e hurried interrogatories, an affirmative
was meekly but distinctly given.

"Well, don't you know that _that_ isn't the Gospel? He is not
guilty of preaching the Gospel, Mr. Prosecutor, and will have to
be discharged. You can go, sir, but if this Court ever learns that
you have been really guilty of preaching the Gospel without
first taking an oath to support the Constitution of the State of
Missouri, you will have to be punished, sir; the Court will see
that there is no evasion of this salutary provision of our most
excellent Constitution. _Go, sir."_

A clean-shaven, benevolent-looking gentleman of middle age was next
in evidence. He had but recently assumed his present pastorate
and was a deeply interested and attentive observer of all that was
happening. In reply to the inquiry from the bench, he answered
that he was a Universalist.

"A Universalist!" replied the judge, almost astounded beyond the
power of expression. Recovering himself, he at length inquired:

"You preach the doctrine of universal salvation, do you?"

A slight bow indicated such to be the fact.

"You preach," continued his Honor, with warmth well suited to
the subject-matter, "that there is no hell?"

A bow, much more emphatic, was unmistakable evidence that its author
was a man who had the courage of his convictions.

"He doesn't believe that _there is any hell,_ Mr. Prosecutor,"
thundered the judge, "he will have to be discharged; it is no
violation of the Constitution of the State of Missouri to preach
such infernal nonsense as that."

The official admonition, "Depart, sir," was promptly obeyed, and
the apostle of the broad highway followed quickly in the wake of
the aforementioned disciples of Calvin and Wesley, in the "narrow path"
which led straightway out of the crowded court-room.

In rapid succession the two remaining prisoners on the front bench
were questioned, and each in turn found "not guilty" of preaching the
Gospel. An avowal of his belief in the tenet of "the Apostolic
succession" instantly resulted in the acquittal of the first, while
the second was with equal promptness found "not guilty" upon his
admission that he preached the doctrine of "regeneration by ----"
There was much confusion in the court-room at this moment, and
the reporter failed to catch the concluding words of the confession.
Finding himself, moreover, getting into _deep water,_ he thoughtfully
left on record that both the Episcopalian and the