Conversion of a High Priest into a Christian Worker Part 8

Much consideration will be given to the methods of the Y. M. C. A., and Y. W. C. A. This two-fold Inst.i.tution, which in the opinion of Christian leaders, and the most distinguished sociologists, of the present time, is the very best agency to approach all nations, and spread civilization, well established upon the fundamental principles of Christianity.

For the last few months in my struggle trying to establish the Greek-Amerikan-Christian-a.s.sociation and at the same time keep my soul and body together providing a lean livelihood by selling this book, I can truthfully say that I had more experiences than in all my life before. One clergyman of the high Episcopal church in the most fashionable Back Bay, Boston, offered to grant me the use of his church any time I wanted to offer the ma.s.s as high priest according to the ritual of the Greek Orthodox Church, if I would only "break off all relations with Protestant bodies here in America." I have a letter from this clergyman which is the most astounding fact of his inconsistency, because he himself is an active member of the Bible Club, a purely Protestant organization: he invited me to one of their meetings, but he would not purchase my book to help me to my bread and b.u.t.ter. Another clergyman, a member of the executive committee of City Missions, Boston, would not purchase my book, unless I offered myself to be employed by them at a certain salary, and he gave me his card introducing me to the chairman of that organization.

Last winter I began to preach to the Greeks at Kneeland street, Boston, in the open air, and when I went to see the police captain of that district he promised to co-operate with me and gave me his consent to go on with my work, but the following Sunday his Lieutenant came up to me, while I was preaching on the street, he stopped me, on the pretense, that he was informed of a plot among the Greeks to take my life. And when I made my complaints to the General Secretary of New England Missions, he told me that I should have known that Boston is a Catholic town, and that the police being informed that I was an ex-priest, they simply would not tolerate me. Horror stricken by this statement I went to see the captain myself, and the very same man who promised co-operation, only a few days hence, he stood up in front of my face and in a savage manner told me that he would not tolerate me to preach on the streets of Boston.

The names of all concerned are in my possession and open to investigation by the general public. But I will omit them here for reasons well understood.

A number of other discouraging instances, only worked together to deeper impress upon my heart the importance and the excellency of my high calling. Sooner or later, in the inevitable law of evolution and universal progress, the Greek nation must be regenerated in spirit and in truth: and I believe that it is not only a case of courtesy, but, there is a sense of duty for every true American man and woman to co-operate in the uplifting of all mankind. As for me I fully appreciate the privilege to suffer for the benefit of my fellow men, and I can hopefully repeat Tennyson's immortal words:

Once in a golden hour I cast to earth a seed, Up then came a flower, The people said, a weed.

To and fro they went Thro' my garden bower, And muttering discontent Cursed me and my flower.

Then it grew so tall, It wore a crown of light, But thieves from o'er the wall Stole the seed by night.

Sow'd it far and wide, By every town and tower, Till all the people cried, "Splendid is the flower:"

Read my little fable, He that runs may read: Most can raise the flower now, For all have got the seed.

_Conclusion_

Allow me, dear reader, to say in closing, that it is my sincere opinion that in view of the reasonings and facts presented in the preceding pages, every individual who reads this Book intelligently, and who is in possession of a sound and unprejudiced reason, will come to the conclusion that there is only one religion worth having, and that is the religion by Jesus, of Jesus, for Jesus, which is the revelation of the Bible, Divinely adapted to produce the greatest present and eternal spiritual good to the human family. And if anyone should doubt His power (which, in view of its adaptations and its effects as herein developed, would involve the absurdity of doubting whether an intelligent design had an intelligent designer), still, be the origin of the Gospel of Jesus where it may, in heaven, earth, or h.e.l.l, the demonstration is conclusive that it is the only religion possible for man, in order to perfect his nature, and restore his lapsed powers to harmony and holiness, which is the only avenue to usefulness and happiness.