The assemblage was controlled by a highly honored chief, cool and deliberate in manner. Every kind of imp imaginable could be found in the number that constituted the many committees.
I witnessed every part of the diabolical proceedings, and will here disclose a portion of these doubly sealed secrets.
After all preliminaries were brushed away, I heard seven ominous clangs, and silence reigned supreme. The chairman rose to speak. What a mingling of light and darkness! How truly Satanic his every feature and every move! How earnest his brief address, every word in the interest of Satan’s blasting work.
“Give heed, oh, ye co-workers, bound under oath to give a true report! Our cause has made advances, and our work calls for the ripest service we can give. _The theatre modernized is fast winning the church. All honor, ye spirits who played your parts so well!_ The century has just closed, but not our opportunity. Let coming years be one of mightier conquest. Down with the narrow truth and morbid righteousness, and all things else that check our onward marching!” For a moment the chairman was silent. Then, as he raised his hand, I heard a hideous clang which proved to be the signal for the report of “The-Moral-Effect-of-the-Theatre” committee. Forthwith the whole committee stood _en masse_ before the chairman. “Our work goes on with speed,” cried the leader of the gang. “In every district we are gaining ground.”
“I have watched your progress with joyful pride,” answered the chairman, as he smiled in hellish glee. “But I noted the sharp conflicts you had with certain reformers in the churches.”
“Some of them we cannot conquer,” despairingly admitted the leader.
“Grieve not over forts you cannot take, but make good use of those that have surrendered.”
“They are firing our guns splendidly,” quickly intercepted the leader, as he rose and read the following report:
1. “We have labored earnestly in the ranks of the church until many more of her members now believe that the moral effect of our Theatres is helpful.
2. “We have succeeded in dividing the members of many churches on this question, and have witnessed, with pleasure, the many kinds of quarrels that have resulted therefrom.