The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-03-19


dicted long ago by those who were in
spired to foretell future events, and
they are strong in the belief that the
world will actually come to an end be-
fore the year of 1900, or there will be
such an upheaval, as it were, as to blot
out mankind as it now exists, and place
the world i1f the same condition it was
after the flood. The Herald does not
comment upon this matter for the pur-
pose of convincing anyone of the truth
or falsity of the peculiar doctrine. The
strange feature of it all is that there
are so many learned men in the world
who implicitly believe that all of these
prophesies are to be fulfilled in the
given time. Some of the most distin-
guished divines of the old world and
many of them on this side of the water
look upon the present condition of
things as almost proof positive that the
end of the world is near at hand. They
point to the scriptures and contend that
the language thereof is so plain and
unequivocal that no man of ordinary
intelligence can doubt it for moment.
The strangest part of it all is that these
men of such advanced intelligence,
many of whom are today engaged as
professors of colleges and are cOnsld-
cred sensible and practical men, should
be so sure of the fulfllment of prophe-
sy as to let it direct their future move
ments. IT, as they say, there is to be
an end to all things as far as mankind
is concerned during the next five years,
what possible preparation can man
make for the change except to go on in
the even tenor of his way and accept
whatever may come with stOical phi
losophy. Whatever may be the opinion
of these learned men upon the matter,
it is clear that the average man is Civ
ing himself no concern about the proba-
BILE end of the world, but is going ahead
and doing the best he can while he is
permitted to live here. 1t is time lost
for man to speculate upon conditions
that he cannot control, and it is wise
for him to do his earthly duties as near
as he can and permit the deity to carry
out the purposes of creation.
1t is more than probable that these
persistent prophets do more harm than
good by predicting all sorts Of calam
tiles to come in the near future. Such
predictions make no impression upor
, the minds of intelligent and strong
minded people, but all people are moi
intelligent and possessed of strong an(
we'll balanced minds, and the impres
sion made upon the latter class by th'
gruesome prophecies is often produc
e tive of serious and pathetic conse
: quences. 1t has not been long ag'
e since number of these people mad
t way with all their hard earned pos
/ sessions in different portions of tn
s country. so deeply had their mind
j been worked upon and so firmly Oil
It they believe that the end of the worl
f was very near at hand, and when tn
Il day came and passed without any dis
t turbances on land or sea or the heav
e ems above taking place they were CON
e pelled to commence life over again i
n obtaining another competency. In
10 magazines and periodicals that are az
J. voted to this subject are now speakin
;e with more emphasis than ever befor
c and the most conservative of thel
W say the world cannot last longer tha
It the year of 1900. AS such prediction
" have failed so often heretofore the az
h. vice of the Herald to all who are di
10 posed to give heed thereto is to hol
70 on to what property you have accum'
,e lated, for if the end actually comes
I'd will all be the same one way or tt
IN other, but if the prophets happen
IN have made rlistake the property
in still good thing to have in the famll
I'd When the time comes for the destru
Id ton of this world, if it ever does com
,s- the event will take place unin1uenc
or by mans prophesy or Intervention, al
to as the Bible tells us that the wind-'
We will come as thief in the night, th
on is when we are least expecting
at Professor Christians go beyond t