"Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand
hills * * * for the world is mine, and the fulness
thereof."--_Psalms 50:10, 12_.
The King of Poland and his counselor lodged that night in the city.
Early next morning, Paulus came again for them.
"What do you wish to see, today?" he asked.
"Take us to some or your workshops and mills," replied the King; "we
would like to learn more of your social and industrial conditions, about
which we have heard."
A car soon took them to a part of the city where the workshops were
situated. The buildings were not great, black-looking structures with
rows of small windows in the walls; but they were handsome, spacious
buildings, resembling somewhat the finest of the public buildings with
which the visitors were acquainted in their own country. Remand noted
the absence of smoking chimneys, and inquired about them.
"We have done away with all that," explained Paulus. "Pure air is one of
the essentials to life. One of the crudest imperfections of the past was
the wilderness of smoking chimneys which belched forth their blackness
and poison into the atmosphere. As you have noticed, our city is clean,
and the air above us is as clear as that above forests or fields."
"I suppose you use electricity for light and power," remarked Remand;
"but you need heat, too."
"We use electricity for heat also," was explained. "We get it direct
from the earth, also have it generated by water power, both from falls
and the waves of the sea, and transmitted to us. Some of these power
stations are hundreds of miles away among the mountains, and by the sea.
We have also learned to collect and conserve heat from the sun; so, you
see, we are well supplied for all purposes. This building," said the
instructor, pointing to the one in front of which they had stopped, "is
a furniture factory. Would you like to see it in working operation?"
"Yes; very much," said the King.
They entered clean, well-lighted, airy rooms where beautiful machinery
was being operated by well-dressed and happy-looking workmen. The
visitors passed from section to section, noting, admiring, and asking
questions.
"Whose factory is this?" asked Remand of the guide.
"You mean who has charge--who is the steward?" corrected Paulus.
"No; not exactly that. This magnificent plant must have an owner, either
an individual or a corporation. I asked for the ownership of the
property."
The guide looked strangely at his companions. Then he realized that
these men had come from the parts of the earth where the celestial order
had not yet been established. The old ideas of private property rights
were still with them.
"My friends," he said, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness
thereof. He is the only proprietor. How can weak, mortal man own any
part of this earth! No, ownership is for a future time, a future state.
Now we are only stewards over the Lord's possession."
"But someone must have charge here," said the king.
"Certainly. A master mechanic is steward over this factory, and he
renders an account of all its doings to the Bishop, who is the Lord's
representative. In this building, as you have seen, are many
departments, and these are also stewardships, given to those in whose
charge they are. Likewise, each workman has a stewardship for which he
is responsible and accountable to the Lord."
They came to the wood-carving department where beautiful designs were
being drawn and executed.
"Each man, as far as possible, does the kind of work best suited to his
tastes and abilities. Here, for instance, those who are skilled carvers
of wood find employment for their talent, and they turn out some fine
articles of furniture. Of course, we have machines that stamp and carve
wood; but the pleasure derived from the use of the skilled hand is not
to be denied the well-trained mechanic and artist."
"I don't quite understand what you mean by stewardships," said Remand
as they passed into a rest room.
"Let us sit down here," replied Paulus, "and I shall try to explain
further. You must know that all this order, beauty, peace, and plenty
has been attained by an observance of celestial law. And the celestial
law as pertaining to temporal things is that no man shall have more than
is required for his and his family's support. In this respect all men
are equal according to their needs. In olden times, this law was called
the order of Enoch, because we are informed that Enoch and his city
attained to a high degree of righteousness through its observance. Later
it was called the United Order. It has been revealed to and tried by men
in various periods of the earth's history, but never has it had such a
chance to redeem the world as it is having now. According to this law,
no man can accumulate unto himself the wealth created by the work of
others, as was the case in former times with us, and still prevails to
some extent among other nations. All surplus which a worker accumulates
beyond his needs is turned into the general storehouse of the Lord. Thus
each man becomes equal in temporal things as well as in spiritual
things. There is no rich or poor: each man obtains what he requires, and
no more."
"What is the extent of this surplus?" asked the King. "Is it large?"
"Yes; because of the nearly perfect condition of our industrial system,
a great amount of wealth flows into the general storehouse. You will
understand, of course, that all public institutions receive their
support from this fund, so that the old order of taxes is done away
with. You have noticed our beautiful city. You have not seen palaces of
the rich and hovels of the poor, but you have seen magnificent public
buildings, parks, and thoroughfares. These institutions that are for all
alike have been built and are sustained by the surplus; and this city
does not represent all of what the people of the Lord are doing. The
Lord's work is being extended throughout this land and to lands beyond
the sea. Not the least of our duties is the building of temples and the
performing of the work for our dead in them. So you see, we have need of
much wealth to carry on our work."
"Yes; I understand," remarked Remand; "but in our country and time, as
indeed, it has been in the past, many have tried plans of equality, but
they have been more or less failures. Why have you succeeded so well?"
"The chief cause for the past failures of the world in this industrial
order lies in the supposition that unregenerated men, who have not
obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who are, therefore, full of
weaknesses and sins incident to human nature without the power to
overcome them--I say the mistake lies in the supposition that such men
can come together and establish a celestial order of things, an order
wherein the heart must be purged from every selfish thought and desire.
No wonder that a building erected on such a poor foundation could not
stand. We have succeeded because we have begun right. We have had faith
in the Lord and His providences, have repented of our sins, have been
born again of water and of the Spirit, and then we have tried to live by
every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We have done this pretty
well, or we could never have succeeded in this work of equality that you
see and admire. People who do the things that you observe around you
must have the Spirit of God in their hearts. This celestial order is
God's order, and those who partake of its blessings must be in harmony
with God's mind and will. High law cannot be obeyed and lived by
inferior beings who are not willing to submit to the first principles of
salvation and power."
The three sat in quiet contemplation for a time. Then the King said:
"Tell us about the wages of these workmen. The proper adjustment of
wages has always been a source of much trouble with us."
"Yes, in the days when every man had to look out for himself and had no
thought for his neighbor, it was a continual struggle to get as much as
possible for one's work and to give as little as possible for the work
of another. Such conditions were natural under a system of greed and
selfishness, and they brought on much contention and trouble, which,
happily are now ended. In the beginning," explained the speaker, "those
who enter this order of equality are required to consecrate all their
property to the Lord. Then each is given a stewardship according to his
needs and his ability to manage and to work. Children have a claim upon
their parents for support until they are of age, when they also are
given a stewardship."
"Are the wages equal to all?"
"No; and for the very good reason that the needs of all are not alike.
According to the old order, the superintendent of these works, for
instance, would draw a salary of perhaps $5000.00 a year, while the men
who do the manual labor would get less than a tenth of that sum."
"True," remarked Remand, "supply and demand regulates these things.
Superintendents are scarce, but common workmen are plentiful."
"But, my dear friend, we have no common workmen. It is just as important
that a table should be put together properly, and that it be well
finished as that there should be a superintendent of the works. No man
in our industrial system can say to another, 'I have no need of thee.'
Each is important, each has his place, each supports the other. The
polisher or the sawyer, therefore, should have his needs supplied, and
so should the overseer--but no more. What would he do with more, anyway?
Tell me."
"Why, why," replied Remand, "He could save it, put it in the bank,
invest it."
Paulus smiled. "What good would hoarded wealth be to a man whose needs
are all provided for as long as he lives, as also his children after
him. We have but one bank here--the Lord's storehouse, and all profits
derived from investments are there deposited. But speaking again of
wages, I happen to know that the superintendent of this factory is a
man with a wife only to support, and they are very simple in their
tastes. The wood-carver whom we spoke of has a large family of children.
His needs are greater than the superintendent's, therefore he receives
more for his portion. That is just, is it not?"
"Yes," replied Remand, "the theory seems to be all right but its
application, among us at least, would bring endless complications to be
adjusted."
"Perhaps so," replied Paulus. "We are not perfect, even here. While we
are in mortality, we have weaknesses to contend with; but you must
remember that we look on every man as a brother and a friend, and as I
have stated, we have the spirit of the Master to help us. When this help
proves insufficient by reason of our own failure to do the right, and in
our weakness we are unjust or overbearing, or oppressive, then there is
the Lord Himself whose throne is with us. He balances again the scales
of justice, and metes out to every man his just deserts."
Paulus arose, and the others followed him reverently out into the
park-like space surrounding the factory. They walked slowly along the
paths as they talked.
"The argument usually urged against all orders of equality," remarked
Remand, "is that it takes away man's incentive to work."
"Have you seen any idle men in or about Zion?" asked the guide.
They acknowledged that they had not.
"The new order has not taken away incentives to work; it has simply
changed the incentive from a low order to a higher. We can not afford to
work for money as an end. Wealth, with us, is simply a means to an end,
and that is the bringing to pass of saving righteousness to the race,
individually and collectively. Wealth is not created to be used for
personal aggrandizement; and, in fact, its power to work mischief is
taken away when all men have what they need of it. The attainment of
worldly wealth was at one time the standard of success. It was, indeed,
a low standard."
"What is your standard?" asked the king.
"Among us the greatest of all is the servant of all. He who does his
best along the line of his work, and contributes the results of his
efforts to the general good, is successful. Quantity is not always the
test, for the gardener who supplies us with the choicest vegetables is
counted just as successful as he who digs from the mountain his
thousands in gold.... Who, in your country, is counted the greatest
success in history?"
Neither Remand nor the King replied to this query.
"I will not confuse you by urging a reply," said Paulus. "You, of
course, understand our view of that matter. He who did the greatest good
to the greatest number made the greatest success. That was the Lord and
Master. 'If I be lifted up, I shall draw all men to me,' he said; and
that is being fulfilled. In like manner the greatest among us is he who
serves us best."
They seated themselves on a bench and watched the workers flock from
the workshop homeward to their mid-day meal. It was an interesting sight
to the two visitors. The people appeared so happy and contented that the
king noticed it and commented on it.
"Yes," replied Paulus; "why should they not be happy? When I think of
the times in the past--how so many of the human race had to struggle
desperately merely to live; how men, women and children often had to beg
for work by which to obtain the means of existence; how sometimes
everything that was good and pure and priceless was sold for bread;
while on the other hand many others of the race lolled in ease and
luxury, being surfeited with the good things of the world--I say, when I
think of this, I can not praise the Lord too much for what He now has
given to us."
"What are these men's working hours?" asked Remand.
"The hours vary according to the arduousness of the work, though it is
now much more easy and pleasant, owing to our labor-saving machinery.
From three to four hours usually constitute a day's work. Some prefer to
put in their allotted time every day, and then spend the remainder in
other pursuits. Others work all day, perhaps for a week, which would
give them a week to do other things. Others, again, who wish more
leisure for their self-appointed tasks, keep steadily on for a year,
thus earning a year for themselves."
"And what is done with this leisure?" asked the king.
"Most of it is devoted to working in the temples of the Lord, where the
saving ordinances of the gospel are performed for those who had not the
privilege to do them for themselves in this life; but many other things
are done. For instance, he who thinks he is an inventor, devotes his
time to perfecting his invention; those who wish to pursue a certain
line of study, now have time to do so; some spend time in traveling."
"Is there no competition among you?" said Remand. "Such a condition, it
seems to me, would bring stagnation."
"We have the keenest kind of competition," was the reply--"a competition
of the highest order that brings the most joyous life-activity into our
work. Each steward competes with every other steward to see who can
improve his stewardship the most and bring the best results to the
general storehouse. For example, you noticed as you came into the city
the beautifully kept gardens and farms lying for miles out into the
country. These are all stewardships, and there is the keenest
competition among the farmers and gardeners to see who can make the land
produce--first the best crops, and then the most of that best. One man
last year who has a small farm turned into the storehouse as his surplus
one thousand bushels of wheat. It was a remarkable record which this
year many others are trying to equal or exceed. This sort of rivalry is
found among all the various businesses and industries in Zion and her
stakes; so you see, that even what you term the wealth producing
incentive is not lost to us, but is used as an end to a mighty good,
and not to foster personal greed."
* * * * *
The three strolled farther away from the large factory building, out
into a section where residences stood here and there among the trees in
the park-like grounds. Approaching a beautiful sheet of water bordered
by flowering bushes, lawns, and well-kept walks, they saw a man sitting
on a bench by the lake. As his occupation seemed to be throwing bread
crumbs to the swans in the water, the King and his companion concluded
that here, at last, they had discovered one of the idle rich, whom they
still had in their own country. Remand expressed his thought to the
guide.
"He idle?" was the reply. "Oh, no; he is one of our hardest working men.
That is one of our most popular writers, and in many people's opinion,
our best. We must not disturb him now, but we will sit down here and
observe him. We are told that when he is planning one of his famous
chapters of a story, he comes down to this lake and feeds the swans."
"And do you still write, print, and read stories?" asked Remand.
"Certainly. Imaginative literature is one of the highest forms of art.
This man has most beautifully pictured the trend of the race, his
special themes being the future greatness and glory of Zion. Why should
he not paint pictures by words, as well as the artist who does the same
by colors and the sculptor by form? If you have not read any of his
books, you must take some of them home with you. See, he is moving
away. Would you like to meet him?"
They said they would. The author was soon overtaken, and he received his
visitors graciously.
"Yes," he laughingly acknowledged to Paulus, "you caught me fairly. I
was planning a most interesting scene of the book on which I am now
engaged, and the swans are a great help."
He led his visitors into the grounds surrounding his home, and then into
his house. He showed them his books, his studio, and his collection of
art treasures. From an upstairs balcony he pointed out his favorite bit
of landscape, a mixture of hill and dale, shining water, and purple haze
in the distance.
"Yes," he said, in answer to an inquiry, "I have read how, in former
times, the workers in art, and especially the writer were seriously
handicapped. The struggle for bread often sapped the strength which
ought to have gone into the producing of a picture, a piece of statuary,
or a book. Fear of some day wanting the necessities of life drove men to
think of nothing else but the making of money; and when sometimes men
and women were driven by the strong impulse of expression to neglect
somewhat the 'Making a living,' they nearly starved. How could the best
work be produced under such conditions? I marvel at what was done,
nevertheless."
After spending a pleasant and profitable hour with the writer, the three
visitors went on their way. They partook of some lunch at one of the
public eating houses, then they went out farther into the country to
look at the farms and gardens. Lines of easy and rapid transit extended
in every direction, so that it took but a few minutes for Paulus and his
friends to arrive at the place they desired. They alighted at an
orchard, looked at the growing fruit and listened to the orchardist's
explanations. After they had been left to themselves, Paulus continued:
"I want you to see and taste a certain kind of apple that this man has
produced. Apples are his specialty." He led the way to another part of
the orchard, and found a number of ripening apples which he gave his
friends. "What do you think of them?" he asked.
"Most delicious!" they both exclaimed. "This might be the identical
fruit that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden," remarked Remand.
As they walked amid the trees, the conversation reverted again to the
writer of books whom they had just left.
"This author's royalties must be very great--" began the King's
counselor, and then checked himself when he remembered the conditions
about him.
"Royalties?" replied Paulus; "yes, they are great; but they are not in
money or material wealth. They consist in the vast amount of help,
encouragement, hope, and true happiness he brings to his readers."
"But do not men like treasure for treasure's sake? Have your very
natures changed?" asked the King.
"To some extent our natures have changed, but not altogether in this.
Men and women still like to lay up treasures. It is an inevitable law
that when men do some good to others, credit is given them for that
good in the Book of Life. This wealth of good deeds may accumulate until
one may become a veritable millionaire; and this treasure can never be
put to an unrighteous use; moth can not corrupt it, nor thieves break
through and steal."
"One more question," asked Remand. "I observed that your novelist had a
beautiful house, many rare books, and some priceless paintings and
pieces of sculptured marble. Are these among the 'needs' that you have
spoken of so many times?"
"To him, certainly. Each man gets that which will aid him most in his
particular line of work. Those things are not needless luxuries or
extravagances. The writer is surrounded by beautiful things that he may
be influenced by them to produce the most beautiful literature, just the
same as any other laborer is provided with the best tools, helps, and
environments that he may produce the best work."
From the orchard they went to the gardens and other workshops, closing
the day with a visit to one of the large mercantile establishments of
the city.
The next morning Paulus was on hand again to be their guide, but the
King said:
"We must now return home. Much as we would like to remain--to take up
our permanent abode here, I see that my duty calls me home. The Great
King has something for me to do, and I shall try to do it. Let us be
going."
Then the two visitors thanked their guide most graciously as he set them
on their homeward way.