The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-10-19
Coming Revolution.
A NEW SERIES OF SERMONS
BY REV. THOS. DIXON, JR.

OUWluS AAo
A NEW SERIES OF SERMONS
BY REV. THOS. DIXON, JR.
He Discusses the Signs OF the
Times That Indicate Great So
cial, Economic, Political and
Ecclesiastical Changes The
Restless Masses.
Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr., has begun
new series OF morning sermons III AsSo-
ciotion Hall, New York The subject
Of The series Ii" calls "The Coming RevO-
luton" In it he will discuss the signs
of the times that Indicate great social,
economic. political and ecclesiastical
changes The sermon below was gen
cral introduction to the study, which Will
run through several weeks. The subject
of the Introductory discourse which fol-
lows was ''Thc Restless Masses" He
declares that democracy in its broad"st
and trurst sense is manifestly the destiny
Of the race, and that there Is to-day
developing IL world movement OF the
MASSES that prcSagcS il new social rclOf-
nation The text chosen was from
Mark MI, 81, Ana the CoHiilloIi Ptoll'
heard him gladly
THE COMMON PEOPLE.
There is no more pregnant sentence
within the lids OF the New Testament
than this text The common people
the great multitudeS-heard him gladly.
Then we NAV rest assured the high, rul
ing, conservative classes did not hear
him gladly. We are not surprised that
they crucficd him between two thieves
us n common felOn. This profound SYM
pathy with the great under masses is i'll
reality the key to the mystery OF the Ill
carnatlOn.
lie was the carpenter son.
He lived the life of IL common working
man. lie chose his fellows from the
ranks of the lowly masses. Tn" great
and the rich were not his disciples. His
apostles were from the ranks of the con =
mon people. There could have been no
accident about the birth of the Saviour
of humanity. 1t was not by chanc" that
he was born OF humble parents III Il
manager. 1t was the fulfillnent OF pro-
phecy 1t was the fulhllment OF the III
vine plan of the ages. Only thus could
the world-the whole wOrld-th" real
world-be reached and saved. Only thus
could he truly say, am the Son OF Man.
Beginning thus among the slmpI"hnd IL
nOrant and poor slave MASSES OF sin
cursed and sin burdencd earth, he placed
the leavcn that should ut last leaven the
whole lump of humanity.
And since Christ the trend OF the ages
has been slowly but surely toward the
uplifting, cnnobling and saving OF the
common life.
Vital Christianity has been the only
power through the centuries OF the Chrls-
tian era that stood between the weak
and the strong and steadfastly declared
that might is not right, and that weak
ness shall rule strength at las t.
THE SOURCE OF ALL POWER.
The source of all power is the very last
analysis: when all tictiOnS have been eX-
plOded, is found in the under millions
who bear the world burden, intellectual,
spiritual, moral, physical. In this mass
will be found the true source OF power,
intellectual, spirital, moral, physical.
AS men and families scramble out from
among the masses and array themselves
with clique and class, they degenerate
and their offspring perish-sOme in the
first generation, Others in thcsecond.
The seat of ultimate imperialism has
always been i'll the masses. They have
simply never Yet become conscious OF
the fact. They are the SamsOns, but
they are asleep. As they wake to the
consciousness of the power that inheres
by nature in them, they assume that
power and never relax it.
We behold thus the ever growing, never
hating expansion of world democracy
1t is the destiny OF the race
There is DO power on the earth, under
L., l. IL 81,
defeat its final Triumph Each day in
time : calendar witnesses some victory
however small, gained in this world
movement. An inch OF soil once gained
is never lost.
A NEW CHAPTER IN HISTORY.
There IL Il presentlment, Il feelng-call
1t what YOU may-that pervades the
civilized world, that we are about enter
ing upon Il new chapter in the history OF
the world. SO strong each day becomes
tins fceiing that to some 1t means fear
and trembling. to others hope and i'll
SEPARATION. In every period OF the world 5
history Immediately preceding great
changes, this prophetic spirit has filled
the hearts OF men and found utterance
At no time has its uttCrance been so clear
and so nearly universal among nations
and peoples and classes of divers inter
ests. 1t Is humanitys nour of eXultant
prophecy. 1t Is the races hour of spir-
Itual uplifting when society is being
ushercd into higher and diviner life.
10 the mind OF the peSslmist the air
Is heavey with the threat ofcoming revo-
luton by violence. To the man OF hop,
there comes the vision OF tears, but
the tears are turned to dew to water the
,,f 4
Does this feeling prophetic of great
change mean anything real, or is it &
Pigment OF the imagination?
Is there anything apparent in our lif,
to justify it, and has it basis in fact
or Is it merely the ever recurring vision
OF the radical and pessimistic tempera
ment in all times?
Certainly there is one fact in our cur
rent history that has Immediately to dc
with the great question OF social destin,
that can be gainsaid. 1t is pOrten
tOus TACT IN the future OF the worlds his
tory, because 1t concerns the life move
ment OF practically the whole human
race. 1t is this:
There is to-day n world movement O
the common people which indicates tn
new approach OF a great social change
We observe this:
Flrst-ln the dawning consciousness
among all nations of common life.
The solidarity of the race has been ap
parently a dream too high for the effOr
OF the common people. 1t has RENAME.
through the ages but a dimly define,
article in our poetic creed.
1t is fact that is now being incarnate,
IN the daily life OF the humber folk of TIL
world with amazing rapidity.