Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-06-07

ter but it teaches eternal lessons-lessons
Which could be taught In no other way.
The world is progressive. Its varied
changes are but grand eXemplifcatiOn of
development. Nature commences all of
her great achievements with the crude ma
terial and step by step, round by round,
climbs into higher atmosphere. Nature
takes no backward steps in material things
nor natures God in moral, intellectual or
spiritual things. From creations morn
until this moment there has been gradual:
unfolding OF latent powers development
through slow and painful processes. The
more ignorant and undevefoped mankind is
the more british they are and the slower
they give way to the advance of those
ideas and sentiments which would carry
them to higher plane. Primitive man
kind were but mere puppits in the great
wo1S nS% Of n Sp
Omnipotent power, Of those great prin-
ciples of development which close stu
dent Of history can see working through
every age.
One Of the prominent features of devel-
Opment is conflict. Passive existence
never excels in anything. It is by motion,
agitation, contact, that waters are purified
or human beings or nations are relieved of
their dross. 1t is by the constructive forces
of war that nations are forced to accept
the advance ideas OF human rights and
mans duty to his fell0wman, which deific
power has always been pressing upon the
worlds intelligence.
AS the ages rolled on, few individuals
in advance of the times in which they lived
truth, but the world could receive it but
slowly and for ages liberty, although in
the garb of infancy, lived clandestinely. As
the years rolled by,a few more minds from
contemplating eternal truth were begin.
ming to see the hand of Omnipotence in
higher and holier incentives to human
action. Terrible conflicts were waged be-
tween the forces Of development and pro-
gress and the representatives of passive
ignorance and primitive barbarism.
Years 80 by and others find by sad experi-
ence that the best interests Of humanity
are not subserved by despotic power, and
unite their forces with the liberty loving
all Of the then known world was one great
battlefield, where the ignorant cohorts Of
human error were arrayed against the
comparatively few foil lowers OF divine truth,
who had now began to realize the worlds
development, although very imperfectly.
- * *
And so we have developed, at first with
slow and painful steps, but each success
was 9 step to greater. So eternal
truths have been unfolded until mankind
begins to comprehend their legitimate
mission. And how has all this been
accomplished? By conflict, by cruel war.
The world has been one immense battle
field where the warning cohorts Of good
aud evil have struggled for the mastery,
and up through it all liberty and human
rights have sprung. refreshed and straight
kind begins to see that God does govern in
the affairs of men and nations, and that the
great truths of infinity have moved onward
! In the grand march of time in accordance
with divine law, although they have con
| quered by war and desOlatiOn when neces-
sary. 4 -lss
War is precursor of civilization. 1
have tried to show you that from its bloody
fields springs q perennial growth of better
thought. Which % viii defy THE the csambiine sndee
touches of time. Thus it will continue to
do doubtless until that period in mans
history, when nations do not learn 1t any
more.
DR.. Bentley then proceeded to show from
the worlds history that bloody wars had
been the means of mans rising to higher
|,planesi That evil had been used in ways
which ages after accomplished its own de
feat and its demoralizinR influence turned
into channels for the benefit of the human
race. Continuing he said: u s's4
MY comrades, am perhaps taking up
more time in endeavOring to show the
| philosophy OF events, the underlying prin-
ciples Of human conflict, the cause and effect
Of just such great wars as that In which
our observance Of Memorial day; but IN
contemplating this subject INV mind rims