St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-30
Pertinent Queries Presented
by Rev. w. S. Vail at the
Opera House.
This Age Has a Better Out
look Than Ever Enjoyed
by Man.
A Silent Power Is Working
for the Good OF MAN.
kind.

took this for his subject Yesterday morn
ing in his address before the First Uni
versalist society at the Grand opera
house. He said somebody made prop
Osition to the New York ministers that
they all preach on the question, "How
shall we make this world a better place
to live in?' aud that one hundred men
had undertaken the answer; but each
man had a message that was colored by
his own point of view, and thought that
the subject would bear examination
again. He would lay down as theme a
sentiment like this: There is in the
human nature a tendency, living amid
all changes, obScured sometimes and
apparently non-existent, but yet Iiv-
ing tendency, to admire right and hate
wrong, to feel a sense of Obli-
legation and desire to choose
for our nearest and dearest friend
noble character; and this tendency,
which may elude definition, responds to
the call OF duty, keeps us restless when
we refuse it, and so, in manifold ways,
lifts human life to higher levels. Be-
cause of this living tendency and its I'M
dying character, we believe the world
is made better through every agency
that develops it.
A glance shows that this tendency
works. The good old times bear no
evidence of being better than ours.
The church st. Paul established in Cor
inth was not as good as DR.. Christie's
church. What a scandal if there should
be
Drunken BraWl
at the First Methodist, INDUCED in bv
the membersl Yet this was the case i'm
Corinth. No minister hurries home
from service now to play cards for
money. Herbert Spencer would forfeit
his claim to being philosopher if he
were to advocate witchcraft; yet Lord
Bacon wore charms and drank de-
coction from an herb gathered at
midnight to preserve him from I'M
canny influence. A celebrated divine
had 10 have a rubbing with cold water
to sober him before he could preach at
Cambridge. John Hancock only be-
comes model TO politicians when we
forget his thickness. The Continental
congress must be looked at from the
ideal point of view. Mems good deeds
are not written in water and their bad
deeds in brass, nor do we bury the good
with them aud cherish the evil. Quite
the contrary, we remember the good.
The ronances of King Arthur's court:
the heroism of the Revolution; the tri-
umphs of Shakespeare; the eloquence of
Webster, these are the things we re-
member. But if we will dig I'D the
past we shall find that no generation
was any better, nor as good, as ours.
We see all the evils. And this age has
a better outlook-publics schools, humane
institutions. better wages and better
work; comforts for the common that a
queen could not have enjoyed few
years ago-and all these show us that
underneath all our complaining there is
power silently working. We only
need
To Compare Ourselves
with the orders of higher society in
Elizabethan times to understand this
truth. 1t is but span of years since
Gov. Berkeley thanked God that he had
neither schools nor printing presses in
his province.
in human nature would be the final SOL
vent of the social questions that were
continually agitating men. We believe
in better conditions for all. We live in
an age of combinations. Industries
feel the advantage of united action. A
link is thrown out, then another, and
in a little while the chain covers the
nation. These combinations are like
the great wave that attracts your atten-
ton. 1t rises nightly. but breaks be-
fore reaching shore. But it comes again.
So do these combinations. Men saw
there is danger. There are more today
than year ago. This throws class inter
eSts into line for organization. Farmers
alliances are formed. They go out to
sea. Their vessel fills. They have to
pump, and make no Roadway. We
laugh. We have our little enjoyment
at their lack of knowledge They are
going to school. But every time they
swim away from a wreck they learn
something. And those interested will
get lesson yet.
Then there are declarations of labor.
These too. rise and break. There is
some mistake in laying the pipe. Sewer
Gas Creeps In.
A family are killed or injured by the
mistake OF one man. So jealousy and
fanaticism poison organizations. But
all the time men are venturing ana
wrecking, and they are growing wiser.
Who can tell the danger if these forces
collide? Defense is the watchwOrd of
all; of capitalist, artisan, farmer. They
are like the hunters in an African
wood. They seek an open space and
build thorDy breastwork, and pile up
huge fires to keep of the lions. Men
made in the same image, working in the
same town, going to the same church,
look upon each other as dangerous and
fence themselves in with thornS. Surely
our interests must be alike. What can
we do? There may be different front
presented. but both parties are stronger
than five years ago; they will all grow
stronger. Shall we not then try the
solvent of a fraternal feeling and a
sense of humanity? Shall we not ap-
peal to that nObler spirit Of mans life.
| see but one panacea. The agitation
will never cease while competition de-
mands the theory of defense. As all
parties gain by experience new weap-
Ons will be substituted.
Swords and Battle.Axes
will be supplanted by long-range dyna-
mite guns. For battle all will be better
prepared. But why not say that with
malice toward none and with charity
for all, with tirmneSS in the right as God
gives us to see the right. let us strive on
to finish the work we are in". Why not
stand at the best point of manhood, and
from that point seek to meet out Justice
to all. Social agitation. like all move
meDts to improve men, will find fanatics
among the advocates doing the cause
harm. So will business combinations,
railroad alliances. political parties and
churches. But out of it all we have
hope, if we are finally based on the
right principal; if not. then more calam-
ity, until at last we learn wisdom. for
this is the way by which at last we will
be driven by self-interest to travel.
e Ill
churches is to develop this humane out
look in man, to develop this character
until it becomes his normal instead of
his occasional disposition. Then 1T will
not be feeling we put on when Sun
day comes and put away for the rest of
the week. 1t will not be feeling we
put on when company comes in and