Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-03-05
Some Recent Cable.r cams Viewed in
the LIghL Of Prophecy.

y LII
the LIghI Of Prophecy.
From the NV York Christian Herald.
Olly few weeks of the year have passed
away, yet during that tims tho intelligence the
cable has brought Of events occurring on the
other side the AL .ntc cannot fail to have i'm
pressed the thonshtfut Christian observer with
the conviction that some of the most remark.
able changes predicted in the Bible are close at
hand. Not the least conspicuous of thess items
Of news, relates to the state of ireland. Many
years ago the Rsv. NJ. Baxter, 10 bis pamphlet
entitled Coming Wars expressed the belief,
founded on his study of prophecy, and ool ftm
ed by the conclusions OF other prophetic stu
dents. that ireland would eventually be legisa-
lively separated from Great Britain,
Although that separation has not actually
taken place, we have seen that the British Par
lismsnt, after sitting eighs weeks, has not been
able TO give any attention to pressing afflirs of
state. Irish members have obstruoted its pro-
ceednGs, and the affairs OF Ireland have mo.
nopol,z I'd its attention. Many inteligent E1g.
llshmeu have 10 consequences been prompted to
ask the question, whether the Interests of the
kingdom would not be promoted, and greater
harmony secured, it the legislation exclusively
Irish. were referred for consideration to legis
latvo assembly 10 ireland. subj ct to tho can.
frmaIion or veto of the Queen.
A sacopd noteworthy lucident considered in
the light OF prophecy is the visit Mr.. Psruell
recently paid to Paris. We are led to expect
as sign Of the approaching crisis a rapid de-
velopment OF socisstic com munism, one Of the
three uuc!ean spirits proco dug from the mouth
OF the dragoon lRsvrlatou l6:l3) The
mission on which the leader OF the Land
League went to the Frotcl capital was prac
osIly the formation of sn alliance betw zen the
ltisb Land League and The Fr .rch Communists,
While 10 Paris MIR. Parnell had several inter
views with the editors of communistic ,uruals,
among them Nj. R:chefort Ihs Negotiations
have not been publish ID, but that they were
successful, may be inferred from the tac: that
articles appeared 10 thoss journals, soon after
Mr., Parners visit, espousiug the cause of the
Irish sgitatoEs AID denouncing British rule.
1t had been suspec ed from the GU set that
the Lsud League and the Commune were nearly
Identical 10 prilc,ple; b,th being an organized
movement against the rights of property, Tbs
mode OF operation differed, the Communists
prefeIrDg open lnsurreotion and desperate
hight at the barrlcsdes while the mode adopted
by the Land L'sguc is Baycolting and con.
nlVacca at, II not lns,lgatlon to, c)wardly
to ba maluly one OF clicumstanc, and temnera.
men,, and not of principle.
The fact that MIR. Parnell casting about for
allies, finds them among French Communists
ooGhrms that belief. Socalstio c)mmuoism
may now therefore ba regarded as the banner
OF q large aruy. OF which one wing is composed
OF German Socialists, second of French Com.
nu lists, third of Russian NhiIists and
fourth of Irish Land Lsagu,rs.
A third characteristic OF tbs present d,y is
one which has not attracted much observation.
Lord Beaoonsheld, who Is q ose observer of
men and things, has. however, both orally and
10 his published works called attention to it, az
an onlnous sign OF the times. 1t is the rspid
spread of secret societies.
There is no doubt that the object of many of
these societies is purely bene6oeut. They arc
designed to render help and sucoor to members
10 adversely and to their families if bereft of
their head. But there is no guarantee that
suoh societies may not be perverted to other
aud far different purposes They are now in
dependent of each other, though they bear 30
close resemblance that they might be com.
biued or federaliz under one executive by
carefully prepared tcleme.
More than one student of prophes7 has asked
the question. whether, 10 the existence of thase
secret societies. hIursbipg eide by side with
the political and social movement of Commun.
ism. there is not the key to the mystery of the
rapldity of deVelopm ant We are I'D to expect,
in that incsruated principle of consummate evil,
Antichrist2
Whether or not that may be the means us.d,
1t Is Obvious that cunning daring genius, such
one 81 he two sp olmens already furnished
by the Napoeoulc race might 6od there an
engine OF Irresistible power. Could he, by
craft, centre 10 himself, on the Napoleonic
prlrclplo of plebscIte, the executive power of
ell these societies. orders, and orgapiz ,tiors
scattered all over the earth, bis power would
supaes that of anV living potentate. By con.
stltuung himself 6fst servant, then repre-,
sentative, and fnally master. ss Napoleon |,
and n Nlpelson Ill. did 10 the r plots against the
F:euoh Republic, be might eventually exercise
world wide sway, interposing between subj cot
and sovereign in every land. His edicts might
be registered and executed in every olme, fon
pole to pole, aud from east to wes', and be
might by 40 ex ention Of the BoyootuDg prin-
cple (o which one branch of the mighty army
is already pro6cleDl), prevent any mao buying
or selling who had not "the mark OF The beast
(Rev. l3: III.
Such scheme too would not be Inconsistent
with at least one characteristic of the prophetic
description of Antlchrist. Prophetic e1positors
bellsve tba! he will be degraded imitator of
| tho Saviour; q being who to deceive the people
| will adopt the plan of Chrsrs Kingdom. prosti-
tutlng 10 unholy ends Christ gathers to Himself
people out OF all lar ds. who give allegiance in
temporal Affairs to their espectve temporal sov-
eregas. but cJusecrats their upreme feslty, the
homage of their sous, 70 the King of kings.
Anticnrst might follow the same principle. until
hia power became consolidated and tested. He
might at first WELD the sceptre of kingdom
within kingdom, u ltil in the fulness of time he
considered the hour had come for the revelation
| of himself in his true diabolcal character.
| While students OF prophecy differ on this OBJ
scure subject of the rise and development ol
Antichrlst now III thesgn Of the times indicate
the approaching end of the age, attention il
L ", H., hat 70 ooff hc