Julio said: “Mrs. Grange, this is what your husband says: ‘Beware, Inez; do not make so many pitfalls as you have in the past, or you will never have an harmonious life.’” Mrs. Grange’s head fell forward when the message was finished. Señor Guillermo Gonzales laid her on a lounge near by. Her soul had fled.
The spirit band at that moment sent forth delicious strains of melody. Catalina played the harp and Marriet Motuble towered above the rest at their backs and blew a large horn; the vibrations which made the music were so large that they could be seen by everyone.
When they had ceased, the Governor and his bride arose to leave, after thanking those present for the honor they had paid them. As they glided through the air out of the room, to the amazement of all, the spiritual band followed them, playing Milton’s “Allegro.”
CHAPTER XX.
THE CELEBRATION.
President Miguel Lehumada was entering upon the third year of his second term as President of the United States of America.
All of the prophecies of the seer, Julio Murillo, had been fulfilled to the letter. The nation clamored for him to be placed at the head of the “National School for Scientific Development,” but he preferred to remain in the home of President Lehumada and carry on his scientific investigations quietly and alone, save for the companionship of a few whom he knew to be earnest in their investigations and of an harmonious temperament to him.
The President and his wife were of the greatest assistance to him, and while the President was ever busy with the affairs of the nation, and his wife with her social and domestic duties, they both found time to attend to the development of their spiritual life, and they never wearied practicing their beliefs, and thereby showing others the beauties a knowledge of the only real life gave them. Señor Julio lectured once a month to the school, and the President and his wife never failed to be present.
The petition presented by President Lehumada, when he was Governor of Chihuahua, to the United States Congress, asking that all priests and female members of different orders of the Church be granted the privilege of marrying without the consent of the Pope, and that both priests and pastors become less like parasites upon the community, had become a law, and the effect of it was already felt by the people.
And many men too lazy to earn an honest living, and who claimed to have been called to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, turned their attention to something else, when they learned that if they had no means they would be compelled to engage in some honorable work to help support themselves, while trying to convert people to a religion which they claim to be called to preach, and help those whom they sought to teach, instead of being a burden upon them.
Since the petition became a law, quite six years ago, it was shown by statistics that the number of fine buildings called churches, which had been built every year previous to the passage of the law, had diminished more than one-half, and on the other hand, the number of homes built and well furnished by the poor, had been on the increase each year since that time.