Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-10-19
The Significance of the Wonder
full Ninetesnth-The Century
Now Closed.

departed century is net an untried
experience, as nineteen generations
have passed such transition since
the dawn of the Christian era.
Each century has presented it
own unfolded lessons, and each
generation learning those has turn
ed to face the future with waning
hope.
We have no desire to detract
from the wonders Of past centuries.
for we cannot forget that they are
filled with many historical epochs.
but making due allowance for
these, we believe that We are jnstl-
fed in chasing this as by far the
most remarkable century Of his
tory and so strikingly so, that it is
| more remarkable than all the pre-
ceeding centuries taken together.
The progress Of the century con-
sists of changes so rapid, so revo-
u iionary and wide spread, that we
stand amazed. It's departure from
| old time methods and ways of life
and S rapid Inauguration of new
methods in all departments of hu-
, man devices, constitute it a record
, breaker.
Its revolution in the mechanical
and industrial departments is start
ling. and is "a departure from all
the traditions of the past. The
rapid transit of the times, the null
tiplicity of inventions and the in
accommodation of nations are
only few among the many changes
and transitions which rightly mark
the same as the wonderful century
of all history. One of the condi-
tions most notable and striking is
the commercial and colonial expan
sion of nations, especially Of those
that have stood for progress and
liberty of christian teaching
In the year 1890 great Britian's
population was 100000 at the
close of that century it was over
40.000.000. But in commerce and
colonial expansion Great Britain
has exceeded all growth at home in
1900 her colonial possessions and
dependencies had an area of less
than 100000 square miles. This
area has been augmented in the
last century to over 100000
square miles, with a population of
over 300,O00.n00 or more than seven
times the population of the British
home land. When we rememb Der
that those possessions are scattere d
throughout the whole world, upon
which. the Sun never sets. And
that where even the Union Jack
flies there are progress, and religi-
Gus freedom. And where churches
of all christian denominations and
sects, are seen basking their Heav-
onward extended spires in the light
OF an unseting Sun, whose Worship
ers with untrammeled liberty kneel
around their sacred affairs. The
marvellous expansion of the British
nation in the aforesaid century is
cause for rejoicing. In striking
contrast with this, stands the CEN
tury's record of another nation,
Spain. At the commencement OF
said century the colonial possessions
of Spain just about equaled in area
those held by Great Britain today
or 100000 square miles. This
great kingdom extended its sovei
eighty over most of South Americ;
Central America and Mexico. The
century closed with every possess
sion Of value lost to the Spanish
Crown. The last vestige of terri
tory or sovereignty in the Western
Hemisphere has been surrendered
When we remember that Spain has
stood as the right hand supporter
of the Romish apostasy,and that her
sovereignty wherever extended, has
countenanced the closing Of every
possible door to the Bible and the
Gospel, the lesson of the closed
century points Enthusiastically to
Judgment on that nation, and to
the fact that God honors the ma
ton thai honors his word. Per-
haps the most remarkable example
of national growth is found in the
United States. The dawn of the
century found the infant Republic
with d. population of 100000, it's
close has left her with abont TO-
000,000 or an increase of fifteen
fold in the century. The most
striking circumstance in the recent
history Of our nation is the ignor-
ing Of our national policy of avoid
ing all foreign ehtaglements, and
the recent extension of sovereignty
over foreign possessions. This
change may be regretted by all.
However >;we suspect that the
Divine hand mas been moving, it
may be, to place this nation beside
sister nations to police the
world and stand guardian of the
Bible, and the Gospel of Christ.
(To be continued later.
w. S. Il.