Great Celestial Route [folder]
- Title:
- Great Celestial Route [folder]
- Alternate Title:
- Great Celestial Route
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Bula, George E.
- Other Creators:
- Peculiar Publishing Co.
- Date:
- 1908
- Posted Date:
- 2024-04-25
- ID Number:
- 2568.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2568_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1900 - 1919
- Subject:
- Conduct of Life
Heaven and Hell
Railroads
Satirical - Measurement:
- 24 x 51 sheet (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- The collection includes a number of allegorical maps intended to encourage the viewer to act in conformity with moral and religious norms. See Subjects > Conduct of Life; Heaven and Hell. In this case, the map is part of a folding, pocket-sized, 1908 route description pamphlet typical of railroads at the time (and throughout the 20th century).
On one side, ID #2568.01, is the description of the "Great Celestial Route. The Only Route to The Golden City." The President of the line is "God the Father," and the General Superintendent is "Jesus Christ." The route's Time Card shows a 24-hour journey beginning at Decisionville, with stops such as Faith Heights, Humility, and Purity Falls, ending with safe passage through the Valley of the Shadow of Death to the Celestial City. Numerous railroad/travel theme messages are included, for example: "This folder . . . does not include complete information. For full particulars, see Guide Book (Bible)."
The verso, ID #2568.02, provides similar information for the "Great Destruction Route. The Route of the 20th Century Flyer Via the Famous Mt. License, Ft. Distillery and Hot Springs." The line's General Superintendent is "S.A. Tan." The main line also leaves from Decisionville, and makes stops including Recklessridge, Cigaretteville, Sing Sing, and Cocain Park before passing through Murder Gorge and Suicide Tunnel to the City of Destruction. "The G.D.R.Ry. Company . . . guarantees to make connection with all trains for Outer Darkness."
The verso includes the map (ID #2568.03), which shows the routes of both lines and their numerous stops. It includes a variety of topographical features, including Rumjug and Beer Lakes (each shaped like the appropriate container), Mormon Swamp, Mt. Corruption, Rock of Ages, and Peace River. At the top of the map, near the Celestial Route, are Beulah Land and the States of Righteousness and Sacrifice and Service. At the bottom, the Destruction Route runs through the States of Conceit, Deceit, Vanity, Intemperance, Depravity, and Darkness. The two lines never intersect. Those choosing the Celestial Route at Decisionville proceed along a straight line to the Celestial City. Those boarding the Destruction Route at Decisionville or other points (Prize Fight City; Gambledale) end their journeys at the City of Destruction, near Mt. Terror and Outer Darkness.
This map was produced by the same person and at virtually the same time as the well-known "Gospel Temperance Railroad Map" in the Library of Congress. Both are by George E. Bula, and the two use identical place names and geography. See Akerman 2007, 37-38; Snow 2021. Both maps were submitted for copyright on July 29, 1908. (Library of Congress, Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Part 1, New Series, vol. 5, no. 9, p. 277; no. 27, p. 956). I am not aware of any other copy of either map. For a related map in the collection, see ID #1113, Owen, "Map Issued by G.C.R.R. [Great Celestial Railroad] According to Latest Surveys" (1893).
George Bula was "a railway ticket agent" who was "gloriously saved" at a Pentacostal meeting in Atwood Illinois in 1890 and "was afterwards called to leave all and be a fisher of men." Nelson 1894, 243. In 1916, he became President of the Pentecost Bands of the World.
Cornell University Library is pleased to present this digital collection of Persuasive Maps, the originals of which have been collected and described by the private collector PJ Mode. The descriptive information in the “Collector’s Notes” has been supplied by Mr. Mode and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cornell University. - Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.