Mr. World and Miss Church-Member A twentieth century allegory

by W.S. Harris

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

William Shuler Harris

Reviews

[Em Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down! It’s in my top 5. It’s an encouragement and a reminder to Christians of the seriousness of life for the Christian and the lost.
Our hope that is Christ, and the very real enemy who relishes the thought of another soul on their pilgrim to a Christ-less death makes you stop and consider your ways, for they are truely but a vapour!

[Seth Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from 2020
An allegory of the compromise of the church and the world. He predicts that technology will dominate the church distracting members from God Himself. He rebukes churches that try to make money like businesses or fundraisers. He warns about the evils of theater and entertainment. He shows the devil's view of evangelism, missions, preaching, and Bible reading.

The book was written in 1901.

Review for 2025
Read with kids and church members. 3rd reading.

Author’s point: A foolish church member compromises with the world again and again until she has lost Christianity and then her own soul in a tragic death.

My evaluation: Worldliness appears in its terrible, incremental, and devilish colors as one deception follows another in this story.

[Kathryn Judson · Rating 4 out of 5]

C.S. Lewis liked to say that every age has its blind spots, therefore we should read old books. I have found that to be sound advice. This book is a case in point. While suffering from a blind spot or two from its own age (the turn of the last century), I found it to be surprisingly eye-opening, and (from a history geek's perspective) a useful snapshot of the state of the church and society at a time when 'progressive thought' was starting to take over some aspects of society. It's a little bit Pilgrim's Progress, a little bit The Screwtape Letters, a little bit Dante's Divine Comedy - but with a voice, and features, and insights, all its own. I also enjoyed how the author wove some of the technology and futuristic ideas of his day into the story.

[Carson Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a terrifying reality. One paralyzing example of the slippery slope. I think so many more people need to have read this book, and have this book in there homes, especially anyone who is having trouble spiritually. Sin is not a thing to even be joked about playing with it. I kept on asking myself, "If Harris is writing this in 1901, how much worse is it today." especially the section on the theater. Highly recommend to anyone who is trying to be a Christian, and to everyone who is not. Read this and discussed it with friends from the church.

[Caleb Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrifying and biblical. This book provides a fear of falling away and compromising. It is basically an introduction, 24 areas of compromise, and then the end destruction of one who falls away and compromises. I think everyone should read this book. It is a classic.