The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-31

ing hundred years. He attributed to lib
erty all the stupendous forward move
ments of the century He said in part:
1.-The ordinary events of life receive
rarely more than but passing notice An
occasion as unusual as the beginning of a
new century engages the interest even of
the most thoughtlsss. car passing from
one century into another will be an expe-
rience which none of cur generation have
had, ana which none of US can have agai,.
The hour that witnesses the light fad
ing away from the horizon of the old cen
tary and the breaking dawn of the new
century ought 10 appeal TO the hearss and
minds OF individuals and nations alike and
stir them 10 retrospection and aspiration.
Civilization has grown broader and
deeper Ia meaning with each succeeding
century. This is the result of the upward
progress Of mankind under the guidance
OF a beneficial providence. All through
the ages there may be discovered a steady
and continuous movement from the lower
TO the higher. That the ideals Of CEN
fury are the measure and test of a centu-
rvs civilization needs little proof for
civilization is but an accumulation of the
many efforts of man to realize the ideals
he has conceived. We are not entering
through the portals Of the new century
with brand new ideals, but with a keener
and more general appreciation of those
ideals THAI make for higher manhood
and womanheod and a broader humanity.
THE late Earl Russell, Lord Chief Jus
tice Of England ia en- address before the
American Bar Association in 1896. has Civ
en-, TO my mi8d most admirable de1ini-
ton OF civilizations definition that
voices the longIngs and aspirations OF the
civilized world, setting forth the true in
werdness of civilization:
" What, Inedeed IS true civilization
By its fruits you shall know II. It is not
dominion, wealth. material luxury; nay,
not even a great literature and education.
widespread good though these things may
be. Civilization is Tot q veneer; it must
penetrate to the very hsaTt and core of
societies of men. It's true signs are
thought for the poor and suffering chivai-
rous regard and respect for woman. the
frank recognition. Of hlzIan brotherhood,
irrespective Of race or color or nation CT
religion, the HarroSing Of the domain OF
mere force as a governing facter in the
world, the love OF ordered freedom. ab-
horrence OF what Is mean and cruel and
vile, ceaseless devotion to the claims OF
justice. Civilization, that IN its true, its
highest sense, must make for peace
"An must give full approval to what
Lord Russell deems 20 be essential to civ
mankind is moving il the direction toward
the reaiiz1.lon OF these conditions.
To give q correct estimate OF what -S>s
been achieved during the past centary is
task that viii prove at present too much
fer the Eisest. Standing as We Do. in tbs
very midst OF the battle of life, we cannot
wholly 6izest ourselves OF prejudice that
must cloud our judgment and result IL a
biased opinion Is 10 the lasting value OF
this ceatuTys achievements. Those who
come after US viii without passion and
prejudice sit in judgment upon the work
done they VIII with critical acumen sep
arate the she'll from the kernel, the dress
from the precious metal. the temporary
from the eternal; in brief. they VIII deter
mine our contribution to the progress and
advancement Of mankind,
Liberty. that has been the burden Of
the visions and Iengings of prophets and
poets all through the ages, thus, has Anal
IL pierced the thick and dark clouds OF
prejudice and bigotry. Its light has awak-
ened man from his long intellectual and
moral sleep and made him perceive the
relations and obligations of society. Lib
erty of action and liberty OF speech have
taken the milestone from mans neck with
which ignorance has held him down 10 the
ground The gradual emancipation Of the
human mind from the thraldom of ignor-
ance is evidenced by an actual decrease
ciaDie gain in morals
THE great and stdpandous forward
movements Of mankind in the various
branches of science are solely due TO the
interfering of the human mind, to the free
atmosphere man has breathed during the
decades of this century. The powers are
broken forever that chained human genius
TO the rock and inapeded and discouraged
free enquiry and the expression of truth.
former ages out into the breadth Of full
ness of Gods universe, where the human
mind is unfolding itself and developing
powers unknown before
Human genius by inventions and dis
eoveries has increased a thouSandfold
the productEsencss of labor, placing with
in the reach of the poorer classes the
comforts and conyeniences of civilized life
that ease Iife's burden. With more decent
homes We may look for distinct gain in
merals With ample means OF education
opportunities are opened for all that
augur a eRarer approach to equality be-
tween all classes ard conditions Of men.
That human welfare IS stream made up
OF confluence OF mary streams is a truth
gradually dawHiEg urcn the world, and
when once fully grasped win prove an in
estimable boon and blessing for an time
to come
| ture painted in darker hues. Rev. Or.
| John Watson. Ian Maciaren,' mar of
deep learning and great practical wis
dom, ii an article entitled a Message
| for the New Century takes a rather
| gloomy view CT the moral conditions CT
this I'm de steele. He says:
Great as is the century iRto which
all the former centuries have emptied
/ yet there is no cause for self-eomplacen-
| cy- Our foolish extravaganza
our alteration of hne and good clothes.
| our government of cities, our political
| economy which leaves millions without
daily bread, our churches whose religion
| is too much detached from human life,
| viii all be seen By the age that shall
come after US
THAT these structures are based upon q
true condition OF Affairs no one viii deny.
But is 1t not fact thai he world is con
seicus OF these defects aud IS endeavoring
| to remedy them? Press pulpit, and plat
| form are urging palmer living and higher
| thinking as conducive to true happiness.
/ Our large municipalities have their re-
form leagues, their good citizens clubs,
their anti-vice cTusades. All these move
ments are but indications OF the desire
on the part of the better class of citizens
! to rid government Of Yenality and corrup-
! ton. The problem of the unemployed is
! receiving careful study of trained minds
| ana feeling hearts, and some solution uI-
tiInately win be found
Churches and synagogues are alive to
| the religious indifference that exists and
! are making hercalea1 efforts TO bring >
Heurich's beer il the opening OF the new cen