Mr. World and Miss Church-Member: A Twentieth Century AllegoryHarris, W. S. (William Shuler)
Religion
Mr. World and Miss Church-Member: A Twentieth Century Allegory
Harris, W. S. (William Shuler)
Christian fiction
“Certain nerves which ramify through the human heart have been affected
emotionally by the nonsensical teachings of the King’s Highway. These
teachings are commonly known us ‘Narrow-Gauge Ideas.’ If these nerves
are rendered insensible, there is scarcely any trouble of that kind
again. We can, by an intricate operation, paralyze the mother-nerve
leading to the heart, and thereafter you may expect to find the heart
of this woman almost dead to the foolish influences that needlessly
send conviction and remorse into so many lives.”
While the physician was rapidly speaking these words, the surgeon had
arrived, and they forthwith proceeded to the operating room.
Mr. World watched the attendants as they carried Miss Church-Member
away. He saw her no more that day, but heard that the operation was
successful, and that the patient was resting quietly.
One of the managers of the institution, knowing that Mr. World was
companionless, offered to escort him through the various departments
of the Hospital. To this he gave his hearty consent.
They first went to the tower which proved to be a magnificent point
of view. Here he could see far and wide, for the building itself was
situated on elevated ground, and the tower rose far into the air.
On one side of the Hospital stretched away the Broad Highway more
pleasing at this point of the route than at many others, and far away
it seemed to lead into pleasant woodland realms.
On the other side of the building passed the King’s Highway, which,
at this point, was exceedingly rough and uninviting to the view.
Thus I saw how the shrewdness of Hell was exercised in locating
hospitals at such places.
“Ignorance is the mother of all that folly,” said Mr. World with a
feeling of self-satisfaction, “I see a long line of separate buildings
just below us--there along the King’s Highway. What purpose do they
serve?”
“Those are medical offices under the supervision of this hospital-
staff. Any one traveling on the Narrow Path, and falling sick there,
may enter for help and restoration. If the case be difficult, or
requiring an operation, or even special nursing, the patient is brought
to the hospital.”
“Are you successful in most of your operations, especially with those
patients who come from such a rugged path?”
“Fortunately we succeed in effecting a cure in almost every case. We
can only deal with those who voluntarily come to our medical staff.
Many, in sad need of our help, pass by all our special offices without
ever seeking advice.”
“Are your patients foolish enough, after having been treated, to go
back to that jolting road, and thus again invite their ills?”
“Most of our patients go hence on the more delightful way which you
see, and on which you have come hither.”
“What diseases most commonly affect those who come to your physicians
and hospitals for help?”
“Let me answer your question by taking you down to those offices. You
may there observe for yourself.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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