He vigorously seized a book. “Here is a Bible, borrowed from a saint. I turned its pages over and over that I might learn what pained the heart of Christ most grievously, vexing his inmost soul with indignation. What was it?” vociferously interrogated Fast Devil as he flung the book to the scorching winds of Hell. “’Twas that which hindered the cause of Christ most efficiently—_prostituting the house of God to worldly purposes_. Have we forgotten the vehemence with which this arch-enemy drove the money kings from His sacred abode, saying unto them: ‘My house is a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves,’ and how we like sneaking cowards crawled away, and thus our glorious scheme went by default?”
Then Blackana uttered his final appeal with all the swing of his mighty body and the low vibrant thunder of his voice. “Back to your forts! Oh, back! ye dormant hosts around me! Not in the strength of arms, but with the subtlest webs that Hell can weave, and with the snares of silent treachery. We need no stronger weapons, and for our dress we will don sheep’s clothing of the finest wool. Thus who amongst the church can tell that we are not seeking her highest good? _Then as we strike at the heart of voluntary offering in the church, so shall we kill the spirit that gives it birth. The carcass of this dead spirit unburied we shall drag through the church for ages, and the germs of disease arising therefrom will bring more death into the ranks of our foes than all our weapons of warfare ever did.”_
Blackana instantly resumed his former shape, and “while I was musing the fire burned.” I then looked out toward the festival ground and saw that Satan had returned to Mr. World and was explaining to him how helpful these festivals were to Christians.
“Aside from the moral and religious influence,” he remarked, “how could the church defray her expenses if she did not engage in some innocent forms of merchandising, or use some novel scheme to decoy money from her admirers. Surely there can be no better way,” continued the Devil with an unholy grin. “If the church would maintain her honor before the world, she must not do differently. I _am satisfied if wily thee old way of voluntary giving is more and more discarded by the church.”_
“But you began your former recital,” reminded Mr. World, “to inform me how the word ‘Festival’ originated. You have not yet succeeded in making it clear to me.”
“It originated from the phrase of honor which was given the prize- winner, Fast Devil, but we changed the wording somewhat so that it might not seem obnoxious to the church.”
Then, by a peculiar method of concrete marking, Satan continued: “The following is the process of development from the phrase to the word: ‘Fast Devil;’ ‘_Fest Evil_;’ ‘FESTIVAL.’”
CHAPTER XIX.
THE MISSIONARY COLLEGE.
1. Mr. World and Miss Church-Member visit the great college and are strongly influenced in favor of Satan’s teachings concerning missionary work.
The fellowship of Mr. World and Miss Church-Member grew increasingly delightful as they journeyed forth from the Festival. In their company were a few church-members who had also enjoyed the physical pleasures of the Festival and who preferred to reach Heaven by the most convenient path.