The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-01


Was Then just Beginning-Nine-
teeuth Century Has Cut a Figure
In the worlds History.
Rev. M. N. Gilbert, coadjutor bishop of
the Episcopalian diocese of Minnesota,
addressed the Young Mems Christian as
sociaticn yesterday afternoon, taking for
his subject: What Of the New Cen
tury?" The seating capacity of the au-
e.tcriuni was fully taxed. and the elo-
quence of the speaker held the audience
In rapt attention. In part the bishop
said:
Il am not dealing in figures and will
not therefore attempt to prove to you the
mathematical question that has been dis
turbi1ls many minds as to the closing of
the century Personally my belief is that
the new century begins tomorrow, and
will speak from that standpoint. Great
principles will remain the same. however.
end we will net lose the opportunity
given us to look at the future, get a les
son for ourselves and form some con-
illusions that will be of value to u.s. Con-
s;derfng the future, we all know that
if not the only true guide for our feet.
ard we will go back to the period of one
hundred years ago for a few moments,
recalling few things of a century ago
Standing at the close of tie old and the
threshold Of the new century we should
reflect upon the conditions of one hun
dred years ago AT that time the whole
Of Europe was plunged into war. The
Napoleonic wars were at their height.
and Napoleon himself had only Just re-
turned from his bloody campaign in
Egypt. 500, too, this century is ending
and the new one beginning In war;, but
not the fierce wars of century ago. We
are forced, 1t is true, to q recollection of
the bloody campaign now In progress in
Africa and the question is presented
clearer TO us at home by the little war
tEat is left us ir. the Philippine islands
But as reahty We may say that for
the world the gates and doors of the tenn
pie OF Janus are closed and peace reIgns
almost universal Relatively this is true
when we reflect that at the opening of
Tho expiring century one-third part Of
the entire civilized world was at war
But the conditions, social and physical.
have changed alike. A century ago, in
England the finest and best of her young
blood was In her arInies-not by consent
out by orscription-forced to enter the
ranks Of the military arm Of the gov
ernmeM In England, enc hundred wears
ago, the social condition was greatly de-
pressed. AT that time slavery was recug,
nized there, as was the slave trade-in-
deed at that time those kindred ahomfna-
tons were recognized almost all over the
known world
Inc laborer in England 100 years ago
was little better than a slave because Of
low wages. The homes Of the working
men We're novels and their condition or
the betterment of 1t was not at the time
food for study or an opportunity for
amelioratfon. At that time religious con-
d1t1ons We're not such by far as they
should have been. You remember, no
doubt Of the great wave of anti-Chris-
tan sentiment that was sweeping ever
the world at the time. In France, par
ticularly; in England. all over continen.
tai Europe--even in America the religious
spirit had refrigerated and suspended be-
meath the upas tree of Voltairism. There
was at that time no seeming active re-
ligion of the human heart anywhere.
Nothing could show the condition OF
Christianity in this country at that time
better than the condition that obtained
then at West Point, where I was told
there was not single professed Chris
tldH anu where d peiillefll OF OOu-llk6
man had need to conceal his sentiment
be subjected to the treatment of an
inferior being.
IF you will reflect. you will recall that
at that time the work of the missionary
was just budding into promise and that
in England the work of Wesley was just
coming to fruition. But such was the
expressed public sentiment at the time
that protesting Christian or religiously
inclined person was the subject of con-
tempt.
But the nineteenth has been the CEN
fury in the history of the world for
progress and science, for discovery and
art and literature and learning. And
wherever YOU may look-wherever the
Anglo-Saxon race has gone or is going
the light CT the standard of the cross
has accompanied 1t. The story Of the
past 100 years Is the tale of the glory
of the Anglo-Saxon race and the ten
dency of the Latin to retire before its
advancement. 1t Is true there has al
ways been a spirit that prompted us to
think and refer to the good old days of
our ancestors, but when We enumerate
the advantages we have today over what
they had in their day I am one who has
arrived at the conclusion that ours are
the best days
$50 much for the past, row what Of
the present? We are today standing
upon the summit of great divide, view
ing the ylories of the future as did Bal
boa the beauties of the Pacific when he
gazed upon it's peaceful bosom. 1t Is
a standpoint of hope In my opinion, for
never was a time when so much intelli-
gence was in the world as today-never
a time when the recognition Of the duty
to man was better understood. studied
and discharged. We are standing where
we can see and appreciate the values of
our laws In the past and realize their
value for the future. At this summit we
see the Christian church tingfing with
new life There have been more people
converted TO Christianity during the past
seventy-five years than In all Of the pre-
ceding 1900 years of Christian church
history, showing that the knowledge of
Christ Is increasing and will In time cover
the whole of the world.
with these pleasing reflections l do
not forrest and fully ranuwriza the great
overshadowing evils Of the time. know
of the rapacious spirit Of commercialism.
and of the efforts of greedy capital
more greedy and unreasonfng, perhaps.
than it has been in the history Of the
world. I know of the tendency and eff.
forts to establish luxury more firmly and
grandly. / know of the veneer in re,
Iision where there should be reality.
know that some of our churches are not
accomplishing as much as they should
among the classes-among their brothers
who are not wealthy or luxuriant
Nov, what of the future? If We do
not take warning from the past we make
a serious mistake. If we go out for ag-
grandizement only-as we are now-at
this stage of our affairs; if We do not
preserve the spirit, the aims, the am
billions and tile patriotism of Washington;
If we only foster and pursue the die
tates of commercialism and the develop
AL :, = ..,,i1it then say