bad weather, the citizens +could go through their usual exercises. It was also +adorned with statues and arches. The name of +Fora was given to places where the people assembled +for the transaction of business. The Fora were of +two kinds—fora venalia, "markets," and fora civilia, +"law courts, etc."</p> + +<p>Until the time of Julius Cæsar there was but one +of the latter kind, termed by way of distinction Forum +Romanum, or simply Forum. It lay between the +Capitoline and Palatine Hills: it was eight hundred +feet wide, and adorned on all sides with porticoes, +shops, and other edifices, on the erection of which +large sums had been expended, and the appearance of +which was very imposing, especially as it was much +enhanced by numerous statues. In the centre of the +Forum was the plain called the Curtian Lake, where +Curtius is said to have cast himself into a chasm or +gulf, which closed on him, and so he saved his country. +On one side were the elevated seats or suggestus, +a sort of pulpits from which magistrates and +orators addressed the people, usually called Rostra, +because adorned with the beaks of ships which had +been taken in a sea-fight from the inhabitants of Antium.</p> + +<p>Near by was the part of the Forum called the Comitium, +where were held the assemblies of the people +called Comitia Curiata. The celebrated temple, bearing +the name of Capitol, of which there remain only +a few vestiges, stood on the Capitoline Hill, the highest +of the seven: it was square in form, each side<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +extending about two hundred feet, and the ascent to +it was by a flight of one hundred steps. It was one of +the oldest, largest, and grandest edifices in the city. +Founded by Tarquinius Priscus, it was at several +times enlarged and embellished. Its gates were of +brass, and it was adorned with costly gildings: +whence it is termed "golden" and "glittering," aurea, +fulgens. It enclosed three structures, the temple of +Jupiter Capitolinus in the centre, the temple of Minerva +on the right, and the temple of Juno on the left. +The Capitol also included some minor temples or +chapels, and the Casa Romuly, or Romulus, covered +with straw. Near the ascent to the Capitol was +the asylum (Cities of refuge). We also mention the +Basilicæ, since some of them were afterwards turned +to the purposes of Christian worship. They were +originally buildings of great splendour, being appropriated +to meetings of the senate, and to judicial +purposes. Here counsellors received their clients, +and bankers transacted their business. The earliest +churches, bearing the name of Basilicæ, were erected +under Constantine the Great. He gave his own +palace on the Caelian Hill as a site for a Christian +temple. Next in antiquity was the church of St. +Peter, on the Vatican Hill, built <span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 324, on the site +and with the ruins of temples consecrated to Apollo +and Mars. It stood about twelve centuries, at the +end of which it was superseded by the modern church +bearing the same name.</p> + +<p>The Cirei were buildings oblong in shape, used for +public games, races, and beast-fights. The Theatra<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +were edifices designed for dramatic exhibitions: the +Amphitheatra (double theatres, buildings in an oval +form) served for gladiatorial shows and the fighting +of wild animals. That which was erected by the Emperor +Titus, and of which there still exists a splendid +ruin, was called the Coliseum, from a colossal +statue of Nero that stood near it. With an excess +of luxury, perfumed liquids were conveyed in secret +tubes round these immense structures, and diffused +over the spectators, sometimes from the statues which +adorned the interior. In the arena which formed the +centre of the amphitheatres, the early Christians often +endured martyrdom by being exposed to ravenous +beasts.</p> + +<p>In modern Rome there are various things to excite +the curiosity of the stranger, but in my observations +I could only see four elements predominating above +everything, monks, nuns, priests and beggars. They +form a continued procession all day long of the most +spectacular carnival that could be seen in any of the +Babylons of the world.</p> + +<p>And now while in Rome, we might ask the question: +Who founded the church at Rome? The question +is equally interesting, if not important to the +Protestant and to Catholic. The Romish church +assigns the honour to Peter, and on this grounds an +argument in favour of the claims of the Papacy. But +strict search in and about all the obtainable sources +of knowledge, it does give no sufficient reason for +believing that Peter was ever even so much as within +the walls of Rome. Thus, by all inspired documents<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +there is one title clear left to Pope and his scheme, +"unaccountable falsifier." As an ordained High Priest +in the Greek Orthodox Church, I have been for many +years studied in this particular subject. The Libraries +in Mount Athos gave me all the opportunities that +the high and exalted position, which I held, could +afford, to find the truth concerning the claims of +the Pope. The Fathers of the Church, Basil the +Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostomus, +and all the host of Ecclesiastical authorities agree +unanimously that the Lord Jesus never intended to +concede any right of supremacy, to Peter, over the +other apostles. Otherwise He (Jesus) would never +have said those wonderful words (Matt. 20, 25, etc.), +and Peter himself disclaiming the assertions of the +Papacy (Pet. 1, 5, 3, etc.). And it is certain that there +is no instance on record of the apostle's (Peter) having +ever claimed or exercised this supposed power, +but on the contrary, he is oftener than once represented +as submitting to an exercise of power upon +the part of others, as when, for instance, he went +forth as a messenger from the apostles assembled in +Jerusalem to the Christians in Samaria, and when +he received a rebuke from Paul. Now as a matter of +fact, if Peter was ever Great, that was, when he repented +for denying his Master. Repentance, therefore, +is the only hope left for the Pope, if he ever +expects to hear the blessed voice "Feed my sheep."</p> + +<p>In these days of enlightenment and progress, while +humane feelings are taking the place of spite and +hatred among the civilized nations, and religious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +prejudice is giving way to good will and tolerance, +Rome is, from the Vatican point of view, the stumbling-block +of every honest effort in the purification +of the individual heart and the uplifting of the millions +of souls that are downtrodden under the sandals of +hyenical monks. When the Pope, a few months ago, +rejected Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Fairbanks, two models +of manhood and virtue, he made it clear to the +world that he is suffering incurably, from barbaritis, +and that his case is hopeless. But, it is to be hoped +that as Rome is already regenerated politically and +socially, so, we pray that in not far distant day, +Rome, shall also be regenerated spiritually.</p> + +<p>In the meantime we shall continue our journey, and +now we hurry back to take the S. S. Germania from +Naples to New York. And when I was well located +on board, I kissed good-bye to my friend and brother +Christopher, thanking him for his assistance and +bidding to the old world FAREWELL! FAREWELL!</p> + +<h2 id="II">CHAPTER II<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>Arrival</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sunday morning the 16th of May, 1903, the +very handsome S. S. Germania, cast anchor in +the docks of Brooklyn. Indeed, there is no particular +significance in a steamship arriving in the harbor of +Brooklyn and New York, for they come by hundreds +from all parts of the world, every day in the week and +many of them every Sunday of the year. It is for +the diligent observer that there are more lessons to +be drawn from a day passed along the Brooklyn +bridge than there are in the most exclusive circles of +the 400. And if I am allowed to make any comparison +at all I should put it in the following short +sentences. The former lessons would be of a heart +from which all arteries transport the necessary elements +to keep up undiminished the vitality of this +great cosmopolitan body, while the latter uncontrovertibly +is only a part of the body, and unfortunately +it is the stomach that consumes lavishly even +to the core all that the whole body can produce. Yet +to an every day passer-by neither when he travels +across the Brooklyn bridge rubbing elbows with the +scores of the masses of humanity that hasten their +way unconsiderate by nobody, nor when in his big +red or yellow automobile hurrying up Fifth Avenue +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>he is planning in his mind a new scheme how to make +more money, or he is the heir of riches untold and +many millions are waiting for him to be scattered in +all winds, his social standard to keep up and his +neighbor's honor to bring down and as a rule to +accomplish his own destruction, the time is of no +value unless there is some profit in it for the only +scope in his life is self gratification.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i037.jpg" id="street" width="402" height="600" +alt="Rev. M. Golden In His Street Attire as High Priest" /> +<br /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Rev. M. Golden</span><br /> +In His Street Attire as High Priest</span></p> + +<p>The S. S. Germania in splendor and commodities +could proudly be called the Mauretania or Lucetania +of the Fabre Line, a very commendable company +judging from the good officials and desirable attendants +we had on board the Germania. Her arrival at +the present voyage had exceptional significance, and +if every S. S. which arrives this side of the ocean had +parallel instances it would be only a matter of time +when all the legislators which are engaged in making +the emigration laws would find themselves out of +business, because the Kingdom of God that knows no +divisions and no distinctions of nations and races +should soon be established to make a heaven on earth +and there it would be one Lord—one faith—one +baptism for all human races, and all men could then +move in the different parts of the world without any +credentials and they could be welcome everywhere as +members of the same family do when they live within +the boundaries of love.</p> + +<p>Since the invention of Logos in the art of making +history worth reading, through the ages the historian +derives his intelligence from all sources apt to contribute +to his object and unsparingly he treats<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +zoology, botany and all kingdoms ending in some +kind of y, just to serve his purpose successfully. And +the writers of the Scriptures are not exempted to this +rule, inspired as it were, they mentioned almost every +known and unknown animal which our forefather +Noah saved in his Ark, and if the ass plays so an +important part in the Book of books, Germania surely +is entitled to some consideration in the history of my +conversion.</p> + +<p>It will be impossible for me to even attempt to +skiagraph all that took place on board the Germania +from the time we left Naples of sunny Italy till we +arrived in the docks of Brooklyn, eleven and one-half +days' voyage with only a short stop at Gibraltar, that +fortified rock for which Great Britain is ready to play +all her power just to maintain that dry and ungraceful +rock, but, the key of two seas, and in Azores +Islands to exchange mail, our journey was a never to +be forgotten continual holiday.</p> + +<p>One odd incident that kept our merriment all +these days, was the symptomatical number thirteen. +The S. S. Germania was carrying on board several +hundred emigrants, mostly from sunny Italy, they +were representing all conditions and descriptions +coming to America to make their fortune, which but +a few exceptions is a sweet hope into every emigrant's +heart and though often proves to them that +it was only a dream, and there are millions of emigrants +all over this land who after many years of +hard work they are still struggling for a mere existence, +yet they come and they shall continue to come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +for it is the rule of the universe; they simply cannot +resist the law that governs and moves the Sympan. +And the S. S. Germania was well occupied in its +various compartments, but there were only ten of us +voyagers in the reserved first cabins, and at meal +time with the first Captain at the head of the table +and one Commissioner representing the Government +and the first physician of the boat then we made up +the number 13; and though I am not a superstitious +person I was the first one to call the attention to +that fact, and there the fun began. The fellow voyagers +insisting that should any danger of tempestuous +and stormy gale threaten their safety they had to +cast lots to know for whose cause the evil came, and +as I was the only representative of the religious sentiment, +in all probability I had to undergo the same +experience as Jonah had, yet our fears did not even +approach any realization but instead as it was desirable +to all on board we enjoyed a very pleasant voyage +all the way and the Captain himself unreservedly +with his boyish cheerfulness expressed his gratification +for all that came out so perfectly satisfactory. +And the Captain being desirous to commemorate the +agreeable event he gave the night before our arrival +at Brooklyn a unique banquet in the big reception +hall with various symbolical decorations in honor +to his excellency the number 13. And to make the +event more memorable the Captain himself went +around the boat visiting all the emigrants and selecting +13 of the most musical Italian boys and girls with +their harps, mandolins and tambourines, a perfect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +stringed band, and while our merriment was in its +zenith he conducted them on the upper deck where the +reception hall was located into the adjoining room +and without warning we began to hear the waves +vibrating through the walls into our hall and soon +our ears were filled with divine melodies. They were +playing Tosca, Puccini's most inspired composition +and the translation of these people behind the walls +it really contained that pathos which all artists agree, +yet unable to explain how so many children of sunny +Italy became world-wide famous for the embodiment +of that musical and harmonious pathos of which +Tosca is the favorite piece of the greatest living tenor +Caruso.</p> + +<p>In an unfortunate event that occurred to me some +time ago I lost the names of my fellow voyagers on +that memorable trip on the Germania, yet I can well +recollect that there were two American newly-wedded +couples from the western cities, just returning home +from their extensive honeymoon trip abroad, and +there was a gentleman, very refined and well cultured +in literature whom we called, the Athenian, as he +hailed from Boston, which in the language of all foreigners +is the Athens of the United States, and there +was the Jew merchant from Chicago, and another +gentleman, an Italian professor, who was going to +occupy an exalted position in one of the Roman +Catholic Institutions in New Orleans, and to our +delight there was Miss Maria, the only beloved +daughter of Dr. Achilles Rose of New York. Dr. +Rose is not only a very prominent practitioner as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +physician in New York, but he is acknowledged as +an eminent authority by the most exclusive Academies +of Europe concerning medical matters, as well +as a great linguist in the ancient and modern languages, +and a number of publications contributed to +the scientific research are the monuments of his +convincing penmanship. His daughter had just finished +a long course in the best college "Arsakeion" +exclusive institution for girls in Athens, Greece; and +she was well qualified to teach the Ancient and Modern +Greek language as well as any professor in the +American colleges and universities. I had to go carefully +myself in order to keep pace with her in the +exactness of pronunciation of the Greek words, and +when listening to her telling some of the joyful +experiences she experienced in learning this wonderful +Greek language I felt like a Sunday school +scholar impressed by her rhythmical and melodious +harmony in pronouncing every word and sentence +that sound like the old Greek music which even +Apollo himself would be glad to listen to.</p> + +<p>With Miss Maria Rose there was Miss Margaret, +a tall slender figure with every characteristic of a +genuine Kentucky girl, a very respectable maiden, +she was caressing for Miss Maria Rose with motherly +tenderness, she was the playmate and constant companion +of Miss Maria now passing the bridge of her +teens; yet Miss Margaret could not tolerate seeing +her leaning on the rails of the Germania, she appeared +presumably afraid that some terrible whale +might swallow her little Maria whom she loved as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +much as a mother could love her own child, a pleasure +which she never had, to know and to love a child +of her own, and Maria appeared to appreciate the +kindness of her governess.</p> + +<p>Now to make up the list of the ten voyagers there +was also your obedient servant, coming over to +America to study religious, social and industrial conditions. +An account of his reasons for taking this +step shall be given later on. At this time I must proceed +to complete my acquaintances on board the +Germania. From the first day on board I find myself +in very friendly terms with every one of my fellow +voyagers, and before I knew it I was the father of +them all. As a High Priest dressed in my church +garbs, they just pasted in front of my name the +monkish title, Father, which I never accustomed myself +though my official church name consists of about +a half a dozen titles.</p> + +<p>The Captain of the Germania, a typical French +gentleman very agreeable in all his ways, with my +little French enabled me to make myself understood. +I had the pleasure of passing many a moment in +pleasant conversation with him, and when I wanted +to speak to the Americans, my heart was longing +to learn all I could from them, as they were so kind +to me, and with Miss Maria's assistance I never went +lonesome, her acting as interpreter between me and +the Americans, for by that time I was not able to +even pronounce correctly a sentence in the English +language.</p> + +<p>With all these acquaintances my time was well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +occupied and to my personal delight, by chance, I +found my constant companion in the person of Dr. +Lucretius, the first physician of the Germania, an +Italian gentleman. By tokens and signs we found that +both of us belong to that great body of men that +knows each other as brothers in every corner of the +inhabited world. It was he, Dr. Lucretius, who came +to my cabin on the morning of the 16th of May, at +about 5 a. m., and knocking at the door, said, Father +Golden, we are now entering into the harbor of New +York, and if you want to enjoy a grand view of the +surrounding country you had better come out on the +upper bridge. I shall be there waiting for you to +explain some of the most beautiful sceneries that you +have ever looked upon in your life. And he was +correct, without any exaggeration, for when I leaped +from my bed and dressed myself as fast as I could +I went to meet my friend and brother, Dr. Lucretius.</p> + +<p>Rushing up to the bridge I greeted him "Bonjorno, +mio fratello" shaking his hand at the same +time, almost I cried out, this certainly is an artificial +imitation of the entrance to Bosphorus, and if it were +not for that great statue and mausoleum of Liberty, +which I could see ahead of me, I would surely believe +that I was dreaming, it is like entering the harbor +of Constantinople, and just at this point, looking into +the face of my esteemed friend, Dr. Lucretius, I said +to him; let us hope that the day is not far distant +when we shall salute the God-giving Liberty in the +heart of the great city of Constantinople. That was +six years ago and every word I said it came out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +my mouth as a prayer of my heart in all my sincerity. +Today I do thank God for it is a reality. Turkey +is free! But she is like a child; she needs the +guidance of a strong hand to guide her in the path +of righteousness and love to God and bring her to +Christ who is the only one to give Liberty and Freedom +"For whom He made free, is free indeed." +Turkey has accomplished the greatest part of her +own salvation, yea, she has done more than many +of the so-called Christian empires expected her to +do. They are now rubbing their eyes, and of course +it is their purpose in order to save their commercial +interests, they are going to put in her way all the +obstacles they can to overthrow the new Constitution, +and if Turkey fails in her reformation this time, it +would not be only her own fault. A great share of +the responsibility rests upon the shoulders of every +American man and woman who solemnly declares to +stand by and be a protector of the principles laid +down by Washington, the father not only of his own +country, but most of the civilized world. Unless +America arises equal to the occasion there is every +reason to entertain all kinds of fears from the Middle +and Western Europe's diplomats.</p> + +<p>How many American active missionaries are there +in Constantinople, Smyrna, Aidin, Saloniki, Adana, +Ephesos and every city in Turkey today working +for the regeneration of the people who dared and +successfully broke down from his throne a Sultan? +Wake up, my dear reader and gird yourself with the +noble armor of your manhood and your womanhood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +and do the best, the very best of your ability to help +the millions of mothers and children over in Turkey, +they are starving for spiritual food, they are crying +to you as your own brothers and sisters of the same +family of humanity; will you close your ears and not +listen to their cry? or will you open your heart, your +sympathy and your pocket-book and send off all the +missionaries you can to do the work? I pray that +you will, and God will reward you in Heaven and +down here He will keep the days of your life sweet +in splendid memory that you have done your part +in the salvation of all mankind.</p> + +<p>The opportunity may occur again to discourse this +very heart aching subject. Now, as we approach +the colossus of Liberty, Miss Maria Rose made her +morning appearance and before we all could exchange +the "Bon Jour" salutations to her, she gracefully +grasped the gentleman from Boston by the arm +and walking up and down the bridge with soldierly +step, began in an apparently joyful voice to sing, +audibly "My Country 'tis of thee, sweet land of Liberty" +and just as she was getting more enthusiastic +in her song, the gentleman from Boston uttered a +loud cry "Strawberries—fresh strawberries," and as +by explosion a heartiest laughter went out of every +mouth on the bridge, and the waves received on their +wings that expression of our gratitude to carry it to +the end of their destination, while the Germania drew +us nearer and nearer to the land of the free and the +home of the brave.</p> + +<p>A call came to us all at this moment that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +custom officers from New York were already in the +reception room waiting for us to make our declarations +in accordance with the customary law, and by +the time I had complied with my duties, to that respect, +I heard a stentorian voice "Cast Anchor" and +turning around in a semi-circle, with center on my +right toe I endeavored to unfold the meaning of the +exciting motion. Sailors and officers of the boat +rushing in all directions, it seemed as though they +were preparing for a great battle, and determined to +win. The big S. S. Germania was tied in the docks of +Brooklyn and every voyager was ready to bid her +farewell. The steward of my cabin, uncalled, he was +on my side, and the thought came to me that it was +his last chance for his gratuities from me anyway. +He looked upon my face like a child expecting his +Christmas presents, and said, with a fainting smile, +Father, your trunk is on its way to your destination +and here is your valise and I am awaiting your pleasure +to direct you to the Sixth Avenue Elevated +Station, which will take you to the 123rd Street and +Seventh Avenue, Harlem, according to your wishes +to reach your dwelling place. The bell of the Germania +was ringing eight o'clock a. m., when I was +bidding farewell to my steward with the instructions +how to reach the Elevated Station, and turning to +the first corner from the docks of Brooklyn, a familiar +voice I heard behind me calling "Father," and +instantly a hand took hold of the sleeve of my garment, +and looking backward I saw Miss Maria Rose +with her governess, Margaret, and the gentleman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +from Boston, who was still holding my garment, and +in good humor said, he, in his broken French, Now +Father, we could not tolerate to see you go all alone +in the streets of New York dressed in these robes, +because if you only attract the curiosity of some mischievous +children there is no telling what may happen +to you, if they mistake you as a carnival dressed this +way just for sport; but, Miss Maria Rose, hastened +to aid, interrupting the gentleman, Father, you have +good luck, today is Sunday and early in the morning +you will be saved from great things which might +happen to you otherwise. Besides we are going as +far as 59th Street and the gentleman from Boston, he +is going to take the train at 125th Street, Harlem, +and there you will be within a few blocks from the +house you desire to go to.</p> + +<p>They bought the ticket for me and soon the Elevated +was crossing the Brooklyn bridge. The grand +panorama on both sides of the bridge brought the +thought into my mind that if the architects of +America were able to accomplish such a wonder as +this, they would certainly have easier times to build +the Babel Tower without any confusion of tongues; +but my breath went out of my breast and for a +moment I thought that the beating of my heart +stopped, when we reached that curving at 110th +Street and 8th Avenue, New York. The magnificent +sight from that tremendous height, looking to my +left at the mammoth advertising boards, the velvety +green fields and at the top of the hill that Episcopal +church, which will be when finished another architectural <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +wonder, and looking to my right at the Central +Park which we just swiftly passed, now I see the +flat roofs of the buildings and on many of them the +washing of the family hanging, forgotten perhaps, +from last Saturday, it is indeed a grand sight which +the inhabitants of New York in that section, by being +accustomed to it, very little appreciate.</p> + +<p>9.30, my friend from Boston, said, as we were descending +the stairways on the 125th Street and 8th +Avenue, as he looked at his time-piece. If it were +not for my train which I must take at 9.58 I would +gladly accompany you to your place, yet, said he, +you only have two blocks to walk southward and one +eastward and you will see the number on the left hand +side, and with a cordial hand shake he jumped on the +electric car passing at the moment on 125th Street +towards New York-Boston R. R. station, to board +his train, and I started on my way to the place where +I was going to make my temporary home.</p> + +<h2 id="III">CHAPTER III<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>First Day in New York</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is not my purpose in this little volume to make +any boast of myself as an historian. Bookmaking +is not my profession; neither do I propose to +go into extensive details more than it is necessary +to harmonize the coincidents of events as they occurred +and the effect they produced in the development +of an unusual Christian career, and God knows +that my only desire is to reconcile the opposing +privileges of a meek and lowly Christian worker, to +be equal if not greater to those of a High Priest who +in his fulness of life though one of the most active +ecclesiastical officials in the highest circles of church +and society, his firm belief in success, knowing of +no fear, and daringly climbing up in higher ranks +among philosophical societies, holding such an exalted +position in the most ancient Christian church. +The church that holds the undisputable proof as the +first authentical apostolic establishment with founder +the apostle of the Gentiles himself. And who is the +student of the Scriptures, be he a Christian or philosopher +of the Epicurean or the Stoic system that +could reasonably argue that the oration on the Areopagus +made by Paul to the Athenians being the +masterpiece and model of the most convincing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +speeches ever made in the Christian era? That this +High Priest, while enjoying all the comforts and +privileges belonging to his high office, together with +its honors and gorgeous trappings, does not attach +any over-weening importance to ecclesiastical dignity, +neither does he consider a "comedown" the step he +has taken, but he gives the simple, yet convincing +reason that he just follows the process of evolution +in Christianity, doing the will of his Master who +promised to all mankind one Lord—one Faith—one +Baptism. And for the last six years he has +proven that it is possible for a man to begin from +the very bottom of life, his nearest and dearest relatives +opposing him, with no friends to understand +his desires and his ambitions, to be a wanderer in +a great country like the United States, and travel +from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Ocean, proud +to always be able to support himself and also help +someone on his way. Exercising the principle of the +Apostle Paul, working hard for his living, stranger +not only to the ethics and customs of the people +whose sympathetic hearts he was coming to win, but +unable to even put two sentences together in their +own language, and today here he is to tell you the +story, as true as your beautiful breath that keeps +your soul and body alive, and the only favor he asks +from you is that when you severely criticise the grammatical +and syntactical site in the execution of this +work, you may in your kindness, remember that his +only resource to derive any philological assistance, +was a twenty-five cent Webster's dictionary, bought +from a second-hand book store.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>This is my first day in New York. And looking +around to find the number of the house where I was +going to stay, my thoughts were so animated as to +feel that all the arteries and veins of my body through +my feet were kissing the ground upon which my heart +would soon appease with its Maker.</p> + +<p>A few people, going to the Low Mass, I should +judge by the solemnity of their walk, men and +women, sent curious glances at the stranger dressed +in the robes on the street. By this time approaching +the 7th Avenue and not finding the desired number +I was just directing my steps towards a gentleman +dressed in some kind of uniform to inquire about +the place, when a young man tipped his hat in front +of me and raised the finger of his right hand and +pointed to the sign of the florist's store just a few +steps backwards. I could then plainly read the name +on the board above the door. It was the name very +dear to me, which, with longing heart I was looking +for. Almost immediately a man came out from +that same store with a broad smile on his face and +with a gentle bow, as though asking my permission, +he took my valise thus relieving me just in time, and +leading the way into the store I saw another gentleman +behind a counter preparing a large floral design +from the rarest flowers of the season, for the funeral +of a most distinguished politician of Harlem.</p> + +<p>Although I yield to no man in the appreciation +of a good smiling face and here I had two of them +and the most typical faces which are prominent in the +making of this heterogeneous republic, John, repre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>senting +the Huguenot and Dutch, and Jack whose +father and mother were Irish, and Jack was Irish too. +Both these gentlemen with pantomimic actions in a +few words which now I know were English words +but at that time I could not tell if they were Chinese +or Hindoo. They tried to make me understand that +Mr. George N., whom they knew I was looking for, as +they had heard him speaking of me and they saw my +photograph, and they were waiting notification of my +coming, and that they were struck by ecstasy at my +sudden appearance, he was at breakfast and that he +would soon be back so I had better step into his office +and rest myself while waiting for him. The expectancy +to meet my friend George N., it lengthened +every moment for me waiting in that little office. +Twenty-four years since I saw him last when I was +only ten years old, and even if I had not seen his +photograph in all these years I could distinguish him +among ten thousand. He was my first teacher in the +grammar school; neighbor in my home and a very +great distant relative. He always took especial interest +in my scholarship. My childhood and school days +were not all that I could desire for me, to be, for I +was an orphan, yet it was that orphan who always +carried the first or the second honors in the annual +examinations. It was for this reason, perhaps, that +my teachers were all well pleased with my progress. +The past is only a memory, yet when we look back in +the light of our sincerity we can trace every point and +every reason that contributed to our success or failure +in our lives. It is not a vision neither is there a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>mere kinetoscope procession. The High Priest is +here waiting to meet his teacher with the same solemnity +as in the old school days when he had to meet +his teacher after some of his occasional mischiefs. +With these and other agreeable memories relishing +my time in that office, I heard a loud applause in the +store and the words "Father is here," aroused my +inquisitiveness and before I could leave my chair, +there was at the door of the office standing the man +whom I wanted to see. Sturdy and resolute with two +slow steps he now extends a welcome hand to me and +as he called me by my childish nickname in response +said, I, my teacher! Yes, said he, How do you do +my Father? Why didn't you let me know when you +were coming so I could meet you at the pier; How +long have you been wandering to find this place? +And many other complimentaries, but, you must, he +went on saying, change your appearance at once, for +I am not going to disgrace myself and you too, if +we dare to walk on the streets with you dressed in +robes like this. Let us go up stairs in my room, and +I believe you can be fitted with a new suit of clothes +made to order for me which I was ready to try on +today, as the tailor just sent them here a little while +ago. Then you must have a very clean shave, my +goodness, there is a whole mask to come off your +face and the long black hair you have, you can make +some money by selling it to any fashionable lady. +Now, Father, you have to hurry, because the barber +shop closes at 12 o'clock and you only have the +necessary time to change your dress.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i055.jpg" id="acropolis" height="346" width="650" +alt="The World's Wonder, Acropolis of Athens, Greece" /><br /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">The World's Wonder, Acropolis of +Athens, Greece</span></span></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>The clothes which George N. offered for my +transfiguration with the exception of being made for +a man one inch taller than my own stature they +didn't look very awkward upon me and to escape +curiosity he took me through the alleys of a narrow +passage into the 124th Street, where an elderly German +kept a barber shop and when he was through +cleaning that over burdened head of mine, he was +almost exhausted, and liable to a fine, if any policeman +happened to see him working on Sunday after +12 o'clock. The barber closed the door of his shop +allowing time for us to just step out and we hastened +our way back to the store, now walking on 7th +Avenue. Jack, whose name already is mentioned +here, is one of the leading flower decorators in New +York City. He could make a cross of flowers look +like a picture, and he could make a bouquet for the +most particular bride, he could decorate a little chapel +around the corner and make it look as artistic as he +could decorate a rich mansion in the most exclusive +Riverside Drive. Jack made as much money as any +of his high grade fellow traders in Harlem, and he +had no home responsibilities, his widow mother being +what we might call well-to-do, for she owned considerable +real estate in that vicinity, yet, Jack, every +Monday morning had to obtain a loan for his carfare, +and more than half a dozen young ladies all around +Manhattan were particularly interested in Jack's welfare. +This is Sunday and one o'clock in the afternoon, +and Jack should be enjoying his holiday, and +there were already two of his female chums waiting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +for him on the sidewalk. Yet Jack had always some +more time to spare to accommodate his employer +George N., who as now entered the store he gave the +synthematical pass-word "that's all," which in the +language of the employer and employees it means +"The boys may now go home."</p> + +<p>But Jack, as he took a glimpse on me, in all his +Irish calibre he almost screamed: Help! St. Patrick, +what a metamorphosis is this? Is that you, Father? +You look now to me more like a butterfly out of a +caterpillar than anything in Ireland. Say, girls, calling +his friends from the outside, come in you girls, I +take the honor to introduce you to the Father ..., +but, my soul, I am ashamed to call you Father, so +fashionable a gentleman as you look now. You +shall not call me Father, said I, as long as you see +me dressed like a gentleman. I shall not, Jack said, +and with his girls took his departure, while George +N., who interpreted all this merriment, took a fresh +white rose and put it in my buttonhole. Let us go for +lunch, said he and I followed gladly for I felt it was +a timely call.</p> + +<p>As George N. is a bachelor he takes his meals in no +particular place, anywhere from Harlem Casino or +Palm Garden or Manhattan Club to a ten cent lunch +counter. Today he took me into a dollar a plate +restaurant on 125th Street. Before I was through +with my dinner, George N. made the remark to me +saying "if you always enjoy the American cooking +the way I observe you doing, you will never starve in +America, I assure you." It was the wisest prophecy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +that George N. ever made about my future in +America.</p> + +<p>After dinner we visited Grant's Tomb on Riverside +Drive and on our return he gave me instructions +how to find the Waldorf Astoria hotel where Aleck, +one of his nephews had a position, and that Aleck +would make arrangements for the night for me and +that the following morning George N. would wait +for me to discuss my plans for the future. I left +him and when I was in my room which Aleck provided +for me, the time was well nigh midnight.</p> + +<p>After the day's excitement I hoped that a good +night's rest would refresh me anew and the next +morning would find me prepared for the work I chose +to devote my future life in this New World. With +a lightning quickness my mind examined all my past +life and with the same speed I made my conclusions +that there was no more any pleasure for me to look +back, neither was there any attraction in that garb +which so often is the representation of hypocrisy +itself. I felt so happy for my decision and with a +grateful heart I bent on my knees in prayer to Him +who lay down His life for my freedom and my salvation, +and as an evidence of my good health, the night +passed undisturbed in sound sleep and in the morning +when Aleck called me for breakfast I felt that +every fibre of my body was springing for action, and +with the last touch leaping from my bed the first day +of new life went into history.</p> + +<h2 id="IV">CHAPTER IV<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>High Priest</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<p>For the benefit of those who ignorantly, if not +deliberately by deceit, misled to believe that the +priest has any authority, which the truly converted +Christian could not exercise, the present chapter is +offered in the spirit of love without any fear of contradiction +or dispute, because the facts given here +are well established upon the Scriptural Truths and +the reader may at all times maintain the proofs to +disprove refutable arguments of persons whose only +purpose is to serve their own individual interests.</p> + +<p>The priest, one who officiates in secret offices, it +is the definition given in Webster's dictionary. And +from the most authentic Biblical concordances we +derive the following information: The priest under +the law was a person consecrated and ordained of +God, not only to teach the people and pray for them, +but also to offer up sacrifices for his own sins and +those of the people. The priesthood was not annexed +to a certain family, till after the promulgation of the +law of Moses.</p> + +<p>Before that time the first born of every family, +the fathers, the kings, the princes, were priests, born +in their city and in their own homes. Cain and Abel, +Noah, Abraham and Job, Abimelech and Laban,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +Isaac and Jacob, offered themselves their own sacrifices. +In the solemnity of the covenant that the Lord +made with his people at the foot of Mount Sinai, +Moses performed the office of meditator, and young +men were chosen from among the children of Israel +to perform the office of priests. But after that the +Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to serve him in +his tabernacle, and that the priesthood was annexed +to the family of Aaron, then the right of offering +sacrifices to God was reserved to the priests alone of +this family.</p> + +<p>Duties of the priests: The priests were required +to prove their descent from Aaron, to be free from +all bodily defect or blemish; must not be observed +mourning except for near relatives; must not marry +a woman that had been a harlot; or divorced, or profane. +The priest's daughter who committed whoredom +was to be burned, as profaning her father. The +priests were to have the charge of the sanctuary and +the altar, which being once kindled the priest was +always to keep it burning. In later times, and upon +extraordinary occasions, at least, they flayed the +burnt-offerings and killed the Passover. They were +to receive the blood of the burnt-offerings in basins +and sprinkle it around about the altar, arrange the +wood and the fire, and to burn the parts of the +sacrifices. If the burnt sacrifices were of doves, the +priest was to nip off the head with the finger nail, +squeeze out the blood on the edge of the altar, pluck +off the feathers, and throw them with the crop into +the ash-pit, divide down the wings, and then com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>pletely +burn it. He was to offer a lamb every morning +and evening, and a double number on the Sabbath, +the burnt-offerings ordered at the beginning +of months, and the same on the feast of Unleavened +Bread, and on the day of the First Fruits; to receive +the meat-offering of the offerer, bring it to the altar, +take of it a memorial, and burn it upon the altar; to +sprinkle the blood of the peace-offerings upon the +altar around about, and then to offer of it a burnt-offering; +to offer the sin-offering for the sins of a +ruler or any of the common people; to eat the sin-offering +at the holy place; and the same way to offer +offerings for all the kinds of sin and the priest should +eat these offerings at the holy place; to offer for the +purification of women after child-birth; to judge of +the leprosy in the human body or garments (it is remarkable +that the Jewish race from the beginning, +has been all through the ages a heavy victim of leprosy). +The priest was to make the ointment of spices; +to prepare the water of separation; to act as assessor +in judicial proceedings; to encourage the army when +going to battle, and probably to have charge of the +law.</p> + +<p>The emoluments of the priests: The perquisites +of the priests were many and various, and as Philo +calls them very rich, and this statement holds good +all the way down to the Christian priest who inherited +most of the virtues of his Jewish predecessors. Thus +no wonder for the priests to keep their people in +dense ignorance of the historical originality of the +priesthood. And the high priest, besides all duties<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +and privileges already mentioned as common to him +and the ordinary priest, he must not marry a widow, +nor a divorced woman, or a profane, or that had been +a harlot, but a virgin Israelitess. He must not eat +anything that died of itself, or was torn by beasts; +must wash his hands and feet when he went into the +tabernacle to offer the mass. The high priest was the +divinely inspired judge and truly he was the supreme +ruler till the time of David, and again after the captivity. +He would ask counsel of the Lord if a new +ruler was worthy or not and accordingly grant or +regret the appointment of the ruler. It is the privilege +which the Pope derives from Eleazar and trying +to exercise this privilege against the rulers of Europe +for fifteen centuries became the menace in the progress +of humanity. The high priest had also unlimited +power upon the funds of the sanctuary. And +it may be out of proportion in this book to give a +complete description of all the privileges and regalia +of the high priest, yet the reader could easily imagine +the frivolities unfortunately existing even today in +the ceremonial dress of the high priest, and to confirm +this fact he only has to enter in the first Russian or +Greek or Roman Catholic church at any day of some +special celebration and there he cannot help but observe +an imitation of the lamentable vanity of a high +priest of the old Jewish faith. And the truth is visible +to the naked eye. Would ever sincerity and priesthood +meet in one and the same person it would +make the most paradox phenomenon, and such exceptional +occurrences are very rare in the ecclesi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>astical +horizon, for virtue and priesthood are the very +logical antithesis, and chemically speaking they are +protogon matters not yielding to adulteration. Between +priesthood and Christ there is an abyss of +argument, but there is no bridge to join both sides. +Priesthood on one side in the most pharisaic manner +imposing its superfluous authority upon all mortals. +And Jesus the Christ of God with his wounded side, +in the most emphatic manner, condemning the pharisaic +scheme, which is a continuation in the Greek—Russian—Roman +Catholic church: "For they bind +heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay +them on man's shoulders; but they themselves will +not move them with one of their fingers." And if the +words of the blessed Christ himself speaking in the +23d chapter of Matthew, have no effect upon the +consciousness of the priest, there is all vain to any +other way trying to bring him into the light of wisdom. +In the history of all mankind there are three +distinct stages of priesthood, and in its two former +stages it had been a complete failure, in its present +stage is falling so fast, and it is condemned, already, +by all reasoning minds, that it is only a matter of time +before the human race shall be free from these parasites. +The priest, of the Jewish faith, failed because +he was inhuman, the priest of the Greek idolatry +failed, because he was a philosophical fraud; and the +priest of the present time, shall fail, because he is +the very opposing visible enemy of God's kingdom. +The sacerdotal office of the priest, is anti-christian.</p> + +<p>Here we shall attempt to only describe one piece<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +of the dress of the high priest, the breast-plate +(rationale); a gorget, ten inches square, made of the +same sort of cloth as the ephod, and doubled so as to +form a kind of pouch or bag, in which was to be +put the urim and thummim, which are also mentioned +as is already known. The external part of this gorget +was set with four rows of precious stones; the first +row, a serdious, a topaz, and a carbuncle; the second, +an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; the +third, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst, and the +fourth, a beryl, an onyx and a jasper, set in a golden +socket. Upon each of these stones was to be engraven +the name of one of the sons of Jacob. In +the ephod in which there was a space left open sufficiently +large for the admission of this pectoral, were +four rings of gold, to which four others at the four +corners of the breast-plate corresponded; the two +lower rings of gold being fixed inside. It was confined +to the ephod by means of dark blue ribbons, +which passed through these rings; and it was also +suspended from the onyx stones on the shoulder by +chains of gold, or rather cords of twisted gold thread, +which were fastened at one end to two other larger +rings fixed in the upper corners of the pectoral, and +by the other end going around the onyx stones on +the shoulders, and returning and being fixed in the +larger ring. And a splendid ornament upon the +breast was a winged scarabaeus, the emblem of the +Sun, and the unavoidable portion of the ceremonial +dress peculiar to the high priest was the miter, mitre +or Cidaris, a head gear of gold and silver and pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>cious +stones whose magnificence we would not dare +to describe in this work, but the reader may in his +life be fortunate enough to see one of these wonderful +paraphernalia on the head of some of the now-a-days +self-styled representatives of Jesus Christ, +who came to seek and save the lost and he did not +make of himself a show in these follies of the old +Jewish faith that proved a failure.</p> + +<p>That the priests in Israel more than once by their +indulgence went down to idolatry, the old testament +abounds in evidences, but I shall only mention +the incidents of Eli the high priest and his two +sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Josephus says, the +high priest had also the very idolatrous symbolical +meanings of every part of his dress, which being +made of linen signified the earth; the blue color denoted +the sky, being like lightning in its pomegranate, +and in the noise of its bells resembling +thunder. The ephod showed that God had made the +universe of four elements, the gold relating to the +splendor by which all things are enlightened, the +breast-plate in the middle of the ephod resembled +the earth, which has the middle place in the world. +The girdle signified the sea, which goes around the +world. The sardonyxes declared the sun and moon. +The twelve stones are the twelve months of signs +of the zodiac. The mitre is the heaven, because +above all. The seven lamps upon the golden candlesticks +represent the seven planets, and so on every +article had a reference to some particle of the Egyptian +Deities. But the time came when man under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>stood +better God's plan of salvation. And divinely +inspired they fearlessly stopped all these idolatrous +practises.</p> + +<p>Who could dare say, at the beginning of the sixteenth +century that God could only through Jesus +Christ save a soul without the necessity of a priest? +Yet today even the priest himself would not dare +say, not in a civilized community, that his presence is +necessary for the forgiveness of sin. But what of the +millions of people that are drifting away from God +with the idea, that the priest is taking care of their +souls? Am I criticising the priest? God forbid, for +I am not. There are good and bad priests, as far as +their personal character is concerned, as there are +good and bad professional Christians, I have met in +my Christian experience. But I will say, in the +authority of the word of God, that the man who diligently +searcheth the Scriptures and sincerely read his +Bible and still he insists in holding his sacerdotal +office and call himself a priest, he is deceived or he is +deceiving.</p> + +<p>"Thou art a priest for ever after the order of +Melchizedec." Christ is the only priest, holy, harmless, +undefiled, separate from sinners, and made +higher than the heavens, who needeth not daily, as +those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his +own sins, and then for the people's; for this he did +once, when he offered up himself.</p> + +<p>The Church makes men high priests which have +infirmity but the power of God makes every man a +high priest, who offers up himself to live and work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +for the salvation of all. "Whosoever believeth in Him +should not perish, but have everlasting life." God's +promises are true and the reader has only to study +the Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, to be convinced +that the sacerdotal office of the priest sooner or later +has to go out of existence as the spirit of Christ +spreads upon the hearts of men and women and the +knowledge of His salvation makes them "Priests +unto God and His Father" and thus establish God's +kingdom upon the solid foundations of love. Then +shall they all be made unto kings and priests, and +they shall reign upon the earth. (Rev. 1-6, etc.)</p> + +<h2 id="V">CHAPTER V<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>Philosophy vs. Christianity</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>In Plato's dialogue upon the duties of religious +worship, a passage occurs the design of which +appears to be to show that man could not, of himself, +learn either the nature of the Gods, or the +proper manner of worshiping them, unless an instructor +should come from Heaven. The following +remarkable passage occurs between Socrates and +Alcibiades:</p> + +<p>Socrates—"To me it appears best to be patient. +It is necessary to wait till you learn how you ought +to act towards the Gods, and towards men."</p> + +<p>Alcibiades—"When, O Socrates, shall that time +be? And who shall instruct me? For most willingly +would I see this person, who he is."</p> + +<p>Socrates—"He is one who cares for you; but, as +Homer represents Minerva as taking away darkness +from the eyes of Diomedes; that he might distinguish +a God from a man, so it is necessary that he should +first take away the darkness from your mind, and +then bring near those things by which you shall know +good and evil."</p> + +<p>Alcibiades—"Let him take away the darkness, or +any other thing, if he will; for whoever this man is, +I am prepared to refuse none of the things which he +commands, if I shall be made better."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>Philosophy, led the Greeks to Christ, as the Law +did the Jewish. The wisdom of the world in their +efforts to give truth and happiness to the human soul, +was foolishness with God, and the wisdom of God—Christ +crucified—was foolishness with the philosophers, +in relation to the same subject; yet it was +divine Philosophy. An adopted means, and the only +adequate means, to accomplish the necessary end. +Said an apostle in speaking upon this subject, the +Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; +but we preach Christ Crucified, unto the Jews +a stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness. +But unto them which are called, both Jews and +Greeks, Christ the Power of God, and the wisdom +of God. The Jews, while they require a sign, did +not perceive that miracles, in themselves, were not +adopted to produce affection. And the Greeks, +while they sought after wisdom, did not perceive +that all the wisdom of the Gentiles, would never +work love in the heart. But the apostle preached—Christ +crucified—an exhibition of self-denial, of +suffering, and of self-sacrificing; love and mercy, endured +in behalf of men, which, when received by +faith, became "The power of God, and the wisdom +of God," to produce love and obedience in the +human soul. Paul understood the efficacy of the +Cross. He looked to Calvary and beheld Christ +crucified as the Sun of the Gospel system. Not, as +the Moon, reflecting cold and borrowed rays; but as +the Sun of righteousness, glowing with radiant mercy, +and pouring warm beams of life and love into the +open bosom of the believer.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is stranger that among philosophers of succeeding +ages there has not been wisdom sufficient to discover, +from the constitutional necessities of the +human spirit, that demand for the instruction and +aid of the Messiah which Socrates and Plato discovered, +even in a comparatively dark age. And in +the whole history of human mind there is not a +more instructive chapter at once stranger and sad, +interesting to our curiosity and mortifying to our +pride, than the history of Platonic philosophy sinking +into gnosticism, or in other words, of Greek philosophy +merging in Oriental Mysticism; showing, on +the one hand the decline and fall of philosophy, and, +on the other, the rise and progress of Syncretism. +Perhaps, also, it is the most remarkable instance on +record, that out of the religious, moral, and political, +in one word, the intellectual corruption which brings +on the fall of great and mighty nations, as it +doubtless was with Babylon and Thebes, and so we +know it to have been with Athens and Rome, God's +providence educes pure principles and higher hopes +for the nations and people that rise out of their ashes, +and who, if they will be taught wisdom and principle, +righteousness and peace, by the errors and sufferings +of those who have preceded them, may rise to +higher destinies in the history of men's conduct and +God's providence.</p> + +<p>The reader most sincerely is asked to devote the +required time in any public library and study this +very interesting subject of "Gnosticism" from which +the most detrimental system in the Christian era was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>originated, "The Monasticism." In this ecclesiastical +order the writer had been distinguished with the rank +of "Archimandrites."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i073.jpg" id="duke" height="600" width="402" +alt="H. R. H. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, K. G., etc." /><br /> +<span class="caption2"><span class="smcap">H. R. H. Prince Arthur, Duke +of Connaught and Strathearn, K. G., etc.</span></span></p> + +<p>To what extent the celibacy of monks and nuns +debased the fundamental principles of Christianity +there are a number of publications whose authors are +eye-witnesses of the orgies practised in their own +monasteries, and the writer in his superior office in +two of the leading monasteries had had the opportunity +to acquire all the necessary evidence to demolish +every one of these hell-pits, to many a young +man and young woman innocent, otherwise, before +entering there, and drive away all these parasites +that have no consideration to any civil or moral law +and live upon the sweat of the brow of the long-suffering +Church slaves.</p> + +<p>Within the bounds of philosophy, at this stage +of our progress it will be useful to recapitulate the +conclusions at which we have arrived, and thus make +a point of rest from which to extend our observations +further into the plan of God for redeeming +the world, for "I am not sent but unto the lost +sheep of the House of Israel." This view is the +more appropriate as we have known in the history +of God's providence with Israel, which presents them +as a people prepared (so far as imperfect material +could be prepared) to receive the model which God +might desire to impress upon the nation. They were +bound to each other by all the ties of which human +nature is susceptible, and thus rendered compact +and united, so that every thing national, whether in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +sentiment or practise would be received and cherished +with unanimous, and fervent, and lasting attachment; +and, furthermore, by a long and rigorous +bondage, they had been rendered, for the time being +at least, humble and dependant. Thus they were disciplined +by a curse of providence, adopted to fit them +to receive instruction from their Benefactor with a +teachable and grateful spirit.</p> + +<p>Their minds were shaken off from idols; and +Jehovah, by a revelation made to them, setting forth +his name and nature, had revealed himself as Divine +Being, and by his works had manifested his Almighty +power: so that when their minds were disabused of +wrong views of the Godhead, an idea of the first, +true, and essential nature of God was revealed to +them, and they were thus prepared to receive a +knowledge of the attributes of that Divine essence.</p> + +<p>They had been brought to contemplate God as +their protector and Saviour. Appeals the most affecting +and thrilling had been addressed to their affections; +and they were thus attached to God as their +Almighty temporal Saviour, by the ties of gratitude +and love for the favor which he had manifested to +them.</p> + +<p>When they had arrived on the further shore of +the Red Sea, thus prepared to obey God and worship +him with the heart, they were without laws either +civil or moral. As yet, they had never possessed any +national or social organization. They were therefore +prepared to receive, without predilection or prejudice, +that system of moral instruction and civil polity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +which God might reveal, as best adapted to promote +the moral interests of the nation.</p> + +<p>From these conclusions we may extend our vision +forward into the system of revelation. This series of +preparations would certainly lead the mind to the +expectation that what was still wanting, and what +they had been thus miraculously prepared to receive, +would be granted: which was a knowledge of the +moral character of God, and a moral law prescribing +their duty to God and to men. Without this, the +plan that had been maturing for generations, and +had been carried forward thus far by wonderful exhibitions +of Divine wisdom and power, would be left +unfinished, just at the point where the finishing process +was necessary.</p> + +<p>But besides the strong probability which the previous +preparation would produce, that there would +be a revelation of moral law, there are distinct and +conclusive reasons, evincing its necessities.</p> + +<p>The whole experience of the world has confirmed +the fact, beyond the possibility of scepticism, that +men cannot discover and establish a perfect rule of +human duty. Whatever may be said of the many +excellent maxims expressed by different individuals +in different ages and nations, yet it is true that no +system of duty to God and man, in any wise consistent +with enlightened reason, has ever been established +by human wisdom, and sustained by human +sanctions; and for many reasons, such a fact never +can occur.</p> + +<p>But, it may be supposed that each man has, within<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +himself, sufficient light from reason, and sufficient +admonition from conscience, to guide himself, as an +individual, in the path of truth and happiness. A +single fact will correct such a supposition. Conscience, +the great arbiter of the merit and demerit of +human conduct, has little intuitive sense of right, +and is not guided entirely by reason, but is governed +in a great measure by what men believe. Indeed, +faith is the legitimate regulator of the conscience. +If a man has correct views of duty to God +and men, he will have a correct conscience; but if he +can, by a wrong view of morals and of the character +of God, be induced to believe that theft, or murder, +or any vice, is right, his conscience will be corrupted +by his faith. When men are brought to believe—as +they frequently do in heathen countries—that it is +right to commit suicide, or infanticide, as a religious +duty, their conscience condemns them if they +do not perform the act. Thus that power in the +soul which pronounces upon the moral character +of human conduct, is itself dependent upon and regulated +by the faith of the individual. It is apparent, +therefore, that the reception and belief of a true rule +of duty, accompanied with proper sanctions, will +alone form in men a proper conscience. God has +so constituted the soul that it is necessary, in order +to the regulation of its moral powers, that it should +have a rule of duty, revealed under the sanction of +its Maker's authority; otherwise its high moral powers +would lie in dark and perpetual disorder.</p> + +<p>Further, unless the human soul be an exception,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +God governs all things by laws adopted to their +proper nature. The laws which govern the material +world are sketched in the books on natural science; +such are gravitation, affinity, mathematical motion. +Those laws by which the irrational animal creations +are controlled are usually called instincts. Their +operation and design are sketched, to some extent, +in treatises upon the instincts of animals. Such is +the law which leads the beaver to build its dam, and +all other animals to pursue some particular habits +instead of others. All beavers, from the first one +created to the present time, have been instinctively +led to build a dam in the same manner, and so +their instinct will lead them to build till the end of +time. The law which drives them to the act is as +necessitating as the law which causes the smoke to +rise upwards. Nothing in the universe of God, animate +or inanimate, is left without the government +of appropriate law, unless that thing being the +noblest creature of God: the human spirit. To suppose, +therefore, that the human soul is thus left +unguided by a revealed rule of conduct, is to suppose +that God cares for the less and not for the +greater: to suppose that He would constitute the +moral powers of the soul so that a law was necessary +for their guidance, and then revealed none: to +suppose, especially in the case of the Israelites, that +he would prepare a people to receive, and obey with +a proper spirit, this necessary rule of duty, and yet +give no rule. But to suppose these things would be +absurd; it follows, therefore, that God would reveal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +to the Israelites a law for the regulation of their +conduct in morals and religion.</p> + +<p>But physical law or necessitating instinct would +not be adapted in its nature to the government of a +rational and moral being. The obligation of either +to the soul would destroy its free agency. God has +made man intelligent, and thereby adapted his nature +to a rule which he understands. Man has a will and +a conscience; but he must understand the rule in +order to will obedience, and he must believe the +sanction by which the law is maintained before he +can feel the obligation upon his conscience. A law, +therefore, adapted to man's nature, must be addressed +to the understanding, sanctioned by suitable authority, +and enforced by adequate penalties.</p> + +<p>In accordance with these legitimate deductions, +God gave the Israelites a rule of life—the moral +law—succinctly comprehended in the Ten Commandments. +And as affectionate obedience is the only +proper obedience he coupled the facts which were +fitted to produce affection with the command to +obey; saying, "I am the Lord thy God, which brought +thee out of the land of Egypt, and from the house +of bondage." Therefore, if ye love the Lord ye shall +surely keep His commandments.</p> + +<p>Further, the only begotten Son of God, who, in +order to fulfil the law gave himself a ransom for the +salvation of all mankind, made the plan clearer to +"Whomsoever believeth on Him?" saying; "This is +My commandment, that ye love one another, as I +have loved you."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>Therefore, John, whom history acknowledges as +the Socrates of the Christian philosophy in his personal +knowledge of Divine revelations, was glad to +testify to the fact that "God is Love."</p> + +<p>And now with my whole soul lifted up to God I +can sing:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +My heart is fixed, eternal God: fixed on Thee,<br /> +And my unchanging choice is made, Christ for me!<br /> +He is my Prophet, Priest, and King, who did for me salvation bring<br /> +And while I've breath I mean to sing, Christ for me.</p> + +<h2 id="VI">CHAPTER VI<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>God's Providence</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>In facts from Christian and philosophical standpoints +it has been demonstrated that the infallible +Supreme Ruler of all human spirits has made +His final provision for the safety of each and every +individual soul for its temporal and eternal welfare. +Now I must prove to my readers' perfect satisfaction +that to discard all the dignities and privileges of a +high priest and become a lowly worker for Christ, it +is not a mere accident nor is it an act of necessity as +far as temporal necessities are concerned; but, it is +a magnificent living monument of God's Providential +manifestations. In order to protect my reader in his +judgment from any undue prejudice I have taken +pains to present herewith all the obtainable facts in +regard to God's Providence existing and exercising +its office upon even to the most microscopical atom. +Because, it is required by the law of justice, to comprehend +this great attribute of God's Providence, in +order to understand, how, all things work together +for good to them that love God, to them who are +the called according to His purpose.</p> + +<p>The Latin etymology of the word Providence is +from (Providentia, Pro-videre), and originally meant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +foresight. The corresponding Greek word (Pronoia) +means forethought. By a well-known figure of +speech, called metonymy, we use a word denoting +the means by which we accomplish anything to denote +the end accomplished; we exercise care over +anything by means of foresight, and indicate that +care by the word foresight. On the same principle +the word Providence is used to signify the care God +takes of the universe. As to its inherent nature, it +is the power which God exerts, without intermission, +in and upon all the works of his hands. In the language +of the school-men it is a continual creation +(creation continua). But defined as to its visible +manifestations, it is God's preservation and government +of all things. As a thing is known by its opposites, +the meaning of Providence is elucidated by +considering that it is opposed to fortune and fortuitous +accidents.</p> + +<p>Providence, considered in reference to all things +existing, is termed by Knapp universal; in reference +to moral beings, special; and in reference to holy or +converted beings, particular. Every thing is an +object of Providence in proportion to its capacity. +The Disciples, being of more value than many sparrows, +were assured of greater providential care. By +Providence being universal is intended, not merely +that it embraces classes of objects or greater matters, +but that nothing is too minute or insignificant for +its inspection.</p> + +<p>Providence is usually divided in three divine +acts, Preservation, Co-operation and Government. 1.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +By preservation is signified the causing of existence +to continue. 2. Co-operation is the act of God which +causes the powers of created things to remain in +being. It is not pretended that the existence of the +powers of the things are ever separated, but only +that they are distinguishable in mental analysis. Co-operation +varies with the nature of the objects towards +which it is exercised. 3. Government, as a +branch of Providence, is God's controlling all created +things so as to promote the highest good of the +whole. To this end every species of being is acted +upon in a way confirmable to its nature; for instance, +inanimate things by the laws of physical influence; +brutes according to the laws of instinct; and free +agents according to the laws of free agency. Moreover, +as Providence has respect to the nature which +God has been pleased to design to each various object, +so, in common with every other divine act, it is +characterized by divine perfections. It displays omnipresence, +omniscience, omnipotence, holiness, justice, +and benevolence. It has been sometimes contended +that Providence does not extend to all things, +or to unimportant events, and chiefly for four reasons. +Such an all-embracing providence, it is said, +would (1) be distracting to the mind of God; or (2) +would be beneath His dignity; or (3) would interfere +with human freedom; or (4) would render God unjust +in permitting evil to exist. In reply to these +objections against a providence controlling all things +without exception, it may be observed that the third +and fourth suggest difficulties which press equally, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +fact, upon all hypothesis, not only as to providence, +but as to creation, and which shall be more fully explained +in the sequel.</p> + +<p>As to the first objection, that the minutiae of the +creation are so multifarious as to confuse the mind +of God, we are content to let it refute itself in every +mind which has any just sense of divine knowledge +and wisdom. The second objection, that some things +are beneath God's notice, if it be not a captious cavil, +must result from pushing too far the analogy between +earthly kings and the King of kings. It is +an imperfection in human potentates that they need +vicegerents; let us not then attribute such a weakness +to God, fancying him altogether such a one as +ourselves. Again, it is to this day doubtful whether +the microscope does not display the divine perfections +as illustriously as the telescope; there is therefore +no reason to deny a providence over animalcula +which we admit over the constellated heavens. What +is it that we dare call insignificant? The least of all +things may be as a seed cast in to the seed-field of +time, to grow there and bear fruit, which shall be +multiplying when time shall be no more. We cannot +always trace the connections of things. We do +not ponder those we can trace: or we should tremble +to call anything beneath the notice of God. It +has been eloquently said that where we see a trifle +hovering unconnected in space, higher spirit can +discern its fibres stretching through the whole expanse +of the system of the world, and hanging on +the remotest limits of the future and the past.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +In reference to the third and fourth objections +before mentioned, namely, that an all-embracing +providence is incompatible with divine justice and +human freedom, it should be considered that, in contemplating +God's Providence, the question will often +arise, why was mortal evil allowed to exist? But as +these questions meet us at every turn, and, under +different forms, may be termed the one and the +only difficulty in theology, it is already considered in +the previous chapter of this work, and may therefore +require the less notice in the present article. We +should in all humility preface whatever we say on +the permission of evil (such as, mysticism, in religious +bodies) with a confession that it is an inscrutable +mystery, which our faith receives, but which our +reason could not prove either to be or not to be +demanded by the perfection of God. But, in addition +to the vindication of God's ways which may +be found in the over-ruling of evil for good, the +following theories deserve notice:—</p> + +<p>1. Occasionalism, or the doctrine that God is the +immediate cause of all men's actions. It is so called, +because it maintains that men only furnish God an +occasion for what he does. It degrades all second +causes to mere occasions, and turns men into passive +instruments.</p> + +<p>2. Mechanism. Many, alarmed at the consequences +which occasionalism would seem to involve, +have embraced an opposite scheme. They criticise +the definition of the laws of nature, and contend +that occasionalism derives all its plausibility from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +adroitly availing itself of the ambiguities of language. +They would have us view the creation as a +species of clock, or other machinery, which, being +once made and wound up, will for a time perform +its movements without the assistance or even presence +of its maker. But reasons press too far the analogy +between the Creator and an artisan. So excellent +a man as Baxter was misled by this hypothesis, +which evidently is as derogatory to God as occasionalism +is fatal to the moral agency of man.</p> + +<p>3. The authors of the third scheme respecting +the mode in which Providence permits sin sought to +be "Eclectics" or to find a path intermediate between +Mechanism and Occasionalism. In their judgment, +man is actuated by God, and yet is at the same time +active himself. God gives man the power of action, +and preserves these powers every moment, but he +is not the efficient cause of free actions themselves. +This they say, is involved in the very idea of a moral +being, which would cease to be moral if it were subjected +to the control of necessity, and not suffered +to choose and to do what it saw to be the best +according to the laws of freedom. But it is asked, +why did God create men free, and therefore fallible? +It were presumption to think of answering this question +adequately. It belongs to the deep things of +God. But, among the possible reasons, we may +mention, that if no fallible beings had been created, +there could have been no virtue in the universe; for +virtue implies probation, and probation a liability +to temptation and sin. Again, if some beings had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +not become sinful, the most glorious attributes of +God would never have been so fully exerted and +displayed. How could His wisdom and mercy and +grace have been adequately manifested, except by +suffering a portion of His creatures to become such +as to demand the exercise of those attributes? How +else could He have wrought the miracle of educing +good from evil? In this connection we may allude +to the third chapter of Romans, where as in other +passages, it is declared, that the good which evil +may be over-ruled to produce, cannot palliate, much +less excuse, the guilt of sinners, or of those who say, +"Let us do evil that good may come."</p> + +<p>Among the proofs of Divine Providence may be +reckoned the following:—1. One argument in proof +of Providence is analogous to one mode of proving +a creation. If we cannot account for the existence +of the world without supposing its coming into existence, +or beginning to be; no more can we account +for the world continuing to exist, without supposing +it to be preserved; for it is as evidently absurd to +suppose any creature prolonging as producing its own +being. A second proof of Providence results from +the admitted fact of creation. Whoever has made +any piece of mechanism, therefore takes pains to +preserve it.</p> + +<p>Parental affection moves those who have given +birth to children to provide for their sustenation and +education. It is both reasonable and scriptural to +contemplate God as sustaining the universe because +He made it. Thus David, having promised that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +world was made by God, immediately descends to +the course of his Providence. (Ps. xxiii. 6.) The +creation also evinces a Providence by proving God's +right to rule, on the admitted principle that every one +may do what he will with his own.</p> + +<p>A third proof of Providence is found in the divine +perfections. Since, among the divine perfections, are +all power and all knowledge, the non-existence of +Providence, if there be none, must result from a +want of will in God. But no want of will to exercise +a Providence can exist, for God wills whatever is +for the good of the universe, and for His own glory; +to either of which a Providence is clearly indispensable. +God therefore has resolved to exercise His +power and knowledge so as to subserve the best +ends with His creation. "He that denies Providence," +says Charnock, "denies most of God's attributes; he +denies at least the exercise of them; he denies his +omniscience, which is the eye of Providence; mercy +and justice, which are the arms of it; power, which +is its life and motion; wisdom, which is the rudder +whereby Providence is steered; and holiness, which +is the compass and rule of each motion." This argument +for a Providence might be made much more +impressive, did our limits allow us to expand it, so +as to show, step by step how almost every attribute, +if not directly, yet by implication, demands that God +put forth an unceasing sovereignty over all His +works.</p> + +<p>A fourth proof of God's Providence appears in +the order which prevails in the universe. We say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +the order which prevails, aware of the occasional +apparent disorder that exists, which we have already +noticed, and shall soon treat of again. That summer +and winter, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, day +and night, are fixed by law, was obvious even to +man who never heard of God's covenant with Noah. +Accordingly the ancient Greeks designated the creation +by a word which means order (cosmos). But +our sense of order is keenest where we discern it +in apparent confusion. The motions of the heavenly +bodies are eccentric and intervolved, yet are most +regular when they seem most lawless. They were +therefore compared by the earliest astronomers to +the discords which blend in a harmony, and to the +wild starts which often heighten the graces of a +dance. Modern astronomy has revealed to us so +much miraculous symmetry in celestial phenomena, +that it shows us far more decisive proofs of a Ruler +seated on the circles of the heavens, than were +vouchsafed to the ancients. Moreover, many discover +proofs of a Providence in such facts as the proportion +between the two sexes, the diversities of the +continents, as well as human nature and the nature +of all things continuing always the same; since such +facts show that all things are controlled by an unchanging +power.</p> + +<p>An objection to proofs of Providence, derived +from the order of the universe, is thought to spring +from the seeming disorders to which we cannot shut +our eyes. Much is said of plagues and earthquakes, +of drought, flood, frost and famine, with a thousand +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>more natural evils. But it deserves consideration +whether, if there were no Providence, these anomalies +would not be the rule instead of the exception; +whether they do not feelingly persuade us that that +curse of nature is upheld by a power above nature, +and without which it would fall to nothing; whether +they may not be otherwise necessary for more +important ends than fall within the scope of our +knowledge.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i091.jpg" width="407" height="600" id="ceremonial" +alt="Rev. M. Golden The High Priest in Church Ceremonial Attire" /><br /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Rev. M. Golden</span><br /> +The High Priest in Church Ceremonial Attire</span></p> + +<p>A fifth proof of Providence is furnished by the +fact that so many men are here rewarded and punished +according to a righteous law. The wicked often +feel compunctious visitings in the midst of their sins, +or smart under the rod of civil justice, or are tortured +with natural evils. With righteous all things +are in general reversed. The miser and envious are +punished as soon as they begin to commit their respective +sins; and some virtues are their own present +reward. But we would not dissemble that we are +here met with important objections, although infinitely +less, even though they were unanswerable, +than beset such as would reject the doctrine of +Providence.</p> + +<p>It is said, and we grant, that the righteous are +trodden under foot, and the vilest men exalted; that +the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the +strong; that virtue starves, while vice is fed, and that +schemes for doing good are frustrated, while evil +plots succeed. But we may reply:</p> + +<p>1. The prosperity of the wicked is often apparent, +and well styled a shining misery. Who believes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +that Nero enthroned was happier than Paul in +chains?</p> + +<p>2. We are often mistaken in calling such or such +an afflicted man good, and such or such a prosperous +man bad.</p> + +<p>3. The miseries of good men are generally occasioned +by their own faults, since they have been +so fool-hardy as to run counter to the laws by which +God acts, or have aimed at certain ends while neglecting +the appropriate means.</p> + +<p>4. Many virtues are proved and augmented by +trials, and not only proved, but produced, so that +they would have had no existence without them. +Many a David's noblest qualities would never have +been developed but for the impious attempts of +Saul. Job's integrity was not only tested but +strengthened by Satan being permitted to sift him +as wheat. Passions, experience and hope were +brought as ministering angels to man, of whom the +world was not worthy, through trials of cruel mockings +and scourgings.</p> + +<p>5. The unequal distribution of good and evil, so +far as it exists, carries our thoughts forward to the +last judgment, and a retribution according to the +deeds done in the body, and can hardly fail of throwing +round the idea of eternity a stronger air of reality +than it might otherwise have done. All perplexities +vanish as we reflect that, "He cometh to judge +the earth."</p> + +<p>6. Even if we limit our views to this world, but +extend them to all our acquaintances, we cannot doubt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +that the tendencies, though not always the effects, of +vice are to misery, and those of virtue to happiness. +These tendencies are especially clear if our view embraces +a whole life-time, and the clearer the longer +the period we embrace. The Psalmist was at first +envious at the foolish, when he saw the prosperity of +the wicked; but as his views became more comprehensive, +and he understood their end, his language +was, "How are they brought into desolation as in a +moment; they are utterly consumed with terrors." +The progressive tendency of vice and virtue to reap +each its appropriate harvest is finally illustrated by +Bishop Butler, best of all perhaps in his picture of +an imaginary kingdom of the good, which would +peacefully subvert all others, and fill the earth. Indeed, +as soon as we leave what is immediately before +our eyes, and glance at the annals of the world, we +behold so many manifestations of God, that we may +adduce as a sixth proof of Providence the facts of +history. The giving and transmission of a revelation, +as the Mosaic and the Christian—the raising up of +Prophets, Apostles and Defenders of the Faith—the +ordination of particular events, such as the Reformation—the +more remarkable deliverance noticed +in the lives of those devoted to the good of the +world, etc., all indicate the wise and benevolent care +of God over the human family. But the historical +proof of a Providence is perhaps strongest where the +wrath of man has been made to praise God, or +where efforts to dishonor God have been constrained +to do him honor. Testimony in favor of piety has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +fallen from the impious, and has had a double volume, +as coming from the unwilling. They who +have fought against the truth have been used by +God as instruments of spreading the knowledge of +it, awakening an interest in it, or stimulating Christians +to purify it from human additions, and to exhibit +its power. The scientific researches also with +which infidels have wearied themselves to overthrow +a revelation have proved at last fatal to their daring +scepticisms. Too many histories, like Gibbons', have +been written as if there were no God in the heavens, +swaying the sceptre of the earth. But a better +day is approaching; and it is exhilarating to observe +that Alison, the first British historian of the age, +writes in the spirit which breathes in the historical +books of the Bible, where the free actions of man +are represented as inseparably connected with the +agency of God. If we may judge of the future by +the past, as the scroll of time unrolls, we, or our +posterity, and some think glorified spirits in a yet +higher degree, shall see more and more plainly the +hand of God operating, till every knee shall bow. +Judgments, now a great deep, shall become as the +light that goeth forth. The tides of ambition and +avarice will all be seen to roll in subserviency to the +designs of God. To borrow the illustration of another, +"we shall behold the bow of God encircling +the darkest storms of wickedness, and forcing them +to manifest His glory to the universe."</p> + +<p>As a seventh ground for believing in Providence, +it may be said that Providence is the necessary basis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +of all religion. For what is religion? One of the +best definitions calls it the belief in a super-human +power, which has great influence in the human affairs, +and ought therefore to be worshiped. But +take away this influence in the human affairs, and +you cut off all motive to worship. To the same purpose +is the text in Hebrews: "He that cometh to +God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder +of such as diligently seek Him." If then the religious +sentiments thrill us not in vain—if all attempts +of all men to commune with God have not +always and everywhere been idle—there must be a +Providence.</p> + +<p>In the eighth place, we may advert for a moment +to the proof of Providence from the common consent +of mankind, with the single exception of atheists. +The Epicureans may be classed with atheists, +as they are generally thought to have been atheists +in discourse, and a God after their imaginations +would be, to all intents and purposes, no God. The +Stoics were also atheists, believing only in a blind +fate arising from a perpetual concatenation of causes +contained in nature. The passages acknowledging a +Providence in Cicero, Seneca, Plutarch, and all the +ancient moralists, are numerous and decisive, but too +accessible or well-known to need being quoted.</p> + +<p>In the last place, the doctrine of Providence is +abundantly proved by the Scriptures. Some times it +is declared that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom +of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will; as +much as to say that nothing can withstand His<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +power. Again, lest we may think some things beneath +His notice, we read that He numbereth the +hairs of our heads, careth for lilies, and disposeth all +the lots which are cast. The care of God for man +is generally argued, a fortiori, from His care for +inferior creatures. One Psalm (xci) is devoted to +show the providential security of the Godly: another +(xciii) shows the frailty of man; and a third (civ) +the dependence of all orders in creation on God's +Providence for food and breath. In Him, it is elsewhere +added, we live, and move, and have our +being. He, in the person of Christ, sustaineth all +things by the Word of His power, and from Him +cometh down every good and perfect gift. But +nowhere perhaps is a Providence so pointedly asserted +and so sublimely set forth as in some of the +last chapters of Job; and nowhere so variously, winningly, +and admirably exhibited as in the history of +Joseph.</p> + +<p>And nowhere could be found more brilliantly +illuminating its substance than in our own hearts and +lives. The fool hath said in his heart, there is no +God. To undervalue God's Providence it is the +most dreadful insult that a fool could dare conceive +in his mind against God's existence. But the wise +hearken to His voice.</p> + +<p class="poem"> +My son, if thou wilt receive my words,<br /> +And hide my commandments with thee;<br /> +So that thou incline thine ear to wisdom,<br /> +And apply thy heart to understanding;<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>Yea, if thou criest after knowledge,<br /> +And liftest up thy voice for understanding;<br /> +If thou seekest her as silver,<br /> +And searchest for her as for hid treasures;<br /> +Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord,<br /> +And find the knowledge of God.</p> + +<h2 id="VII">CHAPTER VII<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>New York to California</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<p>When I was but a little boy, I can well recollect, +a nice little pond in the hollow of two +hills beautifully situated, near the school house +where the pupils would enjoy the intervals of their +school time. How I would wonder at the experiment +of throwing a stone in the pond and watching +anxiously the circles of water growing larger and +larger till reaching the banks of the pond and there +they would break, as though in despair for the +limitations of their enlarging tendencies. It seems +to me, now, a parallel despair threatens my heart, +for being obliged to compact this story of my conversion. +Yet, in view of the fact that the American +reader is a greater admirer of quality rather than +quantity, I must content myself by giving a brief +account on the practical side of my personal experience +as a Christian worker, among the rich and +the poor, the high and the low classes and masses, +in cities and towns, sunshine or clouds, rain or snow, +by day or by night; I made myself servant unto all +men, that I might by all means save some, and this +I do for the Gospel's sake. And, it is only proper, +to confess, publicly, that I am prepared to suffer +all things, for the love which I feel in my heart to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +of some service to my own people, an historical race +of people they are, drifting away from God, blindly +allowing blind priests to lead them into the ditch. +There is a cheering prospect about this people, for +whose salvation I have devoted my life, that when +Christ enters into the heart of a Greek, there is very +little hope left for the devil to induce him to be a +backslider. A truly converted Greek soul is worthy +of all the joy that the angels in heaven rejoice over +one sinner that repenteth. How much more rejoicing +shall be there, if we get converted all the Greeks +that are living in the United States and use them as a +kindling matter to start the fire of salvation in the +hearts of the millions of people under the Greek and +Russian church slavery, all round the Mediterranean +countries?</p> + +<p>With this and many other social and industrial +problems laying upon my heart, I find the atmosphere, +in New York, too close for any opening and +very little encouragement for a beginning. And the +atmosphere grew more asphyxiating every day with +the arguments of my friend George N. He never +had any sympathy with the subject so dear to my +own heart, his highest ambition being money-making, +for which end he relinquished the Presbyterian +pulpit, after being duly graduated from a Presbyterian +Seminary for ministerial ordination. It was +only natural that our thoughts and our ambitions +should face each other suspiciously from the diametrical +opposite ends. And with all due respect to +my old teacher and gratefully acknowledging his hos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>pitality +for entertaining me many a day, I find out +that at the best I had to be in his mercy, as long as I +was not able to explain myself, to the American people, +speaking in their own language. And, as difficulties +have always had a peculiar effect upon my +personal character; to face them, and fight them out +with one object in view to die or to win, I left New +York right after Christmas of 1903, in the midst of +an unusually severe winter, rather a wanderer; but +determined to ramble among the American people +and learn the language by ear, which proved in my +case, and I believe, it is in every case, to be the +best school for learning the correct pronunciation +of any language you might desire to speak, and be +not laughable when you address the natives of that +language.</p> + +<p>Where should I direct my wandering steps, it was +the all important question, under my consideration +in the first place. Boston: I had been scouring the +ground before, and from a thorough-going I was +convinced that to begin in a place where the most +superstitious, if not fanatic, Greeks are situated, +at all appearances it should be a wonderful failure +without any dose of wisdom in it; while I was not +able to take my stand before the people, whose +sympathies I needed in judging my purposes and my +efforts. In the great wild West, way out there, +where some of the best easterners by leaving their +homes and their comforts therein, and enduring all +the hardships of pioneering life they succeeded at +last to put a solid foundation of a new and perma<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>nent +civilization astonishingly wonderful not only in +the development of this great land of liberty but +revolutionizing the whole commercial and social system +of the world.</p> + +<p>Who hath known the mind of the Lord? We +have been taught, that His purpose is to glorify +Himself through human agency, and we know that +all the great movements in history were originated +in an insignificant way by insignificant persons at the +beginning. Who could say, at the time, when the +daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at +the river, and there she drew out of the water an +ark with a child in it, that that child would be the +chosen one of God to deliver his people from the +Egyptian bondage? Or, when, a poor carpenter with +his wife went up from Galilee, out of the city of +Nazareth, into Judea in a small village of Bethlehem, +and Mary brought forth her first-born son, and +wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in +a manger, because there was no room for them in +the inn; that that baby was the King of Kings, Christ +the Lord and Saviour of all mankind?</p> + +<p>That, humble fishermen would be the heralds of +glad tidings, to those who accept Christ as their +Saviour? That an altruist monk should leave his +monastery, thus violating his vows to Pope and the +church, to be the mouthpiece of the Truths of Christ's +Gospel, and become the father of a Reformation that +brought down the Romish pride, for all time and +raised the banner of personal liberty in Him who is +the Only One to save every soul that cometh unto<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +Him without the necessity of a priest? That such +men as John Wesley, Moody, and a number of others, +to accomplish great things for the advancement of +God's kingdom? And the greatest religious living +man, General William Booth, who, with his ingenious +and prototype system, is doing more for God and +humanity, than all religious bodies put together? +Their beginning was insignificant.</p> + +<p>These names, a few of the many, I thought to +mention for the encouragement of those who always +try to find some excuse, for not doing all they can, +to realize that for which they every day pray, "Thy +Kingdom come." As for me, I know, that there is +nothing impossible with Jesus, and it is only according +to our faith, and the work which we put in it, +that we reap the results of our efforts.</p> + +<p>When I left New York, I made a short stop-over +at New Jersey, and one snowy morning I went to the +R. R. station and purchased my ticket for Athens, +Ohio, because, in studying geography, I noticed that +there are quite a number of towns in the United +States by the name of Athens, and I was very desirous +to visit the Athens, Ohio, and see if there +was any Acropolis or monuments to compare with +the Athens, Greece. The train arrived at Athens, +Ohio, R. R. station just on time, not to miss my +dinner at a nearby restaurant, where I inquired +if there were any Greek people in the town. A +very gentle young lady, waiting on the table gave +me instructions to find a candy store kept by a +Greek, where she took her ice cream. I found the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +place and the Greek who was a real good natured +middle-aged man and his family living on the floor +above the store. He received me kindly and after +a short conversation he said he thought I could make +a suitable help for him and he offered me the job +without asking any questions as to my identification. +I had no thought of staying at that place and declined +the offer. By the same Greek I was glad to +learn that Athens, Ohio, though there is no Acropolis +and no Socrates there; yet, she is a nice little +college town and the Greek was doing a rushing +business with the students. The next train was for +St. Louis, Missouri, and I was very anxious to see +the Mississippi river, so I went on that train. The +great bridge on the Mississippi river and the Union +station at St. Louis are two buildings that could +make honor to any city in the world. I left my +luggage at the parcel-room and started out to find a +hotel, where I could have the best accommodations +for the smallest amount of money. When I +located myself the best that I could, the next thing +I thought to look around for a job, as I liked to +stay in St. Louis till the opening of the World's Fair +in the year 1904. I bought a newspaper: I could then +read some English, but speak very little yet. The +advertisement which attracted my attention was a +short one "Wanted young man willing to work, apply, +at given number and street." It was Saturday +yet I was anxious and willing to work, so, I went to +answer the ad. By asking in every corner some man +in uniform, not knowing at the time if they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +policemen or conductors in the electric cars, I find +the street and presently I saw the number above +the door of a great big livery stable. I looked over +the newspaper, and the number was correct. I was +not prepared for the surprise and for a moment I +hesitated to enter. The thoughts came to me by +bunches: for the first time in my life I was looking +for an honest work to make an honest living, and +the first place, God's Providence, brought me, was +a stable; and what a big stable that was. I never +knew anything about stables and horses: what could +I do there? Instantly my feet began to move backwards +when a thought came as a lightning: what do +you care if it is a stable, or a dowager's palace? It +is work that you want, and it is much more honorable +to work in a stable and be right with God, than +to live in the luxuries as a High Priest and be an +hypocrite. Labor, it has always been an object of +my admiration, though, labor is set forth as a part +of the primeval curse, "in the sweat of thy face thou +shalt eat bread" and doubtless there is a view of +labor which exhibits in it reality as a heavy, sometimes +a crueling burden. But labor is by no means +exclusively an evil, nor is its prosecution a dishonor.</p> + +<p>These impressions, false though they are, have +wrought a vast and complicated amount of harm to +men, especially to the industrious classes, causing +these classes, that is, the great majority of our fellow-creatures, +to be regarded, and consequently to +be treated even in Christian lands, as a parish caste, +as hereditary "hewers of wood and drawers of water"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +doomed by Providence, if not primarily by the Creator +himself, to a low and degrading yoke, and utterly +incapable of entertaining lofty sentiments, or +rising to a higher position; to be restrained therefore +in every manifestation of impatience lest they +should temporarily gain the upper hand, and lay +waste the fair fields of civilization; and to be kept +under for the safety of society, if not for their own +safety, by social burdens and the depressing influences +of disregard and contempt.</p> + +<p>A better feeling, however, regarding labor and +laborers, is beginning to prevail: these motions, +which breathe the very spirit of slavery whence they +are borrowed, are in a word dishonored, while they +are gradually losing their hold on the heart, and +their influence on the life. Individuals arising from +time to time from the lowest levels of social life to +take, occupy, and adorn its loftiest posts, have irresistibly +shown that there is no depression in +society which the favors of God may not reach. +Especially has a wider and more humane spirit begun +to prevail since man has learned more accurately to +know, and more powerfully to feel, the genius and +the spirit of the Gospel, whose originator was a carpenter's +son, and whose heralds were Galilean fishermen. +Reason and experience too, in this as in all +cases, have come to revealed truth, tending forcibly +to show that labor, if under certain circumstances it +has a curse to inflict, has also many priceless blessings +to bestow. Yet, when it fell to my lot, to submit +myself in that class and be a laborer and earn my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +bread by the sweat of my brow, it was a critical moment +to decide upon. And just at this moment a +man of small stature came out of the stable, and +as I looked suspiciously, he asked me if I wanted +anything. I want this job said I, showing to him +the ad in the paper. With a few sharp glances at +me standing now like a marble; all right, he said; +you just put on your working clothes and come here +on Monday morning at 5 a. m., and we will have +something for you to do. I left him and on my way +back home I entered the first clothing store and +purchased an outfit of working-man's clothes. The +next day was Sunday and I spent the day in my room, +praying that God would sustain me in my new +career. At night I had very little sleep, making my +plans for the future, or building my castles in the +air, and early Monday morning I was at the stable +before 5 a. m. Soon the little man appeared and +after the customary ceremony in taking my name +and address, he led the way into the inner part of +the stable in front of a huge heap of horse manure. +There, he says, you just shovel that out of the +window, and handing to me a big fork, for the operation, +he disappeared.</p> + +<p>There are certain happenings in our lives indelibly +written in our memory, which cannot be effaced by +the stream of time, and one week's experience in this +stable was sufficient to engrave the deepest lines in +my heart of sympathy and mercy for sinful, suffering +humanity. It has been said in the old Greek mythology +that the greatest achievement of Hercules was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>when he undertook to clean the stable of the king +Augeus at Argos. But should Hercules lived in this +stable for one week, I doubt that his name would +ever appear in the list of demigods.</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i109.jpg" height="600" width="406" id="captain" +alt="Rev. M. Golden Captain of the Salvation Army" /><br /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Rev. M. Golden</span><br /> +Captain of the Salvation Army</span></p> + +<p>It is beyond the limits of self respect to even attempt +a brief account of all that took place in that +stable, but sufficient to say that I went in there one +individual and by Saturday I came out ten thousand +strong. And I had to put up in St. Louis one more +week in a bath house, with much work and expense +to get back into my one individual, and hasten my +wandering steps towards Chicago, with a stop-over +at Springfield, Illinois, where I had references to +meet a gentleman, professor of the Greek language +in one of the colleges there. When I arrived at the +house of the dear professor, he, began to speak to +me from a book, in an exameter homerean tone, and +I understood about as much as the faithful who goes +to church and the priest reads the mass in Latin. +At Springfield I lost my satchel and with it my Greek +documents, which might have been very interesting +to the reader, yet, I hope in my next publication to +have reproductions of those documents from the +original, which I can easily obtain from Athens.</p> + +<p>Chicago is my next stop. The Babylon of the +West. Last week of January, 1904, the weather 12 +degrees below zero. All the idles of Chicago hired +by the city hall could not keep control of the snow +on the streets. I located myself in a furnished room +on Wabash Avenue, and bought a paper to find a +job, but my experience in the stable at St. Louis,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +took away from me all the courage to select any kind +of work from the paper, yet I was very anxious to +settle for a while in Chicago, in that third cosmopolitan +city of the world, London and New York +being respectively first and second.</p> + +<p>Chicago offers great opportunity to a student of +religious, industrial and social conditions, and when, +by chance, I secured employment in a leading warehouse, +a very good paying position, under the circumstances, +I devoted all my spare time visiting the +Greek quarters, incognito, and studying everything +that came within my observation, and attending all +kinds of public meetings of various denominations +and societies, which proved a great help to me in +learning the proper pronunciation of the English +words, in fact for five years I did not speak five times +in the Greek language.</p> + +<p>One morning I read in the paper the following +announcement: "The Knights Templar of the United +States have made their plans to celebrate the 29th +triennial conclave of Knights Templar to be held in +San Francisco, Cal., September 4 to 9. The occasion +will be of universal character, representatives +from all the world; and Great Britain will send to +this imposing ceremony the highest officials that +control the affairs of the chivalric order of Freemasonry +in the British Isles. The Earl of Euston, most +eminent and supreme grand master of great priory +of England and Wales and the dependencies of the +British crown, were coming with credentials to represent +Edward VII, the king of England." I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +looking forward to my visit to California, since I +left New York, but I never expected the time for +me to go there would come so soon as it did. I was +longing to see a great gathering of Freemasons, of +this class of men, that, in every country represents +the highest ideals of good citizenship.</p> + +<p>With a few days preliminary preparations, I bade +good-bye to my employer, and well supplied with +recommendations from some influential friends and +acquaintances which I had made in Chicago, I saw +myself off to California, on the forenoon train, the +25th of June, 1904.</p> + +<p>The trip was uneventful, excepting the unbearable +heat and dust, especially going through the States of +Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico, and the number +of Indians, which, for the first time in my life +I beheld in their own skin living and moving contented +as though they still were the dominating race +on the continent, with their square faces painted in +various colors, wrapped in their blankets, and bare-footed, +their feet being very much like those of a +mud turtle, they were the real thing.</p> + +<h2 id="VIII">CHAPTER VIII<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>Honorable Submission</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a time when the Eastern part of +the United States looked upon San Francisco +as the coming New York of the Pacific Coast, but +since the disastrous earthquake in the year 1906, the +stream of progress as a great commercial center has +been turned rather towards the Northern Pacific +Coast, yet San Francisco with its great harbor, the +ever increasing commercial developments and number +of other advantages, still is a magnificent attraction +to the homeseeker, who for the last few years +has been very sceptical in his preference on account +of existing unfavorable conditions regarding the city's +government which is the prey of dishonest politicians. +For this and many other reasons I should never make +my home within the limits of the city of San Francisco. +There are beautiful localities within short distances, +desirable in every respect and beyond the claws +of the city hall of San Francisco.</p> + +<p>Mount Tamalpais, I believe, is a most pleasant +location for the lovers of nature. Words fail, and it +is beyond the ability of my pen, to even attempt +to describe, the beauties which nature has bestowed +upon the Mount of Tamalpais. Situated just across +the bay of San Francisco, by the way of Socialito,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +on the train to Mill Valley and whence on the crookedest +railroad in the world, climbing 2000 feet above +the tide of water, we reach the lower top of the +mountain, and there we find accommodations to entertain +kings and princesses, and the most eccentric +Yankee. Yet, I am assured, that scarcely one-tenth +of the visitors to California, have ever had the exceptional +privilege to spend 24 hours, on the top +of Mount Tamalpais, and thereafter all through their +lives enjoy the most wonderful recollection in all +God's creation.</p> + +<p>The Alps in Europe are too stupendous to be +compared with this majestically magnificent mount +of Tamalpais. The Himalaya in Asia are too brutish +to be considered as a rival of this gentle and illustrious +sky-scraper. The Olympus and Parnassus of +Greece are out of season to be paralleled with this +up-to-date marvelous throne of their Majesties the +Kings of America. There is the Tamalpais Hotel, a +real palace, where the guests can rest and from the +verandas or the windows of their own rooms observe +the animating sights on the left hand side the snow-covered +top-heads of the mountains and following to +the right look down upon the valleys and behold the +myriads of orange and lemon and all the fruit-bearing +trees blooming all the year around and decorated +like brides in their wedding procession, not only for +a few moments, till the law ties the knot, but forever +as long as the life-giving climate of beautiful California +lasts and time shall be no more.</p> + +<p>When I went up to the Mountain, looking for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +employment, because I wanted to locate myself in +such a place, if I could, till the celebration of the +Knights Templar was over, I was surprised to find +that the General Manager of the Hotel and the R. R. +Station was a lady, of a striking majestical appearance, +she was the controlling power of the whole +business on Mount Tamalpais, and she was not a +suffragette either. But she was a loving mother of +two beautiful children, a typical Yankee girl, well up +in her teens, supervising over the chambermaids, and +variously assisting her mother, and an active boy of +sixteen, the good-fellow of everybody, and especially +to the Chinamen employed in the kitchen. Mr. Johnson +was the husband and father of this happy family, +and he occupied the position of butler of the house, +receiving orders from his beloved wife.</p> + +<p>I presented my credentials to Mrs. Johnson and +she, being satisfied, was very kind to give me the +charge of two tables to wait upon in the dining room. +It seemed as though I made good as a waiter, judging +by the coins which the customers, began to forget, +beneath their plates, in leaving the table, some +call it tips, I called it real money.</p> + +<p>September was well at hand, one day old, and +Mrs. Johnson was very anxious to have the premises +well decorated, and a big arch should be erected at +the entrance, with the sign, "WELCOME," to +Knights Templar, as news came from San Francisco, +that the Knights were already in possession of the +Golden Gate. Mrs. Johnson was almost in despair, +unable to find someone among that great army of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +employees, to have any artistic ideas of decorating or +even to make a few flower designs and put up the +arch out of some green foliage. We were all green, +in that respect. But as I always find myself at hand, +wherever help is to be rendered, I offered my services, +and by what I could remember from my friend +Jack, in New York, how he could decorate everything +to a good taste, I have been able to put up +a nice decoration and the third of September, 1904, +the flags of all nations were waving and everything +was ready for the reception of the Knights Templar. +Mrs. Johnson was pleased to the extent of presenting +me with an extra three dollars and relieving me +from the dining room, she appointed me in charge +of the pavilion, an out-doors building, where the +Knights Templar would privately entertain their +families and lady friends. In this position I was +enabled to see more of the high American life than +I ever dreamed of before. The English Lord, and +the Parisien Dame de Honor, were eclipsed as they +would look like pygmies by the side of the sunshining, +bright-hearted American gentlemen, and the +sweet and graceful demigoddess American lady. But +my enthusiasm reached its zenith when a gentleman +from Pittsburg, in company with his ladies, after an +enjoyable dinner, at the pavilion, he left under his +plate a shining five dollar gold piece; at the sight +of the unexpected I made a sign to which the gentleman +was obliged to respond, and that settled it, +there was no mistake about it, the man and I were +brothers and the coin was intended as my tip. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +afterwards the incident occurred repeatedly during +the celebration of Knights Templar in San Francisco.</p> + +<p>Now, if everything in this world was just a procession +like that of Knights Templar in San Francisco, +and everybody was happy as the people I have +seen on Mount Tamalpais, then there would be no +sorrow, and there would be no pain; in fact this +world would be the paradise on earth. But, alas! +regretful as it may be, yet it is only the simple truth, +that it is only the minority that are real happy, while +the vast majority of men and women and children in +this world are just a mass of suffering humanity, +and if the investigations of religious societies, sociologists, +and psychologists, are true, the cause of all +misery in this world is misconduct or misfortune, +which in one word is, sin, that brings misery. And +there is where my purpose in life begins. I am out +against sin. But to fight sin, it is absolutely necessary +to be a soldier of the man who gave his life for +the salvation of all mankind.</p> + +<p>President Emeritus Eliot of Harvard University, +a man of colossal thought-machine, man, who controls +the unprejudiced intellectual minds of America, +in his address on "The Religion of the Future," is +quoted as saying: "I venture to add that I am not +at the hold of any proud world—whatever; second, +that such little part of the world as I am best acquainted +with loves the Lowly Nazarene—and does +not hate Him; thirdly, that I have met during my +life most of the sorrows which are accounted heav<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>iest; +fourth, that Jesus will be in the religion of the +future, not less, but more, than in the Christianity +of the past." All efforts without Jesus, trying to +better the world, shall fail. It is and will be the +opinion of all sane minds for many generations yet +to come. This was my opinion and the only imposing +motive that brought me down on my knees on +the 14th of October, 1904, in a poorly furnished hall +where the Salvation Army had the Sunday night's +meeting. I gave my heart to Jesus, for life and for +eternity, to be his and his alone. And I knew, there +and then, that I was honorably converted.</p> + +<p>To make the surrender complete I offered my +services to the Salvation Army, that I should use +all I had, my time and my talent, to uplift the down-fallen +humanity and help to make this world better. +Major Harris Connett and Adjutant Allison Coe, +were the officers in charge of the Los Angeles Salvation +Army and they received me into their ranks and +for ten months I was engaged in this wonderful organization, +visiting the sick, praying in the saloons, +in the slums and everywhere doing all that I could +to promote the cause of Jesus in bringing souls into +his fold. But nothing gave me so great pleasure as +the poor children of Los Angeles at Christmas time +when I was dressed in the Santa Claus clothing distributing +presents to them. I never felt happier in +all my life even in the best days as a High Priest.</p> + +<p>After passing successfully my preparatory studies +in Los Angeles, word came from the Headquarters +that they wanted me in the college Training Home,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +in Chicago, to take the course of officership; and +the 15th of August, 1905, finds me sweeping the +back yard at the Training Home, West Adams St., +Chicago, Illinois.</p> + +<p>Were it possible for every man and woman who +pretends to be a minister of Jesus, to pass six months +in any of the Training Colleges of the Salvation +Army, then there should be fewer ministers, but far +more useful, in the betterment of the world, than +many of them that are under the present conditions.</p> + +<p>It is the most psychological system, in these Training +Colleges that brings out all the virtues that every +heart possesses and every bit of iniquity that may be +hidden in the personal character of the man or woman +who willingly denies himself or herself of all prospects +and pleasures in this world just for the only +purpose to live and love and serve the suffering +humanity. There are exceptions to the rule among +the officers of the Salvation Army, once in a great +while some one will prove unworthy to the cause, but +these exceptions are common in every human institution, +and they are so few in the Salvation Army +that fully justifies the public confidence upon this +marvelously developing great movement.</p> + +<p>I went through the theoretical and practical work +for which I could make a whole volume of the experiences +in the slums of Chicago, where I had to +reprove a policeman, whom I found in a saloon +drinking in full uniform, while in the back room there +was a girl not over fifteen years old, in the company +of a most reckless middle-aged man, both exceedingly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +intoxicated and still drinking. I dismissed the man, +and sent the girl to the rescue home, where she would +be taken care of.</p> + +<p>The 17th of January, 1906, I received my diploma +as an active member of the National First Aid Association +of America, and my commission as a Captain +in the Salvation Army, and I was appointed in +charge of No. 4 in Chicago. I went to my quarters +and there was not kindling wood enough to start a +fire, and no coal; and the weather 14 degrees below +zero, half the glass panes of the windows broken, +and everything in the house frozen, and the Corps +indebted to the extent of 175 dollars, that I was expected +to pay. You have to put yourself in a position +of this kind in order to appreciate the circumstances +under which I was placed. Yet, when everything +seems dark, and there is no visible way out of +the difficulty, it is then that with Jesus on our side, +we shall always find some way. The first consideration +in a missionary work should be to get souls +converted to God. With much prayer and great +faith upon the Almighty, I began my work, and +when the Spirit spread all round that community and +the sinners began to flock into the fold of Jesus, +there was a change in a very short time. The old +debt was paid, and we had comfortable quarters +to lay our heads; and the roll-call of the Corps increased, +and God was glorified, and there is a Corps, +till this day, in Chicago, which they call the big 4 +of the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>The San Francisco disaster came and the Salva<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>tion +Army called me into its relieving department to +help the sufferers. After which they appointed me +assistant to the Illinois Division, where for two years +I made a deeper and more thorough study of the +various departments in operation.</p> + +<p>In April, 1908, I visited England with the desire +to study closer and more extensively the methods, +and see for myself the great works which the Salvation +Army has accomplished in the British Isles.</p> + +<p>On my return to the United States I was appointed +divisional solicitor for the Northern New +England, where, splendid success was the result of +my efforts, and there was a great field to work in +and every opportunity to do good.</p> + +<p>But in searching my heart's ambition I find that it +was high time for me to turn all my energies toward +the people for whose Salvation I was ordained +a High Priest in the Church, and although the Church +failed in its mission, yet, to uplift my people is still +the aim of my life.</p> + +<p>After much thought and due consideration of my +obligations to the Salvation Army, I came to the +conclusion that in view of the fact that following +an unsuccessful correspondence with the Salvation +Army, the National Headquarters refused to grant +me a leave of absence, and insisted that I should go +back West, while I knew that the field where I was +called to fight the battle of my life was right here +in New England, the best thing for me to do remained +to send in my resignation, and I did so, thus +thrusting myself entirely upon the hands of God.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>And though as yet I have received no reply from +the National Headquarters, my resignation is final, +and now I am free, and my work unmolested of all +denominational differences, dogmas and doctrines, +which in the light of the Ecclesiastical history has +always been the fatal cause of failure, in the +Churches, to accomplish their mission in the Salvation +of the world.</p> + +<h2 id="IX">CHAPTER IX<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>Practical Effects of Practical Truth</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>The necessity of faith, as a primary element +in all acceptable religious exercises, has already +been noticed. A feeling of entire dependence +upon God for spiritual mercy is the only right feeling, +because it is the only true feeling. It is necessary, +according to the foregoing view of the subject, +in order to offer acceptable prayer, that man should +possess a spirit of faith and dependence upon Christ. +The principle upon which Christ acted in relation to +this subject, as well as His instruction concerning the +duty of prayer, fully confirm the preceding thoughts. +He seldom performed an act of mercy, by miracle +or otherwise, unless those who received the mercy +could see the hand of God in the blessing:—"If thou +canst believe, thou mayest be cleansed," was His +habitual sentiment. As if He had said—Your desire +for the blessing is manifest by your urgent request; +now, if you can have faith to see God in the blessing, +so that He will be honored and praised for conferring +it, I will grant it; but if you have no faith, you can +receive no favor.</p> + +<p>This little book could easily occupy thrice as large +a size as its present volume, had I taken into account <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +all the blessings which God has bestowed +upon my faithful prayers and upon His children, +using me as an instrument of His hand. But I must +content myself by referring to only two cases, which +had had exceptional significance and gratifying joy +not only to my own heart, but to every Christian +worker.</p> + +<p>With the individuals spoken of I am well acquainted, +having frequently conversed with them all +on the subjects of which I shall speak. Their words +in these cases may not have been exactly remembered, +but the sense is truly given.</p> + +<p>The first case, is a story, told all by itself, and the +second case, is a letter of a dear girl, whose mother +was a down to the bone Roman Catholic. The +daughter accidentally came to our meeting and gave +her heart to Jesus. The mother thinking that the +worldly pleasures might drive her newly converted +daughter away from Jesus, and being very anxious +to get her daughter back into the Catholic parish, +she gave a party to all the young people from the +same parish. And there was plenty of song and +dance, but the daughter did not show up. The +mother with a number of the guests went into the +daughter's room where the girl in seclusion was +reading her Bible; the young people almost carrying +her into the reception hall, sat her upon the stool +in front of the piano, earnestly asking her to play +for them while they were dancing. But, the girl, +lifting up to God her angelic heart and voice, she +began to play and sing, softly "Nearer My God To<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +Thee," the tears streaming down her cheeks; they +were tears of joy for the saved girl, but the young +people could not stand it and they ran away, while +the converted girl bended on her knees in prayer for +them, and her own mother's salvation.</p> + +<p>Case 1.—For love of the Christ:—John Davis was +the only child of a Chicago banker. The wealth and +social prominence of his father had surrounded him +with every comfort and luxury, and his growth from +boyhood to incipient manhood had been tenderly +watched over by his fond parents.</p> + +<p>All the hopes of his parents were centered in their +only child. Mr. Davis looked forward to the time +when John would become his partner, and that his +son might be fitted in every way, engaged the best +tutors procurable to attend to his education. John +had graduated with honors after four years of college +work, which was marked by the thorough and +earnest application on his part. His father watched +his progress with growing pride and with fullest confidence +in his son's ability, arranged to take him into +partnership at the proper time.</p> + +<p>Seemingly the future for John was one of brilliant +promise. But John did not show an eager anticipation +for the future as planned for him. A life devoted +to business was to him a selfish one. Something +within him was insistently calling him to a higher +vocation; although apparently acquiescing to his +father's plans, the prospect daily became more and +more distasteful to him.</p> + +<p>From his mother, a woman of singular devoutness <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +and piety, John had received a careful religious +training, and he could not reconcile the idea of a +life devoted to self with the truths he had reverently +accepted as his faith. Daily he met with examples +of shamefully degraded manhood, of pitiful want, and +of unhelped suffering. His soul went out in pity +towards these unfortunate ones, and at such times +the voice within imperiously summoned him to follow +in the footsteps of Him whom he worshiped as Lord +and Saviour.</p> + +<p>On the other hand Reason urged filial obedience +to the wishes of his father. That his mother would +understand and encourage him should he heed the +call of his soul, John did not for an instant doubt. +Not less clearly, however, did he recognize the attitude +his father would take to such a course; for his +father, while refraining from scoffing at beliefs cherished +by his wife and friends, made no secret of his +own disbelief in them.</p> + +<p>The life which would appear to his mother and +himself as noblest of all would seem quixotic and +senseless to his father. Besides, his father had set +his heart on John's becoming his partner in business. +John dreaded to disappoint him, yet stronger and +stronger grew the call of that inner voice which now +all but dominated him.</p> + +<p>One evening as he sat with his parents he surprised +them by saying: "Now that I have finished my college +course it is time for me to choose my vocation, to +strive to be of benefit to my fellow men."</p> + +<p>"All arrangements have been made, John," responded <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +Mr. Davis, "you may begin at once if you +so desire. Your mother and I thought, however, +that you were entitled to a vacation after your college +work. However we can use you at the bank +the moment you are ready," laughed Mr. Davis.</p> + +<p>"That is just what I desire to talk over with you, +father," returned John. "For weeks I have felt that +the future you have designed for me is too narrow—too +selfish. With my Master's Call sounding in +my ears, the thought of devoting my life to any business, +however high its position in the eyes of the +world, is intolerably repugnant.</p> + +<p>"I know how firmly your heart has been set upon +my joining you in business, and I cannot tell you +how hard it is for me to disappoint you at this late +hour, but Christ has called me to preach to His +people. I feel and know that only in so doing shall I +find true happiness and contentment.</p> + +<p>"You surely, father, will not oppose my doing +that which every fibre of my body tells me is my +duty."</p> + +<p>The eyes of Mrs. Davis filled with glad tears, and +a prayer for Divine guidance for her son went up +from her heart; but annoyance and displeasure +plainly showed on Mr. Davis' face. At length he +said:</p> + +<p>"I had thought it definitely settled that you were +to assist me, and on the strength of that belief I +have made several important changes in my business +with the view of affording a proper position for you. +Your decision declining to accept it will inconvenience +me not a little.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> + +<p>"With all due consideration for your religious beliefs, +I feel it my duty as your father, John, to express +my disappointment of the profession you at +present seem inclined to adopt. However you are +entering man's estate, and it is for you to decide as +to your career. I shall, however, insist upon one +thing: that you take a good vacation before making +your final decision.</p> + +<p>"If, upon your return you are of the same mind, +I shall not oppose you, although to speak frankly, +John, I am not a little disappointed.</p> + +<p>"Anyway a good western trip will greatly benefit +you, and I shall not be at all surprised if on your +return your conception of your duty has undergone +important modifications." As if signifying that he +desired to discuss the subject no farther, Mr. Davis +rose and left the room.</p> + +<p>Keenly feeling his father's disappointment and +displeasure, John instinctively turned to his mother +for sympathy. Mrs. Davis stepped to his side and +with a fond caress said:</p> + +<p>"Thank God you have made this choice; I shall +do all in my power to help you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, mother dear. I believe you understand +me, and know how sincere is my desire to do +what I can for my fellow men.</p> + +<p>"I do so long to lead some of them to Christ; for +many are wandering in darkness, just waiting for +some one to reach them a helping hand.</p> + +<p>"In deference to father's wishes I shall take a +vacation; though it can by no possibility alter my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +determination. On my return I shall begin active +work without delay.</p> + +<p>"I have education enough to preach the simple +truths of God's love. I wish to preach to sinners, not +to saints. I shall ask no salary and have no denomination. +My Church will be Christ."</p> + +<p>After tenderly embracing his mother, during +which the souls of mother and son united in a prayer +to the Most High, John bade her "Good night" and +retired.</p> + +<p>The following week found John on his way to +South Dakota, his plan being to make his first stop +of any length at Aberdeen.</p> + +<p>He arrived there at night and the following morning +mounted his bicycle for a trip through the surrounding +country.</p> + +<p>It was a new world to him. His first thought +was: how splendid the roads were for wheeling, they +seemed even better than the paved streets of the +city.</p> + +<p>He cast his eyes over his surroundings. On all +sides was the vast expanse of prairie, ending only in +the horizon—the fields of grass and grain, moving +in the wind like the waves of the sea; overhead the +blue sky, stretching out in a dome unbroken by hill +or forest. The sun above him seemed to shine with +a brighter splendor than he had before known.</p> + +<p>The beauties of nature filled the soul of this city-bred +youth with wonder and admiration.</p> + +<p>He rode on and on.</p> + +<p>At one moment the joyous song of a lark captivated <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +him; at another, the capering of some colts, +or a sleek herd of cattle quietly grazing in a nearby +pasture attracted his attention; or a colony of prairie +gophers which dived excitedly into their burrows at +his approach, amused him with their antics.</p> + +<p>At last he began to wonder how far he had gone.</p> + +<p>Seeing nearby a large, well kept farm-house, he +rode up to it, to procure such rest and refreshment +as it might afford him, before undertaking his long +ride back to town.</p> + +<p>His knock at the door was answered by a beautiful +girl, apparently about fifteen years of age. John +explained his errand to her, and requested such +courtesies as could be granted without putting the +people of the house to undue inconvenience.</p> + +<p>The girl expressed her regrets that her parents were +away in town, but saying that she expected them home +very soon, she invited him in, and ushered him into +a cool, spacious sitting-room.</p> + +<p>Mutual introductions followed and John learned +that the name of his fair young hostess was Lily +Long, "but," said she, with a slight blush, "father +calls me the Queen of the Prairie."</p> + +<p>They visited together for some little time, until Lily, +exclaiming that her father and mother were coming, +went out to greet them.</p> + +<p>Left to himself, John glanced around him.</p> + +<p>An old-fashioned piano stood in one corner of the +room. He noted also an ample, well filled book-case +at one end of the room.</p> + +<p>"Music, books, and Prairie Queen. If this is a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +typical example of country life, I must say that I +rather like it."</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Long greeted him heartily and gave +him a cordial invitation to stay to dinner—an invitation +which he gratefully accepted.</p> + +<p>And what a dinner it was; vegetables fresh gathered +from the garden in abundance; fried chicken +prepared as only a farmer's wife can prepare it; and +the countless other good things which go to make +dinner on the farm. To this dinner John brought an +appetite sharpened by his brisk morning ride; he did +full justice to the tempting viands, nor could he remember +so thoroughly enjoying a dinner before.</p> + +<p>Everything on the farm was so clean and well +arranged that John began to wish he could board +there instead of in town during the remainder of his +visit; so when they had adjourned to the sitting-room, +he informed Mr. Long of his wish, and asked if it +were possible.</p> + +<p>"But before you answer me," he added, "I should +like to make myself better known to you."</p> + +<p>Then he told them of his father and mother, of his +own youth, and of his college life. A natural question +on the part of Mr. Long as to what brought him so +far West led to an explanation from John, who +presently found himself telling his new-found friends +his future plans and ambitions.</p> + +<p>"My boy," said Mr. Long, reaching out his hand, +"I honor you for your choice. You are welcome to +share our home as long as you care to stay."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Long wiped her eyes as she pressed John to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +stay with them, for she thought of her own son whom +God had called home.</p> + +<p>Lily must have been thinking of him too, for she +said: "I am glad you are going to stay, for then +I can play you are my brother."</p> + +<p>"I certainly shall be proud to be your brother," +John answered gallantly.</p> + +<p>That evening when the family gathered for prayers, +Lily took her seat at the old piano. Then John +realized why they called her "Queen," for never had +he heard such a magnificent voice, so sweet, so soft, +and so full of feeling. It seemed as though she carried +them nearer Heaven with her song.</p> + +<p>Before John retired he wrote to his mother, telling +her of the home he had found, and of "The +Queen of the Prairie." This rather amused Mrs. +Davis, for hitherto, John had had little to say in praise +of young ladies, although he was a favorite among +them.</p> + +<p>The summer passed merrily on, and John's vacation +was drawing near its close, when one morning he +received a telegram telling him that his mother was +dangerously sick. The message filled him with anxious +foreboding, and he quickly prepared to return +home at once.</p> + +<p>Tears were on Mrs. Long's cheeks as she helped +him pack, for she had not realized before to what an +extent John had taken her own boy's place in her +heart. His own eyes were moist as he bade her +farewell, promising to return as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>Mr. Long was ready with a team to drive him to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +town, and Lily was standing beside her father. She +raised a tear-stained face to him, and said: "Goodbye, +dear brother, we shall miss you."</p> + +<p>John was not ashamed of his own tears, for this +little girl who called him "Brother," had grown dearer +to him than all the world. He stooped and reverently +kissed her snow white brow, then sprang in the buggy +and was gone.</p> + +<p>When John reached home, his father met him at +the door. Mr. Davis' face was ghastly pale; he had +grown old with grief.</p> + +<p>John's eyes asked the question his lips could not +frame.</p> + +<p>"She still lives, but the doctor says she cannot +last long," said his father in answer to his son's mute +appeal.</p> + +<p>"She is paralyzed. She will probably recognize +you, but she can neither speak nor move."</p> + +<p>Without speaking John went to his mother's bedside, +and saw that this was indeed true. His mother +lay as one dead. A faint spark of recognition showed +in her fast dimming eyes as he approached but other +signs of life there were none.</p> + +<p>Overcome with grief, John stood motionless at the +bedside.</p> + +<p>Then in agony he turned to Him who faileth not, +he fell on his knees and prayed reverently for his +mother's recovery.</p> + +<p>His father tried to lead him away, but John continued +to pray.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly in that hour of anguish the grief-stricken <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +man found his God. Kneeling at his son's +side, he implored mercy from Him whom hitherto he +had denied.</p> + +<p>All at once Mrs. Davis spoke, "My son."</p> + +<p>The doctor hastened to her side.</p> + +<p>In a moment he turned to Mr. Davis and said, +"She is better, she will live."</p> + +<p>Dr. Gordon was an unbeliever, but at that moment +he realized that something had control of life, which +could act after science had failed.</p> + +<p>He looked at John who had not yet risen from +his knees, at Mr. Davis who was pouring out thanks +to the God he had just found, then at the woman who +had been saved at the point of death.</p> + +<p>Like a flash came to him the knowledge of a merciful +Christ, and he joined the father and son in their +prayer of thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Davis rapidly recovered her health, and John +soon entered upon his life work. He received hearty +encouragement from his father this time, for Mr. +Davis had learned the Truth and found his God +at the bedside of his dying wife in such a way as +to leave no place in his heart for opposition to work +in His service.</p> + +<p>John's work was among the poor. He visited +from house to house, preaching and praying, and extending +material help when such help was most +needed.</p> + +<p>His sincerity and earnestness were the means of +bringing light into many darkened lives, and the message +of Christ crucified was eagerly received in response +to his pleadings.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>At one broken-down house he was met by a frail +woman who carried a half-starved child in her arms. +It was plainly apparent that in better days she had +been a handsome and refined woman.</p> + +<p>John introduced himself and asked if he could be +of any help to her.</p> + +<p>"No," she answered, "I am afraid you cannot aid +me. I am Rose Williams. My father is a man of +wealth. He is living today in luxury in a neighboring +city, and if I would leave my husband I could be +clothed in silk and satin instead of these rags, but as +long as I stay with him, my father will not help me, +not even to keep me from starving. But I would +rather starve with my husband than leave him to kill +himself with drink, for I love him.</p> + +<p>"Drink is the cause of all my poverty and misery. +Oh, if Ralph would only let it alone."</p> + +<p>She ended her story in a frenzied cry which plainly +showed the tension to which she had been wrought, +but John's voice was low and soothing as he said, +"Suppose you and I pray for your husband. I have +great faith in the power of prayer. Shall we not +pray together?"</p> + +<p>Together they knelt down, and offered up an earnest +prayer. Mrs. Williams spoke in low tones at +first, then with great excitement. At last she tried +to rise, but fell in a swoon on the floor. John placed +her on a couch in the room and sent at once for +Dr. Gordon.</p> + +<p>After his examination, Dr. Gordon looked serious.</p> + +<p>"This is going to be a bad case of brain fever, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +John. From all appearances it has been hastened by +lack of proper food, but she may pull through if she +has proper care."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i137.jpg" height="600" width="412" id="founder" +alt="Rev. M. Golden The Founder of the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association" /><br /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Rev. M. Golden</span><br /> +The Founder of the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association</span></p> + +<p>John saw that the service of the physician was +only part of what was needed for the woman's safety.</p> + +<p>He went out and procured bedding and food, and +his mother sent over one of her maids, also a trained +nurse.</p> + +<p>Soon things were made comfortable for Mrs. Williams, +but she could not rest.</p> + +<p>In her delirium she called continually for Ralph +to come home and bring her something to eat.</p> + +<p>And where was Ralph? For three days he had +been laying in a drunken stupor in the cellar of a +saloon, but this evening he had sobered somewhat, +and remorse for his cruel neglect of his wife and +children was finding a place in his heart. He recalled +the starving condition in which he had left them.</p> + +<p>Perhaps for the first time he began to realize how +dearly his wife must love him to give up the pleasure +and luxury of her girlhood home for him, and there +in that room not fit for cattle, this man cried out in +his anguish, "Oh, God, protect my wife and forgive +me."</p> + +<p>He started at once for home but as he neared +the house his heart was filled with fear, his head began +to whirl. Where was Rose? Why was everything +so still?</p> + +<p>He opened the door and was met by a little girl +dressed in white and with golden curls.</p> + +<p>How beautiful she was; she ran to him and cried, +"Papa has come, Papa has come!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he knew she was his own little daughter.</p> + +<p>She led him to the bed on which lay his wife, but +the only words which greeted him were, "Ralph come +home and bring us something to eat."</p> + +<p>He called her name but she heard him not.</p> + +<p>Again he spoke: "Dear Rose, forgive me, forgive +me."</p> + +<p>Dr. Gordon laid his hand on the shoulder of the +stricken man and said: "Ask your God to forgive +you, your wife knows not what you say."</p> + +<p>He looked at the doctor a moment, then said in +a low voice, "I did that before I started home. God +has forgiven me and saved me. But tell me what +I can do for my poor wife."</p> + +<p>It was indeed true, Ralph Williams was a changed +man. The God who had heard the prayers of the +father and son at the dying woman's bedside, and +restored her to them, vouchsafed his mercy to the +starving wife who prayed for her drink-sodden husband, +and in answer to it the dulled conscience of +the husband was aroused.</p> + +<p>Slowly Mrs. Williams improved, until one morning +she said: "Is this Heaven, and are Ralph and my children +here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Rose," her husband replied, "Ralph and the +children are here, and henceforth I will do all I can +to make this home Heaven on earth."</p> + +<p class="centerspaced">* * * * *</p> + +<p>The years rolling by saw John still fighting the +fight for his Maker. Out of the gratitude Ralph +Williams had felt for the Divine mercy shown him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +had sprung a determination to do all in his power +towards uplifting others. John eagerly accepted his +services, and thus the nucleus of a rapidly growing +power for good was formed.</p> + +<p>As more and more came to know the meaning of +"Christ Crucified," they entered heart and soul into +the work of spreading the truth to others and soon a +mightly cohort of Christian workers spread over the +city. Individually and with them John labored night +and day sustained by his faith and enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The work of directing the efforts of so many, the +nightly vigil at the bedside of sick and dying, the +continual breathing of the vitiated air of the lower +quarters of the city, gradually sapped the strength of +John, who did not know the meaning of fatigue when +a call on the service of his Christ sounded.</p> + +<p>At last an attack of nervous prostration made him +realize his position, and yielding to the importunities +of his parents and fellow-workers, he consented to +take a vacation.</p> + +<p>Where should he go but to the broad, sunny prairies +of Dakota, to his dearly remembered friends, the +Longs and Lily.</p> + +<p>She met him with outstretched arms and a glad +smile of welcome. With the glory of dawning +womanhood about her she was more than ever the +"Queen of the Prairie," but by the soft light in her +eyes John saw that she was still his Lily.</p> + +<p>During the long pleasant vacation which followed, +John gained strength and vigor once more, and its +close found him ably equipped to take up Christ's +work once more.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Long were doubly sorrowful at their +second parting from him, for his heart had found its +mate and Lily was accompanying him.</p> + +<p>He had gained a lovely bride, and more than that, +an enthusiastic helpmate.</p> + +<p>Together they took up the work where John had +left it. Ere long the erstwhile "Queen of the Prairie" +was known as "Angel of the Poor," for her womanly +sympathy could often find its way into darkness which +even John's earnestness failed to penetrate.</p> + +<p>One Friday night they both came to take part in +our holiness meeting, and the Spirit revealed to them +that should they submit all their powers unreservedly +to the will of God, He could use them to still higher +and more effective purposes of the cause of Jesus. +So, John and Lily, side by side, came out at the altar +and offered their lives and their services to Jesus for +time and for eternity, they, becoming active members +in my corps, and a great blessing to the suffering +humanity in that community.</p> + +<p>Case 2.—The following letter was received from +the girl already mentioned, as the daughter of a +Roman Catholic woman, who tried to drive her converted +daughter, by the worldly pleasures, away from +Jesus:</p> + +<div class="letter"> + +<p> +<span class="location">"Chicago, Ill., Oct. 5, 1906.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="letter1">Captain Golden,</span><br /> +<span class="letter2">Salvation Army.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="letter1">Dear Friend:</span></p> + +<p>I feel that I must let you know what the Lord has +done for me, 'through you.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>Why I ever went to the Salvation Army meeting +is more than I know, because I have always been +told that the Salvation Army was nothing more than +street beggars and a great deal more.</p> + +<p>So I never went to their meetings until I went +to No. 4, and I do sincerely thank God that I went, +because now I can see how far from the Lord I was +wandering and so unintentionally because I never +meant to be a sinner, but I just wanted to have a +good time. But now, I can see where some of those +good times lead us.</p> + +<p>Captain, I often think how brave you must have +been to go on with the work at No. 4, with so little +help, 'that is, earthly help.' I am sorry that I could +not help you, but you see I was not brave like you. +I could not talk about Jesus to those who scoffed, +but I do want Jesus to help me and strengthen me +to do His will. Captain, do you know there is a song +that always come to me when I am in any difficulty, +'Lead Me Saviour.'</p> + +<p><span class="letter3">Yours sincerely,</span><br /> +<span class="letter4">FLOY MAYHEN,</span><br /> +<span class="letter4">2207, 63d St., Chicago."</span></p> + +</div> + +<p>It is simply wonderful, that there is no one to +lead us like the Saviour, dear Jesus. Who died on +Calvary's Cross for our redemption. And now, dear +reader, just a word to you. This volume is written +for you; if you are a converted Christian enjoying +the blessings of a clean heart, indeed, blessed you +are, for "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +see God." But, if for some reason, if there can be a +reason for not being saved, you kept back until this +hour, I pray that you may go down upon your knees, +at this very moment, just as you are, and open your +heart to God, and let Jesus come in: and I know +and you will know that the remaining days of your +life will be sweet and happy; and when the roll is +called up yonder you'll be there, in a robe of white +with the angels in the air to meet the Lamb of God, +Who will say unto all that loved Him and worked +for Him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: +enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord."</p> + +<p class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i145.jpg" height="600" width="402" id="peasant" +alt="Greek Peasant Woman" /><br /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Greek Peasant Woman</span></span></p> + +<h2 id="X">CHAPTER X<br /> +<span class="caption2"><i>Greek-American-Christian-Association</i></span></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is said, by Him who never told a lie, that every +tree is known by its own fruit, and the confirmation +of the statement is conclusive to the student of +natural and human history.</p> + +<p>It was an idea of King Maximilian of Bavaria, to +transmit to history a reminder of his reign. He +instructed the architects of Germany to design a +new style to be named after him. Such a style of +Maximilianesque was created. An architect—it was +Semper, if I am not mistaken—when asked to take +a part in this creation of the so-called Maximilian +style, answered that such a thing could not be made +to order, that a style of building is the consequence +of the history, the culture, life, and doings of a great +period of people. If such be the case with a style of +architecture, how much more must it be the case in +regard to religion?</p> + +<p>The history of this style of Maximilian's is, that +it has no history, and consequently all efforts of pursuing +eminent architects to adopt the Maximilian +style failed. This short history is that of the attempts +to create a very much needed world religion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +It is not the dogma nor the doctrines or the profession +that will make it possible for all right thinking +minds to unite efforts in building a universal religion, +sufficient to satisfy the intellectual want of +every people and of every time. Attempts, all-powerful, +such as Papism and Mohammedanism, +failed in their egotistic purposes to enforce upon the +world an exotic structure. Neither the fires of Torquemadas, +nor the sword of Islam could deter the +bravery of civilization. The blood that was spilled +by the millions of martyrs of the lowly Nazarene +served to make the history of the man who died upon +the Cross, more effective and heartfelt world-need +for the only aristurgimatical shrine in which all +human families may live in peace and prosperity.</p> + +<p>At a time when the world was imperilled by the +treatment accorded to Galileo for believing in the +motion of the earth; and though 69 years of age he +was cast, by the tools of Vatican, into a dungeon, +where he lost his sight and ultimately his life; and +Copernicus was facing the same fate, for accomplishing +a noble astronomical discovery; and Martin +Luther was persecuted by the Roman Catholic +church, for trying to bring the people nearer to God. +The Greeks, a brave people, who, in the face of +starvation, for lack of food, and horrified by the +sword of the conqueror, dishonored in their holiest +sacreds, pure maidens slain after being used in the +most beastly way, mothers put to death after their +children were torn off into shreds of flesh under the +sword of the barbarous Turk, young people and old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +aged having no rescuing place to escape from horror +and death; when all crowned heads of Europe should +bow on their knees and kiss the slipper of the holy +father before they could attain their rights to the +throne of their own kingdoms; when all the known +world was trembling equally in the name of Mohammed +and Pope, these people (the Greeks) stood up, +and with all the strength that was left in their lungs, +they cried out, "we prefer political slavery rather than +to be the slaves of the Pope," and for more than +three centuries the Greeks suffered such a martyrdom +which if only printed it would be more than a human +heart could bear.</p> + +<p>The history of Greece shall remain until the end +of time, and as the peoples of the world grow intelligently +and intellectually more enlightened they +will come to the appreciation of the fact that the +Greek people has contributed more material in paving +the way to the spiritual freedom and the individual +liberty of the world than any other nation on the +face of the earth, and that the Greek spirit is still +living and ruling in principle in the very heart of the +civilized world.</p> + +<p>It is essential that every nation in making up the +list of its benefactors should give the first place to +the most distinguished one. In accordance to the +general law the Greek nation of today not only +owes its literary language, in part at least, to the +exertions of the great patriot Korais, but to him is +accredited the prophecy, that, "the Greek nation +shall never be great again, unless regenerated in +Christ."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>Adamantios Korais was born April 27, 1747, in +Smyrna. From early youth he devoted himself to +the study of old and new languages. In obedience +to his father's wishes, he followed a mercantile career +during the year 1772-78, without, however, neglecting +the sciences. From 1782-88 he studied medicine +in Montpellier and established himself as a +practising physician in Paris. From there he worked +incessantly for the education of his compatriots, and +endeavored to awaken a favorable opinion of his +nation in the Occidental countries. In 1800 he received +the prize of the Academy for an edition of the +writings of Hippocrates, but before this time he +had attracted the attention of the world of learning +by his ability, and Napoleon the Great conferred +upon him many honors and titles and appointed +him the medical adviser of the Court. Later on he +gained fame by his Greek translation of Beccaria's +work on crimes and their punishments. This was +followed by a work entitled "De l'etat actuel de la +civilization en Greece" (Paris, 1803). This was the +first publication in Europe which gave true information +on the intellectual and moral conditions +of the new Greeks. During the period from 1805-27 +he published a collection—twenty volumes—of old +Greek classics, with critical explanations and prolegomena. +In the latter he gave his patriotic teachings +and advices. His greatest merit consisted in +his promoting the Greek morals and the Greek +language; he eliminated as much as possible all +foreign elements, but retained all that was good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +and useful from all centuries, rejecting the one-sided +retention of the old words and forms as not +compatible with the understanding of the people. +He above all, helped to establish a noble literary +language. On account of his old age he could take +no part in the rising of his fatherland in 1821, but +aided it greatly by his patriotic pen. When Greece +had gained her independence he took an active interest +in the new formation of his country. In 1830-31 +he attacked the government of Kapodistria in two +publications. He died in 1833. His autobiography +appeared in Paris in the same year. The name of +Adamantios Korais will never die from the memory +of every patriot Greek, and yet his sincere opinion +that "the Greek nation shall never be great again, +unless regenerated in Christ," had little effect upon +the hearts of the people, or rather upon the hearts of +the leaders of the people.</p> + +<p>Great nations have failed, and in every case it was +the government's corruption and neglect of duty +that caused the sufferings and failures, of which +the political history is too abounding and too accessible +to be quoted. We only mention the Greek +nation, perhaps the greatest and most illustrious of +all nations that ever failed in their political career, +because we are well informed and personally acquainted +with the details that brought this formerly +world-wide respected and valued gem of civilization +into insignificance in the eye of the scornful, and a +plaything in the hands of the so-called great powers +of Europe.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the year of 1902, while I was a High Priest, +Archimandrites, grand representative of the Saint +Mary's Monastery, Salamis; Orator and Grand +Chaplain of the Supreme Council of Greece; and +confessor in the most exclusive societies of Athens, +hearing confessions and granting absolutions; the +following incident, which is published for the first +time, and only in parts that are printable, brought +me to a final decision, that I should leave my home, +my loved ones, and all the flourishing prospects +to be a Bishop, with all the comforts and luxuries +attached to a Bishopric, just because I had witnessed +a few scenes of the manifold political plots that +caused the downfall of my own nation, and my own +people scattered to the four corners of the world, +wandering, struggling for their existence, while +Greece, the land of the Gods, and the home of art +and beauty, was left in the hands of a few parasites, +strangers and unsympathetic feudals who have +shown no mercy in straining every material and +spiritual bit from the people that still honors them +as their kings and sovereigns.</p> + +<p>At the time spoken of, there was an open secret +to every well informed Greek that the Queen of +Greece, Olga, had been the tool of the Russian +bureaucracy, trying by means of religious influences +to keep the Greeks under the Russian political control; +that the Queen Olga paid the expenses for the +education of a monk, who, on his return from Russia, +where he was graduated from the theological +academies of Kiev and Moskow, became the Queen's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +personal confessor, and afterwards by the Queen's +very earnest and almost scandalous activities that +monk was raised to the Metropolitan Throne of +Athens, which position placed him at the head of +the Greek Church, and made him the President of the +Holy Synod of Greece.</p> + +<p>The Metropolitan Throne of Athens is the highest +and most exalted position that a mortal Greek could +approach, and it is, in fact, the next to the King's +Throne, most influential occupation, and more +powerful, even than the Royal Throne, because, the +Metropolite of Athens is the spiritual leader of all +Greeks.</p> + +<p>There was plenty of rejoicing in the Queen's +camarilla, at the installation of Procopios (that was +the name of the monk) as the Metropolite of Athens, +and every effort, Queen Olga leading the fight, had +gone forth to assure a complete victory for the Russian +bureaucracy, over the few remaining unspoiled +patriotic Greeks.</p> + +<p>All the characteristics of a civil war were enacted +in the streets of Athens when Queen Olga attempted +to enforce upon the Greek people a new inferior +language in their Bibles, and in their holy mass—a +language, which the Greek people considered as a +means to confound their historical and religious +customs and habits and subdue them into a Russian +spiritual dependency. Against the attempt there was +the very best element of the Greek scholars. Adamantios +Korais fought the fight, 100 years before this +attempt was made, and he distinctly and clearly made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +it understood that the Attic Greek language has been, +it is and must be the safeguard of all that is beautiful +in the Greek history.</p> + +<p>Faithful to their traditions the Greeks of the present +generation fought and won a triumphant victory. +The innocent blood of the people that was +slain on the streets of Athens by orders from the +Royal Palace, have wrote with indelible letters, the +anathema, which, frenzied mothers in the sight of +their assassinated sons, and overwhelmed in grief, +cried against Queen Olga, and her crown all but torn +to pieces by the wronged multitudes.</p> + +<p>Within 24 hours from that terrible bloody day, +that will remain an indelible stigma in the history of +Queen Olga's life, the most exalted Metropolite Procopios +was a fallen ragmuffin and the most hated person +in all Greece. And when every one of his colleagues +deserted him and the King and Queen shut +their door in his face, leaving him a pitiful victim of +the political plots to save the royal skin, and while +there was no visible friend to give him a helping +hand when fallen from the Metropolitan Throne, and +while this monk-metropolite Procopios, in all his glorious +days had been a profound enemy against every +honest effort, especially against young priests who +refused to serve his unlawful appetites, and my own +experience with this monk-metropolite Procopios is +not of the kind to be printed, yet, it was I who put +my own life in a probable danger to save him from +the mob, that was ready to attack him, and probably +kill him, the day after I made his escape possible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +into the Saint Mary's Monastery, Salamis, where at +the time I was Archimandrites.</p> + +<p>Procopios, in the opinion of his own friends, was +the last man in the Greek priesthood, qualified to +occupy the Metropolitan Throne of Athens, and +totally lost his will power when he became Metropolite +by Royal favor. There was an organized clique +around the Metropolitan mansion, but the controlling +power should be located within the walls of the Royal +Palace. Procopios was only an instrument transmitting +orders. And if I was allowed to publish all that +Procopios himself told me, in Salamis, it would make +the Greek people sit up and take notice, but in my +vows as confessor I have to carry the confession of +the fallen Metropolite Procopios with me to my grave, +unless the need arises to serve the best interests of +my beloved country. It was his last confession upon +the earth. He died and went there, where, at the +great Judgment Day, he, surely will give account for +all his deeds done in the body.</p> + +<p>For the first time in the ecclesiastical history of +the Greek Kingdom, a Metropolite abdicated from +his throne, rejected by his closest friends, helpless +under the anathema of the people, above whom he +was called to be the spiritual leader, his life imperilled +by the injured public sentiment, Procopios, left a real +wreck cast by the shore, as a warning sign of those +dangers to which every public man is exposed, when +corrupted by higher favours and neglects his duties +to the people who entrusted him with responsibilities +of national importance.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>This incident, which I hope will never occur again, +and many other minor opportunities, in which I +had a part to play, during that fateful Queen Olga's +attempt to adulterate the beautiful and pure Attic +Greek language, gave me the exceptional privilege +to study all the works of the political machinery in +Greece. I have seen the drama enacted behind the +scenes. It is a dreadful drama that could break the +neck of the strongest long-suffering. The awful +drama that is enacted in Greece at the expenses of +the people is a long, very long story; perhaps it +has its beginning with the reign of King George and +Queen Olga, I will not say, but the people of Greece, +the poorest people of Europe, are contented and well +pleased that they have a King who is a great diplomat, +and he is one of the richest Kings in Europe, +and their Queen, Olga, they believe (the ignorant +do) that she is a saintly woman (as all the Russian +saints are), and this ignorant Greek people, they +simply feel glad to leave their homes and their children +and go into war, like sheep into the butcher's +shop, sacrifice their lives, thus destroying their +homes and the hopes of their loved ones, every time +King George calls them to arms to fight against the +Turks. And King George has always a great patriotic +cause to fight the Turks. And the Greeks could +not appreciate more highly a privilege than to fight +and die for the deliverance of their brethren in Crete +and for the salvation of the unfortunate Christians in +Macedonia.</p> + +<p>Yet, for half a century, in fact, since King George<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +came to Greece, there are hundreds of thousands of +the best Greek patriots that have been killed, slain, or +assassinated, and nearly a billion drachmas national +debt, hanging upon the neck of every Greek, like the +Damoclean sword, but there is no deliverance for the +Cretans, and there is no salvation for the Macedonians, +instead there are the traps strategically +placed across the Greek borders, so, every time the +Greek patriots, in answer to the call of their King, +are sent to render a helping hand to the sufferers, +they cross the border, only to find, but too late, that +they have been trapped, under the sword of the +enemy, the Turk; or they are left at the mercy of +their assassins, the Bulgars. This drama is going +on repeatedly with great success, and to the amusement +of the observing great powers of Europe.</p> + +<p>Occasionally there is some crippling of the territory +already belonging to the possessions of Greece, because +the places are of some strategical importance, +and this reason is enough, that they should be taken +away from the Greeks. And there is a financial +commission appointed by the great powers, because +King George is a great diplomat and he wants to be +sure that his allowance is coming to him increasingly, +every year, from the coffers of the Greek treasury, +while the international commission should count every +penny that the Greek expends in bread for his +children.</p> + +<p>In the evolution of events, I believe, that there +is a time coming, when the Greek people shall rise, +from the lethargy, in which they unnaturally are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +slumbering, for a long time, and they shall awake +and break every fetter, and shake off their feet every +chain, and their eyes shall be opened and they shall +see things that will horrify them as a nation; then +shall they know the persons responsible for their sufferings +and for the sufferings of the Cretans and +Macedonians and why Carditses was beheaded in a +dungeon, without giving him the privilege of free +citizenship, to prove his reason or his sanity, without +any chance to protect his life; and where and by +whom that plot was framed up, just to turn the tide +of public anger against a royal gang, thus causing the +destruction of two beautiful Greek girls, that left +alone in the world to suffer from consumption, in +agony, to die with the stigma as sisters of a would-be +royal assassin. It was my privilege to take +care of these two unfortunate sisters, both suffering, +and the story of these two girls and the uprising of +the Greek people against the adulteration of their +language by Queen Olga, settled my determination +to fight for the rights of my own people and my beloved +country. But, the time for the Greek people +to stand up and walk on their own feet, shall come +when the prophecy of the great patriot Adamantios +Korais, is no more prophecy, but in reality the Greek +people will be regenerated in Christ, and there and +then shall be a great Greek nation, not only within +the boundaries of the feudatory of King George, but +within the bounds of love that unites all the millions +of people that speak the historical Attic Greek language, +and a great Greek nation shall attract the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +attention of all the civilized world, once more as in +the days of old.</p> + +<p>I know the dangers in which I am exposed for +the step I have taken, because, I know the character +and the principles of the Greek people, perhaps, as +well as any living Greek, the demagogues, the +priests, the church, and the drones and parasites of +the royal gang, they each and every one and all together +are going to use all their power and money +that is at their disposal, and with no regards as to +the honesty of means they shall move earth and hell +to quench this movement for the regeneration of +the Greek people, but having all my trust upon the +Almighty and Omnipotent God, in the name of His +Son Jesus Christ, Who died that all men may be +happy, and in the right Spirit of love to God and to +my fellow men, I dare launch the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association.</p> + +<p>Every Greek of reputable character, and all the +lovers of the Greek ancient and modern history, are +eligible to membership. It is my purpose to endeavor +by all the Christian means to bring the Greek +and American people into a mutual, intellectual and +intelligent understanding. It has been my experience +in studying conditions for the last six years, +that the Greeks in the United States know very little +or nothing of the American history, government, +political, social, customs and habits of the American +people, which, also, unfortunate as it may appear, +yet it is the truth, that only a very limited number +of Americans whom I have found all over the United<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +States, are well informed of the doings in Greece, +and still fewer well acquainted and unprejudiced as +to the historical and classical importance of the +Greek nation.</p> + +<p>It is estimated that there are about 300,000 Greek +people in the United States, representing the 12,000,000 +of Greek-speaking people that is the Greek +nation extended all around the Mediterranean countries.</p> + +<p>When it is considered that the vast majority of +the Greeks in the United States, has never had any +opportunity to attend a Christian meeting, or hear +the Gospel preached in their own language, it is to +their credit that, with all the temptations and the +ambiguous associations which the laboring class is +often in contact with they have not been worse than +they are; it is an indication that the primitive and +strong character of the Greek seldom yields to temptation; +they hold fast to their historical energy and +honesty.</p> + +<p>There has never been an attempt of any importance, +neither has there ever been any organized effort, +for the regeneration of the Greek people, and +while the Home and Foreign Missions of America +for the last 25 years have given the best of their +spiritual leaders for the conversion of the Zulu and +the Mogul and millions of American dollars have +been expended, with insignificant returns, in trying +vainly to make real Christians out of a barbarous +and semi-human race of people, and trying to civilize +the jungles of Africa, the most urgent duty has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +been neglected, and some spasmodical efforts that +have been put forth by the zeal of earnest individuals, +were soon exhausted, and failed, not only for lack +of financial support, but, the worst, by spiritual discouragements, +and today a noble and the most historical +race of peoples, the Greeks, are drifting in +despair, away from God, politically perishing, blind, +and ignorant priests, and political demagogues leading +them fast into the ditch.</p> + +<p>The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers +are few; who will help us to garner in? HELP! is +the cry, the most earnest cry, that was ever uttered +from the lips and from the heart of a sincere Christian +worker.</p> + +<p>In organizing the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association, +all the latest and most effective, spiritual +and industrial methods will be employed.</p> + +<p>It is hoped that the organization will be incorporated +under the laws of the United States, as soon +as there are members sufficient in number to assemble +in their first meeting and vote the Constitution and +the By-Laws of the Association.</p> + +<p>Much consideration will be given to the methods +of the Y. M. C. A., and Y. W. C. A. This two-fold +Institution, which in the opinion of Christian leaders, +and the most distinguished sociologists, of the present +time, is the very best agency to approach all nations, +and spread civilization, well established upon +the fundamental principles of Christianity.</p> + +<p>For the last few months in my struggle trying +to establish the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +and at the same time keep my soul and body +together providing a lean livelihood by selling this +book, I can truthfully say that I had more experiences +than in all my life before. One clergyman of +the high Episcopal church in the most fashionable +Back Bay, Boston, offered to grant me the use of +his church any time I wanted to offer the mass as +high priest according to the ritual of the Greek +Orthodox Church, if I would only "break off all relations +with Protestant bodies here in America." +I have a letter from this clergyman which is the +most astounding fact of his inconsistency, because +he himself is an active member of the Bible Club, a +purely Protestant organization: he invited me to one +of their meetings, but he would not purchase my +book to help me to my bread and butter. Another +clergyman, a member of the executive committee of +City Missions, Boston, would not purchase my book, +unless I offered myself to be employed by them at +a certain salary, and he gave me his card introducing +me to the chairman of that organization.</p> + +<p>Last winter I began to preach to the Greeks at +Kneeland street, Boston, in the open air, and when I +went to see the police captain of that district he +promised to co-operate with me and gave me his +consent to go on with my work, but the following +Sunday his Lieutenant came up to me, while I was +preaching on the street, he stopped me, on the +pretense, that he was informed of a plot among the +Greeks to take my life. And when I made my +complaints to the General Secretary of New England <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +Missions, he told me that I should have known +that Boston is a Catholic town, and that the police +being informed that I was an ex-priest, they simply +would not tolerate me. Horror stricken by this +statement I went to see the captain myself, and the +very same man who promised co-operation, only a +few days hence, he stood up in front of my face and +in a savage manner told me that he would not tolerate +me to preach on the streets of Boston.</p> + +<p>The names of all concerned are in my possession +and open to investigation by the general public. But +I will omit them here for reasons well understood.</p> + +<p>A number of other discouraging instances, only +worked together to deeper impress upon my heart +the importance and the excellency of my high +calling. Sooner or later, in the inevitable law of +evolution and universal progress, the Greek nation +must be regenerated in spirit and in truth: and I +believe that it is not only a case of courtesy, but, +there is a sense of duty for every true American man +and woman to co-operate in the uplifting of all mankind. +As for me I fully appreciate the privilege to +suffer for the benefit of my fellow men, and I can +hopefully repeat Tennyson's immortal words:</p> + +<p class="poem2"> +Once in a golden hour<br /> +<span class="poem1">I cast to earth a seed,</span><br /> +Up then came a flower,<br /> +<span class="poem1">The people said, a weed.</span></p> + +<p class="poem2"> +To and fro they went<br /> +<span class="poem1">Thro' my garden bower,</span><br /> +And muttering discontent<br /> +<span class="poem1">Cursed me and my flower.</span></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + +<p class="poem2"> +Then it grew so tall,<br /> +<span class="poem1">It wore a crown of light,</span><br /> +But thieves from o'er the wall<br /> +<span class="poem1">Stole the seed by night.</span></p> + +<p class="poem2"> +Sow'd it far and wide,<br /> +<span class="poem1">By every town and tower,</span><br /> +Till all the people cried,<br /> +<span class="poem1">"Splendid is the flower:"</span></p> + +<p class="poem2"> +Read my little fable,<br /> +<span class="poem1">He that runs may read:</span><br /> +Most can raise the flower now,<br /> +<span class="poem1">For all have got the seed.</span></p> + +<h2 id="XI"><i>Conclusion</i></h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>Allow me, dear reader, to say in closing, that it +is my sincere opinion that in view of the reasonings +and facts presented in the preceding pages, every individual +who reads this Book intelligently, and who +is in possession of a sound and unprejudiced reason, +will come to the conclusion that there is only one +religion worth having, and that is the religion by +Jesus, of Jesus, for Jesus, which is the revelation of +the Bible, Divinely adapted to produce the greatest +present and eternal spiritual good to the human +family. And if anyone should doubt His power +(which, in view of its adaptations and its effects as +herein developed, would involve the absurdity of +doubting whether an intelligent design had an intelligent +designer), still, be the origin of the Gospel of +Jesus where it may, in heaven, earth, or hell, the +demonstration is conclusive that it is the only religion +possible for man, in order to perfect his nature, +and restore his lapsed powers to harmony and holiness, +which is the only avenue to usefulness and +happiness.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONVERSION OF A HIGH PRIEST INTO A CHRISTIAN WORKER***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 24179-h.txt or 24179-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/1/7/24179">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/1/7/24179</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Conversion of a High Priest into a Christian Worker + + +Author: Meletios Golden + + + +Release Date: January 6, 2008 [eBook #24179] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONVERSION OF A HIGH PRIEST INTO A +CHRISTIAN WORKER*** + + +E-text prepared by Tamise Totterdell, Curtis Weyant, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 24179-h.htm or 24179-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/1/7/24179/24179-h/24179-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/1/7/24179/24179-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed between equal signs appeared in bold face + in the original (=bold=). + + + + + +CONVERSION OF A HIGH PRIEST INTO A CHRISTIAN WORKER + +Edited and Presented by + +REV. M. GOLDEN + +Second Edition + + + + + + + +[Illustration: FARMHOUSE, WHERE REV. M. GOLDEN WROTE HIS CONVERSION] + + +[Illustration: GREEK-AMERIKAN-CHRISTIAN-ASSOCIATION] + +New York +1912 + +Copyright Office of the United States of America +Library of Congress--Washington, D. C. + +In conformity with section 55 of the Act to Amend and Consolidate the +Acts respecting Copyright, approved March 4, 1909, said book has been +duly registered to the name of Rev. M. Golden, of Rutland, Mass. + +Entry: Class A, XXc., No. 251121, Oct. 29, 1909. +Copyright, 1910, by REV. MELETIOS GOLDEN. +Entry: Class A, XXc, No. 275323, Nov. 10, 1910. + +The Trow Press +New York + + + + +TO + +My own loving father, who did sow the seed of a brave Christianity in my +young heart, while only eight years of age, calling me by his death-bed, +on my knees, with his right hand resting upon my head, in his last words +to me, saying: + +"My boy, I leave you; God will be your Father, and Jesus His Son your +Saviour; keep away from unholy associates, and heed not unlawful advice, +but work for righteousness and help those that are in need; and we shall +meet again." And his spirit went into eternity; to which destination I +direct all my efforts in life. + + This Book is dedicated by a grateful son, + REV. MELETIOS GOLDEN. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. FAREWELL 17 + + II. ARRIVAL 36 + + III. FIRST DAY IN NEW YORK 49 + + IV. HIGH PRIEST 57 + + V. PHILOSOPHY VS. CHRISTIANITY 66 + + VI. GOD'S PROVIDENCE 76 + + VII. NEW YORK TO CALIFORNIA 92 + + VIII. HONORABLE SUBMISSION 104 + + IX. PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF PRACTICAL TRUTH 114 + + X. GREEK-AMERIKAN-CHRISTIAN-ASSOCIATION 133 + + XI. CONCLUSION 151 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Farmhouse _Frontispiece_ + + Rev. M. Golden in Street Attire as High Priest 36 + + The World's Wonder, Acropolis of Athens, Greece 52 + + H. R. H. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, + K. G., etc. 68 + + Rev. M. Golden, the High Priest in Church Ceremonial + Attire 84 + + Rev. M. Golden, Captain of the Salvation Army 100 + + Rev. M. Golden, the founder of the + Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association 126 + + Greek Peasant Woman 132 + + + + +Conversion of a High Priest into a +Practical Christian Worker + +SECOND EDITION + + _Edited and Presented by_ + Rev. MELETIOS GOLDEN + + _Founder of the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association._ + + _HIGH PRIEST OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH._ + + _Grand Representative of the St. Stephen's Monastery, + Mt. Athos, Turkey._ + + _Archimandrides of the Virgin Mary's Monastery, Salamis and + Athens, Greece._ + + _Lieutenant, Officer, in the Royal Gendarmery of Greece._ + + _Grand Chaplain and Orator of the Supreme Council of the A. A. + Scottish Rite, Greece._ + + _Captain of the Salvation Army, U. S. A._ + + _Member of the Massachusetts Consistory S. P. R. S., Thirty-second + Degree, Boston, Mass._ + + _Evangelist to the Greeks in the United States, etc., etc._ + + _New York._ + 1912. + + + + +PREFACE + + +In placing this second edition in the hands of my readers I most +gratefully acknowledge the splendid assistance of my subscribers, and +the kindness with which this book has been received by the General +Public, who made it possible for me to accomplish my intended purpose, +ever since I left home, that I should give, to the general public, an +account of my conversion into a practical Christian worker, knowing that +there are a great number of intelligent minds, among the priests, in the +Greek-Russian and Roman Catholic churches, who would make good soldiers +of Jesus Christ, and some of them might develop into heroes of Truth and +Righteousness, if they could only deny themselves of the luxuries and +lofty life attached to their priesthood. And this problem of selfishness +is an absolute barrier not only to their own Salvation, but to many a +soul, who might have been saved from sin, and be converted to God, and +usefulness, but for the Priest. + +The solution of the problem was the clue which aided me to escape from +the labyrinth of doubt; and now, standing upon the rock of unshaken +faith, I offer the clue that guided me to others. + +A work of this kind is called for by the spirit of the age. Although the +signs of the times are said to be propitious, yet there are constant +developments of undisciplined and unsanctified minds both in Europe and +America, which furnish matter of regret to the philanthropist and the +Christian; and though there are great controversies--going on at +present; in relation to the man's spiritual interests, central point of +all this heated contest has been the "Cross of Christ:" yet the most +obnoxious obstacle in the way of progress as to the realization of +"God's Kingdom on earth" it is, and from all quarters the same +exclamation uttered, the priest. + +Men and women entrusted with responsibilities of raising children in the +Christ-like way, for the future development of this great country, will +find valuable facts in this volume, which I have endeavored to write, in +order to meet the exigencies among, not only certain people, but among +many well-bred and well-cultured priests. + +In criticising this work, the intelligent reader is respectfully +requested to take into account the peculiar circumstances under which +this book is written. + +I was only six years old--in the English language--many miles away from +any literary assistance, and fifty miles from the Boston Public Library, +where I could derive many testimonies and opinions of undisputable +authorities to strengthen my religious opinions and actions, which are +tested in the most practical way by all conditions and under all +circumstances, from the ostentatious pomp of a high priest to a loving, +lowly worker in the slums of Chicago. + +The place, where this book is written, is a farm situated in the +picturesque county of Worcester, and it might rightfully have attributed +to the effect of the inspiring natural surroundings in this farm that I +was enabled to master my views in framing them according to the +linguistic requirements of the American reader, using the every day +language for the historical part of my subject; and maintaining the more +classical expression for the men with the tendencies to argue, just to +make a show of their higher knowledge, thus trying to excuse themselves +for not submitting all their powers to the Will of God. + +It has been said, all misery comes to the human race mainly from two +causes; firstly, through misconduct: and secondly, through misfortune: +therefore; since there is the self-evident truth, in the axiom, that, +when the cause is diagnosed, the remedy is near at hand, let us work +unitedly to remove the cause of all misery, be it in the Greek people, +or Jewish, or Gentiles, and by the light of the Gospel's truth, let us +put forth all our efforts, while here on earth, in establishing +happiness and good will to all men. + + REV. MELETIOS GOLDEN. + + NORTH RUTLAND, Mass., 1910. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +_Farewell_ + + +It was the year 1903, on a very beautiful day, one of those April days, +that are well known and appreciated by those who have been fortunate +enough to travel around the purple bathed Mediterranean coast, that his +royal highness, the prince of Greece, Andreas, went abroad to meet his +sweetheart, who afterwards became his wife and princess of Greece. It +was a confidential royal talk, the betrothal of Prince Andreas, but for +the newspaper man, who learns everything, and he can keep a confidential +talk as much as Mrs. Green did when she promised to her husband to keep +all to herself that confidential talk they had one night, and the first +thing in the morning speaking to Mrs. Jones over the fence she +confidentially delivered that confidential talk and in the same manner +all over fences and telephones, wherever they were procurable, to save +the time, the talk went round the town and came back to Mr. Green's +ears, and he only blamed himself for being the fool to trust his wife. +So, when Prince Andreas, came down to Piraeus, the seaport of Athens, to +board on the fashionable French S. S. Messengerie-Maritime, he was +surprised by the throngs of people that gathered at the pier to greet +him "good luck" in his royal love affairs, because the Greeks pay more +attention to the royal love affairs, than they do in paying their +royalties to fatten more highness and highnesses than any other Kingdom +on the face of the earth. + +The Kingdom of Greece, little more than two millions of people, pay to +King George, for his annual allowances six times as much as the ninety +millions of people to the President of the United States. And every +creature of royal blood, in Greece, draws as high an allowance, as +nearer to the throne his or her rights happen to be. Besides, many +thousands of acres of the best land in Greece, is granted to the members +of the royal family; thus causing the immense emigration of all these +Greeks, whom you meet in every corner, in the United States, trying to +make an honest living, by shining your shoes, or working in the +construction of railroads in America and Mexico. + +The Greek, though born and raised among the most beautiful vineyards +that made the historical and famous Nectar for the Gods, yet when he +leaves his home to go abroad, he takes his last glass of intoxicant, +till he settles himself, in a new adopted motherland, and makes a +comfortable home for the queen of his heart, because home life is the +ideal of every Greek and he is a model as head of the family, in his +moderate means trying to raise children to his generation and give them +the best he can afford. Hopeful, that some Socrates or Demosthenes might +develop out of his offspring. The Greek has never been identified with +any unlawful or criminal movement of the so-called Anarchistic or +Socialistic. The Greek at all times and under all circumstances is an +example as a law-abiding citizen. + +Greek history is the pride of all the civilized world, and in the +opinion of a most distinguished sociologist, the United States is the +Greece of this age, and he thinks that it is the irresistible law of +gravitation and sympathy that the tide of emigration draws the Greeks +from the ancient Greece into this new and glorious Greece. And the +writer was very little surprised when told that Boston is the Hub of +America, or in the language of the Archaeologist, the Athens of the +United States, and there and then he made his resolution to make his +home in Boston, should he ever find the way clear to come to America. +The joyful dream of his life has become reality, and for the last six +years from his personal observations traveling a little more, perhaps, +than the average American traveler, from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific +Coast, he is privileged to know that the spirit of the Ancient Greece is +not only confined in the Hub, but, hospitality and the love of art and +beauty prevails in the very heart of every true American man and woman, +even in the remotest village and hamlet, and he has yet to know the time +or the place where he did not feel perfectly at home. Therefore, there +is no regret on his part for bidding farewell to the land of the Gods +and the city which had been the birthplace of taste, of art and beauty +and eloquence. The chosen sanctuary of the Muses. The prototype of all +that is graceful and dignified and grand in sentiment and action. + +History and philosophy, oratory and the elements of mathematical science +claim as their birthplace the city of Athens, where Paul, the greatest +apostle of Jesus Christ, uttered his immortal oration to the Athenians, +on the Areopagus (Mars Hill). And he, dignified, temperate, high-minded +and learned in all wisdom, of his age, Paul, confessed that he was +standing in the midst of the highest civilization, both of his own age +and of the ages that had elapsed. + +Paul, with his face towards the north having immediately behind him the +long walls which ran down to the sea, affording protection against a +foreign enemy. Near the sea on the one side the harbor of Piraeus, on +the other that designated Phalerum, with crowded arsenals, their busy +workmen and their gallant ships. Not far off in the ocean the Island of +Salamis, ennobled forever in history as the spot near which Athenian +valour chastised Asiatic pride, and achieved the liberty of Greece. The +Apostle turning towards his right hand to catch a view of a small but +celebrated hill rising within the city near that on which he stood, +called the Pnyx, where standing on a block of bare stone, Demosthenes +and other distinguished orators had addressed the assembled people of +Athens, swaying that arrogant and fickle democracy, and thereby making +Philip of Macedon tremble, or working good or ill for the entire +civilized world. Immediately before him looking upon the crowded city, +studded in every part with memorials sacred to religion or patriotism, +and exhibiting the highest achievements of art. On his left, somewhat +beyond the walls, the Academy, with its groves of plane and olive-trees, +its retired walks and cooling fountains, its altar to the Muses, its +statues of the Graces, its Temple of Minerva, and its altars to +Prometheus, to Love, and Hercules, near which Plato had his country +seat, and in the midst of which he had taught as well his followers +after him. But the most impressive spectacle laying on his right hand, +that small and precipitous hill "The Acropolis" where clustered together +monuments of the highest art, and memorials of the national religion, +such as no other equal spot of ground has ever borne. The Apostle's +eyes, in turning to the right, would fall on the north-west side of the +eminence, which was here and all round, covered and protected by a wall, +parts of which were so ancient as to be of Cyclopean origin. The western +side, which alone gave access to what, from its original destination, +may be termed the fort, was, during the administration of Pericles, +adorned with a splendid flight of steps, and the beautiful Propylaea, +with its five entrances and two flanking temples, constructed by +Mnesicles of Pentelican marble at a cost of 2012 talents, which is the +equivalent of about four millions of American dollars. In the time of +the Roman emperors there stood before the Propylaea, equestrian statues +of Augustus and Agrippa. On the southern wing of the Propylaea was a +temple to the Wingless Victory; on the northern, a Pinacotheca, or +picture gallery. On the highest part of the platform of the Acropolis, +not more than 300 feet from the entrance-buildings just described, stood +and yet stands, though shattered and mutilated, The Parthenon, justly +celebrated throughout the world, erected of white Pentelican marble, +under the direction of Callicrates, Ictinus and Carpion and adorned with +the finest sculptures from the hand of Phidias. + +Northward from the Parthenon was the Erechtheum, a compound building +which contained the temple of Minerva Polias; the proper Erechtheum, +called also the Cecropium, and the Pandroseum. This sanctuary contained +the holy olive tree sacred to Minerva, the holy salt-spring, the ancient +wooden image of Pallas, etc., and was the scene of the oldest and most +venerated ceremonies and recollections of the Athenians. Perhaps, for +this reason, King George of Greece, in celebrating his 25th anniversary +on the Throne, he gave upon this rock of Acropolis, that remarkable +banquet to all crowned visitors, 175 in number from every royal family +of Europe. At this memorable event, the writer held the office of "man +at arms" on the Acropolis, although he was the youngest officer in the +Royal Gendarmery of Greece, at the time. + +Between the Propylaea and the Erechtheum was placed the colossal bronze +statue of Pallas-Promachos, the work of Phidias, which towered so high +above the other buildings, that the plume of her helmet and the point of +her spear were visible on the sea between Sunium and Athens. Moreover, +the Acropolis was occupied by so great a crowd of statues and monuments, +that the account, as found in Pausanias, excites the reader's wonder, +and makes it difficult for him to understand how so much could have +been crowded into a space which extended from the southeast only 1150 +feet, whilst its greatest breadth did not exceed 500 feet. + +On the hill itself where Paul stood, was the temple of Furies, and in +the court house of Areopagus, there was the altar to Athene Areia. + +In all historical probability, Paul, stood exactly on this place when, +"=to the unknown God=" as his text, he delivered the understanding of "The +True and Living God," who made the world and all things therein, and he +made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the +earth. + +The writer, consequently, in bidding farewell to his beloved Athens, he +knew that he was going as a brother among members of the same family of +humanity in a land where man is free to worship God, not in hypocrisy +and deceit, but in Spirit and in truth. + +On the same beautiful April day that Prince Andreas was going abroad, +the writer went aboard on the same S. S. Messengerie-Maritime, unaware +of H. R. H.'s presence there, notified only at the last moment by the +agent of the company, Mr. Christopher of Piraeus, who was on board +himself going to Italy on a business trip. Mr. Christopher, by being a +member of the same fellowcraft in which the writer was the Grand +Chaplain, he took pains to secure a very comfortable stateroom for his +brother Chaplain. + +Now I was following Mr. Christopher and an officer of the S. S. to +locate myself in the suite provided for me, and as we were obliged to +pass through the reception hall there I found myself face to face with +the King George, and the following dialogue occurs. + +King--Where are you going, Father? + +I--On a recreation trip, Your Majesty. (I should have said, on a +reformation trip.) + +King--I hope you will have a bon voyage. + +I--Your Majesty's wish, God grant it to be so, and I pray that His +Favour shall crown with joy, all the desires of H. R. H.'s, the Prince, +in his journey. + +King--With your prayers, Father, I believe H. R. H. will be well +successful. + +And with one of his well known diplomatic smiles that contain manifold +meanings, King George bid us farewell, and in a few moments the big +whistle blew and a gentle vibration of the boat gave the notice that we +were on the move. I went into my cabin and looking through the hole that +was doing duty of a round window, I beheld the monument of Themistocles +passing slowly, and when I could see that no more, I felt something +melting in my heart and over-flowingly coming up into my eyes in the +shape of two drops of burning water. I took them on the tips of my +fingers and after kissing them with all the tenderness of a loving +heart, I sprinkled them into the apeiron, farewell to my loved ones left +behind me, while the big S. S. in full steam was now carrying me faster +and faster into the unknown and uncertain. + +I did not leave my cabin and there took my meals for two reasons; first, +H. R. H. expressed the wish to take his meals at the regular +first-class dining table, with all the mortals therein, and I had little +desire to meet him anyway; and second because I wanted to be alone to +indulge undisturbed in my thoughts and study them and keep notes of them +for my future use. + +The history tells us that it took thirty years for the greatest +philosopher that was ever born to give his definite opinion as to the +immortality of the soul. And if a philosopher like Socrates, after +thirty years of constant study, he knew one thing, that he knew nothing, +it is absurd to dare say that we shall ever know more than Socrates did, +and in regard to the most perplexed problem of the human soul we can +only rejoice in the fact that we are placed in a more advanced position +above Socrates, that we can look upon these problems with more light, +and that is the light that comes from Galilee. + +Alone as I was in my cabin I thought of Socrates, I thought of +Confucius, of Buddha, and in fact I thought of the many ancient and +modern leaders of great movements, and of new thoughts, my admiration is +insistent to everything that is noble and pure in sentiment and praxis, +but there is only one leader, whom my spirit admires the best and I +worship him with love and devotion, the man who gave his life for me. I +knew I was free through his death and I was happy. The Hierarchical +church was opposing me unreasonably; my own dearest and nearest +relatives did not understand me, their strongest argument being, how +could I sacrifice such a high office and deny a promising greater +future and still be in my right mind? + +Not being satisfied in my own heart, much less convinced in my mind, I +made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, in order to find out whether Jesus was +the only Saviour of mankind without the necessity of a priest. It was +then and there, while kneeling on my knees upon that rock of Golgotha +that came to me with startling force and clearness that I must be a +follower of Jesus Christ and not a representative. All men may live on +the Christ-like way and be happy, but the man who dares personify +himself with the authorities belonging only to Jesus, that man must be a +faker; "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life +for his friends" and I knew Jesus was my friend, the only friend left to +me, while every other friend had forsaken me. In that little cabin I +felt his companionship, and looking at the clock on the dresser I beheld +in the mirror a pleasant face smiling at me. The hour was nearly +midnight and I retired, singing "He promised never to leave me alone." + +The voyage from Piraeus to Naples is said to be the best and grandest in +Mediterranean, and in company of a royal fellow traveller might have +been interesting even to the most eccentric Yankee, but to me it was a +monotonous event, and the second evening while I was walking for some +exercise on the deck, H. R. H. came up to me graciously expressing his +regrets for not seeing me at the table, and inquiring if I was not +feeling well, but he soon noticed my laconical way in excusing my +absence, and he withdrew, leaving me alone in my admiration of a grand +view on a moonlighted nature in the Mediterranean. And the only thought +occupying my mind was; how soon could I get to America? For this reason +perhaps, I decided to take steamship for New York at Naples, Italy, +instead of going to Marseilles, chief seaport of France on the +Mediterranean, thus forfeiting my rights on S. S. Messengerie-Maritime, +that had been paid from Piraeus to Marseilles. + +Happily, Mr. Christopher was also representing the S. S. Co., of Fabre +Line, and the S. S. Germania of the same company was scheduled to depart +from the harbor of Naples in a few days. It certainly was a pleasure and +an opportunity of which we took advantage to visit the most interesting +places in and around Naples, the city of far famous and at the same time +notorious, for there the stranger notices, in every step, the beauty of +Italian art and the Neapolitan filth combined in the most peculiar +texture. + +Making good use of the little time which we had at our disposal, we took +the train and went up to see the City in which the Pope entombed himself +a living mummy rather than to co-operate with the civilized world in +building God's Kingdom on earth. + +In looking over my memorandums I have just discovered a description that +I kept about the Eternal City. The historical facts therein are +supported by undisputable authority. And I think it apropos beneficial +to my readers, if it will be placed at their hands before the closing of +this chapter. + +On the river Tiber, about fifteen miles from its mouth in the plain of +what is now called the Campagna, stands the famous capital of the +Western World, and the present residence of the Pope, the City of Rome. +The surrounding country is not a plain, but a sort of undulating +table-land, crossed by hills, while it sinks towards the southwest to +the marshes of Maremma, which coast the Mediterranean. In ancient +geography the country, in the midst of which Rome lay, was termed +Latium, which, in the earliest times, comprised within a space of about +four geographical square miles the country lying between the Tiber and +the Numisius, extending from the Alban Hills to the sea, having for its +chief city Laurentum. Here, on the Palatine Hill, was the city of Rome +founded by Romulus and Remus, grandsons of Numitor, and sons of Rhea +Sylvia, to whom, as the originators of the city, mythology ascribed a +divine parentage. The origin of the term Rome is in dispute. Some derive +it from the Greek Romee, "strength," considering that this name was +given to the place as been a fortress. Cicero says the name was taken +from that of its founder Romulus. At first the city had three gates, +according to a secret usage. Founded on the Palatine Hill, it extended, +by degrees, so as to take in six other hills at the foot of which ran +deep valleys that in early times were in part overflowed with water, +while the hill-sides were covered with trees. In the course of the many +years during which Rome was acquiring to herself the empire of the +world, the city underwent great, numerous, and important changes. Under +its first kings it must have presented a very different aspect from what +it did after it had been beautified by Tarquin. The destruction of the +city by the Gauls caused a thorough alteration in it: nor could the +troubled times which ensued have been favourable to its being well +restored. It was not till riches and artistic skill came into the city +on the conquest of Philip of Macedon, and Antiochus of Syria, that there +arose in Rome large handsome stone houses. The capture of Corinth +conduced much to the adorning of the city: many fine specimens of art +being transferred from thence to the abode of the conquerors. And so, as +the power of Rome extended over the world, and her chief citizens went +into the colonies to enrich themselves, did the masterpieces of Grecian +art flow towards the capital, together with some of the taste and skill +to which they owed their birth. Augustus, however, it was, who did most +for embellishing the capital of the world, though there may be some +sacrifice of truth in the pointed saying, that he found Rome built of +brick, and left it marble. Subsequent emperors followed his example, +till the place became the greatest repository of architectural, +pictorial, and sculptural skill, that the world has ever seen: a result +to which even Nero's incendiarism indirectly conduced, as affording an +occasion for the city's being rebuilt under the higher scientific +influences of the times. The site occupied by modern Rome is not +precisely the same as that which was at any period covered by the +ancient city: the change of locality being towards the north-west, the +city has partially retired from the celebrated hills. About two-thirds +of the area within the walls, traced by Aurelian, are now desolate, +consisting of ruins, gardens, and fields, with some churches, convents, +and other scattered habitations. Originally the city was a square mile +in area. In the time of Pliny the walls were nearly twenty miles in +circuit: now they are from fourteen to fifteen miles round. Its original +gates, three in number, had increased in the time of the elder Pliny to +thirty-seven. Modern Rome has sixteen gates, some of which are, however, +built up. Thirty-one great roads centered in Rome, which, issuing from +the Forum, traversed Italy, ran through the provinces, and were +terminated only by the boundary of the empire. As a starting point a +gilt pillar (Milliarium Aureum) was set up by Augustus in the middle of +the Forum. This curious monument, from which distances were reckoned, +was discovered in 1823. Eight principal bridges led over the Tiber: of +these three are still relics. The four districts into which Rome was +divided in early times, Augustus increased to fourteen. Large open +spaces were set apart in the city, called Campi, for assemblies of the +people and martial exercises, as well as for games. Of nineteen which +are mentioned, the Campus Martius was the principal. It was near the +Tiber, whence it was called Tiberinus. The epithet Martius was derived +from the plain being consecrated to Mars, the god of war. In the later +ages it was surrounded by several magnificent structures, and porticoes +were erected, under which, in bad weather, the citizens could go +through their usual exercises. It was also adorned with statues and +arches. The name of Fora was given to places where the people assembled +for the transaction of business. The Fora were of two kinds--fora +venalia, "markets," and fora civilia, "law courts, etc." + +Until the time of Julius Caesar there was but one of the latter kind, +termed by way of distinction Forum Romanum, or simply Forum. It lay +between the Capitoline and Palatine Hills: it was eight hundred feet +wide, and adorned on all sides with porticoes, shops, and other +edifices, on the erection of which large sums had been expended, and the +appearance of which was very imposing, especially as it was much +enhanced by numerous statues. In the centre of the Forum was the plain +called the Curtian Lake, where Curtius is said to have cast himself into +a chasm or gulf, which closed on him, and so he saved his country. On +one side were the elevated seats or suggestus, a sort of pulpits from +which magistrates and orators addressed the people, usually called +Rostra, because adorned with the beaks of ships which had been taken in +a sea-fight from the inhabitants of Antium. + +Near by was the part of the Forum called the Comitium, where were held +the assemblies of the people called Comitia Curiata. The celebrated +temple, bearing the name of Capitol, of which there remain only a few +vestiges, stood on the Capitoline Hill, the highest of the seven: it was +square in form, each side extending about two hundred feet, and the +ascent to it was by a flight of one hundred steps. It was one of the +oldest, largest, and grandest edifices in the city. Founded by +Tarquinius Priscus, it was at several times enlarged and embellished. +Its gates were of brass, and it was adorned with costly gildings: whence +it is termed "golden" and "glittering," aurea, fulgens. It enclosed +three structures, the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in the centre, the +temple of Minerva on the right, and the temple of Juno on the left. The +Capitol also included some minor temples or chapels, and the Casa +Romuly, or Romulus, covered with straw. Near the ascent to the Capitol +was the asylum (Cities of refuge). We also mention the Basilicae, since +some of them were afterwards turned to the purposes of Christian +worship. They were originally buildings of great splendour, being +appropriated to meetings of the senate, and to judicial purposes. Here +counsellors received their clients, and bankers transacted their +business. The earliest churches, bearing the name of Basilicae, were +erected under Constantine the Great. He gave his own palace on the +Caelian Hill as a site for a Christian temple. Next in antiquity was the +church of St. Peter, on the Vatican Hill, built A.D. 324, on the site +and with the ruins of temples consecrated to Apollo and Mars. It stood +about twelve centuries, at the end of which it was superseded by the +modern church bearing the same name. + +The Cirei were buildings oblong in shape, used for public games, races, +and beast-fights. The Theatra were edifices designed for dramatic +exhibitions: the Amphitheatra (double theatres, buildings in an oval +form) served for gladiatorial shows and the fighting of wild animals. +That which was erected by the Emperor Titus, and of which there still +exists a splendid ruin, was called the Coliseum, from a colossal statue +of Nero that stood near it. With an excess of luxury, perfumed liquids +were conveyed in secret tubes round these immense structures, and +diffused over the spectators, sometimes from the statues which adorned +the interior. In the arena which formed the centre of the amphitheatres, +the early Christians often endured martyrdom by being exposed to +ravenous beasts. + +In modern Rome there are various things to excite the curiosity of the +stranger, but in my observations I could only see four elements +predominating above everything, monks, nuns, priests and beggars. They +form a continued procession all day long of the most spectacular +carnival that could be seen in any of the Babylons of the world. + +And now while in Rome, we might ask the question: Who founded the church +at Rome? The question is equally interesting, if not important to the +Protestant and to Catholic. The Romish church assigns the honour to +Peter, and on this grounds an argument in favour of the claims of the +Papacy. But strict search in and about all the obtainable sources of +knowledge, it does give no sufficient reason for believing that Peter +was ever even so much as within the walls of Rome. Thus, by all inspired +documents there is one title clear left to Pope and his scheme, +"unaccountable falsifier." As an ordained High Priest in the Greek +Orthodox Church, I have been for many years studied in this particular +subject. The Libraries in Mount Athos gave me all the opportunities that +the high and exalted position, which I held, could afford, to find the +truth concerning the claims of the Pope. The Fathers of the Church, +Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostomus, and all the +host of Ecclesiastical authorities agree unanimously that the Lord Jesus +never intended to concede any right of supremacy, to Peter, over the +other apostles. Otherwise He (Jesus) would never have said those +wonderful words (Matt. 20, 25, etc.), and Peter himself disclaiming the +assertions of the Papacy (Pet. 1, 5, 3, etc.). And it is certain that +there is no instance on record of the apostle's (Peter) having ever +claimed or exercised this supposed power, but on the contrary, he is +oftener than once represented as submitting to an exercise of power upon +the part of others, as when, for instance, he went forth as a messenger +from the apostles assembled in Jerusalem to the Christians in Samaria, +and when he received a rebuke from Paul. Now as a matter of fact, if +Peter was ever Great, that was, when he repented for denying his Master. +Repentance, therefore, is the only hope left for the Pope, if he ever +expects to hear the blessed voice "Feed my sheep." + +In these days of enlightenment and progress, while humane feelings are +taking the place of spite and hatred among the civilized nations, and +religious prejudice is giving way to good will and tolerance, Rome is, +from the Vatican point of view, the stumbling-block of every honest +effort in the purification of the individual heart and the uplifting of +the millions of souls that are downtrodden under the sandals of hyenical +monks. When the Pope, a few months ago, rejected Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. +Fairbanks, two models of manhood and virtue, he made it clear to the +world that he is suffering incurably, from barbaritis, and that his case +is hopeless. But, it is to be hoped that as Rome is already regenerated +politically and socially, so, we pray that in not far distant day, Rome, +shall also be regenerated spiritually. + +In the meantime we shall continue our journey, and now we hurry back to +take the S. S. Germania from Naples to New York. And when I was well +located on board, I kissed good-bye to my friend and brother +Christopher, thanking him for his assistance and bidding to the old +world FAREWELL! FAREWELL! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +_Arrival_ + + +Sunday morning the 16th of May, 1903, the very handsome S. S. Germania, +cast anchor in the docks of Brooklyn. Indeed, there is no particular +significance in a steamship arriving in the harbor of Brooklyn and New +York, for they come by hundreds from all parts of the world, every day +in the week and many of them every Sunday of the year. It is for the +diligent observer that there are more lessons to be drawn from a day +passed along the Brooklyn bridge than there are in the most exclusive +circles of the 400. And if I am allowed to make any comparison at all I +should put it in the following short sentences. The former lessons would +be of a heart from which all arteries transport the necessary elements +to keep up undiminished the vitality of this great cosmopolitan body, +while the latter uncontrovertibly is only a part of the body, and +unfortunately it is the stomach that consumes lavishly even to the core +all that the whole body can produce. Yet to an every day passer-by +neither when he travels across the Brooklyn bridge rubbing elbows with +the scores of the masses of humanity that hasten their way unconsiderate +by nobody, nor when in his big red or yellow automobile hurrying up +Fifth Avenue he is planning in his mind a new scheme how to make more +money, or he is the heir of riches untold and many millions are waiting +for him to be scattered in all winds, his social standard to keep up and +his neighbor's honor to bring down and as a rule to accomplish his own +destruction, the time is of no value unless there is some profit in it +for the only scope in his life is self gratification. + +[Illustration: REV. M. GOLDEN In His Street Attire as High Priest] + +The S. S. Germania in splendor and commodities could proudly be called +the Mauretania or Lucetania of the Fabre Line, a very commendable +company judging from the good officials and desirable attendants we had +on board the Germania. Her arrival at the present voyage had exceptional +significance, and if every S. S. which arrives this side of the ocean +had parallel instances it would be only a matter of time when all the +legislators which are engaged in making the emigration laws would find +themselves out of business, because the Kingdom of God that knows no +divisions and no distinctions of nations and races should soon be +established to make a heaven on earth and there it would be one +Lord--one faith--one baptism for all human races, and all men could then +move in the different parts of the world without any credentials and +they could be welcome everywhere as members of the same family do when +they live within the boundaries of love. + +Since the invention of Logos in the art of making history worth +reading, through the ages the historian derives his intelligence from +all sources apt to contribute to his object and unsparingly he treats +zoology, botany and all kingdoms ending in some kind of y, just to serve +his purpose successfully. And the writers of the Scriptures are not +exempted to this rule, inspired as it were, they mentioned almost every +known and unknown animal which our forefather Noah saved in his Ark, and +if the ass plays so an important part in the Book of books, Germania +surely is entitled to some consideration in the history of my +conversion. + +It will be impossible for me to even attempt to skiagraph all that took +place on board the Germania from the time we left Naples of sunny Italy +till we arrived in the docks of Brooklyn, eleven and one-half days' +voyage with only a short stop at Gibraltar, that fortified rock for +which Great Britain is ready to play all her power just to maintain that +dry and ungraceful rock, but, the key of two seas, and in Azores Islands +to exchange mail, our journey was a never to be forgotten continual +holiday. + +One odd incident that kept our merriment all these days, was the +symptomatical number thirteen. The S. S. Germania was carrying on board +several hundred emigrants, mostly from sunny Italy, they were +representing all conditions and descriptions coming to America to make +their fortune, which but a few exceptions is a sweet hope into every +emigrant's heart and though often proves to them that it was only a +dream, and there are millions of emigrants all over this land who after +many years of hard work they are still struggling for a mere existence, +yet they come and they shall continue to come for it is the rule of the +universe; they simply cannot resist the law that governs and moves the +Sympan. And the S. S. Germania was well occupied in its various +compartments, but there were only ten of us voyagers in the reserved +first cabins, and at meal time with the first Captain at the head of the +table and one Commissioner representing the Government and the first +physician of the boat then we made up the number 13; and though I am not +a superstitious person I was the first one to call the attention to that +fact, and there the fun began. The fellow voyagers insisting that should +any danger of tempestuous and stormy gale threaten their safety they had +to cast lots to know for whose cause the evil came, and as I was the +only representative of the religious sentiment, in all probability I had +to undergo the same experience as Jonah had, yet our fears did not even +approach any realization but instead as it was desirable to all on board +we enjoyed a very pleasant voyage all the way and the Captain himself +unreservedly with his boyish cheerfulness expressed his gratification +for all that came out so perfectly satisfactory. And the Captain being +desirous to commemorate the agreeable event he gave the night before our +arrival at Brooklyn a unique banquet in the big reception hall with +various symbolical decorations in honor to his excellency the number 13. +And to make the event more memorable the Captain himself went around the +boat visiting all the emigrants and selecting 13 of the most musical +Italian boys and girls with their harps, mandolins and tambourines, a +perfect stringed band, and while our merriment was in its zenith he +conducted them on the upper deck where the reception hall was located +into the adjoining room and without warning we began to hear the waves +vibrating through the walls into our hall and soon our ears were filled +with divine melodies. They were playing Tosca, Puccini's most inspired +composition and the translation of these people behind the walls it +really contained that pathos which all artists agree, yet unable to +explain how so many children of sunny Italy became world-wide famous for +the embodiment of that musical and harmonious pathos of which Tosca is +the favorite piece of the greatest living tenor Caruso. + +In an unfortunate event that occurred to me some time ago I lost the +names of my fellow voyagers on that memorable trip on the Germania, yet +I can well recollect that there were two American newly-wedded couples +from the western cities, just returning home from their extensive +honeymoon trip abroad, and there was a gentleman, very refined and well +cultured in literature whom we called, the Athenian, as he hailed from +Boston, which in the language of all foreigners is the Athens of the +United States, and there was the Jew merchant from Chicago, and another +gentleman, an Italian professor, who was going to occupy an exalted +position in one of the Roman Catholic Institutions in New Orleans, and +to our delight there was Miss Maria, the only beloved daughter of Dr. +Achilles Rose of New York. Dr. Rose is not only a very prominent +practitioner as a physician in New York, but he is acknowledged as an +eminent authority by the most exclusive Academies of Europe concerning +medical matters, as well as a great linguist in the ancient and modern +languages, and a number of publications contributed to the scientific +research are the monuments of his convincing penmanship. His daughter +had just finished a long course in the best college "Arsakeion" +exclusive institution for girls in Athens, Greece; and she was well +qualified to teach the Ancient and Modern Greek language as well as any +professor in the American colleges and universities. I had to go +carefully myself in order to keep pace with her in the exactness of +pronunciation of the Greek words, and when listening to her telling some +of the joyful experiences she experienced in learning this wonderful +Greek language I felt like a Sunday school scholar impressed by her +rhythmical and melodious harmony in pronouncing every word and sentence +that sound like the old Greek music which even Apollo himself would be +glad to listen to. + +With Miss Maria Rose there was Miss Margaret, a tall slender figure with +every characteristic of a genuine Kentucky girl, a very respectable +maiden, she was caressing for Miss Maria Rose with motherly tenderness, +she was the playmate and constant companion of Miss Maria now passing +the bridge of her teens; yet Miss Margaret could not tolerate seeing her +leaning on the rails of the Germania, she appeared presumably afraid +that some terrible whale might swallow her little Maria whom she loved +as much as a mother could love her own child, a pleasure which she +never had, to know and to love a child of her own, and Maria appeared to +appreciate the kindness of her governess. + +Now to make up the list of the ten voyagers there was also your obedient +servant, coming over to America to study religious, social and +industrial conditions. An account of his reasons for taking this step +shall be given later on. At this time I must proceed to complete my +acquaintances on board the Germania. From the first day on board I find +myself in very friendly terms with every one of my fellow voyagers, and +before I knew it I was the father of them all. As a High Priest dressed +in my church garbs, they just pasted in front of my name the monkish +title, Father, which I never accustomed myself though my official church +name consists of about a half a dozen titles. + +The Captain of the Germania, a typical French gentleman very agreeable +in all his ways, with my little French enabled me to make myself +understood. I had the pleasure of passing many a moment in pleasant +conversation with him, and when I wanted to speak to the Americans, my +heart was longing to learn all I could from them, as they were so kind +to me, and with Miss Maria's assistance I never went lonesome, her +acting as interpreter between me and the Americans, for by that time I +was not able to even pronounce correctly a sentence in the English +language. + +With all these acquaintances my time was well occupied and to my +personal delight, by chance, I found my constant companion in the person +of Dr. Lucretius, the first physician of the Germania, an Italian +gentleman. By tokens and signs we found that both of us belong to that +great body of men that knows each other as brothers in every corner of +the inhabited world. It was he, Dr. Lucretius, who came to my cabin on +the morning of the 16th of May, at about 5 a. m., and knocking at the +door, said, Father Golden, we are now entering into the harbor of New +York, and if you want to enjoy a grand view of the surrounding country +you had better come out on the upper bridge. I shall be there waiting +for you to explain some of the most beautiful sceneries that you have +ever looked upon in your life. And he was correct, without any +exaggeration, for when I leaped from my bed and dressed myself as fast +as I could I went to meet my friend and brother, Dr. Lucretius. + +Rushing up to the bridge I greeted him "Bonjorno, mio fratello" shaking +his hand at the same time, almost I cried out, this certainly is an +artificial imitation of the entrance to Bosphorus, and if it were not +for that great statue and mausoleum of Liberty, which I could see ahead +of me, I would surely believe that I was dreaming, it is like entering +the harbor of Constantinople, and just at this point, looking into the +face of my esteemed friend, Dr. Lucretius, I said to him; let us hope +that the day is not far distant when we shall salute the God-giving +Liberty in the heart of the great city of Constantinople. That was six +years ago and every word I said it came out of my mouth as a prayer of +my heart in all my sincerity. Today I do thank God for it is a reality. +Turkey is free! But she is like a child; she needs the guidance of a +strong hand to guide her in the path of righteousness and love to God +and bring her to Christ who is the only one to give Liberty and Freedom +"For whom He made free, is free indeed." Turkey has accomplished the +greatest part of her own salvation, yea, she has done more than many of +the so-called Christian empires expected her to do. They are now rubbing +their eyes, and of course it is their purpose in order to save their +commercial interests, they are going to put in her way all the obstacles +they can to overthrow the new Constitution, and if Turkey fails in her +reformation this time, it would not be only her own fault. A great share +of the responsibility rests upon the shoulders of every American man and +woman who solemnly declares to stand by and be a protector of the +principles laid down by Washington, the father not only of his own +country, but most of the civilized world. Unless America arises equal to +the occasion there is every reason to entertain all kinds of fears from +the Middle and Western Europe's diplomats. + +How many American active missionaries are there in Constantinople, +Smyrna, Aidin, Saloniki, Adana, Ephesos and every city in Turkey today +working for the regeneration of the people who dared and successfully +broke down from his throne a Sultan? Wake up, my dear reader and gird +yourself with the noble armor of your manhood and your womanhood and do +the best, the very best of your ability to help the millions of mothers +and children over in Turkey, they are starving for spiritual food, they +are crying to you as your own brothers and sisters of the same family of +humanity; will you close your ears and not listen to their cry? or will +you open your heart, your sympathy and your pocket-book and send off all +the missionaries you can to do the work? I pray that you will, and God +will reward you in Heaven and down here He will keep the days of your +life sweet in splendid memory that you have done your part in the +salvation of all mankind. + +The opportunity may occur again to discourse this very heart aching +subject. Now, as we approach the colossus of Liberty, Miss Maria Rose +made her morning appearance and before we all could exchange the "Bon +Jour" salutations to her, she gracefully grasped the gentleman from +Boston by the arm and walking up and down the bridge with soldierly +step, began in an apparently joyful voice to sing, audibly "My Country +'tis of thee, sweet land of Liberty" and just as she was getting more +enthusiastic in her song, the gentleman from Boston uttered a loud cry +"Strawberries--fresh strawberries," and as by explosion a heartiest +laughter went out of every mouth on the bridge, and the waves received +on their wings that expression of our gratitude to carry it to the end +of their destination, while the Germania drew us nearer and nearer to +the land of the free and the home of the brave. + +A call came to us all at this moment that the custom officers from New +York were already in the reception room waiting for us to make our +declarations in accordance with the customary law, and by the time I had +complied with my duties, to that respect, I heard a stentorian voice +"Cast Anchor" and turning around in a semi-circle, with center on my +right toe I endeavored to unfold the meaning of the exciting motion. +Sailors and officers of the boat rushing in all directions, it seemed as +though they were preparing for a great battle, and determined to win. +The big S. S. Germania was tied in the docks of Brooklyn and every +voyager was ready to bid her farewell. The steward of my cabin, +uncalled, he was on my side, and the thought came to me that it was his +last chance for his gratuities from me anyway. He looked upon my face +like a child expecting his Christmas presents, and said, with a fainting +smile, Father, your trunk is on its way to your destination and here is +your valise and I am awaiting your pleasure to direct you to the Sixth +Avenue Elevated Station, which will take you to the 123rd Street and +Seventh Avenue, Harlem, according to your wishes to reach your dwelling +place. The bell of the Germania was ringing eight o'clock a. m., when I +was bidding farewell to my steward with the instructions how to reach +the Elevated Station, and turning to the first corner from the docks of +Brooklyn, a familiar voice I heard behind me calling "Father," and +instantly a hand took hold of the sleeve of my garment, and looking +backward I saw Miss Maria Rose with her governess, Margaret, and the +gentleman from Boston, who was still holding my garment, and in good +humor said, he, in his broken French, Now Father, we could not tolerate +to see you go all alone in the streets of New York dressed in these +robes, because if you only attract the curiosity of some mischievous +children there is no telling what may happen to you, if they mistake you +as a carnival dressed this way just for sport; but, Miss Maria Rose, +hastened to aid, interrupting the gentleman, Father, you have good luck, +today is Sunday and early in the morning you will be saved from great +things which might happen to you otherwise. Besides we are going as far +as 59th Street and the gentleman from Boston, he is going to take the +train at 125th Street, Harlem, and there you will be within a few blocks +from the house you desire to go to. + +They bought the ticket for me and soon the Elevated was crossing the +Brooklyn bridge. The grand panorama on both sides of the bridge brought +the thought into my mind that if the architects of America were able to +accomplish such a wonder as this, they would certainly have easier times +to build the Babel Tower without any confusion of tongues; but my breath +went out of my breast and for a moment I thought that the beating of my +heart stopped, when we reached that curving at 110th Street and 8th +Avenue, New York. The magnificent sight from that tremendous height, +looking to my left at the mammoth advertising boards, the velvety green +fields and at the top of the hill that Episcopal church, which will be +when finished another architectural wonder, and looking to my right at +the Central Park which we just swiftly passed, now I see the flat roofs +of the buildings and on many of them the washing of the family hanging, +forgotten perhaps, from last Saturday, it is indeed a grand sight which +the inhabitants of New York in that section, by being accustomed to it, +very little appreciate. + +9.30, my friend from Boston, said, as we were descending the stairways +on the 125th Street and 8th Avenue, as he looked at his time-piece. If +it were not for my train which I must take at 9.58 I would gladly +accompany you to your place, yet, said he, you only have two blocks to +walk southward and one eastward and you will see the number on the left +hand side, and with a cordial hand shake he jumped on the electric car +passing at the moment on 125th Street towards New York-Boston R. R. +station, to board his train, and I started on my way to the place where +I was going to make my temporary home. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +_First Day in New York_ + + +It is not my purpose in this little volume to make any boast of myself +as an historian. Bookmaking is not my profession; neither do I propose +to go into extensive details more than it is necessary to harmonize the +coincidents of events as they occurred and the effect they produced in +the development of an unusual Christian career, and God knows that my +only desire is to reconcile the opposing privileges of a meek and lowly +Christian worker, to be equal if not greater to those of a High Priest +who in his fulness of life though one of the most active ecclesiastical +officials in the highest circles of church and society, his firm belief +in success, knowing of no fear, and daringly climbing up in higher ranks +among philosophical societies, holding such an exalted position in the +most ancient Christian church. The church that holds the undisputable +proof as the first authentical apostolic establishment with founder the +apostle of the Gentiles himself. And who is the student of the +Scriptures, be he a Christian or philosopher of the Epicurean or the +Stoic system that could reasonably argue that the oration on the +Areopagus made by Paul to the Athenians being the masterpiece and model +of the most convincing speeches ever made in the Christian era? That +this High Priest, while enjoying all the comforts and privileges +belonging to his high office, together with its honors and gorgeous +trappings, does not attach any over-weening importance to ecclesiastical +dignity, neither does he consider a "comedown" the step he has taken, +but he gives the simple, yet convincing reason that he just follows the +process of evolution in Christianity, doing the will of his Master who +promised to all mankind one Lord--one Faith--one Baptism. And for the +last six years he has proven that it is possible for a man to begin from +the very bottom of life, his nearest and dearest relatives opposing him, +with no friends to understand his desires and his ambitions, to be a +wanderer in a great country like the United States, and travel from the +Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Ocean, proud to always be able to support +himself and also help someone on his way. Exercising the principle of +the Apostle Paul, working hard for his living, stranger not only to the +ethics and customs of the people whose sympathetic hearts he was coming +to win, but unable to even put two sentences together in their own +language, and today here he is to tell you the story, as true as your +beautiful breath that keeps your soul and body alive, and the only favor +he asks from you is that when you severely criticise the grammatical and +syntactical site in the execution of this work, you may in your +kindness, remember that his only resource to derive any philological +assistance, was a twenty-five cent Webster's dictionary, bought from a +second-hand book store. + +This is my first day in New York. And looking around to find the number +of the house where I was going to stay, my thoughts were so animated as +to feel that all the arteries and veins of my body through my feet were +kissing the ground upon which my heart would soon appease with its +Maker. + +A few people, going to the Low Mass, I should judge by the solemnity of +their walk, men and women, sent curious glances at the stranger dressed +in the robes on the street. By this time approaching the 7th Avenue and +not finding the desired number I was just directing my steps towards a +gentleman dressed in some kind of uniform to inquire about the place, +when a young man tipped his hat in front of me and raised the finger of +his right hand and pointed to the sign of the florist's store just a few +steps backwards. I could then plainly read the name on the board above +the door. It was the name very dear to me, which, with longing heart I +was looking for. Almost immediately a man came out from that same store +with a broad smile on his face and with a gentle bow, as though asking +my permission, he took my valise thus relieving me just in time, and +leading the way into the store I saw another gentleman behind a counter +preparing a large floral design from the rarest flowers of the season, +for the funeral of a most distinguished politician of Harlem. + +Although I yield to no man in the appreciation of a good smiling face +and here I had two of them and the most typical faces which are +prominent in the making of this heterogeneous republic, John, +representing the Huguenot and Dutch, and Jack whose father and mother +were Irish, and Jack was Irish too. Both these gentlemen with pantomimic +actions in a few words which now I know were English words but at that +time I could not tell if they were Chinese or Hindoo. They tried to make +me understand that Mr. George N., whom they knew I was looking for, as +they had heard him speaking of me and they saw my photograph, and they +were waiting notification of my coming, and that they were struck by +ecstasy at my sudden appearance, he was at breakfast and that he would +soon be back so I had better step into his office and rest myself while +waiting for him. The expectancy to meet my friend George N., it +lengthened every moment for me waiting in that little office. +Twenty-four years since I saw him last when I was only ten years old, +and even if I had not seen his photograph in all these years I could +distinguish him among ten thousand. He was my first teacher in the +grammar school; neighbor in my home and a very great distant relative. +He always took especial interest in my scholarship. My childhood and +school days were not all that I could desire for me, to be, for I was an +orphan, yet it was that orphan who always carried the first or the +second honors in the annual examinations. It was for this reason, +perhaps, that my teachers were all well pleased with my progress. The +past is only a memory, yet when we look back in the light of our +sincerity we can trace every point and every reason that contributed to +our success or failure in our lives. It is not a vision neither is there +a mere kinetoscope procession. The High Priest is here waiting to +meet his teacher with the same solemnity as in the old school days when +he had to meet his teacher after some of his occasional mischiefs. With +these and other agreeable memories relishing my time in that office, I +heard a loud applause in the store and the words "Father is here," +aroused my inquisitiveness and before I could leave my chair, there was +at the door of the office standing the man whom I wanted to see. Sturdy +and resolute with two slow steps he now extends a welcome hand to me and +as he called me by my childish nickname in response said, I, my teacher! +Yes, said he, How do you do my Father? Why didn't you let me know when +you were coming so I could meet you at the pier; How long have you been +wandering to find this place? And many other complimentaries, but, you +must, he went on saying, change your appearance at once, for I am not +going to disgrace myself and you too, if we dare to walk on the streets +with you dressed in robes like this. Let us go up stairs in my room, and +I believe you can be fitted with a new suit of clothes made to order for +me which I was ready to try on today, as the tailor just sent them here +a little while ago. Then you must have a very clean shave, my goodness, +there is a whole mask to come off your face and the long black hair you +have, you can make some money by selling it to any fashionable lady. +Now, Father, you have to hurry, because the barber shop closes at 12 +o'clock and you only have the necessary time to change your dress. + +[Illustration: THE WORLD'S WONDER, ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS, GREECE] + +The clothes which George N. offered for my transfiguration with the +exception of being made for a man one inch taller than my own stature +they didn't look very awkward upon me and to escape curiosity he took me +through the alleys of a narrow passage into the 124th Street, where an +elderly German kept a barber shop and when he was through cleaning that +over burdened head of mine, he was almost exhausted, and liable to a +fine, if any policeman happened to see him working on Sunday after 12 +o'clock. The barber closed the door of his shop allowing time for us to +just step out and we hastened our way back to the store, now walking on +7th Avenue. Jack, whose name already is mentioned here, is one of the +leading flower decorators in New York City. He could make a cross of +flowers look like a picture, and he could make a bouquet for the most +particular bride, he could decorate a little chapel around the corner +and make it look as artistic as he could decorate a rich mansion in the +most exclusive Riverside Drive. Jack made as much money as any of his +high grade fellow traders in Harlem, and he had no home +responsibilities, his widow mother being what we might call well-to-do, +for she owned considerable real estate in that vicinity, yet, Jack, +every Monday morning had to obtain a loan for his carfare, and more than +half a dozen young ladies all around Manhattan were particularly +interested in Jack's welfare. This is Sunday and one o'clock in the +afternoon, and Jack should be enjoying his holiday, and there were +already two of his female chums waiting for him on the sidewalk. Yet +Jack had always some more time to spare to accommodate his employer +George N., who as now entered the store he gave the synthematical +pass-word "that's all," which in the language of the employer and +employees it means "The boys may now go home." + +But Jack, as he took a glimpse on me, in all his Irish calibre he almost +screamed: Help! St. Patrick, what a metamorphosis is this? Is that you, +Father? You look now to me more like a butterfly out of a caterpillar +than anything in Ireland. Say, girls, calling his friends from the +outside, come in you girls, I take the honor to introduce you to the +Father ..., but, my soul, I am ashamed to call you Father, so +fashionable a gentleman as you look now. You shall not call me Father, +said I, as long as you see me dressed like a gentleman. I shall not, +Jack said, and with his girls took his departure, while George N., who +interpreted all this merriment, took a fresh white rose and put it in my +buttonhole. Let us go for lunch, said he and I followed gladly for I +felt it was a timely call. + +As George N. is a bachelor he takes his meals in no particular place, +anywhere from Harlem Casino or Palm Garden or Manhattan Club to a ten +cent lunch counter. Today he took me into a dollar a plate restaurant on +125th Street. Before I was through with my dinner, George N. made the +remark to me saying "if you always enjoy the American cooking the way I +observe you doing, you will never starve in America, I assure you." It +was the wisest prophecy that George N. ever made about my future in +America. + +After dinner we visited Grant's Tomb on Riverside Drive and on our +return he gave me instructions how to find the Waldorf Astoria hotel +where Aleck, one of his nephews had a position, and that Aleck would +make arrangements for the night for me and that the following morning +George N. would wait for me to discuss my plans for the future. I left +him and when I was in my room which Aleck provided for me, the time was +well nigh midnight. + +After the day's excitement I hoped that a good night's rest would +refresh me anew and the next morning would find me prepared for the work +I chose to devote my future life in this New World. With a lightning +quickness my mind examined all my past life and with the same speed I +made my conclusions that there was no more any pleasure for me to look +back, neither was there any attraction in that garb which so often is +the representation of hypocrisy itself. I felt so happy for my decision +and with a grateful heart I bent on my knees in prayer to Him who lay +down His life for my freedom and my salvation, and as an evidence of my +good health, the night passed undisturbed in sound sleep and in the +morning when Aleck called me for breakfast I felt that every fibre of my +body was springing for action, and with the last touch leaping from my +bed the first day of new life went into history. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +_High Priest_ + + +For the benefit of those who ignorantly, if not deliberately by deceit, +misled to believe that the priest has any authority, which the truly +converted Christian could not exercise, the present chapter is offered +in the spirit of love without any fear of contradiction or dispute, +because the facts given here are well established upon the Scriptural +Truths and the reader may at all times maintain the proofs to disprove +refutable arguments of persons whose only purpose is to serve their own +individual interests. + +The priest, one who officiates in secret offices, it is the definition +given in Webster's dictionary. And from the most authentic Biblical +concordances we derive the following information: The priest under the +law was a person consecrated and ordained of God, not only to teach the +people and pray for them, but also to offer up sacrifices for his own +sins and those of the people. The priesthood was not annexed to a +certain family, till after the promulgation of the law of Moses. + +Before that time the first born of every family, the fathers, the kings, +the princes, were priests, born in their city and in their own homes. +Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham and Job, Abimelech and Laban, Isaac and +Jacob, offered themselves their own sacrifices. In the solemnity of the +covenant that the Lord made with his people at the foot of Mount Sinai, +Moses performed the office of meditator, and young men were chosen from +among the children of Israel to perform the office of priests. But after +that the Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to serve him in his +tabernacle, and that the priesthood was annexed to the family of Aaron, +then the right of offering sacrifices to God was reserved to the priests +alone of this family. + +Duties of the priests: The priests were required to prove their descent +from Aaron, to be free from all bodily defect or blemish; must not be +observed mourning except for near relatives; must not marry a woman that +had been a harlot; or divorced, or profane. The priest's daughter who +committed whoredom was to be burned, as profaning her father. The +priests were to have the charge of the sanctuary and the altar, which +being once kindled the priest was always to keep it burning. In later +times, and upon extraordinary occasions, at least, they flayed the +burnt-offerings and killed the Passover. They were to receive the blood +of the burnt-offerings in basins and sprinkle it around about the altar, +arrange the wood and the fire, and to burn the parts of the sacrifices. +If the burnt sacrifices were of doves, the priest was to nip off the +head with the finger nail, squeeze out the blood on the edge of the +altar, pluck off the feathers, and throw them with the crop into the +ash-pit, divide down the wings, and then completely burn it. He was to +offer a lamb every morning and evening, and a double number on the +Sabbath, the burnt-offerings ordered at the beginning of months, and the +same on the feast of Unleavened Bread, and on the day of the First +Fruits; to receive the meat-offering of the offerer, bring it to the +altar, take of it a memorial, and burn it upon the altar; to sprinkle +the blood of the peace-offerings upon the altar around about, and then +to offer of it a burnt-offering; to offer the sin-offering for the sins +of a ruler or any of the common people; to eat the sin-offering at the +holy place; and the same way to offer offerings for all the kinds of sin +and the priest should eat these offerings at the holy place; to offer +for the purification of women after child-birth; to judge of the leprosy +in the human body or garments (it is remarkable that the Jewish race +from the beginning, has been all through the ages a heavy victim of +leprosy). The priest was to make the ointment of spices; to prepare the +water of separation; to act as assessor in judicial proceedings; to +encourage the army when going to battle, and probably to have charge of +the law. + +The emoluments of the priests: The perquisites of the priests were many +and various, and as Philo calls them very rich, and this statement holds +good all the way down to the Christian priest who inherited most of the +virtues of his Jewish predecessors. Thus no wonder for the priests to +keep their people in dense ignorance of the historical originality of +the priesthood. And the high priest, besides all duties and privileges +already mentioned as common to him and the ordinary priest, he must not +marry a widow, nor a divorced woman, or a profane, or that had been a +harlot, but a virgin Israelitess. He must not eat anything that died of +itself, or was torn by beasts; must wash his hands and feet when he went +into the tabernacle to offer the mass. The high priest was the divinely +inspired judge and truly he was the supreme ruler till the time of +David, and again after the captivity. He would ask counsel of the Lord +if a new ruler was worthy or not and accordingly grant or regret the +appointment of the ruler. It is the privilege which the Pope derives +from Eleazar and trying to exercise this privilege against the rulers of +Europe for fifteen centuries became the menace in the progress of +humanity. The high priest had also unlimited power upon the funds of the +sanctuary. And it may be out of proportion in this book to give a +complete description of all the privileges and regalia of the high +priest, yet the reader could easily imagine the frivolities +unfortunately existing even today in the ceremonial dress of the high +priest, and to confirm this fact he only has to enter in the first +Russian or Greek or Roman Catholic church at any day of some special +celebration and there he cannot help but observe an imitation of the +lamentable vanity of a high priest of the old Jewish faith. And the +truth is visible to the naked eye. Would ever sincerity and priesthood +meet in one and the same person it would make the most paradox +phenomenon, and such exceptional occurrences are very rare in the +ecclesiastical horizon, for virtue and priesthood are the very logical +antithesis, and chemically speaking they are protogon matters not +yielding to adulteration. Between priesthood and Christ there is an +abyss of argument, but there is no bridge to join both sides. Priesthood +on one side in the most pharisaic manner imposing its superfluous +authority upon all mortals. And Jesus the Christ of God with his wounded +side, in the most emphatic manner, condemning the pharisaic scheme, +which is a continuation in the Greek--Russian--Roman Catholic church: +"For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on +man's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of +their fingers." And if the words of the blessed Christ himself speaking +in the 23d chapter of Matthew, have no effect upon the consciousness of +the priest, there is all vain to any other way trying to bring him into +the light of wisdom. In the history of all mankind there are three +distinct stages of priesthood, and in its two former stages it had been +a complete failure, in its present stage is falling so fast, and it is +condemned, already, by all reasoning minds, that it is only a matter of +time before the human race shall be free from these parasites. The +priest, of the Jewish faith, failed because he was inhuman, the priest +of the Greek idolatry failed, because he was a philosophical fraud; and +the priest of the present time, shall fail, because he is the very +opposing visible enemy of God's kingdom. The sacerdotal office of the +priest, is anti-christian. + +Here we shall attempt to only describe one piece of the dress of the +high priest, the breast-plate (rationale); a gorget, ten inches square, +made of the same sort of cloth as the ephod, and doubled so as to form a +kind of pouch or bag, in which was to be put the urim and thummim, which +are also mentioned as is already known. The external part of this gorget +was set with four rows of precious stones; the first row, a serdious, a +topaz, and a carbuncle; the second, an emerald, a sapphire, and a +diamond; the third, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst, and the fourth, +a beryl, an onyx and a jasper, set in a golden socket. Upon each of +these stones was to be engraven the name of one of the sons of Jacob. In +the ephod in which there was a space left open sufficiently large for +the admission of this pectoral, were four rings of gold, to which four +others at the four corners of the breast-plate corresponded; the two +lower rings of gold being fixed inside. It was confined to the ephod by +means of dark blue ribbons, which passed through these rings; and it was +also suspended from the onyx stones on the shoulder by chains of gold, +or rather cords of twisted gold thread, which were fastened at one end +to two other larger rings fixed in the upper corners of the pectoral, +and by the other end going around the onyx stones on the shoulders, and +returning and being fixed in the larger ring. And a splendid ornament +upon the breast was a winged scarabaeus, the emblem of the Sun, and the +unavoidable portion of the ceremonial dress peculiar to the high priest +was the miter, mitre or Cidaris, a head gear of gold and silver and +precious stones whose magnificence we would not dare to describe in +this work, but the reader may in his life be fortunate enough to see one +of these wonderful paraphernalia on the head of some of the now-a-days +self-styled representatives of Jesus Christ, who came to seek and save +the lost and he did not make of himself a show in these follies of the +old Jewish faith that proved a failure. + +That the priests in Israel more than once by their indulgence went down +to idolatry, the old testament abounds in evidences, but I shall only +mention the incidents of Eli the high priest and his two sons, Hophni +and Phinehas. Josephus says, the high priest had also the very +idolatrous symbolical meanings of every part of his dress, which being +made of linen signified the earth; the blue color denoted the sky, being +like lightning in its pomegranate, and in the noise of its bells +resembling thunder. The ephod showed that God had made the universe of +four elements, the gold relating to the splendor by which all things are +enlightened, the breast-plate in the middle of the ephod resembled the +earth, which has the middle place in the world. The girdle signified the +sea, which goes around the world. The sardonyxes declared the sun and +moon. The twelve stones are the twelve months of signs of the zodiac. +The mitre is the heaven, because above all. The seven lamps upon the +golden candlesticks represent the seven planets, and so on every article +had a reference to some particle of the Egyptian Deities. But the time +came when man understood better God's plan of salvation. And divinely +inspired they fearlessly stopped all these idolatrous practises. + +Who could dare say, at the beginning of the sixteenth century that God +could only through Jesus Christ save a soul without the necessity of a +priest? Yet today even the priest himself would not dare say, not in a +civilized community, that his presence is necessary for the forgiveness +of sin. But what of the millions of people that are drifting away from +God with the idea, that the priest is taking care of their souls? Am I +criticising the priest? God forbid, for I am not. There are good and bad +priests, as far as their personal character is concerned, as there are +good and bad professional Christians, I have met in my Christian +experience. But I will say, in the authority of the word of God, that +the man who diligently searcheth the Scriptures and sincerely read his +Bible and still he insists in holding his sacerdotal office and call +himself a priest, he is deceived or he is deceiving. + +"Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec." Christ is +the only priest, holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and +made higher than the heavens, who needeth not daily, as those high +priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the +people's; for this he did once, when he offered up himself. + +The Church makes men high priests which have infirmity but the power of +God makes every man a high priest, who offers up himself to live and +work for the salvation of all. "Whosoever believeth in Him should not +perish, but have everlasting life." God's promises are true and the +reader has only to study the Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, to be +convinced that the sacerdotal office of the priest sooner or later has +to go out of existence as the spirit of Christ spreads upon the hearts +of men and women and the knowledge of His salvation makes them "Priests +unto God and His Father" and thus establish God's kingdom upon the solid +foundations of love. Then shall they all be made unto kings and priests, +and they shall reign upon the earth. (Rev. 1-6, etc.) + + + + +CHAPTER V + +_Philosophy vs. Christianity_ + + +In Plato's dialogue upon the duties of religious worship, a passage +occurs the design of which appears to be to show that man could not, of +himself, learn either the nature of the Gods, or the proper manner of +worshiping them, unless an instructor should come from Heaven. The +following remarkable passage occurs between Socrates and Alcibiades: + +Socrates--"To me it appears best to be patient. It is necessary to wait +till you learn how you ought to act towards the Gods, and towards men." + +Alcibiades--"When, O Socrates, shall that time be? And who shall +instruct me? For most willingly would I see this person, who he is." + +Socrates--"He is one who cares for you; but, as Homer represents Minerva +as taking away darkness from the eyes of Diomedes; that he might +distinguish a God from a man, so it is necessary that he should first +take away the darkness from your mind, and then bring near those things +by which you shall know good and evil." + +Alcibiades--"Let him take away the darkness, or any other thing, if he +will; for whoever this man is, I am prepared to refuse none of the +things which he commands, if I shall be made better." + +Philosophy, led the Greeks to Christ, as the Law did the Jewish. The +wisdom of the world in their efforts to give truth and happiness to the +human soul, was foolishness with God, and the wisdom of God--Christ +crucified--was foolishness with the philosophers, in relation to the +same subject; yet it was divine Philosophy. An adopted means, and the +only adequate means, to accomplish the necessary end. Said an apostle in +speaking upon this subject, the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek +after wisdom; but we preach Christ Crucified, unto the Jews a +stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are +called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God, and the wisdom of +God. The Jews, while they require a sign, did not perceive that +miracles, in themselves, were not adopted to produce affection. And the +Greeks, while they sought after wisdom, did not perceive that all the +wisdom of the Gentiles, would never work love in the heart. But the +apostle preached--Christ crucified--an exhibition of self-denial, of +suffering, and of self-sacrificing; love and mercy, endured in behalf of +men, which, when received by faith, became "The power of God, and the +wisdom of God," to produce love and obedience in the human soul. Paul +understood the efficacy of the Cross. He looked to Calvary and beheld +Christ crucified as the Sun of the Gospel system. Not, as the Moon, +reflecting cold and borrowed rays; but as the Sun of righteousness, +glowing with radiant mercy, and pouring warm beams of life and love into +the open bosom of the believer. + +It is stranger that among philosophers of succeeding ages there has not +been wisdom sufficient to discover, from the constitutional necessities +of the human spirit, that demand for the instruction and aid of the +Messiah which Socrates and Plato discovered, even in a comparatively +dark age. And in the whole history of human mind there is not a more +instructive chapter at once stranger and sad, interesting to our +curiosity and mortifying to our pride, than the history of Platonic +philosophy sinking into gnosticism, or in other words, of Greek +philosophy merging in Oriental Mysticism; showing, on the one hand the +decline and fall of philosophy, and, on the other, the rise and progress +of Syncretism. Perhaps, also, it is the most remarkable instance on +record, that out of the religious, moral, and political, in one word, +the intellectual corruption which brings on the fall of great and mighty +nations, as it doubtless was with Babylon and Thebes, and so we know it +to have been with Athens and Rome, God's providence educes pure +principles and higher hopes for the nations and people that rise out of +their ashes, and who, if they will be taught wisdom and principle, +righteousness and peace, by the errors and sufferings of those who have +preceded them, may rise to higher destinies in the history of men's +conduct and God's providence. + +The reader most sincerely is asked to devote the required time in any +public library and study this very interesting subject of "Gnosticism" +from which the most detrimental system in the Christian era was +originated, "The Monasticism." In this ecclesiastical order the writer +had been distinguished with the rank of "Archimandrites." + +[Illustration: H. R. H. PRINCE ARTHUR, DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND STRATHEARN, +K. G., ETC.] + +To what extent the celibacy of monks and nuns debased the fundamental +principles of Christianity there are a number of publications whose +authors are eye-witnesses of the orgies practised in their own +monasteries, and the writer in his superior office in two of the leading +monasteries had had the opportunity to acquire all the necessary +evidence to demolish every one of these hell-pits, to many a young man +and young woman innocent, otherwise, before entering there, and drive +away all these parasites that have no consideration to any civil or +moral law and live upon the sweat of the brow of the long-suffering +Church slaves. + +Within the bounds of philosophy, at this stage of our progress it will +be useful to recapitulate the conclusions at which we have arrived, and +thus make a point of rest from which to extend our observations further +into the plan of God for redeeming the world, for "I am not sent but +unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel." This view is the more +appropriate as we have known in the history of God's providence with +Israel, which presents them as a people prepared (so far as imperfect +material could be prepared) to receive the model which God might desire +to impress upon the nation. They were bound to each other by all the +ties of which human nature is susceptible, and thus rendered compact and +united, so that every thing national, whether in sentiment or practise +would be received and cherished with unanimous, and fervent, and lasting +attachment; and, furthermore, by a long and rigorous bondage, they had +been rendered, for the time being at least, humble and dependant. Thus +they were disciplined by a curse of providence, adopted to fit them to +receive instruction from their Benefactor with a teachable and grateful +spirit. + +Their minds were shaken off from idols; and Jehovah, by a revelation +made to them, setting forth his name and nature, had revealed himself as +Divine Being, and by his works had manifested his Almighty power: so +that when their minds were disabused of wrong views of the Godhead, an +idea of the first, true, and essential nature of God was revealed to +them, and they were thus prepared to receive a knowledge of the +attributes of that Divine essence. + +They had been brought to contemplate God as their protector and Saviour. +Appeals the most affecting and thrilling had been addressed to their +affections; and they were thus attached to God as their Almighty +temporal Saviour, by the ties of gratitude and love for the favor which +he had manifested to them. + +When they had arrived on the further shore of the Red Sea, thus prepared +to obey God and worship him with the heart, they were without laws +either civil or moral. As yet, they had never possessed any national or +social organization. They were therefore prepared to receive, without +predilection or prejudice, that system of moral instruction and civil +polity which God might reveal, as best adapted to promote the moral +interests of the nation. + +From these conclusions we may extend our vision forward into the system +of revelation. This series of preparations would certainly lead the mind +to the expectation that what was still wanting, and what they had been +thus miraculously prepared to receive, would be granted: which was a +knowledge of the moral character of God, and a moral law prescribing +their duty to God and to men. Without this, the plan that had been +maturing for generations, and had been carried forward thus far by +wonderful exhibitions of Divine wisdom and power, would be left +unfinished, just at the point where the finishing process was necessary. + +But besides the strong probability which the previous preparation would +produce, that there would be a revelation of moral law, there are +distinct and conclusive reasons, evincing its necessities. + +The whole experience of the world has confirmed the fact, beyond the +possibility of scepticism, that men cannot discover and establish a +perfect rule of human duty. Whatever may be said of the many excellent +maxims expressed by different individuals in different ages and nations, +yet it is true that no system of duty to God and man, in any wise +consistent with enlightened reason, has ever been established by human +wisdom, and sustained by human sanctions; and for many reasons, such a +fact never can occur. + +But, it may be supposed that each man has, within himself, sufficient +light from reason, and sufficient admonition from conscience, to guide +himself, as an individual, in the path of truth and happiness. A single +fact will correct such a supposition. Conscience, the great arbiter of +the merit and demerit of human conduct, has little intuitive sense of +right, and is not guided entirely by reason, but is governed in a great +measure by what men believe. Indeed, faith is the legitimate regulator +of the conscience. If a man has correct views of duty to God and men, he +will have a correct conscience; but if he can, by a wrong view of morals +and of the character of God, be induced to believe that theft, or +murder, or any vice, is right, his conscience will be corrupted by his +faith. When men are brought to believe--as they frequently do in heathen +countries--that it is right to commit suicide, or infanticide, as a +religious duty, their conscience condemns them if they do not perform +the act. Thus that power in the soul which pronounces upon the moral +character of human conduct, is itself dependent upon and regulated by +the faith of the individual. It is apparent, therefore, that the +reception and belief of a true rule of duty, accompanied with proper +sanctions, will alone form in men a proper conscience. God has so +constituted the soul that it is necessary, in order to the regulation of +its moral powers, that it should have a rule of duty, revealed under the +sanction of its Maker's authority; otherwise its high moral powers would +lie in dark and perpetual disorder. + +Further, unless the human soul be an exception, God governs all things +by laws adopted to their proper nature. The laws which govern the +material world are sketched in the books on natural science; such are +gravitation, affinity, mathematical motion. Those laws by which the +irrational animal creations are controlled are usually called instincts. +Their operation and design are sketched, to some extent, in treatises +upon the instincts of animals. Such is the law which leads the beaver to +build its dam, and all other animals to pursue some particular habits +instead of others. All beavers, from the first one created to the +present time, have been instinctively led to build a dam in the same +manner, and so their instinct will lead them to build till the end of +time. The law which drives them to the act is as necessitating as the +law which causes the smoke to rise upwards. Nothing in the universe of +God, animate or inanimate, is left without the government of appropriate +law, unless that thing being the noblest creature of God: the human +spirit. To suppose, therefore, that the human soul is thus left unguided +by a revealed rule of conduct, is to suppose that God cares for the less +and not for the greater: to suppose that He would constitute the moral +powers of the soul so that a law was necessary for their guidance, and +then revealed none: to suppose, especially in the case of the +Israelites, that he would prepare a people to receive, and obey with a +proper spirit, this necessary rule of duty, and yet give no rule. But to +suppose these things would be absurd; it follows, therefore, that God +would reveal to the Israelites a law for the regulation of their +conduct in morals and religion. + +But physical law or necessitating instinct would not be adapted in its +nature to the government of a rational and moral being. The obligation +of either to the soul would destroy its free agency. God has made man +intelligent, and thereby adapted his nature to a rule which he +understands. Man has a will and a conscience; but he must understand the +rule in order to will obedience, and he must believe the sanction by +which the law is maintained before he can feel the obligation upon his +conscience. A law, therefore, adapted to man's nature, must be addressed +to the understanding, sanctioned by suitable authority, and enforced by +adequate penalties. + +In accordance with these legitimate deductions, God gave the Israelites +a rule of life--the moral law--succinctly comprehended in the Ten +Commandments. And as affectionate obedience is the only proper obedience +he coupled the facts which were fitted to produce affection with the +command to obey; saying, "I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out +of the land of Egypt, and from the house of bondage." Therefore, if ye +love the Lord ye shall surely keep His commandments. + +Further, the only begotten Son of God, who, in order to fulfil the law +gave himself a ransom for the salvation of all mankind, made the plan +clearer to "Whomsoever believeth on Him?" saying; "This is My +commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." + +Therefore, John, whom history acknowledges as the Socrates of the +Christian philosophy in his personal knowledge of Divine revelations, +was glad to testify to the fact that "God is Love." + +And now with my whole soul lifted up to God I can sing: + + My heart is fixed, eternal God: fixed on Thee, + And my unchanging choice is made, Christ for me! + He is my Prophet, Priest, and King, who did for me salvation bring + And while I've breath I mean to sing, Christ for me. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +_God's Providence_ + + +In facts from Christian and philosophical standpoints it has been +demonstrated that the infallible Supreme Ruler of all human spirits has +made His final provision for the safety of each and every individual +soul for its temporal and eternal welfare. Now I must prove to my +readers' perfect satisfaction that to discard all the dignities and +privileges of a high priest and become a lowly worker for Christ, it is +not a mere accident nor is it an act of necessity as far as temporal +necessities are concerned; but, it is a magnificent living monument of +God's Providential manifestations. In order to protect my reader in his +judgment from any undue prejudice I have taken pains to present herewith +all the obtainable facts in regard to God's Providence existing and +exercising its office upon even to the most microscopical atom. Because, +it is required by the law of justice, to comprehend this great attribute +of God's Providence, in order to understand, how, all things work +together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called +according to His purpose. + +The Latin etymology of the word Providence is from (Providentia, +Pro-videre), and originally meant foresight. The corresponding Greek +word (Pronoia) means forethought. By a well-known figure of speech, +called metonymy, we use a word denoting the means by which we accomplish +anything to denote the end accomplished; we exercise care over anything +by means of foresight, and indicate that care by the word foresight. On +the same principle the word Providence is used to signify the care God +takes of the universe. As to its inherent nature, it is the power which +God exerts, without intermission, in and upon all the works of his +hands. In the language of the school-men it is a continual creation +(creation continua). But defined as to its visible manifestations, it is +God's preservation and government of all things. As a thing is known by +its opposites, the meaning of Providence is elucidated by considering +that it is opposed to fortune and fortuitous accidents. + +Providence, considered in reference to all things existing, is termed by +Knapp universal; in reference to moral beings, special; and in reference +to holy or converted beings, particular. Every thing is an object of +Providence in proportion to its capacity. The Disciples, being of more +value than many sparrows, were assured of greater providential care. By +Providence being universal is intended, not merely that it embraces +classes of objects or greater matters, but that nothing is too minute or +insignificant for its inspection. + +Providence is usually divided in three divine acts, Preservation, +Co-operation and Government. 1. By preservation is signified the +causing of existence to continue. 2. Co-operation is the act of God +which causes the powers of created things to remain in being. It is not +pretended that the existence of the powers of the things are ever +separated, but only that they are distinguishable in mental analysis. +Co-operation varies with the nature of the objects towards which it is +exercised. 3. Government, as a branch of Providence, is God's +controlling all created things so as to promote the highest good of the +whole. To this end every species of being is acted upon in a way +confirmable to its nature; for instance, inanimate things by the laws of +physical influence; brutes according to the laws of instinct; and free +agents according to the laws of free agency. Moreover, as Providence has +respect to the nature which God has been pleased to design to each +various object, so, in common with every other divine act, it is +characterized by divine perfections. It displays omnipresence, +omniscience, omnipotence, holiness, justice, and benevolence. It has +been sometimes contended that Providence does not extend to all things, +or to unimportant events, and chiefly for four reasons. Such an +all-embracing providence, it is said, would (1) be distracting to the +mind of God; or (2) would be beneath His dignity; or (3) would interfere +with human freedom; or (4) would render God unjust in permitting evil to +exist. In reply to these objections against a providence controlling all +things without exception, it may be observed that the third and fourth +suggest difficulties which press equally, in fact, upon all hypothesis, +not only as to providence, but as to creation, and which shall be more +fully explained in the sequel. + +As to the first objection, that the minutiae of the creation are so +multifarious as to confuse the mind of God, we are content to let it +refute itself in every mind which has any just sense of divine knowledge +and wisdom. The second objection, that some things are beneath God's +notice, if it be not a captious cavil, must result from pushing too far +the analogy between earthly kings and the King of kings. It is an +imperfection in human potentates that they need vicegerents; let us not +then attribute such a weakness to God, fancying him altogether such a +one as ourselves. Again, it is to this day doubtful whether the +microscope does not display the divine perfections as illustriously as +the telescope; there is therefore no reason to deny a providence over +animalcula which we admit over the constellated heavens. What is it that +we dare call insignificant? The least of all things may be as a seed +cast in to the seed-field of time, to grow there and bear fruit, which +shall be multiplying when time shall be no more. We cannot always trace +the connections of things. We do not ponder those we can trace: or we +should tremble to call anything beneath the notice of God. It has been +eloquently said that where we see a trifle hovering unconnected in +space, higher spirit can discern its fibres stretching through the whole +expanse of the system of the world, and hanging on the remotest limits +of the future and the past. In reference to the third and fourth +objections before mentioned, namely, that an all-embracing providence is +incompatible with divine justice and human freedom, it should be +considered that, in contemplating God's Providence, the question will +often arise, why was mortal evil allowed to exist? But as these +questions meet us at every turn, and, under different forms, may be +termed the one and the only difficulty in theology, it is already +considered in the previous chapter of this work, and may therefore +require the less notice in the present article. We should in all +humility preface whatever we say on the permission of evil (such as, +mysticism, in religious bodies) with a confession that it is an +inscrutable mystery, which our faith receives, but which our reason +could not prove either to be or not to be demanded by the perfection of +God. But, in addition to the vindication of God's ways which may be +found in the over-ruling of evil for good, the following theories +deserve notice:-- + +1. Occasionalism, or the doctrine that God is the immediate cause of all +men's actions. It is so called, because it maintains that men only +furnish God an occasion for what he does. It degrades all second causes +to mere occasions, and turns men into passive instruments. + +2. Mechanism. Many, alarmed at the consequences which occasionalism +would seem to involve, have embraced an opposite scheme. They criticise +the definition of the laws of nature, and contend that occasionalism +derives all its plausibility from adroitly availing itself of the +ambiguities of language. They would have us view the creation as a +species of clock, or other machinery, which, being once made and wound +up, will for a time perform its movements without the assistance or even +presence of its maker. But reasons press too far the analogy between the +Creator and an artisan. So excellent a man as Baxter was misled by this +hypothesis, which evidently is as derogatory to God as occasionalism is +fatal to the moral agency of man. + +3. The authors of the third scheme respecting the mode in which +Providence permits sin sought to be "Eclectics" or to find a path +intermediate between Mechanism and Occasionalism. In their judgment, man +is actuated by God, and yet is at the same time active himself. God +gives man the power of action, and preserves these powers every moment, +but he is not the efficient cause of free actions themselves. This they +say, is involved in the very idea of a moral being, which would cease to +be moral if it were subjected to the control of necessity, and not +suffered to choose and to do what it saw to be the best according to the +laws of freedom. But it is asked, why did God create men free, and +therefore fallible? It were presumption to think of answering this +question adequately. It belongs to the deep things of God. But, among +the possible reasons, we may mention, that if no fallible beings had +been created, there could have been no virtue in the universe; for +virtue implies probation, and probation a liability to temptation and +sin. Again, if some beings had not become sinful, the most glorious +attributes of God would never have been so fully exerted and displayed. +How could His wisdom and mercy and grace have been adequately +manifested, except by suffering a portion of His creatures to become +such as to demand the exercise of those attributes? How else could He +have wrought the miracle of educing good from evil? In this connection +we may allude to the third chapter of Romans, where as in other +passages, it is declared, that the good which evil may be over-ruled to +produce, cannot palliate, much less excuse, the guilt of sinners, or of +those who say, "Let us do evil that good may come." + +Among the proofs of Divine Providence may be reckoned the following:--1. +One argument in proof of Providence is analogous to one mode of proving +a creation. If we cannot account for the existence of the world without +supposing its coming into existence, or beginning to be; no more can we +account for the world continuing to exist, without supposing it to be +preserved; for it is as evidently absurd to suppose any creature +prolonging as producing its own being. A second proof of Providence +results from the admitted fact of creation. Whoever has made any piece +of mechanism, therefore takes pains to preserve it. + +Parental affection moves those who have given birth to children to +provide for their sustenation and education. It is both reasonable and +scriptural to contemplate God as sustaining the universe because He made +it. Thus David, having promised that the world was made by God, +immediately descends to the course of his Providence. (Ps. xxiii. 6.) +The creation also evinces a Providence by proving God's right to rule, +on the admitted principle that every one may do what he will with his +own. + +A third proof of Providence is found in the divine perfections. Since, +among the divine perfections, are all power and all knowledge, the +non-existence of Providence, if there be none, must result from a want +of will in God. But no want of will to exercise a Providence can exist, +for God wills whatever is for the good of the universe, and for His own +glory; to either of which a Providence is clearly indispensable. God +therefore has resolved to exercise His power and knowledge so as to +subserve the best ends with His creation. "He that denies Providence," +says Charnock, "denies most of God's attributes; he denies at least the +exercise of them; he denies his omniscience, which is the eye of +Providence; mercy and justice, which are the arms of it; power, which is +its life and motion; wisdom, which is the rudder whereby Providence is +steered; and holiness, which is the compass and rule of each motion." +This argument for a Providence might be made much more impressive, did +our limits allow us to expand it, so as to show, step by step how almost +every attribute, if not directly, yet by implication, demands that God +put forth an unceasing sovereignty over all His works. + +A fourth proof of God's Providence appears in the order which prevails +in the universe. We say the order which prevails, aware of the +occasional apparent disorder that exists, which we have already noticed, +and shall soon treat of again. That summer and winter, seed time and +harvest, cold and heat, day and night, are fixed by law, was obvious +even to man who never heard of God's covenant with Noah. Accordingly the +ancient Greeks designated the creation by a word which means order +(cosmos). But our sense of order is keenest where we discern it in +apparent confusion. The motions of the heavenly bodies are eccentric and +intervolved, yet are most regular when they seem most lawless. They were +therefore compared by the earliest astronomers to the discords which +blend in a harmony, and to the wild starts which often heighten the +graces of a dance. Modern astronomy has revealed to us so much +miraculous symmetry in celestial phenomena, that it shows us far more +decisive proofs of a Ruler seated on the circles of the heavens, than +were vouchsafed to the ancients. Moreover, many discover proofs of a +Providence in such facts as the proportion between the two sexes, the +diversities of the continents, as well as human nature and the nature of +all things continuing always the same; since such facts show that all +things are controlled by an unchanging power. + +An objection to proofs of Providence, derived from the order of the +universe, is thought to spring from the seeming disorders to which we +cannot shut our eyes. Much is said of plagues and earthquakes, of +drought, flood, frost and famine, with a thousand more natural evils. +But it deserves consideration whether, if there were no Providence, +these anomalies would not be the rule instead of the exception; whether +they do not feelingly persuade us that that curse of nature is upheld by +a power above nature, and without which it would fall to nothing; +whether they may not be otherwise necessary for more important ends than +fall within the scope of our knowledge. + +[Illustration: REV. M. GOLDEN + +The High Priest in Church Ceremonial Attire] + +A fifth proof of Providence is furnished by the fact that so many men +are here rewarded and punished according to a righteous law. The wicked +often feel compunctious visitings in the midst of their sins, or smart +under the rod of civil justice, or are tortured with natural evils. With +righteous all things are in general reversed. The miser and envious are +punished as soon as they begin to commit their respective sins; and some +virtues are their own present reward. But we would not dissemble that we +are here met with important objections, although infinitely less, even +though they were unanswerable, than beset such as would reject the +doctrine of Providence. + +It is said, and we grant, that the righteous are trodden under foot, and +the vilest men exalted; that the race is not to the swift, nor the +battle to the strong; that virtue starves, while vice is fed, and that +schemes for doing good are frustrated, while evil plots succeed. But we +may reply: + +1. The prosperity of the wicked is often apparent, and well styled a +shining misery. Who believes that Nero enthroned was happier than Paul +in chains? + +2. We are often mistaken in calling such or such an afflicted man good, +and such or such a prosperous man bad. + +3. The miseries of good men are generally occasioned by their own +faults, since they have been so fool-hardy as to run counter to the laws +by which God acts, or have aimed at certain ends while neglecting the +appropriate means. + +4. Many virtues are proved and augmented by trials, and not only proved, +but produced, so that they would have had no existence without them. +Many a David's noblest qualities would never have been developed but for +the impious attempts of Saul. Job's integrity was not only tested but +strengthened by Satan being permitted to sift him as wheat. Passions, +experience and hope were brought as ministering angels to man, of whom +the world was not worthy, through trials of cruel mockings and +scourgings. + +5. The unequal distribution of good and evil, so far as it exists, +carries our thoughts forward to the last judgment, and a retribution +according to the deeds done in the body, and can hardly fail of throwing +round the idea of eternity a stronger air of reality than it might +otherwise have done. All perplexities vanish as we reflect that, "He +cometh to judge the earth." + +6. Even if we limit our views to this world, but extend them to all our +acquaintances, we cannot doubt that the tendencies, though not always +the effects, of vice are to misery, and those of virtue to happiness. +These tendencies are especially clear if our view embraces a whole +life-time, and the clearer the longer the period we embrace. The +Psalmist was at first envious at the foolish, when he saw the prosperity +of the wicked; but as his views became more comprehensive, and he +understood their end, his language was, "How are they brought into +desolation as in a moment; they are utterly consumed with terrors." The +progressive tendency of vice and virtue to reap each its appropriate +harvest is finally illustrated by Bishop Butler, best of all perhaps in +his picture of an imaginary kingdom of the good, which would peacefully +subvert all others, and fill the earth. Indeed, as soon as we leave what +is immediately before our eyes, and glance at the annals of the world, +we behold so many manifestations of God, that we may adduce as a sixth +proof of Providence the facts of history. The giving and transmission of +a revelation, as the Mosaic and the Christian--the raising up of +Prophets, Apostles and Defenders of the Faith--the ordination of +particular events, such as the Reformation--the more remarkable +deliverance noticed in the lives of those devoted to the good of the +world, etc., all indicate the wise and benevolent care of God over the +human family. But the historical proof of a Providence is perhaps +strongest where the wrath of man has been made to praise God, or where +efforts to dishonor God have been constrained to do him honor. Testimony +in favor of piety has fallen from the impious, and has had a double +volume, as coming from the unwilling. They who have fought against the +truth have been used by God as instruments of spreading the knowledge of +it, awakening an interest in it, or stimulating Christians to purify it +from human additions, and to exhibit its power. The scientific +researches also with which infidels have wearied themselves to overthrow +a revelation have proved at last fatal to their daring scepticisms. Too +many histories, like Gibbons', have been written as if there were no God +in the heavens, swaying the sceptre of the earth. But a better day is +approaching; and it is exhilarating to observe that Alison, the first +British historian of the age, writes in the spirit which breathes in the +historical books of the Bible, where the free actions of man are +represented as inseparably connected with the agency of God. If we may +judge of the future by the past, as the scroll of time unrolls, we, or +our posterity, and some think glorified spirits in a yet higher degree, +shall see more and more plainly the hand of God operating, till every +knee shall bow. Judgments, now a great deep, shall become as the light +that goeth forth. The tides of ambition and avarice will all be seen to +roll in subserviency to the designs of God. To borrow the illustration +of another, "we shall behold the bow of God encircling the darkest +storms of wickedness, and forcing them to manifest His glory to the +universe." + +As a seventh ground for believing in Providence, it may be said that +Providence is the necessary basis of all religion. For what is +religion? One of the best definitions calls it the belief in a +super-human power, which has great influence in the human affairs, and +ought therefore to be worshiped. But take away this influence in the +human affairs, and you cut off all motive to worship. To the same +purpose is the text in Hebrews: "He that cometh to God must believe that +He is, and He is a rewarder of such as diligently seek Him." If then the +religious sentiments thrill us not in vain--if all attempts of all men +to commune with God have not always and everywhere been idle--there must +be a Providence. + +In the eighth place, we may advert for a moment to the proof of +Providence from the common consent of mankind, with the single exception +of atheists. The Epicureans may be classed with atheists, as they are +generally thought to have been atheists in discourse, and a God after +their imaginations would be, to all intents and purposes, no God. The +Stoics were also atheists, believing only in a blind fate arising from a +perpetual concatenation of causes contained in nature. The passages +acknowledging a Providence in Cicero, Seneca, Plutarch, and all the +ancient moralists, are numerous and decisive, but too accessible or +well-known to need being quoted. + +In the last place, the doctrine of Providence is abundantly proved by +the Scriptures. Some times it is declared that the Most High ruleth in +the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will; as much as to +say that nothing can withstand His power. Again, lest we may think some +things beneath His notice, we read that He numbereth the hairs of our +heads, careth for lilies, and disposeth all the lots which are cast. The +care of God for man is generally argued, a fortiori, from His care for +inferior creatures. One Psalm (xci) is devoted to show the providential +security of the Godly: another (xciii) shows the frailty of man; and a +third (civ) the dependence of all orders in creation on God's Providence +for food and breath. In Him, it is elsewhere added, we live, and move, +and have our being. He, in the person of Christ, sustaineth all things +by the Word of His power, and from Him cometh down every good and +perfect gift. But nowhere perhaps is a Providence so pointedly asserted +and so sublimely set forth as in some of the last chapters of Job; and +nowhere so variously, winningly, and admirably exhibited as in the +history of Joseph. + +And nowhere could be found more brilliantly illuminating its substance +than in our own hearts and lives. The fool hath said in his heart, there +is no God. To undervalue God's Providence it is the most dreadful insult +that a fool could dare conceive in his mind against God's existence. But +the wise hearken to His voice. + + My son, if thou wilt receive my words, + And hide my commandments with thee; + So that thou incline thine ear to wisdom, + And apply thy heart to understanding; + Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, + And liftest up thy voice for understanding; + If thou seekest her as silver, + And searchest for her as for hid treasures; + Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, + And find the knowledge of God. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +_New York to California_ + + +When I was but a little boy, I can well recollect, a nice little pond in +the hollow of two hills beautifully situated, near the school house +where the pupils would enjoy the intervals of their school time. How I +would wonder at the experiment of throwing a stone in the pond and +watching anxiously the circles of water growing larger and larger till +reaching the banks of the pond and there they would break, as though in +despair for the limitations of their enlarging tendencies. It seems to +me, now, a parallel despair threatens my heart, for being obliged to +compact this story of my conversion. Yet, in view of the fact that the +American reader is a greater admirer of quality rather than quantity, I +must content myself by giving a brief account on the practical side of +my personal experience as a Christian worker, among the rich and the +poor, the high and the low classes and masses, in cities and towns, +sunshine or clouds, rain or snow, by day or by night; I made myself +servant unto all men, that I might by all means save some, and this I do +for the Gospel's sake. And, it is only proper, to confess, publicly, +that I am prepared to suffer all things, for the love which I feel in my +heart to be of some service to my own people, an historical race of +people they are, drifting away from God, blindly allowing blind priests +to lead them into the ditch. There is a cheering prospect about this +people, for whose salvation I have devoted my life, that when Christ +enters into the heart of a Greek, there is very little hope left for the +devil to induce him to be a backslider. A truly converted Greek soul is +worthy of all the joy that the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner +that repenteth. How much more rejoicing shall be there, if we get +converted all the Greeks that are living in the United States and use +them as a kindling matter to start the fire of salvation in the hearts +of the millions of people under the Greek and Russian church slavery, +all round the Mediterranean countries? + +With this and many other social and industrial problems laying upon my +heart, I find the atmosphere, in New York, too close for any opening and +very little encouragement for a beginning. And the atmosphere grew more +asphyxiating every day with the arguments of my friend George N. He +never had any sympathy with the subject so dear to my own heart, his +highest ambition being money-making, for which end he relinquished the +Presbyterian pulpit, after being duly graduated from a Presbyterian +Seminary for ministerial ordination. It was only natural that our +thoughts and our ambitions should face each other suspiciously from the +diametrical opposite ends. And with all due respect to my old teacher +and gratefully acknowledging his hospitality for entertaining me many a +day, I find out that at the best I had to be in his mercy, as long as I +was not able to explain myself, to the American people, speaking in +their own language. And, as difficulties have always had a peculiar +effect upon my personal character; to face them, and fight them out with +one object in view to die or to win, I left New York right after +Christmas of 1903, in the midst of an unusually severe winter, rather a +wanderer; but determined to ramble among the American people and learn +the language by ear, which proved in my case, and I believe, it is in +every case, to be the best school for learning the correct pronunciation +of any language you might desire to speak, and be not laughable when you +address the natives of that language. + +Where should I direct my wandering steps, it was the all important +question, under my consideration in the first place. Boston: I had been +scouring the ground before, and from a thorough-going I was convinced +that to begin in a place where the most superstitious, if not fanatic, +Greeks are situated, at all appearances it should be a wonderful failure +without any dose of wisdom in it; while I was not able to take my stand +before the people, whose sympathies I needed in judging my purposes and +my efforts. In the great wild West, way out there, where some of the +best easterners by leaving their homes and their comforts therein, and +enduring all the hardships of pioneering life they succeeded at last to +put a solid foundation of a new and permanent civilization +astonishingly wonderful not only in the development of this great land +of liberty but revolutionizing the whole commercial and social system of +the world. + +Who hath known the mind of the Lord? We have been taught, that His +purpose is to glorify Himself through human agency, and we know that all +the great movements in history were originated in an insignificant way +by insignificant persons at the beginning. Who could say, at the time, +when the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river, and +there she drew out of the water an ark with a child in it, that that +child would be the chosen one of God to deliver his people from the +Egyptian bondage? Or, when, a poor carpenter with his wife went up from +Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea in a small village of +Bethlehem, and Mary brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in +swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room +for them in the inn; that that baby was the King of Kings, Christ the +Lord and Saviour of all mankind? + +That, humble fishermen would be the heralds of glad tidings, to those +who accept Christ as their Saviour? That an altruist monk should leave +his monastery, thus violating his vows to Pope and the church, to be the +mouthpiece of the Truths of Christ's Gospel, and become the father of a +Reformation that brought down the Romish pride, for all time and raised +the banner of personal liberty in Him who is the Only One to save every +soul that cometh unto Him without the necessity of a priest? That such +men as John Wesley, Moody, and a number of others, to accomplish great +things for the advancement of God's kingdom? And the greatest religious +living man, General William Booth, who, with his ingenious and prototype +system, is doing more for God and humanity, than all religious bodies +put together? Their beginning was insignificant. + +These names, a few of the many, I thought to mention for the +encouragement of those who always try to find some excuse, for not doing +all they can, to realize that for which they every day pray, "Thy +Kingdom come." As for me, I know, that there is nothing impossible with +Jesus, and it is only according to our faith, and the work which we put +in it, that we reap the results of our efforts. + +When I left New York, I made a short stop-over at New Jersey, and one +snowy morning I went to the R. R. station and purchased my ticket for +Athens, Ohio, because, in studying geography, I noticed that there are +quite a number of towns in the United States by the name of Athens, and +I was very desirous to visit the Athens, Ohio, and see if there was any +Acropolis or monuments to compare with the Athens, Greece. The train +arrived at Athens, Ohio, R. R. station just on time, not to miss my +dinner at a nearby restaurant, where I inquired if there were any Greek +people in the town. A very gentle young lady, waiting on the table gave +me instructions to find a candy store kept by a Greek, where she took +her ice cream. I found the place and the Greek who was a real good +natured middle-aged man and his family living on the floor above the +store. He received me kindly and after a short conversation he said he +thought I could make a suitable help for him and he offered me the job +without asking any questions as to my identification. I had no thought +of staying at that place and declined the offer. By the same Greek I was +glad to learn that Athens, Ohio, though there is no Acropolis and no +Socrates there; yet, she is a nice little college town and the Greek was +doing a rushing business with the students. The next train was for St. +Louis, Missouri, and I was very anxious to see the Mississippi river, so +I went on that train. The great bridge on the Mississippi river and the +Union station at St. Louis are two buildings that could make honor to +any city in the world. I left my luggage at the parcel-room and started +out to find a hotel, where I could have the best accommodations for the +smallest amount of money. When I located myself the best that I could, +the next thing I thought to look around for a job, as I liked to stay in +St. Louis till the opening of the World's Fair in the year 1904. I +bought a newspaper: I could then read some English, but speak very +little yet. The advertisement which attracted my attention was a short +one "Wanted young man willing to work, apply, at given number and +street." It was Saturday yet I was anxious and willing to work, so, I +went to answer the ad. By asking in every corner some man in uniform, +not knowing at the time if they were policemen or conductors in the +electric cars, I find the street and presently I saw the number above +the door of a great big livery stable. I looked over the newspaper, and +the number was correct. I was not prepared for the surprise and for a +moment I hesitated to enter. The thoughts came to me by bunches: for the +first time in my life I was looking for an honest work to make an honest +living, and the first place, God's Providence, brought me, was a stable; +and what a big stable that was. I never knew anything about stables and +horses: what could I do there? Instantly my feet began to move backwards +when a thought came as a lightning: what do you care if it is a stable, +or a dowager's palace? It is work that you want, and it is much more +honorable to work in a stable and be right with God, than to live in the +luxuries as a High Priest and be an hypocrite. Labor, it has always been +an object of my admiration, though, labor is set forth as a part of the +primeval curse, "in the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread" and +doubtless there is a view of labor which exhibits in it reality as a +heavy, sometimes a crueling burden. But labor is by no means exclusively +an evil, nor is its prosecution a dishonor. + +These impressions, false though they are, have wrought a vast and +complicated amount of harm to men, especially to the industrious +classes, causing these classes, that is, the great majority of our +fellow-creatures, to be regarded, and consequently to be treated even in +Christian lands, as a parish caste, as hereditary "hewers of wood and +drawers of water" doomed by Providence, if not primarily by the Creator +himself, to a low and degrading yoke, and utterly incapable of +entertaining lofty sentiments, or rising to a higher position; to be +restrained therefore in every manifestation of impatience lest they +should temporarily gain the upper hand, and lay waste the fair fields of +civilization; and to be kept under for the safety of society, if not for +their own safety, by social burdens and the depressing influences of +disregard and contempt. + +A better feeling, however, regarding labor and laborers, is beginning to +prevail: these motions, which breathe the very spirit of slavery whence +they are borrowed, are in a word dishonored, while they are gradually +losing their hold on the heart, and their influence on the life. +Individuals arising from time to time from the lowest levels of social +life to take, occupy, and adorn its loftiest posts, have irresistibly +shown that there is no depression in society which the favors of God may +not reach. Especially has a wider and more humane spirit begun to +prevail since man has learned more accurately to know, and more +powerfully to feel, the genius and the spirit of the Gospel, whose +originator was a carpenter's son, and whose heralds were Galilean +fishermen. Reason and experience too, in this as in all cases, have come +to revealed truth, tending forcibly to show that labor, if under certain +circumstances it has a curse to inflict, has also many priceless +blessings to bestow. Yet, when it fell to my lot, to submit myself in +that class and be a laborer and earn my bread by the sweat of my brow, +it was a critical moment to decide upon. And just at this moment a man +of small stature came out of the stable, and as I looked suspiciously, +he asked me if I wanted anything. I want this job said I, showing to him +the ad in the paper. With a few sharp glances at me standing now like a +marble; all right, he said; you just put on your working clothes and +come here on Monday morning at 5 a. m., and we will have something for +you to do. I left him and on my way back home I entered the first +clothing store and purchased an outfit of working-man's clothes. The +next day was Sunday and I spent the day in my room, praying that God +would sustain me in my new career. At night I had very little sleep, +making my plans for the future, or building my castles in the air, and +early Monday morning I was at the stable before 5 a. m. Soon the little +man appeared and after the customary ceremony in taking my name and +address, he led the way into the inner part of the stable in front of a +huge heap of horse manure. There, he says, you just shovel that out of +the window, and handing to me a big fork, for the operation, he +disappeared. + +There are certain happenings in our lives indelibly written in our +memory, which cannot be effaced by the stream of time, and one week's +experience in this stable was sufficient to engrave the deepest lines in +my heart of sympathy and mercy for sinful, suffering humanity. It has +been said in the old Greek mythology that the greatest achievement of +Hercules was when he undertook to clean the stable of the king Augeus +at Argos. But should Hercules lived in this stable for one week, I doubt +that his name would ever appear in the list of demigods. + +[Illustration: REV. M. GOLDEN + +Captain of the Salvation Army] + +It is beyond the limits of self respect to even attempt a brief account +of all that took place in that stable, but sufficient to say that I went +in there one individual and by Saturday I came out ten thousand strong. +And I had to put up in St. Louis one more week in a bath house, with +much work and expense to get back into my one individual, and hasten my +wandering steps towards Chicago, with a stop-over at Springfield, +Illinois, where I had references to meet a gentleman, professor of the +Greek language in one of the colleges there. When I arrived at the house +of the dear professor, he, began to speak to me from a book, in an +exameter homerean tone, and I understood about as much as the faithful +who goes to church and the priest reads the mass in Latin. At +Springfield I lost my satchel and with it my Greek documents, which +might have been very interesting to the reader, yet, I hope in my next +publication to have reproductions of those documents from the original, +which I can easily obtain from Athens. + +Chicago is my next stop. The Babylon of the West. Last week of January, +1904, the weather 12 degrees below zero. All the idles of Chicago hired +by the city hall could not keep control of the snow on the streets. I +located myself in a furnished room on Wabash Avenue, and bought a paper +to find a job, but my experience in the stable at St. Louis, took away +from me all the courage to select any kind of work from the paper, yet I +was very anxious to settle for a while in Chicago, in that third +cosmopolitan city of the world, London and New York being respectively +first and second. + +Chicago offers great opportunity to a student of religious, industrial +and social conditions, and when, by chance, I secured employment in a +leading warehouse, a very good paying position, under the circumstances, +I devoted all my spare time visiting the Greek quarters, incognito, and +studying everything that came within my observation, and attending all +kinds of public meetings of various denominations and societies, which +proved a great help to me in learning the proper pronunciation of the +English words, in fact for five years I did not speak five times in the +Greek language. + +One morning I read in the paper the following announcement: "The Knights +Templar of the United States have made their plans to celebrate the 29th +triennial conclave of Knights Templar to be held in San Francisco, Cal., +September 4 to 9. The occasion will be of universal character, +representatives from all the world; and Great Britain will send to this +imposing ceremony the highest officials that control the affairs of the +chivalric order of Freemasonry in the British Isles. The Earl of Euston, +most eminent and supreme grand master of great priory of England and +Wales and the dependencies of the British crown, were coming with +credentials to represent Edward VII, the king of England." I was +looking forward to my visit to California, since I left New York, but I +never expected the time for me to go there would come so soon as it did. +I was longing to see a great gathering of Freemasons, of this class of +men, that, in every country represents the highest ideals of good +citizenship. + +With a few days preliminary preparations, I bade good-bye to my +employer, and well supplied with recommendations from some influential +friends and acquaintances which I had made in Chicago, I saw myself off +to California, on the forenoon train, the 25th of June, 1904. + +The trip was uneventful, excepting the unbearable heat and dust, +especially going through the States of Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico, +and the number of Indians, which, for the first time in my life I beheld +in their own skin living and moving contented as though they still were +the dominating race on the continent, with their square faces painted in +various colors, wrapped in their blankets, and bare-footed, their feet +being very much like those of a mud turtle, they were the real thing. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +_Honorable Submission_ + + +There was a time when the Eastern part of the United States looked upon +San Francisco as the coming New York of the Pacific Coast, but since the +disastrous earthquake in the year 1906, the stream of progress as a +great commercial center has been turned rather towards the Northern +Pacific Coast, yet San Francisco with its great harbor, the ever +increasing commercial developments and number of other advantages, still +is a magnificent attraction to the homeseeker, who for the last few +years has been very sceptical in his preference on account of existing +unfavorable conditions regarding the city's government which is the prey +of dishonest politicians. For this and many other reasons I should never +make my home within the limits of the city of San Francisco. There are +beautiful localities within short distances, desirable in every respect +and beyond the claws of the city hall of San Francisco. + +Mount Tamalpais, I believe, is a most pleasant location for the lovers +of nature. Words fail, and it is beyond the ability of my pen, to even +attempt to describe, the beauties which nature has bestowed upon the +Mount of Tamalpais. Situated just across the bay of San Francisco, by +the way of Socialito, on the train to Mill Valley and whence on the +crookedest railroad in the world, climbing 2000 feet above the tide of +water, we reach the lower top of the mountain, and there we find +accommodations to entertain kings and princesses, and the most eccentric +Yankee. Yet, I am assured, that scarcely one-tenth of the visitors to +California, have ever had the exceptional privilege to spend 24 hours, +on the top of Mount Tamalpais, and thereafter all through their lives +enjoy the most wonderful recollection in all God's creation. + +The Alps in Europe are too stupendous to be compared with this +majestically magnificent mount of Tamalpais. The Himalaya in Asia are +too brutish to be considered as a rival of this gentle and illustrious +sky-scraper. The Olympus and Parnassus of Greece are out of season to be +paralleled with this up-to-date marvelous throne of their Majesties the +Kings of America. There is the Tamalpais Hotel, a real palace, where the +guests can rest and from the verandas or the windows of their own rooms +observe the animating sights on the left hand side the snow-covered +top-heads of the mountains and following to the right look down upon the +valleys and behold the myriads of orange and lemon and all the +fruit-bearing trees blooming all the year around and decorated like +brides in their wedding procession, not only for a few moments, till the +law ties the knot, but forever as long as the life-giving climate of +beautiful California lasts and time shall be no more. + +When I went up to the Mountain, looking for employment, because I +wanted to locate myself in such a place, if I could, till the +celebration of the Knights Templar was over, I was surprised to find +that the General Manager of the Hotel and the R. R. Station was a lady, +of a striking majestical appearance, she was the controlling power of +the whole business on Mount Tamalpais, and she was not a suffragette +either. But she was a loving mother of two beautiful children, a typical +Yankee girl, well up in her teens, supervising over the chambermaids, +and variously assisting her mother, and an active boy of sixteen, the +good-fellow of everybody, and especially to the Chinamen employed in the +kitchen. Mr. Johnson was the husband and father of this happy family, +and he occupied the position of butler of the house, receiving orders +from his beloved wife. + +I presented my credentials to Mrs. Johnson and she, being satisfied, was +very kind to give me the charge of two tables to wait upon in the dining +room. It seemed as though I made good as a waiter, judging by the coins +which the customers, began to forget, beneath their plates, in leaving +the table, some call it tips, I called it real money. + +September was well at hand, one day old, and Mrs. Johnson was very +anxious to have the premises well decorated, and a big arch should be +erected at the entrance, with the sign, "WELCOME," to Knights Templar, +as news came from San Francisco, that the Knights were already in +possession of the Golden Gate. Mrs. Johnson was almost in despair, +unable to find someone among that great army of employees, to have any +artistic ideas of decorating or even to make a few flower designs and +put up the arch out of some green foliage. We were all green, in that +respect. But as I always find myself at hand, wherever help is to be +rendered, I offered my services, and by what I could remember from my +friend Jack, in New York, how he could decorate everything to a good +taste, I have been able to put up a nice decoration and the third of +September, 1904, the flags of all nations were waving and everything was +ready for the reception of the Knights Templar. Mrs. Johnson was pleased +to the extent of presenting me with an extra three dollars and relieving +me from the dining room, she appointed me in charge of the pavilion, an +out-doors building, where the Knights Templar would privately entertain +their families and lady friends. In this position I was enabled to see +more of the high American life than I ever dreamed of before. The +English Lord, and the Parisien Dame de Honor, were eclipsed as they +would look like pygmies by the side of the sunshining, bright-hearted +American gentlemen, and the sweet and graceful demigoddess American +lady. But my enthusiasm reached its zenith when a gentleman from +Pittsburg, in company with his ladies, after an enjoyable dinner, at the +pavilion, he left under his plate a shining five dollar gold piece; at +the sight of the unexpected I made a sign to which the gentleman was +obliged to respond, and that settled it, there was no mistake about it, +the man and I were brothers and the coin was intended as my tip. And +afterwards the incident occurred repeatedly during the celebration of +Knights Templar in San Francisco. + +Now, if everything in this world was just a procession like that of +Knights Templar in San Francisco, and everybody was happy as the people +I have seen on Mount Tamalpais, then there would be no sorrow, and there +would be no pain; in fact this world would be the paradise on earth. +But, alas! regretful as it may be, yet it is only the simple truth, that +it is only the minority that are real happy, while the vast majority of +men and women and children in this world are just a mass of suffering +humanity, and if the investigations of religious societies, +sociologists, and psychologists, are true, the cause of all misery in +this world is misconduct or misfortune, which in one word is, sin, that +brings misery. And there is where my purpose in life begins. I am out +against sin. But to fight sin, it is absolutely necessary to be a +soldier of the man who gave his life for the salvation of all mankind. + +President Emeritus Eliot of Harvard University, a man of colossal +thought-machine, man, who controls the unprejudiced intellectual minds +of America, in his address on "The Religion of the Future," is quoted as +saying: "I venture to add that I am not at the hold of any proud +world--whatever; second, that such little part of the world as I am best +acquainted with loves the Lowly Nazarene--and does not hate Him; +thirdly, that I have met during my life most of the sorrows which are +accounted heaviest; fourth, that Jesus will be in the religion of the +future, not less, but more, than in the Christianity of the past." All +efforts without Jesus, trying to better the world, shall fail. It is and +will be the opinion of all sane minds for many generations yet to come. +This was my opinion and the only imposing motive that brought me down on +my knees on the 14th of October, 1904, in a poorly furnished hall where +the Salvation Army had the Sunday night's meeting. I gave my heart to +Jesus, for life and for eternity, to be his and his alone. And I knew, +there and then, that I was honorably converted. + +To make the surrender complete I offered my services to the Salvation +Army, that I should use all I had, my time and my talent, to uplift the +down-fallen humanity and help to make this world better. Major Harris +Connett and Adjutant Allison Coe, were the officers in charge of the Los +Angeles Salvation Army and they received me into their ranks and for ten +months I was engaged in this wonderful organization, visiting the sick, +praying in the saloons, in the slums and everywhere doing all that I +could to promote the cause of Jesus in bringing souls into his fold. But +nothing gave me so great pleasure as the poor children of Los Angeles at +Christmas time when I was dressed in the Santa Claus clothing +distributing presents to them. I never felt happier in all my life even +in the best days as a High Priest. + +After passing successfully my preparatory studies in Los Angeles, word +came from the Headquarters that they wanted me in the college Training +Home, in Chicago, to take the course of officership; and the 15th of +August, 1905, finds me sweeping the back yard at the Training Home, West +Adams St., Chicago, Illinois. + +Were it possible for every man and woman who pretends to be a minister +of Jesus, to pass six months in any of the Training Colleges of the +Salvation Army, then there should be fewer ministers, but far more +useful, in the betterment of the world, than many of them that are under +the present conditions. + +It is the most psychological system, in these Training Colleges that +brings out all the virtues that every heart possesses and every bit of +iniquity that may be hidden in the personal character of the man or +woman who willingly denies himself or herself of all prospects and +pleasures in this world just for the only purpose to live and love and +serve the suffering humanity. There are exceptions to the rule among the +officers of the Salvation Army, once in a great while some one will +prove unworthy to the cause, but these exceptions are common in every +human institution, and they are so few in the Salvation Army that fully +justifies the public confidence upon this marvelously developing great +movement. + +I went through the theoretical and practical work for which I could make +a whole volume of the experiences in the slums of Chicago, where I had +to reprove a policeman, whom I found in a saloon drinking in full +uniform, while in the back room there was a girl not over fifteen years +old, in the company of a most reckless middle-aged man, both +exceedingly intoxicated and still drinking. I dismissed the man, and +sent the girl to the rescue home, where she would be taken care of. + +The 17th of January, 1906, I received my diploma as an active member of +the National First Aid Association of America, and my commission as a +Captain in the Salvation Army, and I was appointed in charge of No. 4 in +Chicago. I went to my quarters and there was not kindling wood enough to +start a fire, and no coal; and the weather 14 degrees below zero, half +the glass panes of the windows broken, and everything in the house +frozen, and the Corps indebted to the extent of 175 dollars, that I was +expected to pay. You have to put yourself in a position of this kind in +order to appreciate the circumstances under which I was placed. Yet, +when everything seems dark, and there is no visible way out of the +difficulty, it is then that with Jesus on our side, we shall always find +some way. The first consideration in a missionary work should be to get +souls converted to God. With much prayer and great faith upon the +Almighty, I began my work, and when the Spirit spread all round that +community and the sinners began to flock into the fold of Jesus, there +was a change in a very short time. The old debt was paid, and we had +comfortable quarters to lay our heads; and the roll-call of the Corps +increased, and God was glorified, and there is a Corps, till this day, +in Chicago, which they call the big 4 of the Salvation Army. + +The San Francisco disaster came and the Salvation Army called me into +its relieving department to help the sufferers. After which they +appointed me assistant to the Illinois Division, where for two years I +made a deeper and more thorough study of the various departments in +operation. + +In April, 1908, I visited England with the desire to study closer and +more extensively the methods, and see for myself the great works which +the Salvation Army has accomplished in the British Isles. + +On my return to the United States I was appointed divisional solicitor +for the Northern New England, where, splendid success was the result of +my efforts, and there was a great field to work in and every opportunity +to do good. + +But in searching my heart's ambition I find that it was high time for me +to turn all my energies toward the people for whose Salvation I was +ordained a High Priest in the Church, and although the Church failed in +its mission, yet, to uplift my people is still the aim of my life. + +After much thought and due consideration of my obligations to the +Salvation Army, I came to the conclusion that in view of the fact that +following an unsuccessful correspondence with the Salvation Army, the +National Headquarters refused to grant me a leave of absence, and +insisted that I should go back West, while I knew that the field where I +was called to fight the battle of my life was right here in New England, +the best thing for me to do remained to send in my resignation, and I +did so, thus thrusting myself entirely upon the hands of God. + +And though as yet I have received no reply from the National +Headquarters, my resignation is final, and now I am free, and my work +unmolested of all denominational differences, dogmas and doctrines, +which in the light of the Ecclesiastical history has always been the +fatal cause of failure, in the Churches, to accomplish their mission in +the Salvation of the world. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +_Practical Effects of Practical Truth_ + + +The necessity of faith, as a primary element in all acceptable religious +exercises, has already been noticed. A feeling of entire dependence upon +God for spiritual mercy is the only right feeling, because it is the +only true feeling. It is necessary, according to the foregoing view of +the subject, in order to offer acceptable prayer, that man should +possess a spirit of faith and dependence upon Christ. The principle upon +which Christ acted in relation to this subject, as well as His +instruction concerning the duty of prayer, fully confirm the preceding +thoughts. He seldom performed an act of mercy, by miracle or otherwise, +unless those who received the mercy could see the hand of God in the +blessing:--"If thou canst believe, thou mayest be cleansed," was His +habitual sentiment. As if He had said--Your desire for the blessing is +manifest by your urgent request; now, if you can have faith to see God +in the blessing, so that He will be honored and praised for conferring +it, I will grant it; but if you have no faith, you can receive no favor. + +This little book could easily occupy thrice as large a size as its +present volume, had I taken into account all the blessings which God +has bestowed upon my faithful prayers and upon His children, using me as +an instrument of His hand. But I must content myself by referring to +only two cases, which had had exceptional significance and gratifying +joy not only to my own heart, but to every Christian worker. + +With the individuals spoken of I am well acquainted, having frequently +conversed with them all on the subjects of which I shall speak. Their +words in these cases may not have been exactly remembered, but the sense +is truly given. + +The first case, is a story, told all by itself, and the second case, is +a letter of a dear girl, whose mother was a down to the bone Roman +Catholic. The daughter accidentally came to our meeting and gave her +heart to Jesus. The mother thinking that the worldly pleasures might +drive her newly converted daughter away from Jesus, and being very +anxious to get her daughter back into the Catholic parish, she gave a +party to all the young people from the same parish. And there was plenty +of song and dance, but the daughter did not show up. The mother with a +number of the guests went into the daughter's room where the girl in +seclusion was reading her Bible; the young people almost carrying her +into the reception hall, sat her upon the stool in front of the piano, +earnestly asking her to play for them while they were dancing. But, the +girl, lifting up to God her angelic heart and voice, she began to play +and sing, softly "Nearer My God To Thee," the tears streaming down her +cheeks; they were tears of joy for the saved girl, but the young people +could not stand it and they ran away, while the converted girl bended on +her knees in prayer for them, and her own mother's salvation. + +Case 1.--For love of the Christ:--John Davis was the only child of a +Chicago banker. The wealth and social prominence of his father had +surrounded him with every comfort and luxury, and his growth from +boyhood to incipient manhood had been tenderly watched over by his fond +parents. + +All the hopes of his parents were centered in their only child. Mr. +Davis looked forward to the time when John would become his partner, and +that his son might be fitted in every way, engaged the best tutors +procurable to attend to his education. John had graduated with honors +after four years of college work, which was marked by the thorough and +earnest application on his part. His father watched his progress with +growing pride and with fullest confidence in his son's ability, arranged +to take him into partnership at the proper time. + +Seemingly the future for John was one of brilliant promise. But John did +not show an eager anticipation for the future as planned for him. A life +devoted to business was to him a selfish one. Something within him was +insistently calling him to a higher vocation; although apparently +acquiescing to his father's plans, the prospect daily became more and +more distasteful to him. + +From his mother, a woman of singular devoutness and piety, John had +received a careful religious training, and he could not reconcile the +idea of a life devoted to self with the truths he had reverently +accepted as his faith. Daily he met with examples of shamefully degraded +manhood, of pitiful want, and of unhelped suffering. His soul went out +in pity towards these unfortunate ones, and at such times the voice +within imperiously summoned him to follow in the footsteps of Him whom +he worshiped as Lord and Saviour. + +On the other hand Reason urged filial obedience to the wishes of his +father. That his mother would understand and encourage him should he +heed the call of his soul, John did not for an instant doubt. Not less +clearly, however, did he recognize the attitude his father would take to +such a course; for his father, while refraining from scoffing at beliefs +cherished by his wife and friends, made no secret of his own disbelief +in them. + +The life which would appear to his mother and himself as noblest of all +would seem quixotic and senseless to his father. Besides, his father had +set his heart on John's becoming his partner in business. John dreaded +to disappoint him, yet stronger and stronger grew the call of that inner +voice which now all but dominated him. + +One evening as he sat with his parents he surprised them by saying: "Now +that I have finished my college course it is time for me to choose my +vocation, to strive to be of benefit to my fellow men." + +"All arrangements have been made, John," responded Mr. Davis, "you may +begin at once if you so desire. Your mother and I thought, however, that +you were entitled to a vacation after your college work. However we can +use you at the bank the moment you are ready," laughed Mr. Davis. + +"That is just what I desire to talk over with you, father," returned +John. "For weeks I have felt that the future you have designed for me is +too narrow--too selfish. With my Master's Call sounding in my ears, the +thought of devoting my life to any business, however high its position +in the eyes of the world, is intolerably repugnant. + +"I know how firmly your heart has been set upon my joining you in +business, and I cannot tell you how hard it is for me to disappoint you +at this late hour, but Christ has called me to preach to His people. I +feel and know that only in so doing shall I find true happiness and +contentment. + +"You surely, father, will not oppose my doing that which every fibre of +my body tells me is my duty." + +The eyes of Mrs. Davis filled with glad tears, and a prayer for Divine +guidance for her son went up from her heart; but annoyance and +displeasure plainly showed on Mr. Davis' face. At length he said: + +"I had thought it definitely settled that you were to assist me, and on +the strength of that belief I have made several important changes in my +business with the view of affording a proper position for you. Your +decision declining to accept it will inconvenience me not a little. + +"With all due consideration for your religious beliefs, I feel it my +duty as your father, John, to express my disappointment of the +profession you at present seem inclined to adopt. However you are +entering man's estate, and it is for you to decide as to your career. I +shall, however, insist upon one thing: that you take a good vacation +before making your final decision. + +"If, upon your return you are of the same mind, I shall not oppose you, +although to speak frankly, John, I am not a little disappointed. + +"Anyway a good western trip will greatly benefit you, and I shall not be +at all surprised if on your return your conception of your duty has +undergone important modifications." As if signifying that he desired to +discuss the subject no farther, Mr. Davis rose and left the room. + +Keenly feeling his father's disappointment and displeasure, John +instinctively turned to his mother for sympathy. Mrs. Davis stepped to +his side and with a fond caress said: + +"Thank God you have made this choice; I shall do all in my power to help +you." + +"Thank you, mother dear. I believe you understand me, and know how +sincere is my desire to do what I can for my fellow men. + +"I do so long to lead some of them to Christ; for many are wandering in +darkness, just waiting for some one to reach them a helping hand. + +"In deference to father's wishes I shall take a vacation; though it can +by no possibility alter my determination. On my return I shall begin +active work without delay. + +"I have education enough to preach the simple truths of God's love. I +wish to preach to sinners, not to saints. I shall ask no salary and have +no denomination. My Church will be Christ." + +After tenderly embracing his mother, during which the souls of mother +and son united in a prayer to the Most High, John bade her "Good night" +and retired. + +The following week found John on his way to South Dakota, his plan being +to make his first stop of any length at Aberdeen. + +He arrived there at night and the following morning mounted his bicycle +for a trip through the surrounding country. + +It was a new world to him. His first thought was: how splendid the roads +were for wheeling, they seemed even better than the paved streets of the +city. + +He cast his eyes over his surroundings. On all sides was the vast +expanse of prairie, ending only in the horizon--the fields of grass and +grain, moving in the wind like the waves of the sea; overhead the blue +sky, stretching out in a dome unbroken by hill or forest. The sun above +him seemed to shine with a brighter splendor than he had before known. + +The beauties of nature filled the soul of this city-bred youth with +wonder and admiration. + +He rode on and on. + +At one moment the joyous song of a lark captivated him; at another, the +capering of some colts, or a sleek herd of cattle quietly grazing in a +nearby pasture attracted his attention; or a colony of prairie gophers +which dived excitedly into their burrows at his approach, amused him +with their antics. + +At last he began to wonder how far he had gone. + +Seeing nearby a large, well kept farm-house, he rode up to it, to +procure such rest and refreshment as it might afford him, before +undertaking his long ride back to town. + +His knock at the door was answered by a beautiful girl, apparently about +fifteen years of age. John explained his errand to her, and requested +such courtesies as could be granted without putting the people of the +house to undue inconvenience. + +The girl expressed her regrets that her parents were away in town, but +saying that she expected them home very soon, she invited him in, and +ushered him into a cool, spacious sitting-room. + +Mutual introductions followed and John learned that the name of his fair +young hostess was Lily Long, "but," said she, with a slight blush, +"father calls me the Queen of the Prairie." + +They visited together for some little time, until Lily, exclaiming that +her father and mother were coming, went out to greet them. + +Left to himself, John glanced around him. + +An old-fashioned piano stood in one corner of the room. He noted also an +ample, well filled book-case at one end of the room. + +"Music, books, and Prairie Queen. If this is a typical example of +country life, I must say that I rather like it." + +Mr. and Mrs. Long greeted him heartily and gave him a cordial invitation +to stay to dinner--an invitation which he gratefully accepted. + +And what a dinner it was; vegetables fresh gathered from the garden in +abundance; fried chicken prepared as only a farmer's wife can prepare +it; and the countless other good things which go to make dinner on the +farm. To this dinner John brought an appetite sharpened by his brisk +morning ride; he did full justice to the tempting viands, nor could he +remember so thoroughly enjoying a dinner before. + +Everything on the farm was so clean and well arranged that John began to +wish he could board there instead of in town during the remainder of his +visit; so when they had adjourned to the sitting-room, he informed Mr. +Long of his wish, and asked if it were possible. + +"But before you answer me," he added, "I should like to make myself +better known to you." + +Then he told them of his father and mother, of his own youth, and of his +college life. A natural question on the part of Mr. Long as to what +brought him so far West led to an explanation from John, who presently +found himself telling his new-found friends his future plans and +ambitions. + +"My boy," said Mr. Long, reaching out his hand, "I honor you for your +choice. You are welcome to share our home as long as you care to stay." + +Mrs. Long wiped her eyes as she pressed John to stay with them, for she +thought of her own son whom God had called home. + +Lily must have been thinking of him too, for she said: "I am glad you +are going to stay, for then I can play you are my brother." + +"I certainly shall be proud to be your brother," John answered +gallantly. + +That evening when the family gathered for prayers, Lily took her seat at +the old piano. Then John realized why they called her "Queen," for never +had he heard such a magnificent voice, so sweet, so soft, and so full of +feeling. It seemed as though she carried them nearer Heaven with her +song. + +Before John retired he wrote to his mother, telling her of the home he +had found, and of "The Queen of the Prairie." This rather amused Mrs. +Davis, for hitherto, John had had little to say in praise of young +ladies, although he was a favorite among them. + +The summer passed merrily on, and John's vacation was drawing near its +close, when one morning he received a telegram telling him that his +mother was dangerously sick. The message filled him with anxious +foreboding, and he quickly prepared to return home at once. + +Tears were on Mrs. Long's cheeks as she helped him pack, for she had not +realized before to what an extent John had taken her own boy's place in +her heart. His own eyes were moist as he bade her farewell, promising to +return as soon as possible. + +Mr. Long was ready with a team to drive him to town, and Lily was +standing beside her father. She raised a tear-stained face to him, and +said: "Goodbye, dear brother, we shall miss you." + +John was not ashamed of his own tears, for this little girl who called +him "Brother," had grown dearer to him than all the world. He stooped +and reverently kissed her snow white brow, then sprang in the buggy and +was gone. + +When John reached home, his father met him at the door. Mr. Davis' face +was ghastly pale; he had grown old with grief. + +John's eyes asked the question his lips could not frame. + +"She still lives, but the doctor says she cannot last long," said his +father in answer to his son's mute appeal. + +"She is paralyzed. She will probably recognize you, but she can neither +speak nor move." + +Without speaking John went to his mother's bedside, and saw that this +was indeed true. His mother lay as one dead. A faint spark of +recognition showed in her fast dimming eyes as he approached but other +signs of life there were none. + +Overcome with grief, John stood motionless at the bedside. + +Then in agony he turned to Him who faileth not, he fell on his knees and +prayed reverently for his mother's recovery. + +His father tried to lead him away, but John continued to pray. + +Then suddenly in that hour of anguish the grief-stricken man found his +God. Kneeling at his son's side, he implored mercy from Him whom +hitherto he had denied. + +All at once Mrs. Davis spoke, "My son." + +The doctor hastened to her side. + +In a moment he turned to Mr. Davis and said, "She is better, she will +live." + +Dr. Gordon was an unbeliever, but at that moment he realized that +something had control of life, which could act after science had failed. + +He looked at John who had not yet risen from his knees, at Mr. Davis who +was pouring out thanks to the God he had just found, then at the woman +who had been saved at the point of death. + +Like a flash came to him the knowledge of a merciful Christ, and he +joined the father and son in their prayer of thanksgiving. + +Mrs. Davis rapidly recovered her health, and John soon entered upon his +life work. He received hearty encouragement from his father this time, +for Mr. Davis had learned the Truth and found his God at the bedside of +his dying wife in such a way as to leave no place in his heart for +opposition to work in His service. + +John's work was among the poor. He visited from house to house, +preaching and praying, and extending material help when such help was +most needed. + +His sincerity and earnestness were the means of bringing light into many +darkened lives, and the message of Christ crucified was eagerly received +in response to his pleadings. + +At one broken-down house he was met by a frail woman who carried a +half-starved child in her arms. It was plainly apparent that in better +days she had been a handsome and refined woman. + +John introduced himself and asked if he could be of any help to her. + +"No," she answered, "I am afraid you cannot aid me. I am Rose Williams. +My father is a man of wealth. He is living today in luxury in a +neighboring city, and if I would leave my husband I could be clothed in +silk and satin instead of these rags, but as long as I stay with him, my +father will not help me, not even to keep me from starving. But I would +rather starve with my husband than leave him to kill himself with drink, +for I love him. + +"Drink is the cause of all my poverty and misery. Oh, if Ralph would +only let it alone." + +She ended her story in a frenzied cry which plainly showed the tension +to which she had been wrought, but John's voice was low and soothing as +he said, "Suppose you and I pray for your husband. I have great faith in +the power of prayer. Shall we not pray together?" + +Together they knelt down, and offered up an earnest prayer. Mrs. +Williams spoke in low tones at first, then with great excitement. At +last she tried to rise, but fell in a swoon on the floor. John placed +her on a couch in the room and sent at once for Dr. Gordon. + +After his examination, Dr. Gordon looked serious. + +"This is going to be a bad case of brain fever, John. From all +appearances it has been hastened by lack of proper food, but she may +pull through if she has proper care." + +[Illustration: REV. M. GOLDEN + +The Founder of the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association] + +John saw that the service of the physician was only part of what was +needed for the woman's safety. + +He went out and procured bedding and food, and his mother sent over one +of her maids, also a trained nurse. + +Soon things were made comfortable for Mrs. Williams, but she could not +rest. + +In her delirium she called continually for Ralph to come home and bring +her something to eat. + +And where was Ralph? For three days he had been laying in a drunken +stupor in the cellar of a saloon, but this evening he had sobered +somewhat, and remorse for his cruel neglect of his wife and children was +finding a place in his heart. He recalled the starving condition in +which he had left them. + +Perhaps for the first time he began to realize how dearly his wife must +love him to give up the pleasure and luxury of her girlhood home for +him, and there in that room not fit for cattle, this man cried out in +his anguish, "Oh, God, protect my wife and forgive me." + +He started at once for home but as he neared the house his heart was +filled with fear, his head began to whirl. Where was Rose? Why was +everything so still? + +He opened the door and was met by a little girl dressed in white and +with golden curls. + +How beautiful she was; she ran to him and cried, "Papa has come, Papa +has come!" + +Then he knew she was his own little daughter. + +She led him to the bed on which lay his wife, but the only words which +greeted him were, "Ralph come home and bring us something to eat." + +He called her name but she heard him not. + +Again he spoke: "Dear Rose, forgive me, forgive me." + +Dr. Gordon laid his hand on the shoulder of the stricken man and said: +"Ask your God to forgive you, your wife knows not what you say." + +He looked at the doctor a moment, then said in a low voice, "I did that +before I started home. God has forgiven me and saved me. But tell me +what I can do for my poor wife." + +It was indeed true, Ralph Williams was a changed man. The God who had +heard the prayers of the father and son at the dying woman's bedside, +and restored her to them, vouchsafed his mercy to the starving wife who +prayed for her drink-sodden husband, and in answer to it the dulled +conscience of the husband was aroused. + +Slowly Mrs. Williams improved, until one morning she said: "Is this +Heaven, and are Ralph and my children here?" + +"Yes, Rose," her husband replied, "Ralph and the children are here, and +henceforth I will do all I can to make this home Heaven on earth." + + * * * * * + +The years rolling by saw John still fighting the fight for his Maker. +Out of the gratitude Ralph Williams had felt for the Divine mercy shown +him, had sprung a determination to do all in his power towards +uplifting others. John eagerly accepted his services, and thus the +nucleus of a rapidly growing power for good was formed. + +As more and more came to know the meaning of "Christ Crucified," they +entered heart and soul into the work of spreading the truth to others +and soon a mightly cohort of Christian workers spread over the city. +Individually and with them John labored night and day sustained by his +faith and enthusiasm. + +The work of directing the efforts of so many, the nightly vigil at the +bedside of sick and dying, the continual breathing of the vitiated air +of the lower quarters of the city, gradually sapped the strength of +John, who did not know the meaning of fatigue when a call on the service +of his Christ sounded. + +At last an attack of nervous prostration made him realize his position, +and yielding to the importunities of his parents and fellow-workers, he +consented to take a vacation. + +Where should he go but to the broad, sunny prairies of Dakota, to his +dearly remembered friends, the Longs and Lily. + +She met him with outstretched arms and a glad smile of welcome. With the +glory of dawning womanhood about her she was more than ever the "Queen +of the Prairie," but by the soft light in her eyes John saw that she was +still his Lily. + +During the long pleasant vacation which followed, John gained strength +and vigor once more, and its close found him ably equipped to take up +Christ's work once more. + +Mr. and Mrs. Long were doubly sorrowful at their second parting from +him, for his heart had found its mate and Lily was accompanying him. + +He had gained a lovely bride, and more than that, an enthusiastic +helpmate. + +Together they took up the work where John had left it. Ere long the +erstwhile "Queen of the Prairie" was known as "Angel of the Poor," for +her womanly sympathy could often find its way into darkness which even +John's earnestness failed to penetrate. + +One Friday night they both came to take part in our holiness meeting, +and the Spirit revealed to them that should they submit all their powers +unreservedly to the will of God, He could use them to still higher and +more effective purposes of the cause of Jesus. So, John and Lily, side +by side, came out at the altar and offered their lives and their +services to Jesus for time and for eternity, they, becoming active +members in my corps, and a great blessing to the suffering humanity in +that community. + +Case 2.--The following letter was received from the girl already +mentioned, as the daughter of a Roman Catholic woman, who tried to drive +her converted daughter, by the worldly pleasures, away from Jesus: + + "Chicago, Ill., Oct. 5, 1906. + + Captain Golden, + Salvation Army. + + Dear Friend: + + I feel that I must let you know what the Lord has done for me, + 'through you.' + + Why I ever went to the Salvation Army meeting is more than I + know, because I have always been told that the Salvation Army + was nothing more than street beggars and a great deal more. + + So I never went to their meetings until I went to No. 4, and I + do sincerely thank God that I went, because now I can see how + far from the Lord I was wandering and so unintentionally + because I never meant to be a sinner, but I just wanted to have + a good time. But now, I can see where some of those good times + lead us. + + Captain, I often think how brave you must have been to go on + with the work at No. 4, with so little help, 'that is, earthly + help.' I am sorry that I could not help you, but you see I was + not brave like you. I could not talk about Jesus to those who + scoffed, but I do want Jesus to help me and strengthen me to do + His will. Captain, do you know there is a song that always come + to me when I am in any difficulty, 'Lead Me Saviour.' + + Yours sincerely, + + FLOY MAYHEN, + 2207, 63d St., Chicago." + +It is simply wonderful, that there is no one to lead us like the +Saviour, dear Jesus. Who died on Calvary's Cross for our redemption. And +now, dear reader, just a word to you. This volume is written for you; if +you are a converted Christian enjoying the blessings of a clean heart, +indeed, blessed you are, for "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they +shall see God." But, if for some reason, if there can be a reason for +not being saved, you kept back until this hour, I pray that you may go +down upon your knees, at this very moment, just as you are, and open +your heart to God, and let Jesus come in: and I know and you will know +that the remaining days of your life will be sweet and happy; and when +the roll is called up yonder you'll be there, in a robe of white with +the angels in the air to meet the Lamb of God, Who will say unto all +that loved Him and worked for Him, "Well done, thou good and faithful +servant: enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord." + +[Illustration: GREEK PEASANT WOMAN] + + + + +CHAPTER X + +_Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association_ + + +It is said, by Him who never told a lie, that every tree is known by its +own fruit, and the confirmation of the statement is conclusive to the +student of natural and human history. + +It was an idea of King Maximilian of Bavaria, to transmit to history a +reminder of his reign. He instructed the architects of Germany to design +a new style to be named after him. Such a style of Maximilianesque was +created. An architect--it was Semper, if I am not mistaken--when asked +to take a part in this creation of the so-called Maximilian style, +answered that such a thing could not be made to order, that a style of +building is the consequence of the history, the culture, life, and +doings of a great period of people. If such be the case with a style of +architecture, how much more must it be the case in regard to religion? + +The history of this style of Maximilian's is, that it has no history, +and consequently all efforts of pursuing eminent architects to adopt the +Maximilian style failed. This short history is that of the attempts to +create a very much needed world religion. It is not the dogma nor the +doctrines or the profession that will make it possible for all right +thinking minds to unite efforts in building a universal religion, +sufficient to satisfy the intellectual want of every people and of every +time. Attempts, all-powerful, such as Papism and Mohammedanism, failed +in their egotistic purposes to enforce upon the world an exotic +structure. Neither the fires of Torquemadas, nor the sword of Islam +could deter the bravery of civilization. The blood that was spilled by +the millions of martyrs of the lowly Nazarene served to make the history +of the man who died upon the Cross, more effective and heartfelt +world-need for the only aristurgimatical shrine in which all human +families may live in peace and prosperity. + +At a time when the world was imperilled by the treatment accorded to +Galileo for believing in the motion of the earth; and though 69 years of +age he was cast, by the tools of Vatican, into a dungeon, where he lost +his sight and ultimately his life; and Copernicus was facing the same +fate, for accomplishing a noble astronomical discovery; and Martin +Luther was persecuted by the Roman Catholic church, for trying to bring +the people nearer to God. The Greeks, a brave people, who, in the face +of starvation, for lack of food, and horrified by the sword of the +conqueror, dishonored in their holiest sacreds, pure maidens slain after +being used in the most beastly way, mothers put to death after their +children were torn off into shreds of flesh under the sword of the +barbarous Turk, young people and old aged having no rescuing place to +escape from horror and death; when all crowned heads of Europe should +bow on their knees and kiss the slipper of the holy father before they +could attain their rights to the throne of their own kingdoms; when all +the known world was trembling equally in the name of Mohammed and Pope, +these people (the Greeks) stood up, and with all the strength that was +left in their lungs, they cried out, "we prefer political slavery rather +than to be the slaves of the Pope," and for more than three centuries +the Greeks suffered such a martyrdom which if only printed it would be +more than a human heart could bear. + +The history of Greece shall remain until the end of time, and as the +peoples of the world grow intelligently and intellectually more +enlightened they will come to the appreciation of the fact that the +Greek people has contributed more material in paving the way to the +spiritual freedom and the individual liberty of the world than any other +nation on the face of the earth, and that the Greek spirit is still +living and ruling in principle in the very heart of the civilized world. + +It is essential that every nation in making up the list of its +benefactors should give the first place to the most distinguished one. +In accordance to the general law the Greek nation of today not only owes +its literary language, in part at least, to the exertions of the great +patriot Korais, but to him is accredited the prophecy, that, "the Greek +nation shall never be great again, unless regenerated in Christ." + +Adamantios Korais was born April 27, 1747, in Smyrna. From early youth +he devoted himself to the study of old and new languages. In obedience +to his father's wishes, he followed a mercantile career during the year +1772-78, without, however, neglecting the sciences. From 1782-88 he +studied medicine in Montpellier and established himself as a practising +physician in Paris. From there he worked incessantly for the education +of his compatriots, and endeavored to awaken a favorable opinion of his +nation in the Occidental countries. In 1800 he received the prize of the +Academy for an edition of the writings of Hippocrates, but before this +time he had attracted the attention of the world of learning by his +ability, and Napoleon the Great conferred upon him many honors and +titles and appointed him the medical adviser of the Court. Later on he +gained fame by his Greek translation of Beccaria's work on crimes and +their punishments. This was followed by a work entitled "De l'etat +actuel de la civilization en Greece" (Paris, 1803). This was the first +publication in Europe which gave true information on the intellectual +and moral conditions of the new Greeks. During the period from 1805-27 +he published a collection--twenty volumes--of old Greek classics, with +critical explanations and prolegomena. In the latter he gave his +patriotic teachings and advices. His greatest merit consisted in his +promoting the Greek morals and the Greek language; he eliminated as much +as possible all foreign elements, but retained all that was good and +useful from all centuries, rejecting the one-sided retention of the old +words and forms as not compatible with the understanding of the people. +He above all, helped to establish a noble literary language. On account +of his old age he could take no part in the rising of his fatherland in +1821, but aided it greatly by his patriotic pen. When Greece had gained +her independence he took an active interest in the new formation of his +country. In 1830-31 he attacked the government of Kapodistria in two +publications. He died in 1833. His autobiography appeared in Paris in +the same year. The name of Adamantios Korais will never die from the +memory of every patriot Greek, and yet his sincere opinion that "the +Greek nation shall never be great again, unless regenerated in Christ," +had little effect upon the hearts of the people, or rather upon the +hearts of the leaders of the people. + +Great nations have failed, and in every case it was the government's +corruption and neglect of duty that caused the sufferings and failures, +of which the political history is too abounding and too accessible to be +quoted. We only mention the Greek nation, perhaps the greatest and most +illustrious of all nations that ever failed in their political career, +because we are well informed and personally acquainted with the details +that brought this formerly world-wide respected and valued gem of +civilization into insignificance in the eye of the scornful, and a +plaything in the hands of the so-called great powers of Europe. + +In the year of 1902, while I was a High Priest, Archimandrites, grand +representative of the Saint Mary's Monastery, Salamis; Orator and Grand +Chaplain of the Supreme Council of Greece; and confessor in the most +exclusive societies of Athens, hearing confessions and granting +absolutions; the following incident, which is published for the first +time, and only in parts that are printable, brought me to a final +decision, that I should leave my home, my loved ones, and all the +flourishing prospects to be a Bishop, with all the comforts and luxuries +attached to a Bishopric, just because I had witnessed a few scenes of +the manifold political plots that caused the downfall of my own nation, +and my own people scattered to the four corners of the world, wandering, +struggling for their existence, while Greece, the land of the Gods, and +the home of art and beauty, was left in the hands of a few parasites, +strangers and unsympathetic feudals who have shown no mercy in straining +every material and spiritual bit from the people that still honors them +as their kings and sovereigns. + +At the time spoken of, there was an open secret to every well informed +Greek that the Queen of Greece, Olga, had been the tool of the Russian +bureaucracy, trying by means of religious influences to keep the Greeks +under the Russian political control; that the Queen Olga paid the +expenses for the education of a monk, who, on his return from Russia, +where he was graduated from the theological academies of Kiev and +Moskow, became the Queen's personal confessor, and afterwards by the +Queen's very earnest and almost scandalous activities that monk was +raised to the Metropolitan Throne of Athens, which position placed him +at the head of the Greek Church, and made him the President of the Holy +Synod of Greece. + +The Metropolitan Throne of Athens is the highest and most exalted +position that a mortal Greek could approach, and it is, in fact, the +next to the King's Throne, most influential occupation, and more +powerful, even than the Royal Throne, because, the Metropolite of Athens +is the spiritual leader of all Greeks. + +There was plenty of rejoicing in the Queen's camarilla, at the +installation of Procopios (that was the name of the monk) as the +Metropolite of Athens, and every effort, Queen Olga leading the fight, +had gone forth to assure a complete victory for the Russian bureaucracy, +over the few remaining unspoiled patriotic Greeks. + +All the characteristics of a civil war were enacted in the streets of +Athens when Queen Olga attempted to enforce upon the Greek people a new +inferior language in their Bibles, and in their holy mass--a language, +which the Greek people considered as a means to confound their +historical and religious customs and habits and subdue them into a +Russian spiritual dependency. Against the attempt there was the very +best element of the Greek scholars. Adamantios Korais fought the fight, +100 years before this attempt was made, and he distinctly and clearly +made it understood that the Attic Greek language has been, it is and +must be the safeguard of all that is beautiful in the Greek history. + +Faithful to their traditions the Greeks of the present generation fought +and won a triumphant victory. The innocent blood of the people that was +slain on the streets of Athens by orders from the Royal Palace, have +wrote with indelible letters, the anathema, which, frenzied mothers in +the sight of their assassinated sons, and overwhelmed in grief, cried +against Queen Olga, and her crown all but torn to pieces by the wronged +multitudes. + +Within 24 hours from that terrible bloody day, that will remain an +indelible stigma in the history of Queen Olga's life, the most exalted +Metropolite Procopios was a fallen ragmuffin and the most hated person +in all Greece. And when every one of his colleagues deserted him and the +King and Queen shut their door in his face, leaving him a pitiful victim +of the political plots to save the royal skin, and while there was no +visible friend to give him a helping hand when fallen from the +Metropolitan Throne, and while this monk-metropolite Procopios, in all +his glorious days had been a profound enemy against every honest effort, +especially against young priests who refused to serve his unlawful +appetites, and my own experience with this monk-metropolite Procopios is +not of the kind to be printed, yet, it was I who put my own life in a +probable danger to save him from the mob, that was ready to attack him, +and probably kill him, the day after I made his escape possible into +the Saint Mary's Monastery, Salamis, where at the time I was +Archimandrites. + +Procopios, in the opinion of his own friends, was the last man in the +Greek priesthood, qualified to occupy the Metropolitan Throne of Athens, +and totally lost his will power when he became Metropolite by Royal +favor. There was an organized clique around the Metropolitan mansion, +but the controlling power should be located within the walls of the +Royal Palace. Procopios was only an instrument transmitting orders. And +if I was allowed to publish all that Procopios himself told me, in +Salamis, it would make the Greek people sit up and take notice, but in +my vows as confessor I have to carry the confession of the fallen +Metropolite Procopios with me to my grave, unless the need arises to +serve the best interests of my beloved country. It was his last +confession upon the earth. He died and went there, where, at the great +Judgment Day, he, surely will give account for all his deeds done in the +body. + +For the first time in the ecclesiastical history of the Greek Kingdom, a +Metropolite abdicated from his throne, rejected by his closest friends, +helpless under the anathema of the people, above whom he was called to +be the spiritual leader, his life imperilled by the injured public +sentiment, Procopios, left a real wreck cast by the shore, as a warning +sign of those dangers to which every public man is exposed, when +corrupted by higher favours and neglects his duties to the people who +entrusted him with responsibilities of national importance. + +This incident, which I hope will never occur again, and many other minor +opportunities, in which I had a part to play, during that fateful Queen +Olga's attempt to adulterate the beautiful and pure Attic Greek +language, gave me the exceptional privilege to study all the works of +the political machinery in Greece. I have seen the drama enacted behind +the scenes. It is a dreadful drama that could break the neck of the +strongest long-suffering. The awful drama that is enacted in Greece at +the expenses of the people is a long, very long story; perhaps it has +its beginning with the reign of King George and Queen Olga, I will not +say, but the people of Greece, the poorest people of Europe, are +contented and well pleased that they have a King who is a great +diplomat, and he is one of the richest Kings in Europe, and their Queen, +Olga, they believe (the ignorant do) that she is a saintly woman (as all +the Russian saints are), and this ignorant Greek people, they simply +feel glad to leave their homes and their children and go into war, like +sheep into the butcher's shop, sacrifice their lives, thus destroying +their homes and the hopes of their loved ones, every time King George +calls them to arms to fight against the Turks. And King George has +always a great patriotic cause to fight the Turks. And the Greeks could +not appreciate more highly a privilege than to fight and die for the +deliverance of their brethren in Crete and for the salvation of the +unfortunate Christians in Macedonia. + +Yet, for half a century, in fact, since King George came to Greece, +there are hundreds of thousands of the best Greek patriots that have +been killed, slain, or assassinated, and nearly a billion drachmas +national debt, hanging upon the neck of every Greek, like the Damoclean +sword, but there is no deliverance for the Cretans, and there is no +salvation for the Macedonians, instead there are the traps strategically +placed across the Greek borders, so, every time the Greek patriots, in +answer to the call of their King, are sent to render a helping hand to +the sufferers, they cross the border, only to find, but too late, that +they have been trapped, under the sword of the enemy, the Turk; or they +are left at the mercy of their assassins, the Bulgars. This drama is +going on repeatedly with great success, and to the amusement of the +observing great powers of Europe. + +Occasionally there is some crippling of the territory already belonging +to the possessions of Greece, because the places are of some strategical +importance, and this reason is enough, that they should be taken away +from the Greeks. And there is a financial commission appointed by the +great powers, because King George is a great diplomat and he wants to be +sure that his allowance is coming to him increasingly, every year, from +the coffers of the Greek treasury, while the international commission +should count every penny that the Greek expends in bread for his +children. + +In the evolution of events, I believe, that there is a time coming, when +the Greek people shall rise, from the lethargy, in which they +unnaturally are slumbering, for a long time, and they shall awake and +break every fetter, and shake off their feet every chain, and their eyes +shall be opened and they shall see things that will horrify them as a +nation; then shall they know the persons responsible for their +sufferings and for the sufferings of the Cretans and Macedonians and why +Carditses was beheaded in a dungeon, without giving him the privilege of +free citizenship, to prove his reason or his sanity, without any chance +to protect his life; and where and by whom that plot was framed up, just +to turn the tide of public anger against a royal gang, thus causing the +destruction of two beautiful Greek girls, that left alone in the world +to suffer from consumption, in agony, to die with the stigma as sisters +of a would-be royal assassin. It was my privilege to take care of these +two unfortunate sisters, both suffering, and the story of these two +girls and the uprising of the Greek people against the adulteration of +their language by Queen Olga, settled my determination to fight for the +rights of my own people and my beloved country. But, the time for the +Greek people to stand up and walk on their own feet, shall come when the +prophecy of the great patriot Adamantios Korais, is no more prophecy, +but in reality the Greek people will be regenerated in Christ, and there +and then shall be a great Greek nation, not only within the boundaries +of the feudatory of King George, but within the bounds of love that +unites all the millions of people that speak the historical Attic Greek +language, and a great Greek nation shall attract the attention of all +the civilized world, once more as in the days of old. + +I know the dangers in which I am exposed for the step I have taken, +because, I know the character and the principles of the Greek people, +perhaps, as well as any living Greek, the demagogues, the priests, the +church, and the drones and parasites of the royal gang, they each and every +one and all together are going to use all their power and money that is +at their disposal, and with no regards as to the honesty of means they +shall move earth and hell to quench this movement for the regeneration of +the Greek people, but having all my trust upon the Almighty and Omnipotent +God, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, Who died that all men may be +happy, and in the right Spirit of love to God and to my fellow men, I dare +launch the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association. + +Every Greek of reputable character, and all the lovers of the Greek +ancient and modern history, are eligible to membership. It is my purpose +to endeavor by all the Christian means to bring the Greek and American +people into a mutual, intellectual and intelligent understanding. It has +been my experience in studying conditions for the last six years, that +the Greeks in the United States know very little or nothing of the +American history, government, political, social, customs and habits of +the American people, which, also, unfortunate as it may appear, yet it +is the truth, that only a very limited number of Americans whom I have +found all over the United States, are well informed of the doings in +Greece, and still fewer well acquainted and unprejudiced as to the +historical and classical importance of the Greek nation. + +It is estimated that there are about 300,000 Greek people in the United +States, representing the 12,000,000 of Greek-speaking people that is the +Greek nation extended all around the Mediterranean countries. + +When it is considered that the vast majority of the Greeks in the United +States, has never had any opportunity to attend a Christian meeting, or +hear the Gospel preached in their own language, it is to their credit +that, with all the temptations and the ambiguous associations which the +laboring class is often in contact with they have not been worse than +they are; it is an indication that the primitive and strong character of +the Greek seldom yields to temptation; they hold fast to their +historical energy and honesty. + +There has never been an attempt of any importance, neither has there +ever been any organized effort, for the regeneration of the Greek +people, and while the Home and Foreign Missions of America for the last +25 years have given the best of their spiritual leaders for the +conversion of the Zulu and the Mogul and millions of American dollars +have been expended, with insignificant returns, in trying vainly to make +real Christians out of a barbarous and semi-human race of people, and +trying to civilize the jungles of Africa, the most urgent duty has been +neglected, and some spasmodical efforts that have been put forth by the +zeal of earnest individuals, were soon exhausted, and failed, not only +for lack of financial support, but, the worst, by spiritual +discouragements, and today a noble and the most historical race of +peoples, the Greeks, are drifting in despair, away from God, politically +perishing, blind, and ignorant priests, and political demagogues leading +them fast into the ditch. + +The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; who will help +us to garner in? HELP! is the cry, the most earnest cry, that was ever +uttered from the lips and from the heart of a sincere Christian worker. + +In organizing the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association, all the latest +and most effective, spiritual and industrial methods will be employed. + +It is hoped that the organization will be incorporated under the laws of +the United States, as soon as there are members sufficient in number to +assemble in their first meeting and vote the Constitution and the +By-Laws of the Association. + +Much consideration will be given to the methods of the Y. M. C. A., and +Y. W. C. A. This two-fold Institution, which in the opinion of Christian +leaders, and the most distinguished sociologists, of the present time, +is the very best agency to approach all nations, and spread +civilization, well established upon the fundamental principles of +Christianity. + +For the last few months in my struggle trying to establish the +Greek-Amerikan-Christian-Association and at the same time keep my soul +and body together providing a lean livelihood by selling this book, I +can truthfully say that I had more experiences than in all my life +before. One clergyman of the high Episcopal church in the most +fashionable Back Bay, Boston, offered to grant me the use of his church +any time I wanted to offer the mass as high priest according to the +ritual of the Greek Orthodox Church, if I would only "break off all +relations with Protestant bodies here in America." I have a letter from +this clergyman which is the most astounding fact of his inconsistency, +because he himself is an active member of the Bible Club, a purely +Protestant organization: he invited me to one of their meetings, but he +would not purchase my book to help me to my bread and butter. Another +clergyman, a member of the executive committee of City Missions, Boston, +would not purchase my book, unless I offered myself to be employed by +them at a certain salary, and he gave me his card introducing me to the +chairman of that organization. + +Last winter I began to preach to the Greeks at Kneeland street, Boston, +in the open air, and when I went to see the police captain of that +district he promised to co-operate with me and gave me his consent to go +on with my work, but the following Sunday his Lieutenant came up to me, +while I was preaching on the street, he stopped me, on the pretense, +that he was informed of a plot among the Greeks to take my life. And +when I made my complaints to the General Secretary of New England +Missions, he told me that I should have known that Boston is a Catholic +town, and that the police being informed that I was an ex-priest, they +simply would not tolerate me. Horror stricken by this statement I went +to see the captain myself, and the very same man who promised +co-operation, only a few days hence, he stood up in front of my face and +in a savage manner told me that he would not tolerate me to preach on +the streets of Boston. + +The names of all concerned are in my possession and open to +investigation by the general public. But I will omit them here for +reasons well understood. + +A number of other discouraging instances, only worked together to deeper +impress upon my heart the importance and the excellency of my high +calling. Sooner or later, in the inevitable law of evolution and +universal progress, the Greek nation must be regenerated in spirit and +in truth: and I believe that it is not only a case of courtesy, but, +there is a sense of duty for every true American man and woman to +co-operate in the uplifting of all mankind. As for me I fully appreciate +the privilege to suffer for the benefit of my fellow men, and I can +hopefully repeat Tennyson's immortal words: + + Once in a golden hour + I cast to earth a seed, + Up then came a flower, + The people said, a weed. + + To and fro they went + Thro' my garden bower, + And muttering discontent + Cursed me and my flower. + + Then it grew so tall, + It wore a crown of light, + But thieves from o'er the wall + Stole the seed by night. + + Sow'd it far and wide, + By every town and tower, + Till all the people cried, + "Splendid is the flower:" + + Read my little fable, + He that runs may read: + Most can raise the flower now, + For all have got the seed. + + + + +_Conclusion_ + + +Allow me, dear reader, to say in closing, that it is my sincere opinion +that in view of the reasonings and facts presented in the preceding +pages, every individual who reads this Book intelligently, and who is in +possession of a sound and unprejudiced reason, will come to the +conclusion that there is only one religion worth having, and that is the +religion by Jesus, of Jesus, for Jesus, which is the revelation of the +Bible, Divinely adapted to produce the greatest present and eternal +spiritual good to the human family. And if anyone should doubt His power +(which, in view of its adaptations and its effects as herein developed, +would involve the absurdity of doubting whether an intelligent design +had an intelligent designer), still, be the origin of the Gospel of +Jesus where it may, in heaven, earth, or hell, the demonstration is +conclusive that it is the only religion possible for man, in order to +perfect his nature, and restore his lapsed powers to harmony and +holiness, which is the only avenue to usefulness and happiness. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONVERSION OF A HIGH PRIEST INTO A +CHRISTIAN WORKER*** + + +******* This file should be named 24179.txt or 24179.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/1/7/24179 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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