LEXINGTON SERIES, No. i. 50 Cents. Heaven on J^arth A Realistic Tale BY GERALD THORNE \i\\ York U >VELL BR( ITHERS & O >MPANY [41-155 E. 25th Street PERKINS LIBRARY Duke University I^dre Books LHWi HEAVEN ON EARTH. REALISTIC TALE. BY GERALD THORNE. NEW YORK - ; LOVELL BROTHERS & COMPANY, 141-155 BAST 25TH STREET. COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY LOVKLL BROTHERS ft COMPANY. TV/! tf CONTENTS. CHAPTER. PACE. Preface. 5 I. Introducing Mr. Scott, 9 II. A Bit of History, -- 31 III. The Spiritual ScnooL, 41 IV. Tjie New Home, 48 V. Out of the World, - - 55 VI. The Evening Meeting, 66 VII. Mr. Scott Finds Employment, - - - 78 VIII. Social Forces, 94 IX. A Model Excursion, 105 X. The Tobacco Principality, - - - - 118 XI. Complex Love, 125 XII. An Accident, 144 XIII. A False Inspiration, --._._ 158 XIV. The Last Enemy, 175 XV. The Children, 186 XVI. A Notable Lecture, 195 XVII. Modern Nicodemises, 208 XVIII. Mr. Scott's Decision, 223 PREFACE. The veriest tyro in social science may see, in the agitations and upheavals which constantly convulse society, evi- dences that the world is outgrowing' its old forms and customs, which no longer meet its requirements, and that the forces of progress, which have been so long held back, are ready to burst forth and create for themselves a new social system. WHAT SHALL THAT SYSTEM BE? Shall the coming social revolution be a peaceful and noble one, guided by an enlightened scientific opinion, and leading up. to an enormous increase of human happiness, or shall we, by at- tempting to still longer enslave man- kind under the selfish system which has produced such deep misery among the masses, and which is dominated, not by science, but by hoary traditions; shall we, I ask, so dam up these- grow- PREFACE. ing forces that when they do break loose it will be to the destruction of much that is good ? In the following chapters the author has ventured to suggest what might prove to be a better way of life. He realizes that to have done this without much regard to present public opinion is a very bold thing. But with an earnest purpose to give expression to those principles which he believes are destined ultimately to triumph in this world, nay, which must triumph before we can cease to be hypocrites and live according to our prayers and profes- sions, bold things become justifiable. The experiences here related may be taken as a susjofestion of what can cer- tainly be done, at any time, by any number, and in any land, provided self- ishness can be subdued, and a spirit of unity and love be accepted as the true basis of all £ood social organization. The author would feel a peculiar gratification if those who thoughtfully read this little book will in some way record their verdict as to the desirable- PREFACE. ness of studying out a new and more scientific order of society, with some brief expression of their views as to what the new life should be. He cor- dially invites criticism of his own ideas. Would you not prefer such a social system as is here outlined to the pres- ent one ? Gerald Tiiorne. New York, April 15th, 1896. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Duke University Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/heavenonearthreaOOthor CHAPTER I. INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. It was near the close of a mild day in the latter part of May, 18 — , that the steamship Majestic sailed up the splendid harbor of New York and was slowly and carefully warped into her berth. Her promenade deck was oc- cupied by a crowd of the cabin passen- gers, each anxious to catch a first view of friends awaiting them on shore. Many were the signals, as one after another was recognized. Handker- chiefs waved, and kisses were thrown back and forth, from ship to pier and from pier to ship. A young wife ac- tually fainted from the strain of sus- pense, before her husband was able to land and clasp her to his breast. Among the passengers was one who had remained calm and seemingly unmoved. He was a pleasant-looking man, apparently about thirty-live years of age, rather above the middle height, 10 HEAVEN ON EARTH. erect, spare in flesh, with almost a mili- tary bearing. This was Mr. George Alexander Scott, a native of New York, who had been spending some years in Europe. Mr. Scott was a bachelor, and having neither wife nor children to greet him on his return to his native land, he was spared the intense emotions of his fellow-passengers, while realising that milder feeling of pleasure which every one experiences on returning home. Expecting no one to welcome him, great was his surprise and joy when, on marching down the gang- plank, the first person he met was his cousin Louise, now Mrs. Reginald Vin- cent, of whom he had always been very fond. They had been much together in childhood, but he had not seen her for several years, and meantime she had married. Learning that he had sailed on the Majestic, she had driven down to meet him. He grasped her hand and kissed her affectionately. "Come," she said, "you are going right home with me. I have come INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. 11 down on purpose to get. you. How well you are looking, George ! You haven't grown old a bit." " I was just thinking the same thing of you," he said; "you always were a comely maid, but now that you have bloomed out into wifehood you are sweeter than ever." Mrs. Vincent blushed a little at this hearty compliment, and bade him make haste to get his luggage past the cus- toms officers. This occupied but a few minutes, when they immediately entered the carriage and were driven rapidly up-town to her handsome residence on Madison Avenue. Here Mr. Scott took up his domicile for a time, enjoy- ing the hospitality of his cousin and her husband, who, by the way, was a rising young lawyer. A few days later Mrs. Vincent invited the Rev. Mr. Langford and his wife to dine with her. Mr. Langford was a distant relative, who would, she thought, be pleased to meet their guest. At this dinner, after Mr. Scott had given them a brief account of his travels abroad, he 12 HEAVEN ON EARTH. was moved to make some rather warm expressions of satisfaction at once more being with friends in his native city. This seemed to strike a responsive chord in Mrs. Vincent's heart, for she ex- claimed: 11 1 am very glad to hear you speak thus, George; I should think you would be tired of roaming about the world as you have been doing. You ought to marry and settle down where we can see more of you. Just reflect that you are becoming almost a stranger to those of your own flesh and blood." " I should have tired of the roaming long ago," he replied, "if I had not had a purpose other than pleasure-seeking. I have been making rather a serious study of the different peoples I have been amongst, so the time has not seemed long." " Pray tell us what phases of life you were particularly interested in study- ing"," said Mr. Vincent. "Your obser- vations ought to be valuable." " The laws and customs of different nations vary greatly," replied Mr. Scott, INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. 13 " yet each seems to consider its own ways the best — at least, for its own people. I wanted to observe them all and see which I thought was best." " Well, I suppose you reached some satisfactory conclusions, did you not?" "Yes. In material progress and inventions our own favored nation leads the world. I n some other respects we are too complacent; we might learn much of the older nations. But, looking at the condition of the people, there are many things in every form of society I have seen which are so faulty and pro- ductive of evil that I am inclined to think a more scientific system than any of the old ones may yet be devised." " What faults have you discovered in the better classes of English society and in our own people?" asked the Rev. Mr. Lanefford. " In studying social science we must take into consideration the state of a whole nation and not select the favored classes," answered Mr. Scott. " Every- where on the earth we find the rich and the poor; on the one hand, those 14 HEAVEN' ON EARTH. who cannot spend their princely in- comes, though they indulge in every known luxury; on the other hand, those who are unable to procure enough food to keep themselves and their little ones from starving This comes from our living in a system of competition where each strives with his fellow for the possession of wealth. Of course, the strong and capable overcome the weak and ignorant. The private or individ- ual ownership of property is at the bottom of it all." 11 But, surely," said Mr. Langford, " you would not advocate a general equalising of wealth. That could only be done by overthrowing our whole existing system of laws, and exercising force or compulsion, which would be, in effect, robbery. That is the doctrine of the socialists and anarchists, is it not?" "Yes," said Mr. Vincent, "that would land us in a bad state of things. And even if wealth were to be so equalised it would not remain equal a day. Trading would commence, and introducing; mr. scott. 15 some would gain while others lost; so we would, after a time, be back where we are now, with the rich and poor as you have described them." "I have no thought of advocating any such forcible equalisation of wealth," said Mr. Scott. " You will have to admit, however, will you not, that the present system brings about great suffering and hardship among the masses." "Yes," said Mr. Langford, "that is undeniable. But no better system has ever been devised, so we have to put up with the evils of the present one." "Have you ever tried to devise a better system?" asked Mr. Scott. " No, I confess I have not. It seems to me that if any better social system were possible it would have been dis- covered lono- ago." " I do not see that that follows. It may be that too much has been taken for granted, and that not enough study has been given the matter. Some prophet may yet arise who will point out to us better ways of life. I do nut wish 10 [HEAVEN ON EARTH. to be misunderstood as advocating any of the foolish ideas of the so-called socialists. So long as we have all stood by consenting to the selfish old game of competition, and even taking part in it, we must accept the results without complaining. But we have an unquestionable right to adopt better ways as soon as we discover them. As population steadily increases, competi- tion becomes more severe, and the con- sequent misery of the less capable in- creases. There are plenty of signs nowadays that the strain of the game is becoming too great to be borne. The leaning towards governmental control of telegraphs, railroads, etc., merely shows a desire to limit competition and escape from the power of concentrated capital. The jealousy of trusts and monopolies arises from the same feel- )> " It seems to ine," said Mr. Vincent, " that the tendency to paternalism in government only works mischief. The freer competition can be left the better for all." INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. 17 "So it seems to me," said Mr. Lang- ford. "There can be no such thing as establishing an equality of fortune, and it is folly to expect it. We shall always have the poor with us, and they must learn to be reconciled to the circumstan- ces in which Providence has seen fit to place them. Unless they take that atti- tude anarchy will come in." "Is there not still another way?" asked Mr. Scott. " Suppose a general change of feeling could be brought about, such that loftier sentiments would take the place of selfish desires of owner- ship, and would lead the rich to volun- tarily share with the poor, not in any pinched or niggardly way, but so as to elevate and refine them, and make them all comfortable and happy. If a new order of society could be: devised which would bring about such results, one that both rich and poor would choose to enter without the slightest compulsion, merely because they would be happier in it, it seems to me a new and wonder- ful step would have been made in the world's progress." 18 HEAVEN ON EARTH. "That is something we are not likely to see in our day," said the Rev. Mr. Langford. "It is altogether visionary and impracticable." " I am not so sure of that. A new- social system may yet be discovered or invented which will have such advan- tages, and be so attractive, that we shall all make haste to get into it. The de- sire to acquire greater wealth than one really needs is rather an ignoble one, when you come to seriously weigh it." 11 What other radical faults have you found in our present system, besides the inequality of wealth ?" asked Mrs. Vincent. " The institution of marriage seems to carry with it a long train of evils," replied Mr. Scott. Mr. Langford had given but little attention to social questions, and was like very many others who are apt to think that any deviation from old ways is morally wrong, especially if it con- cerns the relation of the sexes ; so he now spoke up with some severity in his manner. INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. 19 "What you say suggests strongly that you are in a general quarrel with society. It is all in line with the ideas of foreign agitators, who would, if they could, destroy all law and order. I am sur- prised that you should say such things. Marriage is a divinely ordained institu- tion, and a great safeguard, whatever may be said against it." Mrs. Vincent seemed quite worried by the turn the conversation was taking. She had a deep regard for Mr. Scott, and she realised that as he was her guest he was entitled to her protection. So she said: "lam sure, Mr. Langford, that we shall find cousin George on the right side of these questions when we have heard him through." "Thank you, cousin," said Mr. Scott, smiling; "Mr, Langford's remarks show the way the average man looks at the matters. It does not follow that one is an enemy of society because he sees' the glaring evils of our present system and desires to find some better way." "That is true," said Mr. Langford, in 20 HEAVEN ON EARTH. a more quiet tone. " The difficulty lies in finding any better way which is really safe and practical. It has never yet been done, and I see nothing to indicate that it is likely to be, however much we may desire it. We shall have to wait for the millennium." " Until recently I have been forced to take the same hopeless view that you do," said Mr. Scott; "but not very long ago I made a discovery which has interested me greatly. I had not in- tended to speak of it until I had inves- tigated the matter thoroughly, but our discussion has gone so far that I believe I will tell you about it. Let me say, first, that anyone who studies history, and observes how all laws and customs have been modified by time, will realize that there is no such sacred fixity of institutions as is generally supposed. Everything changes slowly to suit the chancrinor conditions of mankind, and as some nations are more intelligent and progressive than others, the laws and customs of no two are alike. " To show the changes wrought by INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. 21 time, take, for example, the statement that King Solomon had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. There is nothing to show that either God or man was displeased with him for this; in fact, it seems to have been part of the greatness con- ferred upon him along- with his wisdom. It was only when he went after strange women, and was influenced by them to set up strange gods, that he did wrong. Since then customs and laws have changed so that in our time, and in our present system, a man may have only one wife, be he king or peasant. So feudalism and slavery have flourished and afterwards disappeared. In one country the eldest child now inherits all, or nearly all, the property of his parents; in another the youngest takes most; in still other countries the children inherit equally. In one country it is almost impossible to annul a marriage or get a divorce, while in another a husband may send his wife back to her parents whenever he is dissatisfied with her, no judicial separation being necessary. In 22 HEAVEN ON EARTH. one country, when a man dies, his widow is, or used to be, burned on the funeral pyre; while in most other coun- tries she marries another man and is comforted. These are familiar facts. I mention them to show that the world is not chained clown to any one form, but is constantly changing and progress- ing. Observing this, I asked myself some time ago: 'What would be an ideal form of society?' Did you ever stop to ask yourself that question?" " I have not opened my mind to any such speculations, there being no pos- sible profit in it," said Mr. Langford. "The thought never even occurred to me," remarked Mr. Vincent. u I haVe not asked myself such a question, that is certain," said Mrs. Vincent. " We ladies have enough to occupy our time without taking up matters that only philosophers and law- yers could settle." " That is true enough," chimed in Mrs. Langford. " Besides, until the men will yield us the right to vote, they deserve to be oppressed by old customs. INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. 23 I hope I may live to sec woman take her proper place as the equal of man." " Hurrah! " exclaimed Mr. Scott. " I am glad to find one of you who is not wholly satisfied with the present system. It encourages me to tell you the in- teresting discovery I referred to just now. While I was studying these sub- jects, and wondering if I could do any- thing to help bring about necessary changes, such as would do away with our present evils, I chanced to learn that others, more advanced than I, had already undertaken an experiment with a view to establishing a perfect social system. This has now been in progress for years and is very successful thus far. Would you like me to tell you about it?" "I daresay I have heard of it," said Mr. Landlord. "Still, I should be glad to hear your account." " I will tell you the facts as I have learned them," said Mr. Scott, "and you can each form your own opinion as I have formed mine. 11 It is now many years since Mr. 24 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Robert Temple, or ' Father Temple,' as his followers choose to call him, undertook to establish a model society, fashioned on what he conceived to be the heavenly order. In regard to prop- erty he took for his standard the exam- ple of the primitive church, as described in the Acts, where it says: 'And all that believed were together and had all things common; and sold their possess- ions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things common.' " Reasoning on this wonderful record, Father Temple taught that the influ- ence of the Holy Spirit everywhere is to destroy selfishness, and that when God's will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven there will be no selfish ownerships, but mankind will become like the believers on the day of Pente- cost ; that there will then be neither INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. 25 rich nor poor, but all will be supplied according to their needs." "Did he get any really worthy, respectable people to join in such a movement and put in all their property?" asked Mrs. Vincent. " I believe some of his people were professional, others were of the middle- class, well-to-do farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths, printers, etc.; nearly all of the trades being represented," re- plied Mr. Scott. 14 Were these people church members before they were converted to the ideas of this man Temple? " asked Mr. Langford. '* Yes, most of them were. Some were Presbyterians, others Congn na- tionalists, Methodists, Episcopalians, etc. They seem to have been a very good sort of people, for they all joined hands in the most fraternal way when they entered the new church, and they claim that their old differences of creeds and ordinances have not troubled one of them since." 4k Do the)' believe in marriage?" in- quired Mr. Lanyford. 26 - HEAVEN ON EARTH. "They do not," replied Mr. Scott. " Remember that they have built up their society with the idea of allowing selfishness no place in it. They began by having a common faith, then ad- vanced by putting all their property into a common fund; but it was found that selfishness still lurked in the family relation; so they put away all marriage claims, that no one might say, ' This is my wife,' or ' This is my husband." On hearing this statement all four of Mr. Scott's listeners began to look very serious. Mr. Langford felt certain of his suspicions confirmed, and decided that it was his duty to open Mr. Scott's eyes to the dangers that lurked in such schemes for social regeneration. Mrs. Vincent judged from the looks of the others that there might be something disagreeable coming, so she hastened to take the helm again, "Where and when and how did you learn all this, George?" she asked. "You have spent most of your time abroad for some years, yet you tell us news of what has been going on at home." INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. " I first learned of this society by finding a complete set of their publica- tions in the British Museum. They excited my interest, and I read most of them. The ideas were so in line with my own thoughts that I determined that when I returned to New York, one of the first things I would do would be to visit this society." " I am astonished that you should meditate such a thing," said the Rev. Mr. Langford in a grave tone of voice, while Mrs. Langford drew her chair a little closer to the side of her husband. "It is all well enough to read about and discuss such matters by way of keeping up with the times, but I con- sider that it would be going very far to actually visit such a society. It would, in a manner, be recognizing their new system as on a level with ours, and would tend to give them new confidence that their ideas may ulti- mately be accepted." " If that is true I certainly will go," said Mr. Scott, dryly. " 1 have become so interested in the ideas of these 28 HEAVEN ON EARTH. people and their work, that if I find them to be what I hope and expect, I may cast my lot with them and join the society." At this all his listeners laughed heartily. It struck them that their credulity was being imposed upon. Mr. Scott, however, was evidently quite serious in , what he said. He beeped them to listen to him a little further, and continued thus: "It seems to be difficult for you to conceive of a man in my position tak- ing such a step, but I assure you it is exactly in line with my deepest con- victions. I want to do some good in the world before I die, and I look upon these people as heroes. They are cer- tainly worthy of respectful study, having made a more altruistic effort than either of us has ever made." " Yes, but, George, think of your large property! Are you going to risk that in such a radical experiment?" asked Mrs. Vincent. " I shall do nothing rashly. The visit I propose will do no harm ; but if INTRODUCING MR. SCOTT. S9 I find these people to be what I expect, I shall not hesitate to join them if they will receive me." " Let me venture a suggestion," said L.Ir. Vincent. " It will he only exercis- ing common prudence for you to try it a year on prohation, before parting with all your property. I presume they would take you in that way, and you would then have ample opportunity to study the system as you desire, without taking unnecessary risks." 11 That is a good idea," said the Rev. Mr. Langford. "As a probationary member Mr. Scott will not share in any of their possible disasters, while he will get his eyes open to the fallacies of their system. These socialistic movements are all alike, and all are equally certain to end in failure. By the way, what is the name of this model society from which you expect so much."" "It 'is called 'The Society of the Perfect Life."' " I have never heard of it, ' said Mr. Langford. " If cousin George is determined to 30 HEAVEN ON EARTH. go and spend a year with these people on probation," said Mrs. Vincent, " would it not be a good idea for us all to meet here again at the expiration of the time and hear his report. Will you not be willing, George, to o-ive us the benefit of your experience so that we may not have to go through it our- selves ?" " Most certainly; but it may prove so attractive that you will wish to go through it. I will not pledge myself not to join the society within the year. My life is more important to me than to others, and a year is a considerable part of it; so- I shall do what seems wisest. But I will return at the end of the year and report to you what I have found, if my life is spared." " Very well, then," said Mrs. Vincent; " you will all dine with me again a year from now, when I send you notice of cousin George's return;" and with that the party broke up. CHAPTER II. A BIT OF HISTORY. Whenever a man does anything out of the ordinary course his motives and purposes are very apt to be miscon- strued; so, before we accompany Mr. Scott to the home of the Perfect Life, the reader ought to learn a little more fully how that home came to be estab- lished. Where did its founder get his inspiration? Were his motives good or bad? Was his religion genuine, or was his movement only a cleverly de- vised scheme for selfish ends? These are things we ought to know at the outset, to enable us to form sound opinions as we go along. Robert Temple was born of a good New England family, and being a bright lad, he was sent to college at an early age, where he graduated with honor. He then chose the legal pro- 32 HEAVEN ON EARTH. fession. As there were no law schools in those days, he went through the prescribed course of study in a lawyer's office, doing, in the meantime, a large amount of labor in the way of drawing up and copying papers, as was then the fashion. When he was at length ad- mitted to the bar, he was, for his first case, assigned to defend a man who had been arrested for some misde- meanor. Having conferred privately with the accused, and learning from his own mouth that he was guilty, Mr. Temple made but a lame argument in his defence, and the man was convicted. The young lawyer was somewhat abashed, on passing his client imme- diately after the verdict, to hear him say to another that his attorney ''did not plead worth a d — n" This remark set him to thinking. He had lost his first case, but justice had been done, and it was better so. How could he, as an honest man, have helped the guilty to escape? If his duty as a lawyer re- quired this of him, and it looked to him as if it did, then, decidedly, the law was A BIT OF HISTORY. 33 not to his taste. He had a strong and logical mind, and a conscientious desire that the truth might win. Whether or not these reflections led to a change we do not know, but it is recorded that not long afterwards Mr. Temple was converted during a religious revival which .swept over the land, and he determined to study for the ministry. In choosing that profession, he felt that he would be at liberty to follow the truth, lead where it might; so he promptly threw aside the law and entered a theological seminary. But as he progressed in his studies, the same desire for truth which had unfitted him for the practice of the law prevented his following the devious and illogical paths marked out by tradition and taught by his professors. He saw that the Bible required him to lead a sinless life, in full conformity to the divine law, yet no one, not even the professors in the theological school, nor the most emi- nent clergymen, dared claim that they had attained to that state. Religion was a struggle against sin, with no hope 34 HEAVEN ON EARTH. or expectation of really overcoming it. At length Mr. Temple prepared and read before his society at the seminary an elaborate essay on the question, " Why does not the Christian Church at the present day advance as rapidly as the primitive church did towards the conquest of the world?" His answer in substance was this: i. The primitive church freely and earnestly preached the doctrine of per- fection; whereas modern churches have fallen back on the 7th chapter of Romans, and are afraid to say any- thing about perfection. 2. The primitive church took hold on the full strength of God by the prayer of faith; whereas modern churches think that the " age of miracles is past," and, therefore, dare not expect actual and immediate answers to their prayers. 3. The primitive church relied first on personal holiness, secondly on prayer, and thirdly on preaching, as the means of converting the world. The apostles first yielded themselves wholly to God; then, with their right hand they A BIT OF HISTORY. 35 laid hold on His strength, while with their left they drew men out of the mire of sin. Whereas the modern churches, reversing the order, rely first on preach- ing, secondly on prayer, and lastly on personal holiness; and, with little con- fidence in the efficacy of prayer, lay hold on sinners with both hands. Hav- ing nothing to support them, it is not strange that instead of pulling sinners out of the mire they are often pulled into it themselves. In conclusion Mr. Temple proposed as a motto, and as a memorial of the order in which the three great subjects ought to stand in people's minds, the words "Perfection, Prayer, PreacJiing" This essay caused no disturbance, nor was it regarded as heretical in any degree. But when, led on by a course of reasoning so logical that it was irre- sistible, Mr. Temple began to teach that men must actually attain to personal holiness if they would be saved, doubts arose as to the soundness ol his theol- ogy. He himself underwent an inward struggle. He felt that he was trying to 36 HEAVEN ON EARTH. save others from sin while he himself was not saved. The pressure of convic- tion became so great that he withdrew from all public labors, and gave himself up to prayer, searching the scriptures, and striving after full salvation from sin. The law "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart'' 1 was ever before his mind as the only standard of righteousness, and the very beginning of all virtue. In the blaze of that law all his works and experience and hopes faded into vanity. Then came the healing and the en- tering on the upward path that led to salvation. The first step was to have faith, to take God at His word and believe Him implicitly. Then he learned to listen for the voice of God directing him. Sometimes he opened the Bible and read the first verses his eyes fell upon. They bore on the very question he was mentally asking, and he felt that God had answered him. He saw that Christ's resurrection was the central point on which our faith should lay hold, and the necessity of A BIT OF HISTORY. N confession as the complement of inward belief was forced upon his mind. He determined at all hazards to at once confess Christ, in himself, a Saviour from sin, believing' that God called him to this course and would justify him in it. Just then it fell to his lot to preach in the evening at a church. He prepared himself during the day for an unflinch- ing testimony against all sin. When he announced from the pulpit his text, "He that committeth sin is of the devil," he felt, and no doubt the congregation felt, that he was entering upon a new field of theology. He insisted upon the literal meaning of the text, and did his best to prove that sinners are not Christians. The next morning one of the theo logical students who had heard his dis- course the evening before went to labor with Mr. Temple in regard to it. He thought it altogether too stringent, and wished to know if Mr. Temple really meant what he said — that a sinner cannot be a Christian. He was assured that he did so mean. Then came the ar- 38 HEAVEN ON EARTH. gumentum ad hominem, " Don't you commit sin?" The answer was given deliberately but firmly " No ! " The man stared as though a thunder- bolt had fallen, and rushed away to tell the news. In a few hours the word was passed through the college and the city, "Temple says he is perfect;" and on the heels of this report, " Temple is crazy." The confession was made, and the consequences came promptly. One of the professors called at Mr. Temple's room to notify him that he was soon to be tried for heresy. He laughed Mr. Temple's confession to scorn, asserting that it is pyhsically impossible for any man to feel the spirit of God. Mr. Temple asked the professor if he did not commit sin ? He admitted "that he did. Thereupon Mr. Temple repeated the text, " He that committeth sin is of the devil" "You say, then," said the professor, " that I am of the devil, do you?" " No," replied Mr. Temple ; "you said you committed sin, and I only A RIT OF HISTORY. 39 quoted the words from the Bible, 'He that committeth sin is of the devil.'" " Well," said the professor, "you are a sinner now, if you were not when I came in, for you have not treated me courteously." " In such a case as this," quietly ob- served Mr. Temple, "the best kind of courtesy is plainness of speech." The professor left, and Mr. Temple soon resigned his position. He had lost his standing in the church where he had preached, in the ministry, and in the college. His good name in the great world was gone; his friends were fast falling away. He was beginning to be an outcast ; yet he rejoiced, be- cause he felt the love of God with him. Someone asked him whether he should continue to preach, now that the clergy had taken away his license. He replied: " I have taken away their license to sin, and they keep on sinning. So, though they have taken away my license to preach, I shall keep on preaching." While he was going through these deep spiritual struggles, it was Mr. 40 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Temple's habit to read the New Testa- ment through by course, over and over a£ain, each time with his attention on some particular subject. He had broken away from all the old trammels of thought and belief, and had opened his heart to receive the truth in a spirit of simple faith. In reading the Testa- ment thus, he made the momentous discovery that Christ's Second Coming took place long ago, within the lifetime of some of His disciples, or about the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. He saw that the churches had for nearly two thousand years been looking in the wrong direction for that event ; that the first judgment has taken place, and that we, who are now on the earth, are liv- ing in "the times of the Gentiles." This discovery greatly strengthened his faith, and he determined that he would hold himself in the attitude of a young convert forever, asking God to lead him and teach him the true way. CHAPTER III. THE SPIRITUAL SCHOOL. For two or three years after breaking away from the churches, Robert Temple led a wandering and uncertain life. His faith grew stronger in the troubles and vicissitudes through which he passed. At length his destined career opened before him. He was to be a social reformer. It is interesting to notice how he was led along, step by step, into his final life-work, without himself know- ing whither his course lay. He aban- doned himself to the inspiration which came upon him, believing it to be from on high. No one could have had a more earnest and sincere purpose to fol- low wherever the spirit of truth led. His mind was logical in its action; he cared nothing for the opinions of the world, but thought only how he might please God. The next we learn of Mr. Temple is 42 HEAVEN ON EARTH. that he returned to his home in an obscure New England village, where he married a most estimable young woman who believed in his doctrines. Then, after a time, his mother, his brother, and two of his sisters became converts to his views and espoused his cause. As the years rolled by, others, one by one, joined him, until he found himself the leader and teacher of a little group of families, who had real Christian fel- lowship together. Each of these fam- ilies had its own home, the members followed their regular avocations, but all met frequently to read the Bible and strengthen their faith. During the course of these meetings an incident took place which borders on the marvellous. After having prayed together many times, " Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven," these be- lievers began to say to themselves that if they were really saved from sin, and if they were doing God's will on earth, then, in truth, that prayer was already answered. The Kingdom of God had THE SPIRITUAL SCHOOL. 43 come on earth. As this thought became impressed on their minds, Mr. Temple arose, and, in solemn, earnest voice, with upturned face, exclaimed, " I con- fess my belief that the Kingdom of Heaven is come on earth, and that we who believe and have given ourselves wholly to God are now living in it ! " The others clasped their hands and cried, "Amen ! We also believe!" Instantly there was a tremendous clap of thunder. It was in the middle of the afternoon. The sun was shining brightly, and those assembled gazed at each other in wonder. Then they ran out of doors to see if a thunderstorm was approach- ing. Not a cloud was to be seen. The air was still and clear. Was the thunder a signal of God's approval of their confession? They pondered long and deeply on the inci- dent. The strange sound was never accounted for on any natural grounds, but, in after years, when Mr. Temple and the others used to recount the story, it remained as much a mystery as ever 44 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Several years passed in these peace- ful religious studies, during which neither Mr. Temple nor any of his followers had a thought of adopting new social forms. They were intent only on spiritual improvement and the attainment of salvation from sin. But as they progressed in their studies of the Bible they saw that selfishness is the great obstacle to spiritual growth. When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the primitive believers on the day of Pentecost, its influence led them to make a common fund of all their money and possessions, and it seemed, from the story of Ananias and Sapphira, that when others joined that early church they were expected to put in all they owned. A deep and earnest purpose was required of all. Mr. Temple and his friends felt that this was an example for them. They began to study how they might combine their interests more closely. Little by little they found ways of uniting. They contributed to a common fund for pub- lishing a paper which advocated and THE SPIRITUAL SCHOOL. 45 explained their doctrines. This paper was sent to all who asked for it, no price being put upon it. It was a free gift, and, as after-events showed, the seed thus sown bore good fruit. But the expense of publishing the paper was a heavy tax on their slender in- comes. To continue it they established a printing office of their own in one of the dwellings. The women and 11< >ws: " I Would like to l»e eXCUSed f p >m taking my turn in the milking. Th< who milk have to rise at five o'clock every morning, and I find that such earlv rising injures the flow of my inspiration, so that I am not aide to 100 HEAVEN ON EARTH. write for our paper as forcibly as I other wise would. It seems to me that our young men should have a spirit of service such as would make them ready to volunteer to do all the milking. I was very much pleased with Henry Franklin's spirit about milking when he volunteered some time ago. Per- haps some other young man will now volunteer to take my place." There was silence. No one volun- teered. The sad truth was that Phi- lander was an extremely lazy man, and everybody knew it. In this particular he was in a class by himself. He was large of frame, strong as a moose, but wofully lacking in energy. When he walked, he dragged his long limbs after him in a weary way, and as he wore enormous, square-toed boots, built on a reform last of his own devising, the effect was quite distressing. Mr. Koote's indolence had been a sore trial to the Society, so dependent was it on the industry of its members. His example was exceedingly bad, and the young men had more than once been Social FORCES. 1°1 on the point of open rebellion at his shirking ways. They would probably have put up with it patiently enough as an infirmity of disposition, but un- fortunately, Mr. Koote was ambitious of spiritual influence and authority in the little church. His pretentions to high spiritual attainments made it very hard to endure his laziness. So now no one volunteered to take his place in the milking. The silence became embarrassing. Several of the young men might have been seen to smile George Stan- ley even winked at Henry Franklin. Evidently they enjoyed the situation and were going to stand out. Suddenly Mr. Millington volunteered. He was a man beyond middle life, and his action was in effect a rebuke to the young men. They evidently felt it to be so, for Henry Franklin now spoke up : " I guess there would have b< plenty of volunteers if we had not been puzzling over what Mr. Koote said about his inspiration b :ing impaired by 102 HEAVEN ON EARTH. milking. We young men are all ambi- tious of becoming inspired, and if milk- ing stops it in Mr. Koote, it would be apt to delay it in us, so we hesitate. If that is a fact, which Mr. Koote alleges, it follows that we must either go without milk, or always keep a certain uninspired set to get up in the morning and do the chores." There was logic in this, and poor Philander began to get very red in the face. What could be done if the young people were going to openly scoff at his claims to inspiration in this way? He felt that the situation was serious. Hard labor stared him in the face. But Father Temple spoke : "We should all cultivate a love of service. Sometimes men who work hard every day are lazy in spirit. They labor because they must, but dislike to do it, and would be very glad if they could shift their burden upon others and lead a life of ease and indolence them- selves. But inaction is not always rest. Sometimes intense activity relieves us. A young man who has been hoeing SOCIAL FOR* BS. 108 corn all day under a hot sun will take a lone- walk with the girls in the evening rather than lie down to rest. Notice the boys ; be they ever so tired, they will start off on a run to dig bait and go fishing! So exertion is rest when our heart is in it, and if we can once realize how much good we are doing to others by such service as milking, it will not seem irksome. It all depends on what is our object in life, and the way we look at things." Then Robert Dunton spoke: " I will ask Mr. Millington's permission to volunteer in his stead, being a your,. and stronger man. Putting it as Father Temple does, I shall be glad to milk, but I did not see exactly how I could do it on Mr. Koote'splan. lean see the justice of what Father Temple says about laziness." Father Temple: "The best way to treat a lazy person will be to drop him out of the industrial organization. Let him go entirely free without doing any- thing, and, my word for it, he will tire of it before you will, even though you 104 HEAVEN ON EARTH. should have to do his share in the meantime. We all respect those who have willing hearts and hands, but not the indolent. Still, we must remember that brain labor counts as well as manual labor. If a man can write well, he may be doing more good than another who works hard with his hands." Here the clock struck nine, and the meeting closed. Mr. Scott had been greatly interested in the incident we have described. It revealed to him an entirely new way of treating faults of character. Instead of hastening to make such rules as would compel a lazy member to work, Father Temple aimed to correct the disposition, or tone up the spirit, so that the person would go to work cheerfully and of his own free will. It was governing by grace and love, instead of by legality. Mr. Scott could not help wondering, however, whether such mild treatment would effect a cure in an individual so self- complacent as Mr. Koote appeared to be. It will be seen, later, that sterner treatment did become necessary, and was faithfully applied. CHAPTER IX. A MODEL EXCURSION. One evening in the latter part of June, the chairman of the meeting an- nounced that a large excursion party from a city lying to the north was coming on the morrow to visit the society. It was an influential church organization, with main- of their out- side friends. The pastor wrote that nearly a thousand tickets had already been sold for the special trains, and that undoubtedly the final number would be much larger. Nearly half of them wished dinner served on their arrival. The rest would bring bask I and would picnic on the grounds. Such excursions to the society w< of frequent occurrence in the summer time. A railway which ran through their land had a convenient station just in the rear of the dwellinj Visit by train could therefore ht on the 106 HEAVEN ON EARTH. grounds of the society, and as these were extensive enough to accommodate an unlimited number and were well shaded, it was a favorite resort. To furnish food and entertainment to so large a party involved much labor. Nearly every member was drafted into the service, a list of appointments being read in the evening meeting. The men and women were paired off in all this labor, according to their custom. The force assigned to the duty of serving ice cream and other light refreshments to the excursionists, included the follow- ing names: George Stanley, Mr. Scott, Robert Dunton, Mrs. Gregory, Julia Fordham, and Lily Millington. Mr. Scott was pleased to hear his name included with the others. It was the first time it had been done, and it seemed to him to indicate a feeling of growing confidence. He was also pleased to hear Julia's name read in con- nection with his own, but was puzzled to account for it. Was it a lucky turn of chance or a friendly Providence ? or had A MODEL EXCURSION. 107 he in sonic unguarded moment, by act or look, betrayed the interest he felt in her? He had intended to keep his secret most carefully, as he was only a probationary member and was very doubtful how his attentions might be received. But, however the arrange- ment might have come about, he re- solved to make the most of his oppor- tunities, in the way of getting better acquainted with her. He had not yet spoken to her, except when they were first introduced in the Hall, but he had seen her almost daily, and with increas- ing interest. The next morning every one was astir bright and early. All signs pointed to a perfect day, and these people knew by experience that other parties than the one announced were likely to arrive. So large preparations must be made. Many bushels of strawberries and green peas must be picked, and a general 44 bee " had been called to do this before breakfast. Mr. Scott arose at five o'clock, and after a hasty toilet started oil for the 108 HEAVEN ON EARTH. strawberry field. He had not gone far when he overtook two of the girls, Julia and Lily, who were also on their way to the field. Here was another friendly coincidence. Fortune was evidently determined to favor him that day. Why not pick strawberries with Julia and so prepare himself for serving- ice cream with her ? Coining up with the girls he said: " Good-morning, ladies; I suppose you are, like myself, marching to the field of battle. Shall we travel the rest of the way together?" " With pleasure," replied Julia. Then she asked: "Have you attended any of our strawberry bees?" "No," he said, "I have not, and I fear I may not be of much service now. I have not picked strawberries since I was a little boy and used to hunt for wild ones to fill a tin cup I carried. That was a long time ago." "You will find this quite different," said Lily. " If you are not used to it I guess it will make your back ache." " I shall not mind if it does," he A MODEL EXCURSION 109 replied. "Working in such pleasant company will overcome any little diffi- duties. 41 I am not so sure of that," said Julia, laughing. " Wait until you have tried it; then you may think differently." With this they arrived at the berry- field, where an attendant furnished them baskets and directed them where to commence. The beds of vines were separated by narrow walks which were well mulched with clean straw, and were just wide enough for two persons, work- ing opposite each other, to pick across comfortably. The vines were loaded with luscious, ripe fruit. A quart or two could fre- quently he picked without moving from one's position, and some of the boys and girls who were very active some- times picked as many as a hundred quarts each in a day. With such a yield it did not take a very long time to procure all that were needed. Mr. Scott conversed quietly with Julia, and' became more and more- what shall I say? — charmed, every minute. 1 le said 110 HEAVEN ON EARTH. to himself that a woman who was so wholly attractive and lovable when dressed plainly in calico, working in the bright sun, without a single illusion or artificial aid, who was so gentle and cheerful and altogether sweet, was worthy of any man's admiration and love. He felt his heart go out to her, and he determined to try to win her love in return. He could hardly realize that an hour had passed when it was announced that the "bee" was over, and everyone rose to return. It was nearly noon when the special train, which was run in two sections, each drawn by two locomotives, rolled into the station, one section after the other, and emptied its unusual load. The conductors stated that they had brought, in all, fifteen hundred passen- gers. Many of these people had visited the Society before, and having their favorite retreats under the trees, now made haste to occupy them. The picnic parties opened their baskets and spread out goodly arrays of eatables. A large swine at the north side of the lawn was A MODEL EXCURSION. Ill put to immediate service. The croquet grounds and tennis courts were also filled with players, eager to enjoy them- selves. Those men who had bespoken dinner now went to the office to buy their tickets, while their ladies made them- selves smart after their ride on the train. One stalwart young man, whose appearance would indicate that he was a tiller of the soil, seemed to have some misgivings about buying his tickets. He had just read a notice which was posted conspicuously beside the cash- ier's window, to the effect that neither tea, coffee, nor meat of any kind would be served at meals, but that an abun- dance of good vegetables and fruits could be depended upon. The price of the tickets was one dollar each. T< i pay two dollars merely to dine himself and his girl seemed to him a serious matter. _" No tea, coffee, nor no meat," he said as he advanced to the window. "What do you have that is filling? It can't be you charge a dollar just for vegetables ? " 112 HEAVEN ON EARTH. " Buy your tickets, eat your dinner, and if you are not entirely satisfied come back here and I will refund your money," said the cashier. As the young giant was already experiencing the pangs of hunger, and those on the line behind him began to grumble at the delay he was causing, this assurance decided him and he bought the tickets. About two hours afterwards he re- appeared in the office, his countenance suffused to almost a purple hue, radiant with smiles and laughter. Thrusting out a large hand to be shaken by the cashier, he shouted : " My friend, that was the best dinner I ever ate in my life ! Keep the two dollars ; you are welcome to them. You didn't make a cent on me, not a red cent, by George ! " and with that he smote his huge thigh with his right hand so that it cracked like a pistol, and strolled out upon the grounds, happy and contented. To eat a dinner at the Society was an event to be remembered. It is true. A MODEL EXCURSION. 113 they served neither tea, coffee, nor meat at the period of which we are writing, but, once seated at the table, the absence of these was forgotten. The potatoes warmed in fresh, sweet cream delicately seasoned, the peas, tomatoes, and nearly every vegetable at its best, the omelettes made as only Aunt Margaret could make them, the excellent home-made bread of which visitors could never eat enough, the strawberries and cream, the ice-cream, cakes, lemonade and chocolate, and, last but best of all, the wonderful straw- berry shortcakes, left nothing to be desired. The peculiar charm of these dinners was in their delicacy and fine quality. The fruits and vegetables were brought in fresh from the vin< the cream and butter fresh from the dairy; and the cooking itself was delicate that the exquisite flavor of the dishes was a revelation to those city people who were forced to buy all their fruits and vegetables in a more or less wilted condition. The difference was like that which one experiences between 114 HEAVEN ON EARTH. eating a trout which has been exposed in a city market after a long journey by rail, and one which has just been pulled from a cool mountain brook ; or like the difference between oysters eaten in Baltimore and in Kansas. After nearly five hundred people had eaten one of these memorable dinners, a concert was given in the Hall. No charge was made for the concerts, nor for the use of the grounds, but only for meals and refreshments. The orchestra played several pieces ; there were songs, and a very pleasing little pantomime performed by the children in costume on the stage. The pressure for admis- sion was so great that after the pro- gramme had been gone through, the Hall was cleared and filled again by an entirely fresh audience, when the con- cert was repeated. Meantime the visitors had been avail- ing themselves of opportunities to get information which would be useful to them. Farmers went in groups to look at the barns and the improved breeds of cattle and sheep which the Society A MODEL EXCURSION. 115 kept. Often purchases were made of animals for breeding. Those interested in fruit-growing wandered through the orchards and vineyards, making inquirie ; as to the best varieties and noting methods of cultivation. The women spent much time: in the flower-gardens, and did not neglect a visit to the kitchen to get certain recipes for cooking. Several large omnibuses were kept ply- ing between the dwelling and the silk factor)-, carrying loads of the visitors who were curious to see how silks an- made. In like manner the fruit-canning establishment was constantly overrun by people interested in witnessing the processes. When at length the hour for the departure of the excursion trains drew near, and all were assembling at the station, many of the members went out to bid them good-bye. It had been a most enjoyable daw Nothing had occurred to mar their pleasure, and every- one seemed to be in happy mood. Mr. Scott and his little corps of workers went out with the others to . I \ the start. 116 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Father Temple always took a great interest in such events, and he was now standing on a grassy knoll overlooking the station and the trains, when the pastor of the visiting Church, accom- panied by several ladies, approached him. " Father Temple," said the pastor as he took his hand, "we want to tell you how much we enjoy coining here. We have had a peaceful, happy day of pure enjoyment. There has been no drunk- enness, no gambling, no fighting, such as occur at almost every other holiday resort. The ladies appreciate this free- dom from revolting sights, and in the name of my people I thank you for your hospitality." It happened that Father Temple was suffering from a sore throat, so he excused himself from speaking, merely acknowledging the friendly expressions of the other. "You do not need to speak," said the worthy pastor. " Your works speak for you." Mr. Scott heard these remarks, and A MODEL EXCURSION. 117 could not help wishing that the Rev. Mr. Langford had heard them too. But what of our friend Scott? 1 low- had he passed the day ? He had expe- rienced something quite unexpected. Engaging in Ids duties with the great enthusiasm, full of admiration of Julia, it was not long before he discovered that George Stanley also felt a very tender regard for her. He detected George in various little acts and looks of gallantry, and the way Julia treat* -d him led him to believe that the relation between the two was tolerably well- established. This gave him quite a shock, but he had sufficient control of himself to conceal his feeling . He became more sober and reserved, how- ever, in spite of hiins<-lf, and Julia, with a woman's quick sense, noticed this. She thereupon took pains to chat with him, and finally succeeded in thawing him out again. She was his partner for the day, so it would have been wrong to neglect him. Perhaps she had a deeper motive. Was she becom- ing aware of Mr. Scott's state of h CHAPTER X. THE TOBACCO PRINCIPALITY. Mr. Scott was a man of unexception- able habits as the world goes, yet he soon found that he could not enter a society like this of the Perfect Life without under£oinof some inward struor- gles. The first trial he encountered was in regard to tobacco. He was a confirmed smoker, and had laid in several boxes of his favorite brand of cigars before starting for the Society. On arriving, he had found that none of the members used tobacco in any form. He scarcely knew what to do with his dears, but concluded to smoke them up in a quiet way without making them conspicuous or offensive, and resolved that when they were gone he would make an heroic effort to break off the habit. Only a few cigars now remained. He used them more and more sparingly THE I I >BACC< ' PRINCIPAL] I Y 119 until, at length, he deliberately smoked the last one and threw aside the empty box. Then came the abstinence, the craving, the gnawings of the appetite, which every smoker who has ever tried to break <>lf will understand. The struggle actually made him feverish and ill. One evening when he felt particu- larly low-spirited from this cause, he wandered out on the lawn, seeking a secluded nook. Ashe picked his way through a clump of shrubbery he came suddenly upon Father Temple seated alone, and would have retreated ; but the leader asked him to sit down, say- ing he wished to speak with him. " 1 1 has seemed to me that you unhappy of late," he said. "If I can be oi any service to you in the way of counsel, or in removing any difficulties you may have encountered in your experience here, I shall be glad to help \ ( >u." " I sin >uld be pleased t< > bea >me better acquainted with you/' said Mr. iting himself, "but I ought not to put any of my troubles upon 120 HEAVEN ON EARTH. you who have so many cares and responsibilities. My main difficulty just at present may seem to you a laughable one, caused by my trying to leave off the use of tobacco. I have smoked considerably for many years, and the habit has obtained a firmer hold upon me than I supposed. I would not have believed it could be so difficult to leave off. I smoked my last cigar some days ago, and have been having serious times ever since." "I have been through that experi- ence myself," said Father Temple, smiling, "and know just how dreadful it is. I very well remember once mak- ing a great resolution to leave off chew- ing, and I threw away a half-used plug of tobacco into the grass where I was sitting. After a time the craving for it became so severe that I went back to try and find it but could not." At this both men laughed heartily. " I am suffering from that terrible craving for a cigar," said Mr. Scott. " How did you finally overcome it ? " " I could not fully break up the habit THE TOHACCO PRINCIPALITY. 1-21 until after we assembled here. Nearly all our men used tobacco in some form. It was our custom to buy a large can of fine-cut and keep it in the kitchen, so that everyone of us could g and fill his box daily. But we came to see what a disagreeable, filthy habit it is, and how much pleasanter our home would be without the smoke, the spit- toons, and the expectorating. I think the women at length rose' up and chal- lenged us to leave it off. At any rate the matter was discussed in our even- ing meetings and we finally voted to all quit it together, beginning on a certain day. There was some groaning and lamenting, but on the whole we found it quite easy, doing it together in that unitary way. At all events •.. got our freedom from bondage to the tobacco principality, and have kept it. I hope you will persevere and overcome it too. Can you not take up some new enterprise to distract your attention until the craving passes away?" 44 I have not thought of any, but perhaps I might. I find myself feeling 122 HEAVEN ON EARTH. rather low-spirited. A sense of loneli- ness comes over me at times. All your people seem to have a deep heart- acquaintance with each other, very different from anything I have ever known before. Perhaps this makes me feel my own situation by contrast." " Have you ever had any good, bright religious experience?" asked Father Temple. " Nothing beyond ordinary church experience. I was brought up to believe in God, and have attended church quite regularly, but not always of the same denomination." " They are mostly dead," said Father t Temple. " They do not pretend to be able to save their members from sin, and they will not accept the truth about Christ's Second Coming. I had to leave them and found a church of my own." "Yes, I have read your early history and, in fact, most of your published works," said Mr. Scott. " The logical force of your reasoning made a convert of me long before I ever met you." THE TOBACCO PRINCIPALITY. I 1 -':'' "That is interesting. But to return to your experience: I think you will, after a little, learn to avail yourself of such victories as we have won over the tobacco principality. As you get more into the; current of our life this will he easy. The first thing is to try and get a better acquaintance with God. We should every one of us foci that He is our personal friend, leading us and guid- ingus continually. You must ask Him to help you and to load you into new and brighter experience Believe that He will do it and you will find it coming right along. Very likely it may not take the form you would expect, but it will be what is best for you. I live by practical faith of that kind." 11 That is precisely what I should be glad to do. Your words are precious to me, and I will endeavor to take them into my life. I cannot thank y<>u too heartilv for your kind interest." "After yourheart becomes warm ami tender towards God," continued Father Temple. " 1 [e will give you a true love for woman, and you will lind your life 124 HEAVEN ON EARTH. open to all the higher and more enobl- ing influences. The love and fellow- ship which come to you in that order, the love of God taking the lead, will seem to you like gifts from Him. They will be a blessing to you and all con- cerned. It is now time for the evening meeting, and we must go in. I hope you will take part in our meetings. Speak out what is in your heart. That will break the ice and start you into the current. And come to me at any time when I can be of use to you." Mr. Scott hardly knew how to con- strue Father Temple's remarks about the love of woman. Was it a sequence of logical thought, intended to convey the idea that when once the heart is established in the love of God, a true love of woman will naturally follow? or was it a delicate suor^estion that Mr. Scott should avoid any social attach- ments until such time as his spiritual attainments would warrant them? He pondered on this and resolved to take heed to his steps. CHAPTER XL COMPLEX LOVE. In the succeeding days Mr. Scott found his affairs becoming more compli- cated. Notwithstanding he tried to take heed to his steps, he was aware that he was getting deeply in love with Julia Fordham, and he was uncertain how such an attachment would be looked upon by the leaders of the society. It might be considered quite out of order for a probationary member to be indulging in such sentiments towards a full member. He was not even certain that Julia herself would look upon his attachment with favor, though her manner in their ordinary intercourse was friendly and pleasant. I le had not yet ventured t<> speak to her about his love, but was feeling his way cautiously. And new he had discovered that George Stanley v. also an admirer of Julia, and as he was 126 HEAVEN ON EARTH. a handsome, smart young fellow, this knowledge was not altogether reassur- ing. It was Mr. Scott's first love affair. He was ordinarily a calm, self-possessed sort of man, but his feelings were now agitated by hopes and fears, and by a wish that George Stanley would by some chance become interested in another girl. In vain he said to him- self, over and over again, that George was first on the field, and that he him- self had no rights. He could not restore his serenity by any such reason- ing. George was, if Mr. Scott had only known it, quite as much disturbed on his part. To be sure, he had youth in his favor, but Mr. Scott was every inch a gentleman, and had the advantage of the refinement of manner which come with travel and much contact with men. So George feared he might be sup- planted in Julia's affections, and he groaned in spirit when he thought of it. Driven on by such feelings, each of these men became very attentive to Julia, and she, being a bright girl, was COMPLEX LOVE. 137 soon aware of their state of mind. It was unpleasant to her to he thus con- tended for. Special, exclusive love attachments were not favored in the society, as they were found to bring in jealousies and selfish claims. Julia was aware of this, and the situation at last became so trying to her that she resolved to take counsel of Father Temple in regard to it. Whenever any of the young people found them- selves getting into perplexities they always went to Father Temple for help. He was ready to give advice, and criticism if need be. After hearing Julia's statement of her situation, in which she appealed to him to help her out of the embarrassment of it, he took time to consider it well, and then ad- vised George Stanley to offer himself for criticism. It must he known that in the Society of the Perfect Life they had what was called a system of " Mutual Criticism," which consisted in the practice of telling one another their faults in the spirit of love and good will. This might be 128 HEAVEN ON EARTH. difficult, if not wholly impossible, should two persons endeavor to confer such a benefit on each other at the same time. It would inevitably lead to controversy. The system, as practised in the society, was this: When a person found himself, or herself, suffering from temptation, or not able to hold himself in the clear spiritual atmosphere which he desired, he would offer himself for criticism. If trouble was seen to be gathering which threatened the peace of the soci- ety, and the individual involved did not of his own accord ask for criticism, some friend, or one of the leaders, would surest to him the benefit he might derive from one, as Father Temple had now suggested to George Stanley. Then a number of persons capable of giving good advice would be called together as a committee, the one desiring the benefit meeting with them. One by one they would faithfully tell him his faults of character, and even discuss his conduct in detail with the utmost frankness. It was understood COMPLEX LOVE. 129 that the person criticised should sit silent and thoughtful, listening to all that might be said without making any reply or seeking to justify himself in any way. This was sometimes hard to do, because others see our characters and conduct in quite a different light from ourselves, and we long to show them how mistaken they are. When Burns wrote his famous lines: O wuid some power the giftie gie us, To see oursel's as ithers see us, he had not heard of mutual criticism. If he had he would have written a royal verse in praise of it, for this is just what such criticisms did. They enabled everyone to see themselves as others saw them. As Julia had mentioned Mr. Scott in her talk with Father Temple, he also was invited to be present, the place and hour being mentioned. Promptly at the appointed time he made his way to the South Sitting-Room, where he found some twenty persons, men and women, including Julia, already assem- 130 HEAVEN ON EARTH. bled. Presently Father Temple entered and took an arm-chair which had been reserved for him. After a short pause, in which he sat with his eyes closed and arms folded, apparently in meditation or in prayer, he introduced the subject thus. " Julia Fordham came to me a day or two ago to tell me some of her experi- ence and to ask my advice. She was in some worry of mind over her love affairs, and as she felt that George Stanley was getting into a wrong, claiming attitude towards her, I advised George to offer himself for criticism, which he has now done. I judge that so far as George is concerned this has become a case of selfish, special love, calling for atten- tion. I do not wish to condemn George for loving Julia. That is quite natural, but it is very important that such matters should be managed so as not to let in false, evil tendencies; and it seemed to me best to call together those most directly concerned and have a frank, sincere talk about it. As Mr. Scott is perhaps not fully informed in regard to COMPLEX LOVE. 131 our social theories and practices, I have invited him to meet with ns. "We must keep clearly in mind the radical difference between our system and that of the world. In no other department is this difference so great as in the social relations. Jesus said, 4 The children of this world marry and are given in marriage; but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage.' "We believe that we are doinof God's will and that this is the beerinnincr of heaven on earth; therefore we have abandoned marriage. It is certain that our lives have been happier and more peaceful since we did so. Marriage is a form of legality, and so far as women are concerned, it is a mild form o\ slavery. The husband feels that he owns his wife and can do with her as he wills. He looks upon this as his right, and if anyone dares interfere he is read\- to shoot or stab. The history of marriage is filled with a succession of 132 HEAVEN ON EARTH. such horrible jealousies. Not a day passes without its fresh instances. With us there has been no such thing. We have lived peacefully together. It is certain, therefore, that we have pro- gressed in throwing off marriage. But if we escape from living under the law we must be sure that we are living under grace, and that our lives are guided and controlled by inspiration. We did not throw off legal restraints until we knew certainly that the grace of God was holding us in the right path. " The love for woman is an encroach- ing thing which, if given free rein, would lead on to selfish, exclusive claims, like those of marriage, whether the marriage ceremony was had or not. My impression is that such special attachments as this between George and Julia, except as they are entirely overmastered and kept in check by attractions and influences from heaven, are stimulants that enlarge the appetite faster than they satisfy it. The pass- ions and desires of a man grow strong COMPLEX LOVE. l: >> in proportion to the nursing they receive, and out of proportion to the possibilities of satisfaction. Mere free- dom to associate would lead to a desire for exclusive possession ; exclusive possession would not be enough with- out constant possession ; and this, in turn, is never satisfied without propa- gation ; so you will have to seek satis- faction in the usual slavery of matri- mony, where you would be farther than ever from finding it. " To come then directly to the prac- tical point in such a case as this of George and Julia, I would ask George this question : If you find yourself unable to resist the attraction for Julia, so that you drift constantly in the direction of special, exclusive- love for her, with a desire to possess her wholly, against her will, what is the best course for you now, after you have tried the temptation and found out your infirm- ity, to draw nearer to her? or to recede from her? We read of a 'wondrous wise man' who first scratched his eyes out by jumping into a thickset hedge, 134 HEAVEN ON EARTH. and then scratched them in again, by jumping 'with all his might and main ' into the selfsame hedge ; but we have never seen with our own eyes any such contradictory operations, and we may well believe that it is prudent for us to keep away from temptations that prove too strong. " But am I arguing against the possi- bility of making a good thing of love? By no means. Note the exception which I made. I said, ' my impression is that such attachments, except as they are entirely overmastered and kept in check by attractions and infatences from heaven, are stimulants that enlarge the appetite faster than they satisfy it. I admit, then, that the love for woman, though it be like wine or brandy, an enroaching stimulant, may be mastered and made useful by the higher powers of religious love. I do indeed believe that love between the sexes, subdued as it may be into a branch of the love of Christ, and pursued as a science, with a more eager thirst for improvement than for present pleasure, will be some- COMPLEX LOVE. 135 time like music, an ever-larging field of wholesome and refining discipline. Whether or not you come within the benefits of this exception and these con- ditions must be determined by the answers which you can give to such questions as the following : " Has the love of Christ gained or is it gaining the supremacy over the love of woman in your heart ? Are you now inclining as much towards spirit- ual life as you were a year ago ? Or, to bring the question down to a lower sphere, are you pursuing love as a science and a means of improvement, or for its pleasures? Does it help you to improve in other things, or is it a means of dissipation ? " I should like to hear from George himself, whether these views do not commend themselves to his sober judg- ment ? Do you not believe you would be happier to hold yourself in the attitude I have described ? " George Stanley: "I am sure of .it I can now see clearly where I got off the right track, and as I fed that you 136 HEAVEN ON EARTH. are all kind friends who have come here from a desire to help me, I am willing to tell you all about it. " I have loved Julia for a long time, and have been very happy in associa- ting with her. Undoubtedly I might have continued so had I not become jealous of Mr. Scott. I saw that he felt attracted to Julia, and I began to fear she would love him more that she did me. I feel humiliated to have to make such a confession of littleness of heart. Since I fell under this tempta- tion I have not known a happy moment, while before that my heart was light and free." Father Temple: " Undoubtedly that is the truth about it. You did not stop to reflect that in our system you had nothing to claim. If Julia has given you her love, it was a gift, precious, no doubt, but not one you could claim if she chose to withhold it. She is her own mistress, owned by no one. By undertaking to set up a claim to her affections you offended her and really repelled what you wished to secure. COMPLEX LOVE. 137 Julia is a true-hearted girl. She wishes to keep her attention on improvement, and she has learned by experience that the claims of special love destroy her peace of mind. She loves George, but she loves others, and must be left free. " It used to be the fashion with novel- writers to represent their heroes and heroines as capable of loving- only one person, and only once in their lives. If the affair miscarried from any cause their existence was blighted. They could never love again. While there may have been some individuals con- structed on this plan, it has never been true of men and women in general. It all depends on the size of the heart or more accurately, of the soul. To be godlike every man should love every good woman, and vice versa, using the term to denote the unselfish, brotherly feeling we are now talking about. Where this spirit rules there is no room for jealousy and strife. If we find a person giving way to .those ieehngs we may know at once that he is off the track." 138 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Mr. Scott: "I feel a great admira- tion of Mr. Stanlay for his candor and sincerity in stating his own difficulty as he did, and I will beg your indulgence while I say a few words about myself. Since I have been with you I, too, have been eettino- in love with Miss Ford- ham. Father Temple has just said that it was a natural thing to do, which relieves my mind somewhat. I have not said anything about this, even to Miss Julia, and it seems a queer thing to do to announce it first to this com- mittee, she being present; but if truth- telling and opening the heart are the order of the day, I want to do my part. I will offer myself for criticism with Mr. Stanley, here and now. I am involved in the same matter, and although I have done no intentional wrong, I may need advice and cntic- ism. Father Temple: "That is the true position to take. If everyone will stop and say they want to do what will please God, there will be no trouble. The attitude now taken by these two COMPLEX LOVE. 130 men shows clearly the difference be- tween our system and that of the world. If they were seeking Julia to marry her they would hate each other intensely. Here they can both love her while they feel a warm esteem for each other. " I think it will be found that the most happiness will be derived from love of the opposite sex when it is not sought too directly, but comes spon- taneously as a reward for something else we have done. Nobleness of heart will attract the best love." Mr. Percival : " I believe that is true." Many others: "So do I;" "That has been my experience; " " And mine also," etc. Mother Temple. "The attitude George now takes of submission to the truth shows that he has a deep and honorable purpose, and I feel sure this experience will result in broadening his character. He will see that special love contracts the soul and leads to narrow, selfish feelings. It distorts 140 HEAVEN ON EARTH. everything- and leads the two persons concerned to feel that they and their affair are of more importance than all other human interests, which is not true." Emily Floyd : " That is exactly the point. The young women are learning that they are happier not to give way to the temptation to settle down into exclusive relations with anyone. It is sure to lead to trouble and worry of mind. Lily Millington: "I think some of the older men are very pleasant com- panions because they do not set up such exclusive claims, but leave their friends perfectly free." Father Temple: " The key to our social system is self-control. That is the foundation of our theory and practice of " male continence." At every stage of our experience self- control must be maintained. There must be no excesses or runaways. Inspiration and sober judgment must be able to say to the passions at any time: " Go no farther" with a certainty COMPLEX LOVE. HI of being obeyed. If the passions refuse to obey, we may know surely that we are going too fast, and must recede until thorough self control is restored. It is precisely this feature of our system which will prevent spurious imitations. If people attempt to live as we do before the spirit has conquered the flesh so as to give them this self- control, their passions will inevitably betray them. The world may think ours is too exacting a standard of life, but we know that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven until the good spirit does obtain full control of all his passions and appetites, and it is better to set up that standard here and now, than to drift along in self-indulgence, with the delusive hope; that it will all come; right somehow. 14 In this case of George Stanley the safest way for him will be to turn his attention away from Julia for a time. lie has been causing her worry and anxiety of mind, which he will regret, if he truly loves her, and he should now eave her free. Special love of this 142 HEAVEN ON EARTH. kind makes a man think there is only one lovable woman in the world, which is very far from the truth. Some of the middle-aged women are the most charming companions I have known. It would do George good to find this out for himself." Aunt Harriet: "I think this has been a very edifying and instructive conversation. It has not been a criti- cism quite in our usual form, but it is calculated to help everyone of us as well as George." The Committee rose and the criti- cism was over. What a strange doc- trine it had revealed! And yet, when we reflect upon it, is it not stranger still that the world should so jealously maintain a system in which it is looked upon as almost justifiable for one man to kill another because they both hap- pen to love the same woman ? Nay, worse still, a system in which the man sometimes kills the woman he professes to love, merely because she prefers another ! Has a woman not a right to COMPLEX LOVE 14-3 her own person, and to the control of her own destiny ? How many are there in the world who know what true, un- selfish, heavenly love is ? CHAPTER XII. AN ACCIDENT. As the season advanced there was a great pressure of business at the Fruit House, which was located within easy walking distance from the dwelling. Vast quantities of ripe corn, tomatoes, peaches, and other crops were brought in daily to be canned ; and notwith- standing a large force of hired workers was employed, the manager of that department found it necessary to call for special help from the members. "Bees" were organized nearly every evening, to keep the fruits from spoil- ing. The response to such calls was quite general. The members walked over to the factory immediately after supper, and worked for two or three hours as volunteers. These were soci- able occasions. The men and women formed themselves into little groups around the work-tables. Seated on AN ACCIDENT. 145 benches or plain wooden chairs, with agate dishes in their laps, some pared the peaches and peeled the tomatoes, while others packed them in the cans, ready for the final cooking and sealing. The hum of conversation and occa- sional laughter filled the room. An enormous amount of work was accom- plished in this way without fatigue. Mr. Scott invariably attended these "bees," and enjoyed them, for he made many new and pleasant acquaintances in this way. There was not much for- mality in the social intercourse of the members. When any two met, a simple greeting sufficed to start conver- sation. An accident happened one evening which threatened serious consequences. A large and enthusiastic "peach bee" had lasted until nearly ten o'clock, when, all being finished for the day, the members rose to return to the dwelling together. The walk ran beside the main highway for a short distance before entering the grounds. As the people sauntered leisurely along, still 146 HEAVEN ON EARTH. engaged in conversations, suddenly loud cries were heard, as of persons in distress. Then a light carriage, drawn by two horses, came dashing down the road. The moon was shining brightly, and it could be plainly seen that it was a runaway. A man and a woman were seated in the carriage. The man was tugging at the reins, his feet braced against the dashboard, and shouting "Whoa! whoa!" at the top of his lungs. The woman clasped the man as tightly as possible, screaming hys- terically. The horses were badly frightened, and were running fast. Mr. Scott sprang forward to try and stop them. He knew it would not do to get directly in front of the team, as he would inevitably be run over. Instead of this, he started to run in the direc- tion in which the horses were going, keeping an eye over his shoulder, so that as they came up with him he was able to grasp the rein of the nearest one without being thrown off his feet. His weight served to check the animal, but the other horse continuing his AN ACCIDENT. 147 frantic leaps, they were swerved sud- denly out of the road, the carriage was overturned, and the occupants thrown out. This frightened the horses still more. They began to rear and kick, to free themselves, and would have succeeded had not a stalwart form at that instant seized the other horse. It was Henry Franklin, from whose iron grasp nothing could escape. Sooner than we can tell it, other hands joined these two ; the horses were unhitched and quieted, and the carriage was righted. Fortunately the man and woman who had been thrown out, although badly bruised, were not seri- ously injured ; and rinding that neither the harness nor carriage was broken, the)- insisted on continuing their ride. Then Mr. Scott was discovered sitting in the grass by the roadside, groaning with pain. It was evident that he had been injured while stopping the run- aways. The members gathered about him. and asked if he were badly hurt. "One of the horses stepped on my foot, and I have wrenched my knee 148 HEAVEN ON EARTH. so that it pains me very much," he replied. Henry Franklin and Arthur Dudley lifted him carefully to a standing posi- tion. "He cannot walk; we must carry him," said Henry. "Wait a minute," he added, as he clasped hands with Arthur, so a«s to make a very safe and comfortable chair. " Now sit down, and put your arms around our necks. That's right; here we go," and they carried him as if he were a child. As he was raised aloft by -the two young stalwarts, Mr. Scott caught sight of Julia Fordham, standing at a little distance. Her eyes were fastened upon him, full of the most tender solicitude, and he thought he saw a tear glisten on her cheek in the moonlight. Evidently she felt for him a deeper regard than she had heretofore permitted herself to express by word or act. The thought made his heart beat fast. This man, who was having his first love experi- ence under such unusual conditions, AN ACCIDENT. 149 who had been striving to suppress his own feelings, in order that he might not, by too great precipitation, lose what he so longed for, now found him- self trembling with the force of his emotion. He saw Julia once again, as they carried him along the path through the little park. Her hat was thrown back on her shoulders, and she was still regarding him anxiously. How loving and gentle she looked, she who was usually so spirited and shy! The in- jured man forgot his hurt as he thought of her and vaguely hoped and wondered. Happily Mr. Scott had sustained no more serious injuries than bruises and sprains, and in a few days he was quite comfortable. As he sat by his window one afternoon, he saw a group in the "Quadrangle" paring peaches for sup- per, and he called to them that if they would send him up a panful of the fruit and a knife, he would be glad to help. 44 Here, Julia," said Mrs. Gregory, who had charge of the "bee," "won't 150 HEAVEN ON EARTH. you pick out some nice peaches, and carry them up to Mr. Scott? I dare say it will cheer him up to have some- thing to do. The time goes slowly when one is confined." Julia jumped up, and, after filling the pan, ran off with it. As she appeared to Mr. Scott, clad in a fresh muslin dress, blushing and smiling, and hold- ing out the peaches, he thought he had never seen anything half so pretty. " How do you do ?" she said. " I'm getting along nicely," he replied, as she wheeled a light stand up in front of him and placed the pan upon it. "At this rate I shall soon be about as usual. But why did you not bring two knives ? Are you not going to sit by me, and talk to me ? " "I'll run back and get my knife and an apron for you. These ripe peaches will stain your clothes ; " and away she tripped, bright as a fairy. "My God!" exclaimed Mr. Scott to himself as he was again alone, "what a situation is mine ! Here I am, only a probationary member of the Society, AN ACCIDENT. 151 madly in love with this girl, who is a full member. I do love her as I never expected to love any woman. And I believe she loves me. Oh ! the ecstacy of that thought ! And yet I must exereise self-control. Self-control ! How easy to resolve, how hard to per- form ! No doubt it will be best for me to have another talk with Father Temple soon. But I am going to tell that sweet girl how much I love her, though the heavens fall." Mr. Scott fully recovered his health just in time to take part in the first corn-cutting "bee" of the season. There were several large fields read)- to be cut, and it was desirable to do the work quickly, as a frost would injure the stalks for fodder. It was therefore decided to make it a grand old-fashioned bee. The women were to be invited to assist. A general and rousing notice was given at dinner time, and as that meal was finished the stir- ring sound of a life and drum was heard calling the people to assemble under 152 HEAVEN ON EARTH. the large elm tree in front of the dwel- ling. Here each man armed himself with a cutting-knife from- a stack of them which the head farmer had pro- duced, ground sharp for the occasion. Then all, men and women, formed themselves in martial array, and, march- ing to the designated field, attacked the corn like an army with banners assaulting a fortress. Imagine a hundred sturdy men, each armed with a sharp and trusty blade, hewing down the stalks, handing them carefully to the hundred women, who in turn placed them in stocks, where certain skilled men rapidly bound them in position, while a hundred lively boys and girls gleaned the ears which had fallen, tumbling about among the ripe, golden pumpkins with which the ground was thickly strewn, a band of sutlers meantime carrying pails of cold and refreshingr drink anions the workers. Picture to yourselves the dash and courage, backed by tremendous phys- ical strength and endurance, with which Henry Franklin, George Stanley, AN ACCIDENT. 153 Arthur Dudley, and the other young men led their several columns in the fray. There was a generous rivalry as to who should be first across the field. Picture the women dressed in the short skirts and pantalettes, with no corsets unnaturally compressing their waists, active, strong, and wil- lingf. How the corn melted away? The effect was magical. One would imag- ine that the wind was laying it low, so rapidly it fell across the broad field. Could anyone call a two or three hours' effort of this kind, and in such company, labor? It was sport, keenly enjoyed. The beaming looks, the kindly smile on every face, the merry laughter, told of the ever- present love and good fellowship. And when the work was done and all had marched back like a triumph- ant army to the dwelling, the men, in return for sisterly aid out of doors, helped the women to get supper, clear off the tables, wash and rinse the dishes, set the sponge for a huge 154 HEAVEN ON EARTH. baking of bread, prepare potatoes and other vegetables for cooking on the morrow. One could then readily see that this life had its compensa- tions. The women were not made household drudges, so they really enjoyed helping the men in the fields for an hour or two at a time when the weather was fine. When Mr. Scott heard this corn- cuttinof u bee" announced he resolved to make a practical attempt at self- denial. He felt a strong desire to secure Julia as a partner, and he thought how pleasant it would be to work with her. But he resolutely put this desire aside and invited Aunt Millicent to be his partner for the occasion. Aunt Millicent was a woman of forty-five years, and while she was not very strong she had the gentlest, kindliest disposi- tion imaginable. Mr. Scott resolved to devote himself to making the day pleasant to her. He took pains to draw her out, and found she was pos- sessed of much information. He care- fully adapted his speed to hers, and AN ACCIDENT. 155 helped her in every way with so much grace and tact that she formed a very high opinion of him. Now, these people's lives were bound so closely together that very many in the society recognized the effort Mr. Scott had made to act on principle, to make another happy instead of looking out for himself, and none of them was more pleased than Julia Fordham. She loved Mr. Scott, and she wanted every- one to know what a good man he was. She was proud of his effort, and when he invited her to take a walk with him that evening she assented with the best conscience in the world, and was so affectionate that he was repaid a hundred times. The completion of the corn harvest was the signal for a grand picnic. This was held in a shady grove of maples which grew on the bank of the river. It was a great affair, a whole afternoon being given up to it. There was plenty to eat and drink, plenty of games and of social enjoyment, plenty of thanks- giving for blessings and prosperity 156 HEAVEN ON EARTH. showered upon them. The long tables, covered with snowy linen, fairly groaned under their load of such biscuits as only Aunt Matilda could make, with sweet butter and delicious honey in the comb. At a convenient distance one or two smart fires of wood gave opportunity to roast ears of sweet corn which had been planted late for this occasion and to bake potatoes in the hot ashes. These fires were continually surrounded by boys and girls, who held out the corn on sharp-pointed sticks to roast it over the embers. Some of the older boys and girls might also have been seen taking a hand. Who does not remem- ber that corn cooked in this way, half covered with ashes, the whole eaten hot, has a flavor never found except at an outdoor feast? Seated or lounging easily in groups on the green grass or on rough board seats by the tables, chatting, laughing, rehearsing funny experiences, while bright young boys and girls passed various dishes around, all now relaxed thoroughly, and gave themselves up to the pleasant influences of the occasion. AN ACCIDENT. 157 There were songs, recitations, speeches, games, stories, until the dew began to fall, and several large wagons were driven down to take back the tables, chairs, and huge hampers. CHAPTER XIII. A FALSE INSPIRATION. One Sunday, soon after the picnic we have described, it was noticed that Father Temple confined himself the whole day to his room. He did not even appear at meals, but Miss Emily Floyd was seen to cary him some light refreshments. Peeple asked Emily in low tones if he were ill? She replied, 44 No, not ill, but very, very sober and thoughtful." When evening came and all assem- bled in the Hall for the usual eight o'clock meeting, it was noticed that he wore a look of unusal sternness as he entered and took his seat. After the customary routine of news- paper report and the reading of corres- pondence had been gone through, no one paying much attention to them, Father Temple spoke : " I have a very unpleasant duty to A FALSE INSPIRATION. 159 perform this evening, yet the spirit of truth and sincerity compels me to it. I have prayed about it and reflected upon it until my way seems clear. "You all know what my attitude has been, from the first day we settled here, in regard to proselyting for new mem- bers. There was at first some jealousy and distrust of us among our neighbors, on account of our all living together in a great unitary family, after we had abandoned monogamic marriage. This distrust was perfectly natural, because people did not want their sons and daughters exposed to any dangerous influences. I did not blame them, but I knew that after they became better acquainted with us this feeling would disappear, and I was able to fully reas- sure them by announcing through our paper that we would not attempt to proselyte nor to persuade anyone to join us. This was an honorable pledge given to the public by which we we're bound to keep within our own lines, so far as our neighbors were concerned. I have always believed that God would 160 HEAVEN ON EARTH. send to us such as he had chosen to help carry on the work we have under- taken. New members have come to us as fast as we could assimilate and train them. This policy of non-inter- ference with our outside acquaintances has been reaffirmed here in our meet- ings often enough for everyone to have thoroughly understood it, and there can be no excuse for having violated the pledge we gave. " But it seems that one of our num- ber has done this, not in one instance only, but in several ; not openly, but without our knowledge. And all the time he has been doing it, he has pro- fessed the utmost loyalty to our doc- trines and to me personally. He has also publicly made the most lofty pre- tentions to spiritual acquirements. To give such loud-sounding testimony while he was carrying on his prosely- ting tactics with outsiders, in person and by letter, in ways that would, if persisted in, endanger the friendly feeling the public now has for us, is a very serious matter, and one A FALSE INSPIRATION. 161 that calls for prompt and thorough treat- ment. "It is right that we should make this case a warning and an example, so that others may learn not to stumble. Christ said : ' For it must needs be that offences will came, but woe unto him by whom the offence cometh.' "The brother who has betrayed our confidence, in this way is Philander Koote. By a curious providence, the evidence of his insincerity and unfaith- fulness came to me without my having sought it or having suspected Mr. Koote in any way. I have talked with him privately, and he has admitted the facts to be as I have stated them. We cannot temporize with evil. In this case we must invoke the searching power of criticism, the Spirit of Truth." While listening to this terrible indict- ment, the members had fairly held their breath, so profound was the interest felt. The silence had been oppressive. But no sooner had Philander's name been mentioned as the culprit than l f 32 HEAVEN ON EARTH. every eye turned in search of him. He did not occupy his accustomed seat in the front row of chairs, but had chosen an obscure corner, knowing this ex- posure was coming. Murmurs of indignation* could be heard on every side. The unerring instinct of the people had long since detected the hollowness of Mr. Koote's religious pretensions, and this fact, added to his notorious laziness, now worked much to his disadvantage. Father Temple continued : "I think we cannot spend this evening more profitably than by giving Mr. Koote a searching and faithful criticism here in the presence of the whole family. Let us have a time of sincere truth-telling, such as will make the spirit of insin- cerity which he has harbored hide its head and leave us. I invite everyone to speak freely what is given him or her to say. The women are as much interested as the men. We need not confine ourselves to this particular transgression, but should point out any other faults we have noticed. But A FALSE INSPIRATION. 1G3 before we begin I wish Mr. Koote would step out here and take his accus- tomed seat near the center of the Hall. He has kept himself well in front all this time while he has been living in hypocrisy, and it looks very cowardly for him to ofet back there out of sigrht just at this time. It is not Mr. Koote that we are aiming at, but the evil spirit which he has been harboring in secret. We must make thorough work of it this time. After we are sure that the evil influence has been driven away from among us, we can give our attention to healing and comforting Mr. Koote, but the surgery comes first." In the awful pause which followed these remarks the wretched Philander arose, and picking his way between the seats, advanced to his old place, where every eye could find him, looking more chap fall en and humiliated than ever before in his life. Then the criticism commenced in earnest. EphraimDudley : "It is a matter of great surprise and mortification to me that one who has had the benefits of 164 HEAVEN ON EARTH. this school for many years, one whom Father Temple has trusted to write for our paper, and to whom we have all extended brotherly fellowship, should have been deceiving us in this way. I cannot account for it. It seems too gross a case of intentional wrongdoing to believe one of our number guilty of. He must have known that sooner or later it would all come to the light. How, then, could he have allowed him- self to go on in such a course ? Mr. Koote has been a stumbling-block to our young people for a long time, and must now have a radical change of heart before he will be fit to mingle with them." Father Temple: "In regard to in- dustry he has been a great stumbling- block. He has had a desire to write for our publications, and I at first thought he was going to be a help to me in working out ideas which I gave him ; but I have noticed for some time past that he has lost his receptivity to me, and the consequence is that his writings have been made A FALSE INSPIRATION. 165 up of a lot of high-sounding but heavy sentences about the Jews and so forth, with no life or power in them. I don't want any more such help. ^ Mr. Koote has been yielding to this temptation for a long; time ; and it may take as long to effect a cure as the disease has been running. He has been in a constant state of relapse and backsliding, and his moral nature is weak. It must be strength- ened and built up by degrees. " But though his moral nature is weak his body is strong, and there is no reason why he should not work. Laziness may be said to be at the root of his troubles. He hates to exert him- self. If he had exerted himself to over- come temptation he would not have exposed us to this danger. The reform must commence by getting some energy into him." Mr. Kinglake: " I have never taken any comfort in reading Mr. Koote's articles in the paper, but have supposed others did, so I said nothing against them. It seems there has been a eood 166 HEAVEN ON EARTH. deal of pretension about him, in that as well as in spiritual things. This exposure leaves him pretty bare. When the swell and conceit are taken out there will not be much left. This is humiliating, no doubt, but it need not be wholly discouraging. None of us amount to very much without God in us. He is the source of all good. Mr. Koote's experience makes me doubly thankful that the rest of our members have been true to what we promised." The criticism had opened with so much severity, and Mr. Koote was so well able to calculate what would follow, that he suddenly bethought himself of a bold course which might save some part of his reputation. Throwing off his attitude of dejection, he broke the rule of silence when under criticism, and spoke thus : " I wish to say a few words in extenu- ation of what seems a great fault, but which, when rightly understood, may be found to have a justification. I have felt inspired to do what I did. If I A FALSE INSPIRATION. IK? have peculiar gifts and unusual powers of pleasing, these ought to be used for our cause. It can be shown that I have had great influence in interesting several persons in our doctrines. The ability to do that is a gift, and the desire to do it has, with me, been due to an inspiration. I have been told that there is a peculiar magnetism in my eyes. Ought we not to be free, each of us, to follow our inspiration, and use the faculties we have for the good of the cause ?" Father Temple: " Now we get at the root of the matter. I am glad the truth has come out. Here we have a member acting in defiance of our rules, breaking the pledge we gave the public, and claiming justification on the ground of inspiration. What is inspiration ? We mean by it an influence from some unseen intelligence, and in claiming to be led by inspiration myself, I mean that I have found a way of getting at the mind of God so that I can know what course He desires me to take. But there are true and false inspira- 168 HEAVEN ON EARTH. • tions. Inspirations from the true source will not clash but will be har- monious ; and they will be found acting on the side of truthfulness and sincerity, not in such a way as Mr. Koote has been engaged in. What he has just said makes his case look worse than it did before. It is evident that he has been led astray by a false inspiration, and that a very serious work will have to be done in him. He must be cured of his conceit and insincerity. " Since this matter was brought to my notice I have been considering whether the society is not now large enough. It seems to me that it is, and that we should now close the doors. Instead of trying to proselyte for new members, it will be better to limit our numbers and try to make our society as perfect as possible. There are some matters of the very highest importance which we have not yet considered at all. 11 But let the criticism proceed. The women should say what they think of Mr. Koote's claim to special magnetic A FALSE INSPIRATION. 169 gifts. They will be the best judges of them. I don't want him influencing anyone to join us." Mother Temple: "1 have thought for a long time that there was insincerity in Mr. Koote. He has made swelling- professions which his experience did not seem to justify. It is easy to re- cognize the good spirit in anyone. It is not characterized by egotism and swell, but by humility and softness of heart. Mr. Koote has been full of conceit and pride of intellect, with very little to base it on. This humiliation will prove a blessing to him if it produces softness of heart and sincerity. Aunt Matilda: "Mr. Koote will have to change very much before we can have confidence in him again." Lily Millington: "This exposure and criticism of Mr. Koote greatly strengthens my faith in the Providence over us. I did not know he had been doing wrong, but his spirit was repulsive to me. I could not bear to have him around." Emily Floyd : "He has had a very 170 HEAVEN ON EARTH. disagreeable way of trying to flirt with the girls whenever he meets them. It is his habit to open his eyes as wide as possible on every such occasion, I sup- pose in order to exercise the magnetic charm he speaks of. I hope he will not do so any more. If he knew how dis- agreeable he makes himself he would not. Women admire manhood and courage, and no one cares to be hypnot- ized or magnetized." Mrs. Stanley: u I like what Lily and Emily have said, and sympathize very heartily with the whole criticism. I will mention one other habit of his. When Father Temple gives a discourse in which he brings out some new theory, Mr. Koote is apt to take it up and talk about it in his superficial way, until everybody is very much annoyed. For example, when Father Temple sug- gested that the spiritual center of man is somewhere near the heart, instead of in the brain, Mr. Koote seized upon some of the terms used, and began talking about his ' solar plexus ' and his 'semilunar ganglion,' in a familiar, A FALSE INSPIRATION. 171 off-hand way, as if he had known all about them since he was a child. He kept this up, week after week, until I positively dreaded to hear him allude to it." Mr. Gregory: "Insincerity, or pro- fessing one thing and doing another, seems to have become a habit with Mr. Koote. It will be remembered that some time ago he announced a lecture in regard to eating and drinking. He began by referring to the antipathy the Jews had to eating pork, based on the Mosaic law, then spread out into a general condemnation of all meat- eating as being carnal and unbecoming in spiritually-minded men and women. He would even have excluded butter and cheese from the table, saying we could get all the oils and fatty material our systems require from nuts and other natural sources. "Now, I like to have everyone free to think and say what he pleases, and Mr. Koote has a perfect right to hold and preach these ideas. But mark what happened! Not long after his 172 HEAVEN ON EARTH. lecture we had a good meal of beef- steak with baked new potatoes and all the trimmings. Although I believe in vegetarianism in a general way, I felt a great appetite for that beefsteak when I came in from work and smelled it cooking; and I entered the dining room anticipating quite a treat, because we have steak so seldom and I am very fond of it. But I happened to seat myself beside Mr. Koote, and I state it soberly, as a fact, that I was un- able to get a mouthful of steak until the platter at our table had been replenished several times. Mr. Koote took care of it as fast as the waiter could bring it on. I would not have mentioned this if Mr. Koote had not taken such extreme ground in his lect- ure. If he had said outright that he was so desperately fond of beefsteak that he could not possibly restrain himself until he had eaten three or four large pieces, I could have respected his sincerity, whatever I might have thought of his manners. I believe he would have eaten half a roast pig that A FALSE INSPIRATION. 173 day, even if Moses himself had been sitting opposite." Father Temple ; " We do not want to be that sort of reformers, preaching one thing and practising the opposite." Henry Franklin : "My desire for Mr. Koote's salvation leads me to hope that he will now volunteer to milk. That would do more to convince me that he was really improving than anything I can think of. 'Faith without works is dead,' and the work which will do him the most good is to get up in the morn- ing and milk." Thus one after another laid bare poor Philanders failings and foibles, with a clearness and certainty that left no defence, and with a neatness won by much practice. There was no circum- locution, no waste of words. Everyone who aimed at him scored a point. This profitable exercise lasted a lull hour. It was easy to see that Mr. Koote was under deep conviction. Pale, with chin resting on his breast, there was no resistance left in him ; and when the meeting broke up he retired to his 174 HEAVEN ON E*ARTH. room, sore and downcast. Something seemed to whisper in his ear : " The way of the transgressor is hard." Mr. Koote had a good enough heart, and was sincerely attached to Father Temple at this time, but his nature was shallow and conceited. His humility did not last long. Subsequent events showed that the desire to proselyte remained in him, urging him to make himself conspicuous. This criticism was a revelation to Mr. Scott. He saw that while the society had few set rules or laws, claiming to be guided rather by inspiration, yet the lash of public opinion as used in these criticisms, was a means of government not to be trifled with. The conduct of individuals had to conform to the will of the Church. This discipline of Mr. Koote was unquestionably severe, but the transgression which drew it forth was most flagrant. It was the only such instance that Mr. Scott witnessed in the society. CHAPTER XIV. THE LAST ENEMY. It was rare that a death occurred in the Society of the Perfect Life from any other cause than old age. All the conditions surrounding the members were such as tend to promote longevity. Pure water from a living spring on the distant hillside was brought to the dwelling in underground pipes and distributed to every part. The ventila- tion of the buildings was carefully planned, and as they were warmed by steam the temperature was kept equable. The drainage was perfect. With good food, abundance of healthy exercise, entire freedom from care and worry, and an approving conscience, there was nothing to prevent these people from living out their allotted span but ac- cidents and inherited tendencies to disease. One of their number, Mr. Albert 176 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Percival, had unfortunately injured himself by overlifting before he joined the society, since which he had never been entirely well and strong, although he was able to do light work. When the human system once becomes weak- ened from any cause all the evil influ- ences which are abroad rush in to make it their prey. It was so in Mr. Perci- val's case. One thing after another happened to him to prevent his getting strong, until at length he contracted a severe cold which resulted in pneumonia. When he realized that his condition was critical and that he was like to die, he summoned his two children and their mother to his bedside, and with broken utterance addressed them thus : " I may not recover from this attack. I fear that I am nearing my end, and if I should die I wish you to observe these things : We must all be reconciled to God's will in regard to us. If He takes me away from you, trust Him still, and do not give way to sadness or sorrow. Do not wear mourning garments, but wear flowers instead. Let my funeral THE LAST EN'EMY. 177 be as simple as possible, with very few of the customary formalities. We shall be separated for only a few short years, when you will all join me again. I shall watch over you if so I am permitted. My strength is going. I cannot see clearly. Now let me take each of your hands in mine and so bid you good bye. You will be among loving friends who will watch over you and care for you. I shall feel that you are safe. God-bye, and may God bless you." There was a slight pressure of the hand, then he closed his eyes and spoke no more. It was arranged as he had requested. The funeral was very simple, no outside clergyman being summoned. The members gathered in the Hall, where the body lay, to take a last look at the features of their departed brother. While Mrs. Percival and her children could not refrain from weeping, they struggled bravely with their grief, in an effort to do as he had bidden. The other members seemed deeply affected. It was evident that they had loved Mr. 178 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Percival, and felt the loss of his com- panionship. They joined in singing several hymns, Father Temple made a few remarks, then a procession was formed, and the body was laid away in its last resting-place in the little ceme- tery of the Society. A few hours later the death was made the subject of conversation in the evening meeting. Mr. Edward Percival, after expressing his thanks to the Society for the kindness shown by everyone during his brother's illness, said : " It is a great comfort to me at this time that brother Albert could die with- out feeling any anxiety for his family. He was wholly at rest about them, and died in peace. If he had not joined our Society he would have suffered, as so many others do, from anxiety lest those who were naturally dependent on him, having no longer anyone to protect and support them, might be imposed upon by selfish persons, and perhaps come to want. He also felt entire peace and rest as to himself, because he had THE LAST ENEMY. 170 been striving, to the best of his ability, to please God, and he believed that God loved him, and would receive his spirit." Father Temple: " Death is the last enemy to be overcome. We can look forward to a time when the immortal part of man shall have triumphed over mortality, so that death will no longer have power over us. Exactly how it will come about is a great mystery, which we cannot fully understand ; but as we progress in a knowledge of spiritual philosophy, it will become plain to us. We can form some conception of how the body may be changed so as to be no longer subject to what we call 'natural laws,' by considering Christ's resurrection body. When lie rose- on the third day His bod)' was changed. It still partook of the mortal nature, in that it appeared much as before. The Lord walked and talked with His dis- ciples, and even ate with them by the seashore, as told by St. John. Yet He was able, with this same body, to appear before them in an inner room, the doors 180 HEAVEN ON EARTH. being closed, which shows the spiritual nature of His body. I look upon spirit as a very refined form of matter, able at will to traverse the grosser forms amid which we live. This conception will help us to form true ideas of what our heavenly state will be. We are created in the image of God, and our spiritual, immortal bodies are the counterparts of our mortal bodies. I believe that when two of us meet in the next world we shall at once recognize each other, and appear so natural that we shall hardly realize that we are spirits. Some people think of the spirit as merely a bit of shapeless vapor, a cloud, an essence, or an intangible and unsatisfactory something. I once heard a clergyman preach a sermon in which he compared our spirits to vapor float- ing in the skies. I believe our spiritual bodies will be imbued with form, sub- stance, and all the intelligence and feeling we now possess. It is merely the mortal husk which is laid aside at death. When the soul is at peace with God, this change should cause no fear or pain." THE LAST ENEMY. 181 Mr. Stanley; "Those are very inter- esting thoughts in regard to the nature of our spiritual bodies. We must accustom ourselves to think of them as not differing- from our mortal bodies except as spirit differs from external matter. The various forms of matter with which we are familiar vary greatly as to their density, gravity, and other qualities. Water will enter the pores of wood, and, being fluid, can also perco- late through the rocks. Atmospheric air is a yet more delicate form of mat- ter, able to penetrate many seemingly solid substances. Beyond air we have electricity, a still more subtle form. It was considered very mysterious and dangerous for a. long time, but elec- tricians now manufacture it, handle it, and direct it where the:)- will, just as other mechanics handle water. It is a fluid which will run up hill as readily as down, and can penetrate almost any- thing. Our spirits are probably only a still finer form of matter. God is a spirit, yet He is all-powerful. It will do us L-ood to rellect on these things, 182 HEAVEN ON EARTH. and form true conceptions. It will rob death of its terrors." Mother Temple : " I feel a deep love and sympathy for Mrs. Percival and her children. We can all surround her with our fellowship so that she will not suffer from a sense of bereave- ment. I was thinking this afternoon what a great insurance we are to each other. All our property is pledged to the equal support of every member, the little ones as well as the old ; and not only that, but we have here a hun- dred strong and able men ready to pro- tect and care for those who need it." Mr. Pendell : " Our system is really the best form of insurance yet discov- ered. In ordinary life-insurance, when the insured dies, the amount is paid to the beneficiary in money, but there is nothing to prevent unscrupulous per- sons from getting it away by trickery or fraud, or to prevent its being lost by foolish investments. The personal support and protection of many living friends is worth more than any sum of money. THE LAST ENEMY. 1 S >1 Mrs. Per rival : M I feel very thank- ful for God's goodness to me and my children. When we joined the Society I did not expect that Mr. Percival could live more than a few months. The doctors had prepared me for his death at any time, yet in this home his life has been spared many years. I also feel a deep sense of gratitude to every one of you for your kindness and sympathy. I am not left alone, nor are my children fatherless." Father Temple: "Every man of us will be a father to those children. They shall not want for care or love." Mr. Gregory : " They shall not ; and every one of us will be a brother to Mrs. Percival." Aunt Harriet : " Holding the views we do about death, we need not put on mourning raiment and < r o about with sad countenances when one of our num- ber is taken away. If God's will is done we oiiidit not to feel sad about it, but to rejoice that we can believe on Him." Mr. Stanley: "The fashion of 184 HEAVEN ON EARTH. mourning is kept up in deference to a foolish public opinion. When a wife loses her husband, unless she put on black raiment and weep overmuch the gossips will say ' Oh, she did not love him after all.' How foolish ! As if putting on or off certain robes could show how much we have loved those who died." Father Temple; "It is not only foolish to think so much of what the neighbors will say, but the fashion of having very solemn, impressive funerals, in which the minister seeks to intensify the grief of the mourners by his remarks, followed by this fashion of mourning, tends to make even more severe the inevitable nervous shock caused by the death. These fashions are therefore prejudical to the health of the living, while they do no good to anyone." This was not mere formal talk on the part of the members. As the days wore on they did as they had said. A thousand little things were planned to comfort Mrs. Percival and her chil- THE LAST ENEMY. 185 dren, and to break the force of the blow which had fallen. As the weeks rolled into months and the months into years, the same watchful and tender care was maintained. In this system it seemed as if the heart of each member touched every other heart, so closely were they bound together. CHAPTER XV. THE CHILDREN. It happened that about the middle of November Miss Julia Fordham was assigned to a position in the " Chil- dren's House." It must be known that in the Society of the Perfect Life all the children under twelve or fourteen years of age lived apart from the adult members, in a comfortable house of their own which adjoined the main dwelling ; but they took their meals in the common dining-room. Their building was so arranged, with a large and well-shaded playground in the rear, that their noise would not dis- turb the older people. When a family with children joined the Society, the youngsters were at once put to live in the Children's House, where they were soon extremely well contented with their fifty or sixty little playmates. A group of five or THE CHILDREN. 187 six caretakers attended to the wants of them all, thus relieving the parents entirely. This arrangement went far to destroy the spirit of family selfish- ness which might otherwise have led parents to be always on the look-out for their own children. They were all regarded as the children of the Society, to be equally loved and protected. Those who had no children of their own felt as rich as those who had many. They could take their turn in living with them, and very often warm attachments sprang up where there was no blood relation. The responsible heads of this group of caretakers were called respectively the "Father" and " Mother" of the " Children's House." One of the young women usually served on this staff a few weeks at a time, her duties being to entertain and care for the smallest children during a part of each day. She could take them to walk, read to them, tell them stories, or teach them little games ; and must see that they were always clad suit- 188 HEAVEN ON EARTH. ably to the weather. This was the position to which Julia was now assigned. One pleasant afternoon when the sun shone with genial warmth as if to defy the coming cold, she had taken her little charges to the extreme end of the lawn, where stood a group of tall pine trees, and in their shade two rustic seats. The ground underneath the trees was thickly strewn with dry pine straw, making a natural carpet, on which the children played. They had several of the tiniest little wheel- barrows and carts, in which they were gathering pine cones, to be afterwards piled in what was to them a huge mound. Minette had come out with Julia, and the two now sat on one of the rustic seats watching the little ones and chatting meanwhile. It was a peaceful, innocent scene, such as the eye of a painter would love to catch. Just then Mr. Scott was seen coming down the walk with light and rapid step, swinging his arms and expanding his lungs with deep inhalations of the THE CHILDREN. 189 bracing autumnal air. Suddenly he came upon the little group in the pines. "Halloo!" he cried, "if this isn't a pretty sight ! May I stop and view your Lilliputians at work, Julia?" "Certainly, I have been enjoying it myself," she replied as she made room for him on the seat between her and Minette. "They are such gentle chil- dren, and they play so kindly together. They never quarrel. See what a moun- tain of pine cones they are making. Aren't they industrious ? " "Yes, indeed. They are examples. I suppose you get to feel quite motherly, do you not, caring for so many little ones ? "Yes, I find it a good, useful expe- rience." "The children of the Society all seem to be very healthy. Have there been any deaths among them?" " I have' lived here eight years," said Minette, "and there has been no death among the children during that time. Have you known of any, Julia?" " No," replied Julia, "there has been 190 HEAVEN ON EARTH. no death, nor even any severe sickness. Their conditions are so good that noth- ing is ever the matter with them. They are well clothed, eat nothing but the most wholesome food, never sit up late, and play out of doors a great deal." "It is remarkable that there should not have been a single death among so many in eight years," said Mr. Scott. 44 1 believe that, according to the vital statistics of ordinary society, there would have been ten or twelve deaths, if these children had been no better off than the average. It is a strong point in favor of your system." "Why do you say 4 your system'? asked Julia. "Why not say 'our sys- tem'? Are you not one of us?" " Not yet, in the full sense. I have not signed the Covenant, but am here only on probation for a year. I am looking forward to the time when my case will be decided." 44 1 do not see why you need wait a full year, unless you choose to," said Minette. "You have made many friends here." THE CHILDREN. 191 V It is pleasant to be told that, but some of my friends outside felt so un- reconciled to my coming here that I thought, for the sake of harmony and good-feeling, it might be wiser for me to wait a year, and report to them my impressions of this place and the peo- ple, before taking the final step. I don't mind saying that it will cost me some self-denial to wait so lonp\" "Why do your friends think so ill of us ?" asked Julia. " They do not think ill of this Society in particular, but are so very conserv- ative that they distrust all new ideas. I am going to give them a great shak- ing up when I go back to New York, at the end of the year. But let me ask you a little more about the children. I am much impressed by the fact that there has been no death anions such a number in eight years. Have they not had the common infantile diseases, such as measles, whooping-cough, and scarlet fever ? " 44 There have been cases of those dis- eases here," replied Minette, 44 but the 192 HEAVEN ON EARTH. children attacked were isolated and carefully nursed, so that none proved fatal. In fact, the little ones do not seem to be easily overcome. They rally quickly whenever they are attacked." " It is wonderful, wonderful," said Mr. Scott, as if in deep meditation. "If the world could only realize how easily they might escape from many of the miseries they now endure, it would seem that they must, as rational beings, bestir themselves, and put away their narrow- minded prejudices. When I recall the sight of the swarming little ragged, unhealthy things in the crowded streets of the large cities, and contrast their appearance with the children playing yonder, I wonder that the old system can continue a day. But we must not despair ; changes will come in God's own A.' ~ »» time. " One nice thing about these children is that they are so intelligent and obe- dient," said Julia. "Children naturally learn readily from each other ; they have their own public opinion, just as much as grown folks do, and if that opinion THE CHILDREN. 193 is in favor of obedience and respect, they all learn it, just as they might otherwise learn to be mischievous and unmanageable. We have a little meet- ing with them after breakfast every ' morning, and talk to them about begin- ning the day right. In that way they are easily controlled." ''Then you do not have to punish them?" " Rarely ever. If one of them should become heedless or show ill-temper, he might be made to sit down by himself a little while and think it over. That would correct it. Before long a good, pleasant look would shine out of his little face, and he would then say he was sorry he had had a bad spirit, and go to play again with the others." "Not a very severe form of disci- pline," said Mr. Scott, smiling. "I used to get soundly spanked for rather light offences when I was a little fellow. "But come, Julia," he added, "will you not go to walk with me over by the ' spring ? I have a plan I would like to unfold to you." 104 HEAVEN ON EARTH. " I am afraid I cannot leave the chil- dren ; it is my duty to attend to them," she replied. "I am at leisure, and will take charge of them until supper time for you," said Minette, "so you can go as well as not." "Oh, thank you," said Julia, and she started off with buoyant step. CHAPTER XVI. A NOTABLE LECTURE. As the season advanced and the out- door work was closed up in preparation for winter, all the members of the Society began to arrange for a time of vigorous study and improvement. Classes were formed in all the common branches, such as mathematics, astron- omy, history, geography, chemistry, and languages. Several of the elderly people began the study of Greek, that they might be able to read the Testa- ment in that original. Classes were also formed for the study of vocal and instrumental music, and for dancing". It was the custom to nave several courses of lectures during the winter, and to present a play on the stage at least once a month. The enthusiasm with which the mem- bers took hold of all these improving things made the winter seem to pass all too quickly. Each one chose what 196 HEAVEN ON EARTH. he or she would study, and the classes were arranged accordingly. Nothing could have been more pleasing than to see the old and young, the men and women, mingling thus. It made the elderly ones feel young again, and the young often found occasion to feel increased respect for the old. It was found that a quiet old gentleman, who was seldom noticed, could spell down every one of the others in the public contests. Another had an excellent knowledge of astronomy, and so on. The plays given by the members were a source of endless mirth and enjoyment. Father Temple announced that, on the twentieth of February, he would deliver a lecture which would, he hoped, mark a new era in their development. Much curiousity was felt as to what this could be, and when the hour for its delivery arrived every member was in his seat. This lecture was so charac- teristic of the man and of his movement, that the reader will demand it verbatim. Here it is : " SCIENTIFIC PROPAGATION." A NOTABLE LECTURE. 197 " To prepare your minds for what I am about to present to you, let me recall briefly how we have been led by inspiration to establish this home. We did not foresee all the difficulties we would have to encounter, nor the exact outcome of our efforts. We began in a small way with such men and means as God gave us, and we have built up a little Society on true principles, which will stand for an example to the world. We have established industries of our own which are now so large and prosperous that our future income seems assured. That was the first step, to become self-supporting. " We have also established schools of our own such as give us all the advantages of the most favored classes, and our young people show the good effects of this culture. We were a good average lot of people, as good as the ordinary run of authors, clergymen, farmers, and mechanics, perhaps, and by our living together in this unitary household we have risen rapidly in the scale of broad intelligence and refine- ment. 198 HEAVEN ON EARTH. " A far greater achievement than these have been to learn to live har- moniously together as we do. That required refinement of spirit and the weeding out of selfishness. A great work has been done in us, and we now live in closer and deeper spiritual fel- lowship than the world knows anything about. " In all these things we have laid a broad and strong foundation for what is to come. The past has been only a time of preparation for the greater things to which we are now called. Our system, in order to be a true and enduring example, must be complete, providing for every human interest, both material and spiritual. It is not yet thus complete, but the most import- ant step of all is the one I will now ask you to consider. " We have made no provision for the begetting and rearing of children for the Society. " I have given much thought to this subject for several years past, but not until recently has my mind become A NOTABLE LECTURE. 199 clear as to our true course in regard to it. We cannot follow the fashions of the world, having put aside marriage as being the stronghold of selfishness ; nor clo we wish to do so, for there is, I believe, a better way. " It should be our purpose to produce the finest possible type of children, not for the selfish gratification of the par- ents, but for the good of the world. To understand how we may do this we must study, in a scientific, truth- loving spirit, the principles which underlie the propagation of improved types of any species. We must put aside all mawkish sentiment and all false modesty, and seek earnestly for the truth. " Leading thinkers have in all ages recognized the analogy between skill- ful propagation of animals and of man. More than two thousand years ago Plato represented Socrates as urging on his pupils this analogy, and the duty resulting from it, in the following conversation : " ' Tefl me this, Glaucon ; in your 200 HEAVEN ON EARTH. house I see both sporting dogs and a great number of well-bred birds ; have you ever attended to their pairing and bringing forth young?' " 'How?' said he. 11 ' First of all, among these, though all be well-bred, are not some of them far better than all the rest ? ' " 'They are.' " ' Do you breed, then, from all alike ; or are you anxious to do so, as far as possible, from the best breeds ?' " 'From the best.' " ' But how? from the youngest or the oldest, or from those quite in their prime?' " ' From those in their prime.' " ' And if they are not thus bred, you consider that the breed, both of birds and dogs, greatly degenerates ? ' " ' I do,' replied he. " ' And what think you as to horses,' said I, 'and other animals ; is the case otherwise with respect to them?' " ' It were absurd to think so,' said he. "'How strange, my dear fellow!' A NOTABLE LECTURE. 201 said I. 'What extremely perfect goverment must we have if the same applies to the human race ! ' '" Nevertheless it is so,' replied he. 11 Now the fact that this great truth was seen so long ago, while no steps have been taken to secure a scientific method of improving the human race by means of propagation, shows that there has been some great and in- surmountable obstacle in the way. Every reasonable person will admit the supreme importance of the subject, and we cannot doubt that it would have been reduced to a practical science long before this if men had been free to act. " The great obstacle which has held the world back is marriage. " Flowers, fruits, and all kinds of domesticated animals have been wonder- fully improved by skillfull breeders. It has been done by careful and scientific selection of individuals for matin o-. The cart horse and the race horse sprang from the same stock. They have been developed into widely differ- ent types by this means. So one type 202 HEAVEN ON EARTH. of cow has been bred for giving a large quantity of milk, and a very different type for beef. Wonderful results have been achieved in the breeding of sheep, swine, pigeons, and, in fact, of all domestic creatures. It seems to be possible to produce any given form or color, by selecting and mating the parents scientifically. A skillful breeder of pigeons used to say that he could produce any given feather in three years, but it would take him six years to obtain head and beak. It is said of this man that he used to spend two or three days in examining, consulting, and disputing with a friend which were the best of five or six birds. Another eminent breeder told a friend that he always deliberated for several days before he matched each pair. "This shows us how science, deals with the subject. Men take advantage of the law that like begets like, that all traits, both good and bad, are trans- missible, to greatly improve all the lower animals. But man himself, the most important being of all, having no A NOTABLE LECTURE. 203 visible superior to compel him to the scientific course in breeding his kind, has not made a similar improvement. The institution of marriage has not permitted a wise selection of individuals (or mating. Mariages are brought about by sentiment. A young man and a young woman fall in love and marry, without giving a thought to what sort of children they are likely to have. It may be that their children are ill-formed, weak, and sickly; they keep on breeding, nevertheless. " In the case of man this matter is of vastly greater importance than with the animals, because intellectual and spirit- ual traits are hereditary, as well as physical traits. Criminals should never be allowed to propagate. It is recorded that of the direct descendants of one woman who was a notorious criminal, the astonishing number of one hundred and eighteen persons were convicted of crime and imprisoned. That illustrates the influence breeding has on the eleva- tion or lowering of human character. To be born right is the most important thing that can happen to a man. 204 HEAVEN ON EARTH. " Those people who cling so tena- ciously to old institutions, no matter how productive of evil they may be, or how much they obstruct the world's progress, may contend that it would be wrong to interfere with what is called 4 natural selection ' of human mates, even while the wonderful results of arti- ficial, scientific selection in breeding animals and birds are freely admitted. It is fashionable to exalt the special magnetic attraction between a young man and a young woman into the highest place, as though it were the loftiest and most worthy sentiment they were capable of. But even this fashion is changing. The ' love in a cottage ' idea is giving place to a prudent out- look in regard to money. It would be only a step farther to take a prudent outlook in regard to what sort of chil- dren any proposed union is likely to produce. As to the naturalness of this, I contend that many things which are natural for man are not natural for the brutes, such as wearing clothes, liv- ing in houses, and cooking our foor. A NOTABLE LECTURE. 205 Nobody would think for a moment that we ought to be governed in those things by the custom of animals, neither should we in such higher matters as propa- gation. We must use our brains, and try to produce the best results. " I have said that marriage is the institution which has prevented the human race from enjoying the enor- mous benefits of scientific propagation. Consider, now, how wonderful it is that we have been led by inspiration to dis- card marriage. We had no thought of its influence on breeding, but we threw it off because it proved to be such a stronghold of selfishness. Now we, alone of all people on the earth, find ourselves free to apply true scientific principles to the breeding of our chil- dren. We have devoted our lives and our energies to establishing a true form of society, and I esteem it a wonderful providence which makes it possible for us to set the world an example in scien- tific propagation. It will make our system complete, and round out our career. 206 HEAVEN ON EARTH. "The study of this subject ought to be a great incentive to individual im- provement. Those who are ambitious to take part in propagation should exer- cise themselves mightily to get rid of their bad traits and to strengthen their good ones. We must strive to be healthy and vigorous physically, and to develop all the nobler qualities of our nature. The work of selection will probably be left to a judicious com- mittee, and they will naturally begin by marking off all who are, from any cause, not fit. Such traits as laziness, conceit, and marked selfishness would disqualify a person just as surely as if he were scrofulous or consumptive. " I look upon it as the noblest ambi- tion we can set before ourselves to produce children perfect in mind, in disposition, and in body. As we ad- vance in years so that our own activities begin to wane, what pride and happiness we can feel if we are able to see such a class growing up in the Society. The children we have are very good, but I believe wonderful results can be pro- A NOTABLE LECTURE. 207 duced by applying scientific principles to the selection of parents for mating. "I have presented these ideas in order that we may all study them to- gether. We must all feel united and sure of our position before we take any practical steps. It will be the supreme test of our unselfishness, but I believe we are now sufficiently advanced to undertake it. We will make haste slowly, and ask God to give us wisdom and grace." CHAPTER XVII. MODERN NICODEMUSES. The radical departure from old cus- toms which Father Temple had made, and the fearless, sincere way in which he published the particulars of his faith and practice through the medium of his weekly paper, attracted to him many con- fidences from persons outside his society who would never have been suspected of harboring a single idea which was not exactly in line with the old ways and usages. Letters were frequently re- ceived from bright, thinking people, asking for more details of the new life, expressing unbounded admiration of what had already been accomplished by the society, and very often making confessions of personal experiences in marriage and out of it, such as gave the members views of ordinary society quite suprising. Many were the tales of married infelicity, of strange incom- MODERN NICODEMUSES. 209 patibilities of disposition and temper, and of heartfelt longing to be free from the yoke, which were told to Father Temple and his people. As the winter months rolled by and the genial month of May came again, a singular coincidence served to impress upon the mind of Mr. Scott the exeed- ing flimsiness of the apparent loyalty to old traditions which people hold up in front of them as a shield. It happened that a letter was received on the same day from each of three prominent men in New York City, asking permission to visit the society. One of these letters was from a distinguished clergyman, another from a well-known physician,' the third from an editor of note. It would be obviously improper to o-ive their names, as it was their evident desire to make quiet, unheralded visits. The clergyman wrote thus: "Rev. Robert Temple. "My Dear Sir:— I have for several years been somewhat familiar with your doctrines and can assure you that while I would not be 210 HEAVEN ON EARTH. permitted to preach them from my pulpit, yet I cannot but feel in my heart that you are right. Your beliefs in regard to the Origin of Evil, the Second Coming of Christ, and the necessity of our being really saved from sin, are so manifestly true that there is no gainsaying them. Yet the world is not ready to accept them, and, humiliating though it be, a hired clergyman can only preach what is acceptable to his flock. "In regard to your social and domestic arrangements I am not fully informed, and I feel some curiosity to observe for myself the practical workings of your system. To this end I write to ask if I may be permitted to make you a brief visit with my wife. We are going to Niagara Falls soon, and could arrange to stop over with you for a day or two. I would like to time our journey so as to arrive at your place on the 20th inst., as I understand this will be before your regular season for receiving visitors opens, and we could therefore have a quiet opportunity to study you by ourselves. Very sincerely yours, The learned physician wrote as follows : " Rev. Robert Temple, "My Dear Sir: — I am at the present time engaged in writing a book in which I MODERN NICODEMUSES. 211 shall treat more especially of nervous diseases such as are caused and aggravated by hurry, worry, and the high pressure of our modern ways of life ; and having read an account of your society, in which the conditions and environments are all so very different from those that obtain in the great world, I beg to ask if you can conveniently accord me the satisfaction of a short visit, in order that I may observe your people and their ways of life for myself? God knows the world has need of some new way of living, if we are to preserve any health at all. It would be most convenient for me to take a fast train which reaches your station about noon, leaving here early in the morning of the 20th inst. My wife wishes to accompany me, as she feels much interest in your people. Kindly advise me by return mail, and oblige." The editor couched his request in these words : " Rev. Robert Temple, " My Dear Sir: — I would ask the privilege of making you a short visit with my wife, for the purpose of studying your system, of which I have read several accounts that inter- ested me deeply. I do not ask this with any intention of writing about you myself, but because I feel a profound admiration of the 212 HEAVEN ON EARTH. courage and skill with which you have con- ducted the experiment thus far, and a hope that it may lead the world up to better things. If acceptable to you my wife and I would leave here by a train which will reach you late in the afternoon of the 20th inst. May we come ? Yours truly, Strangely enough, Mr. Scott had known each of these three men quite well when living in New York, and had met two of them abroad. So when their letters were read in evening meet- ing, and the odd fact that they should have all hit upon the same date for their visits was alluded to, he foresaw an amusing situation. He knew very well that, while the writers were quite sin- cere in their expressions, they would scarcely wish to have it known how much they sympathized with the new movement, because of what their distin- guished acquaintances might say. But he decided to keep his own counsel, for the sake of observing how these people would carry themselves when they MODERN NICODEMUSES. 213 should unexpectedly meet at the Soci- ety. He knew that they were well acquainted with each other, so there would be no escape. Father Temple sent favorable replies to the writers, cordially inviting them to come on the day named. The clergyman and his wife were the first to arrive on the twentieth, coming on an early train. Finding the coast clear, they started out on a tour of inspection, under the friendly guidance of "Aunt Julia." They visited the kitchen, laundry, and all the public rooms, and after spending an hour in the flower-gardens, en^a^ed a team and drove to the silk factory. Scarcely had they gone when the physician and his wife alighted from another train. The doctor was a bus- tlincr, energetic little man with rotund form and bald head. After eatine luncheon, he was taken in charge by Mr. Pendell, and, with pencil and note- book in hand, was soon racing about from one place to another, asking ques- tions at the rate of three or four a minute. 214 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Three hours later the editor and his wife arrived. The day was then too far spent to allow of sight-seeing, so they retired to their room to rest and prepare for supper. So it happened that neither of the couples met until they entered the dining-room and were seated together at the visitors' table. Then there was a mutual recognition, somewhat embarrassed salutations, and notwithstanding these people were too well-bred to betray the surprise they really felt, there was a slight bowing of heads over teacups, as the comical aspect of the situation dawned upon them. Mr. Scott, who sat at a table in another part of the room, where he could observe them, had much ado not to laugh outright, but he managed to suppress the disposition, resolving to make himself known to them after supper. When the meal was over, the visitors all retired to the reception-room, actu- ated by a common desire to make explanations. A little later Mr. Scott also entered the room. The clergyman MODERN NICODEMUSES. 215 and his wife were seated on a large, old-fashioned sofa, covered with hair- cloth. The doctor and his wife and the editor and his wife had drawn large rocking-chairs up in front of the sofa, so they were all assembled in a little group, and so occupied in what they were saying that they did not notice Mr. Scott when he first entered. As he approached them, the clergyman was saying : "Yes, I had heard so much about this strange society, that finding I could spend a few hours here without losing my Western connections, I decided to run up and look it over. Of course I have no sympathy with such radical ideas, but nowadays a clergyman must know what the world is." 11 Thas is so," chimed in the editor; "we cannot properly criticise any new development such as this until we under- stand what it is, and what its claims are. "My visit is merely in the interest of science," said the physician. " I am here to study the conditions which 216 HEAVEN ON EARTH. relate to health, and to compare them with ordinary conditions. I do not concern myself with the religious doctrines or social theories of the society." As the little man said this he hap- pened to glance over his shoulders and saw Mr. Scott. Recognizing him in- stantly he leapt to his feet, grasped him by the hand, and in a loud, hearty voice exclaimed : 4 'Good evening, Mr. Scott, when did you arrive ? Are all the rest of our New York friends on the way here, or what has happened to send you on alone?" At this they all laughed heartily, and shook Mr. Scott by the hand. " I might retort by asking how it happens that three such representative men from my native town should resolve to visit this quiet place to- gether?" he replied. "Are you all turned Perfectionists, and have you come to join ?" " Lord bless you ! no," replied the little doctor. " We did not come MODERN NICODEMUSRS. 217 together, but met here quite by chance. The strangest part of it is that each of our visits is in a manner accidental. One lost a train, the others found them- selves thrown this way by unusual circumstances, and so here we are, determined to make the best of it. Strange, is it not ? What accident, drove you here ? " " What you tell me about yourselves is, indeed, quite surprising." said Mr. Scott. " I have been living here some months myself, as a probationary mem- ber, and when I heard your letters read in our evening meeting, asking permis- sion to visit us, I judged that your coming would be by calm design, and not at all by accident. How do you explain that ? " "Ho! ho! ho!" laughed the little doctor, clapping his hands, "here's a go, sure enough. We may as well own up, all of us, and leave off this hypoc- risy. Mr. Scott can see through us if he has read our letters." "That is true," said Mr. Scott. " It seems to me that you worthy people are 218 HEAVEN ON EARTH. suffering from such an abject fear of each other's opinions that you scarcely dare tell the truth. In your hearts you sympathize with the doctrines taught by Father Temple, and you would un- doubtedly enjoy living here. If you only had the courage to speak out your real views, you would find you have nothing to fear, as half the world is heartily tired of the old system, and ready for something better." " I guess that is pretty nearly the truth," said the editor. "We are afraid of each other. But how does it happen that we find you in the position of a probationary member, friend Scott ? You seem to be quite an advanced student of the new system." "Yes, I have lived among these peo- ple for nearly a year, and the more I see of them, the better I like them. I hope you will all remain here long enough to understand them. Now that there is no further occasion for your keeping on your disguises, why not candidly and fearlessly investigate? I will do all I can to aid you." MODERN NICODEMUSES. 219 "Thank you," said the editor. "I, for one, will accept your offer." "So will I," said the physician. "And I," said the clergyman. " If Mr. Scott can afford to spend a year here, I do not think a day or two will harm us," said the clergyman's wife. So it was settled that they would all remain. Finding that Mr. Scott was acquainted with these people, Father Temple requested him to give up his time to them, and to arrange whatever entertainments he thought proper for the evening hours. As master of cere- monies, he o^ave one entire evening" to music. The orchestra played the overtures to "William Tell" and to 'Zampa," a set of waltzes by Lanner, and a work entitled " La Bambinella," by one Carolus Swift, a member of the Society. The children sang several pretty songs and performed their little pantomime. Miss Minette Pendell sang the "Angel's Serenade," by Braga, Hugo Fairfax playing the violin obli- gato with great delicacy ; and Miss Julia 220 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Fordham rendered several piano solos most acceptably. Mr. Scott was really proud of these performers, who, being in the main self-taught, might easily have been taken for professionals. Performing together daily had given them a smooth and agreeable execution. The doctor was passionately fond of music, and grew positively enthusiastic. The lady visitors declared, withone voice, that the children were better trained than any they had ever seen before. The next evening was given up to a dance in the Hall. The chairs and tables were stacked away in the ante- rooms, and the floor was carefully pre- pared. They danced good old-fashioned quadrilles, country dances, reels, etc., not having become versed in the mod- ern round dances. The doctor and his wife took part in this healthy exercise, and so did the editor and his wife ; but the clergyman could not permit such an indulgence, though he looked on in an interested way. It was a novelty to see the ladies of the society dance in their short dresses and pantalettes. MODERN NICODEMUSES. 221 The third and last evening was spent in the ordinary way, the evening meet- ing occupying the hour from eight till nine o'clock. There was the customary news report and reading of correspond- ence, followed by religious conversation. By this time the visitors had begun to feel the atmosphere of brotherly love and fellowship which reigned here. Every possible kindness had been shown them ; they had been accorded every means of studying the system, and when, at length, the hour for their departure arrived and they were standing together on the platform of the railway station, the little doctor turned to the clergy- man and the editor, and said, as he pointed back at the dwelling of the society with his umbrella: " I honestly believe those are the most upright and sincere people I have ever met. There is not a particle of cant, of pretence, or sham about them, but they are genuine, through and through." " I quite agree with you," responded the clergyman; "I was just thinking 222 HEAVEN ON EARTH. that they are to be envied the freedom they have earned to always say precisely what they mean. There must be an immense satisfaction in it." " Yes," said the editor, " the most ridiculous thing in the world is the deference we pay to Mrs. Grundy." CHAPTER XVIII. MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. As the year of Mr. Scott's probation- ary membership drew to a close he received a letter from his lady cousin, Mrs. Vincent, reminding him of his engagement to meet her and his other friends, to report his impressions of the Society of the Perfect Life, and his decision as to becoming a full or coven- anting member. He replied, promis- ing to be present on the appointed day, and immediately began his preparations for the journey. He had a long talk with Father Temple, in which they discussed future plans and prospects. The leader had never before been so full of courage and enthusiasm. He wished that he might live to see the whole world enjoying the benefits of his discoveries, looking forward to a time when friendly co-operation should take the place of selfish competition. 224 HEAVEN ON EARTH. The members of the Society had become strongly attached to Mr. Scott, and at his leave-taking the salutations were so affectionate and sincere as to move him deeply. Quite a party went over to the station to see him off. George Stanley came forward to press his hand and wish him prosperity. Julia, Minette, and many others gave him ample proofs of their regard. Then he sprang up the steps into the car and was whirled away to New York. How strange it seemed to him to find himself again in the atmosphere of tobacco and whiskey-laden breaths, and to begin paying out money for everything he wanted! If he had dropped down from another planet the change could not have impressed him more. Behold him at length again seated in the drawing-room of Mrs. Vincent's handsome residence, prepared to dis- cuss and explain all the features of the new life. Mr. Vincent and the Rev. Mr. Lancrford and his wife were also present. Mrs. Vincent opened the con- MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 225 versation with the promptness and vivacity natural to her. "Cousin George," she began, "our ideas of social reform have changed somewhat during the year that you have spent at the Society of the Per- fect Life. We have been all reading up on the subject, and I hope you will not find us so ignorant in regard to it as we were a year ago. The Society you visited is becoming quite well known. We have read some of Mr. Temple's writings, and as far as religion is concerned, even Mr. Langford has to admit that he is pretty sound. We are not so sure about his social theories and practices, and have been waiting in some suspense to hear you report." "It makes me happy to know that I am to have so friendly and sympathetic an audience," replied Mr. Scott. "How shall I make my report? Would you like to question me, or shall I L>ive eive a brief and succinct account of what I found there ? "I should like to have Mr. Scott give us a clear, connected statement 226 HEAVEN ON EARTH. without interruptions," said Mr. Vin- cent. " If he fails to satisfy our curi- osity on any point we can remember it, and after he has finished his story ask him questions." " That will be the best way," said Mr. Langford ; and as the ladies also signified their approval, Mr. Scott began : " I will try to sketch the Society to you just as it would appear, and as it would impress you, if you were to go there. " First, as to externals. Picture to yourselves a beautiful valley ; on a com- manding eminence in the midst of it, and surrounded by trees, lawns, and flower-gardens, stands a stately and well- proportioned edifice of brick, trimmed with granite. This edifice is designed for a unitary home for fifty or sixty ordinary-sized families, or about three hundred persons, men, women, and chil- dren ; and it is full. It has only one kitchen, where the cooking is done for all ; one dining-room, large enough to accommodate everyone ; one laundry, MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 227 and so on. There is a large Hall in the building, which serves at once as a chapel, a theater, and a family sitting- room. The Society owns broad fields, with orchards and vineyards, and busy factories. The most perfect order and neatness reign everywhere. "Secondly, as to organization. All the property is owned in common ; each member has a voice in deciding affairs, the women equally with the men ; there is no friction, but the utmost harmony prevails. The Society is very successful in business, and the income is now ample. The members have the repu- tation of being perfectly truthful and honest in all their dealings. It is a common saying among their neighbors that the word of a member of the Society of the Perfect Life is as good as a bond. The banks are ready to lend them any sums of money they may desire, but they dislike debt. "In regard to spiritual things, I con- sider them much in advance of the world. They live for each other instead of for themselves, and this 228 HEAVEN ON EARTH. makes a home the like of which was never seen before on earth. By the way, when I first told you about this society a year ago, Mr. Langford re- marked that such socialistic movements were all alike, and all equally certain to end in failure. Permit me to point out to at the beginning of our talk the inaccuracy of this statement. The Society of the Perfect Life is unique, quite different from anything ever before attempted in the history of the world, so far as we know, and it must be judged by itself. 11 As to the life I led there, while it seemed very strange to me at first, I fell into their ways quite readily. When I was hungry I went to the dining room, where I was abundantly fed ; yet I never paid any board-bill. When I wanted new clothes or new shoes I went to the society's tailor or shoe- maker, and was fitted to my taste. When my clothes were done I did not even ask the price of them, but simply carried them away and put them on. Their cost was charged to the common MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 229 ' Clothing Account' In fact, I was not charged for anything while I was there, and actually did not receive nor pay out a cent of money for nearly a year. I worked several hours each day, but received no wages. My health was excellent ; I never felt better in my life. It was just like living in one's father's family with severaf hundred brothers and sisters, all nice, refined, lovable people. 'The fashions in vogue at the society are quite different from ours, but I found them sensible and attractive. I brought with me some photographs of the buildings and of the members, thinking you would like to see them." 11 Indeed, we would," cried the ladies in concert. "You were very (jood to think of that." Mr. Scott went to a side-table and took up a package which he had previ- ously placed there. He quietly undid it, while the others drew their chairs close up to him. There were several photographs of the dwelling and fac- tories, taken from various' points of 230 HEAVEN ON EARTH. view ; others represented a large group of members on the lawn, with Father Temple standing in their midst; Minette singing on the stage in the Hall, with Hugo and Julia playing her accompani- ment ; a group of the smallest children, with their little wheelbarrows and wagons, playing under the tall pine trees ; and a typical " fruit-bee." There were also cabinet portraits of Father Temple, Mother Temple, Julia Ford- ham, and half-a-dozen others. " I will make these part of my report," said Mr. Scott, as he handed them out. The pictures were passed around from hand to hand, and eagerly scanned. "What a strange style of dress!" exclaimed Mrs. Langford. " Yet it does not look nearly as unattractive as I had supposed it would from the de- scription. But these are all girls ; did none of the women stand in the group ?" " Many of those you see are women of thirty and forty, and some of them even older," replied Mr. Scott. MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 231 " Can that be possible ? They appear like eirls, with their short hair and short dresses." "Yes, it gives a much more youthful appearance than do your fashions." "Who is this crirl?" asked Mrs. Vin- cent, holding up a photograph. " Her name is Julia Fordham ; she is the same who is playing the piano in the other picture. What do you think of her?" "She would be beautiful if she were properly dressed and had not cut off her hair. Are you specially interested in her ?" "She is a very lovable girl," replied Mr. Scott. " But let us not be drawn away from the order we laid down. " I wish to bring clearly to your minds the fact that this Society has now been in existence long enough to demonstrate fully its completeness and its many advantages. The people composing it were only a fair average slice of our population, if I may use such an expression ; therefore I think their system capable of general adop- 232 HEAVEN ON EARTH. tion. You may consider my report finished, and proceed to question me." The Rev. Mr. Langford had been examining the photographs very thoughtfully, particularly those of the people. He looked at Father Temple's portrait a long time, and it was evident that he was in a severe exercise of mind. The pictures, and what Mr. Scott had reported, had impressed upon him the fact that the work accomplished by the Society was too great, and its obvious lessons too important, to be pooh- poohed away. It was difficult for him to change opinions which he had once formed, but he was an honest, fair- minded man, and he knew that we must all be judged by our fruits. The fruits of the Society were so evidently good as to compel in him a feeling of respect ; yet it cost him a struggle to admit to himself that a movement so at variance with the established order of things could be worthy of consideration. "Mr. Scott," he said at length, with great seriousness of manner, "I have the fullest confidence in your integrity MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 233 and truthfulness, and I want to ask you, right here and now, whether it is your honest belief that this Mr. Temple and his followers are good, moral people? I want you to answer me that without any mental reservation whatever, but in the plainest possible way." "I certainly do consider them good, moral people," replied Mr. Scott. "They are the best and most unselfish people I have ever personally known." " But they have discarded marriage, and are living together in one great home. Now, though they may be kind- hearted and unselfish towards each other as you say, do you consider them to be leading pure and moral lives ? " " I do, as I have already told you. But you need not take my unsupported word for it. You ouoht to know enough about human nature to understand that if these people were leading lives of hypocrisy, preaching the doctrine that we must all be saved from sin, while they practiced sensual self-indulgence, they could not have lived together in harmony for a single week. Jealous 234 HEAVEN ON EARTH. ies and quarrels would have sprung up such as would inevitably have dis- rupted the Society. The fact that they have gone on peacefully and har- moniously for so many years is the strongest possible proof that they have ofood consciences before God. I should be compelled to admit that from my knowledge of human nature, even if I had never seen them ; but having lived with them for a year I can add the most emphatic personal testimony to their uprightness." " It is almost incomprehensible to me how such a system can exist," said Mr. Langford. " My observations of human nature lead me to distrust it pretty thoroughly. I cannot see how, the rest of the world being under the domin- ion of sin, this particular three hundred should be saved from it as you claim." "The explanation is simple," replied Mr. Scott. " Man has not power in himself to overcome the evil one, but God has that power. As soon as we learn to let the spirit of God control us in every affair of life we are saved from MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 235 temptation and from sin. We become filled with an exceeding great love of God and of His Son, such that no other thing is half so attractive to us. Then nothing can tempt us to do any- thing which would be displeasing to God, or which would shut off the cur- rent of His love. It is not probable that the three hundred persons who now compose the Society of the Per- fect Life would have achieved this spiritual victory if they had remained in their isolated, worldly homes, and had never met Father Temple. He is the medium of the good, heavenly spirit to his followers. It is he who upholds them in the attitude of faith, trust, and waiting on inspiration. I do not know that all those people are yet sufficiently well-established in their spiritual self-conquest, or that they might not relapse into tempta- tions and selfishness if Father Temple's controlling influence were removed, or if they were to go back into the world again." "That statement brings the matter 230 HEAVEN ON EARTH. more within my comprehension," said Mr. Langforcl. " Mr. Temple is evi- dently a very remarkable man. It fol- lows from what you say, does it not, that the system he has established is not capable of general adoption, except as such inspired leaders can be found ?'' "Yes, the system is dependent on such leadership. There must also be a change of heart and a putting away of selfishness before mankind can realize such great blessings as broad unity and close fellowship with large numbers." "I do not care to ask any more ques- tions," said Mr. Langford. "The whole matter seems to me to hinge on the character of the people and of the lives they lead. If the new system makes better men and women than the old one, then it is a better system, and it is useless to contend otherwise. What you say satisfies me on that point, and I do not feel like making small, carping objections to their way of life. If it is possible to adopt better social forms, such as will shut out evil influ- ences and invite in good ones, I, as a MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 237 minister of the gospel, ought to wel- come them ; and I can readily under- stand that such homes, where none of the worst temptations could enter, and where each member was watchful of the good of all the others, would do much to elevate mankind." "The important thing is to get rid of selfishness," said Mr. Scott. " No social reform will amount to much that does not accomplish that." "One feature of the new system struck me as being really admirable," said Mrs. Langford. "Mr. Scott tells us that the women have an equal voice with the men in deciding all matters. Does that hold £ood in regard to busi- ness moves, questions of investment, the election of managers, and so on ? " " Certainly," replied Mr. Scott ; " the women are made perfectly free to pro- pose new moves, to take part in discus- sions, and to vote on all questions. Their votes count for as much as, the men s. " That is excellent " said Mrs. Lane- ford. "It tempts me to wish to join the society myself." 238 HEAVEN ON EARTH. Mr. Langford looked at his worthy spouse and smiled. He had grown used to her enthusiasm for women's rights. Mr. Scott continued : " A year under Father Temple's in- struction has given me a new com- prehension of the bearing our lives have on the question of saving our souls. I have heard plenty of good doctrine preached on this subject in the churches, but I have not seen it practised before in a saving way. The salvation of our souls is unquestionably the supremely important object, to which all our efforts in this life should be directed. ' What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul ? ' That is a plain, sensible question. Now let us suppose for a moment that we can look down on the world as the angels do ; what should we see ? Nations armed with soldiers, cruisers, and cannon, watching each other like savage bull- dogs, each one ready to go to war and to subjugate another whenever it can be caught at a disadvantage ; men and MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 239 women everywhere engaged in a fierce strife of competition for the possession of power and wealth, the strong crush- ing the weak, some living in gross luxury, others starving ; prisons filled with those who have committed crimes; asylums filled with those who have lost their reason in the mad rush of modern life ; poorhouses filled with wretched paupers ; a large police force maintained in every city in order that honest citi- zens may go about without being killed and robbed ; married life marked by divorces, jealousies, and murders 'with- out number ; thousands of children be- gotten while their parents were intoxi- cated, and by criminals ; the whole system of human propagation as un- scientific as possible. That is what we should see. It is not a pleasant or refined picture, is it?" " I declare, cousin George," exclaimed Mrs. Vincent, " you have a strange way of holding things up to us ! There is a great deal of good in the world as well as evil." " That is quite true, blit must we not 240 HEAVEN ON EARTH. get rid of the evil before we shall be fit to enter heaven ? It seems to me that men are so swamped in the miseries of the old social system that they have grown indifferent to the question of salvation." 11 The fact is we haven't time to attend to it properly," said Mr. Vincent. " Most men have to give their whole time and strength to earning their bread and butter. They go to church once a week, perhaps, and let such good men as Mr. Langford talk to them for an noun That is all the attention they can afford to give to the subject." " Why, Reginald, please don't talk so ; it sounds positively irreligious," said Mrs. Vincent. " But is it not true ?" "Unhappily it is true of too many," said Mr. Langrford. "It is an awful state of things. Our only hope is in God's mercy." "I do not think you realize how much evil is protected and fostered by these old institutions, such as the private ownership of property, and MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 241 marriage," said Mr. Scott. " It is true that in the old system men are com- pelled to strive with their fellows for the means of subsistence. They have to look out for their wives and little ones, and that seems a worthy motive. But acquisitiveness becomes a passion, cold and cruel, willing to ruin others for its own gain. It hardens the heart and deadens the spiritual nature. I once saw an eagle catch and devour an honest hen. It swooped down upon its defenceless prey, seizing it alive in its horrid claws. Then with its great,, curved beak it stripped the feathers from the side of its screaming victim, and with one strong blow of its bill penetrated the abdomen and drew forth the steaming entrails to devour them. It is a dreadful sight thus to see a strong, soulless creature destroy a defenceless one. There is no trace of sympathy, no hesitation, but a calm, deliberate rending of the victim. But have you not seen equally cold-blooded and cruel things done in what is called business'? I have known men with 243 HEAVEN .ON EARTH. enormous capital to deliberately plan the financial ruin of those less fortified, utterly regardless of the suffering and want they were bringing on innocent mothers and children. Such soulless men are the eagles of society." "That is a common sight," said Mr. Vincent. " It is one of the incidents of competition." " Contrast now, if you will," con- tinued Mr. Scott, " the two systems I have pictured to you. In the Society of the Perfect Life not a single crime has been committed during a quarter of a century ; nor has there been an in- stance of poverty, want, or neglect. It is a state where there is no strife nor intrigue, but where brotherly love and Christian fellowship reign. Above all, every individual there has ample time to attend to his salvation. That is his first business, morning, noon, and night. If all the world would put away selfish- ness and adopt that system, there would no longer be any need of politicians, lawyers, soldiers, or policemen. Every- one would do his share of honest toil MR. SCOTT'S DECISION. 243 but none would need to labor more than three or four hours daily to pro- duce all that was required. The rest of the time could be devoted to improv- ing pursuits and innocent recreations. It would be a system of universal co- operation, with love as the medium of exchange. " Looking on the two systems, can you ask me in which I shall choose to cast my lot? Assuredly, I shall return to the little Heaven on Earth, where I have been so happy, and where I have learned so much of the deeper philos- ophy of life." THE END.