Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-12-06

the record OF the Ru1Qf6Q years. re
markable the progress in government
science, invention. industry, communi
cation, education and missions. a
century is not much more than the
span of human life, yet so full o.
events are these years that we can say
truly, it is a great way from Watts tea.
kettle to Baldwin's locomotives, from
Franklin's kite to Edison's dynamos.
..Old things have passed away, behold
all things have become new.a The
stage. the spinning wheel. the musket
are put away among the relics of the
ancients, to be looked upon euriously.
in our museums and fairs.
AS in answer and in contrast to the
pessimist, the optimist rejoices that
America has been able to absorb the
conglomerate mass of foreigners who
have fiocked to our shores. In olden
time immigrants were eonquerors, but
America has absorbed and educated
her immigrants and made good citi-
zens out of them in one generation.
Economists and church men are at
work upon the problem of the cities
and the correct solution is being found.
The optimist tells us that Romanism,
which depends upon the ignorant class
es for propagation, can never be a
menace in an educated country.
That the liquor element is gradually
losing ground. the drink habit is no
longer defended from the pulpit. The
drinking man is becoming an outcast
from society. He can no longer find
employment in many of our great rail-
road and manufacturing companies
He can hold no place of responsibility
in service. He contends that the
American Sabbath is still vigorous
ly defended in the pulpit and press. by
Sabbath societies, aud by State laws.
and the menace from foreign influence
is lessened by the falling off of immi-
grafton.
Churches are finding the causes of in
attendance and Indifference and are ap-
plying the remedies with good results.
The public school though possibly
injurious to few, is very good for the
many, and is still the great seat of pa
triotic and moral teaching of the
highest order.
Employers are, to-day, more con-
cerned about the welfare and home
comfort Of their men than ever be-
fore. Roomy, comfortable dwellings
are being provided in the tenement
districts. Home pictures like Whit
tiers, "Snow Bound. or Burns' 'sThe
Cotter's Saturday Night, are familiar
scenes even in these busy times. For
evidence witness the happy family re-
unions all over our great country this
Thanksgiving day.
The principles of arbitration and the
of the Golden Rule" in
business are solving the labor prob
lens. The race question is finding a
peacable solution under the leadership
of such able men as Booker T. Wash
ington.
War is now being driven into the
darker corners of the earth where we
hope it is fighting it's last battles.
Churches are awakening more than
ever to activity in the missionary fields.
Thousands of young volunteers are
ready to be sent, and all lands are
open to the gospel. The churches are
richer and stronger than ever before,
and gaining in influence. This has
been most wonderful missionary GEN.
tury. Building upon the meager foun-
dation of earlier missionary labor,
the building has been enlarged and
and transported until every
heather land and the islands OF the sea
have heard the glad tidings of the
gospel of peace. And the good news
is now being carried with great cour-
age into the very heart of darkest
heathendom.
The old Bible has stood the test of
hostile criticism. 1t is still the most
book in the world, excelling
in daily sales the most widely read
books of fiction in their palmiest days.
There are many more people reading
and studying the Bible to-day, than
ever in the history of the world. Sci
ence and history and conscience are
adding their testimony and approval
to the truth of the immortal Word.
1t is we'll that the pessimist should
learn that the good endures, that re-
formations last. The reformation of
the old church at Pentecost has lasted.
The reformation begun at Wittemberg
has lasted. The reformation of Scot
land by Knox has endured. The re-
formation of Wesley and Whitefeld
and Edwards has endured and borne
abundant fruit. Although there are
many false lsms and philosophies in
these days, there are no more than
there have been in the past. And all
these errors will die in time and pass
away, as ldolatry. quaekery, witchery.