"In our other talks, we have named the elements of each rock, and given
some study to each. We have found that some of their elements are the
basic elements of our own mortal frames--our bodies have a common
earth-mother with these stones.
"This last fact puts them in the Brotherhood--of Man."
The seven hundred men showed their appreciation of the point made by
prolonged applause.
"Now I want to make clear to you that, although these rocks have
different market values, are put to different uses, the real value for
us this evening consists in the fact that each, in its own place, can
yield a crystal equal in purity to the others.--Remember this the next
time you go to work in the quarries and the sheds."
He laid aside the specimens.
"We had a talk last month about the guilds of four hundred years ago. I
asked you then to look upon yourselves as members of a great twentieth
century working guild. Have you done it? Has every man, who was present
then, said since, when hewing a foundation stone, a block for a bridge
abutment, a corner-stone for a cathedral or a railroad station, a
cap-stone for a monument, a milestone, a lintel for a door, a
hearthstone or a step for an altar, 'I belong to the great guild of the
makers of this country; I quarry and hew the rock that lays the enduring
bed for the iron or electric horses which rush from sea to sea and carry
the burden of humanity'?--Think of it, men! Yours are the hands that
make this great track of commerce possible. Yours are the hands that
curve the stones, afterwards reared into noble arches beneath which the
people assemble to do God reverence. Yours are the hands that square the
deep foundations of the great bridges which, like the Brooklyn, cross
high in mid-air from shore to shore! Have you said this? Have you done
it?"
"Ay, ay.--Sure.--We done it." The murmuring assent was polyglot.
"Very well--see that you keep on doing it, and show that you do it by
the good work you furnish."
He motioned to the manipulators in the gallery to make ready for the
stereopticon views. The blank blinding round played erratically on the
curtain. The entire audience sat expectant.
There was flashed upon the screen the interior of a Canadian "cabin."
The family were at supper; the whole interior, simple and homely, was
indicative of warmth and cheerful family life.
The Canucks in the audience lost their heads. The clapping was frantic.
Father Honore smiled. He tapped the portrayed wall with the end of his
pointer.
"This is comfort--no cold can penetrate these walls; they are double
plastered. Credit limestone with that!"
The audience showed its appreciation in no uncertain way.
"The crystal--can any one see that--find that in this interior?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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