Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-12-13

century that ravaged Europe and in
Moscow and the Neapolitan domin-
ions and Marseilles wrought such
terror in the eighteenth century,
but 1 look at the yellow fevers, and
the cho1eras and the diphtherias and
the scarlet fevers and the typhoids
of our time. From Hurdwar, India,
where every twelfth year 100000
devotees congregate, the caravans
brought the cholera, and that one
disease slew $4,000 in IS days in the
Bossorah. Twelve thousand in one
summer slain by it in India and 1885,
600 in Egypt. Disasters epidemic.
Some of the finest monuments in
Greenwood and Laurel Hill and
Mount Auburn are to doctors who
lost their lives battling with southern
epidemic.
But now. I turn the leaf in9my sub
ject, and I plant the white lilies and
the palm tree amid the magistrates
and the myrtle. This age no more
characterized by wonders of disaster
than by wonders of Distinguishing
of longevity; the average of human
life is rapidly increasing. Forty
years now worth 400 years once. Now
1 can travel from Manitoba to New
York in less than three days. In
other times it would have taken
three months. In other words, three
days are now worth three months of
other days. The average of human
life, practically greater now than
when Noah lived, with his $50 years,
and Methusaleh lived his 969 ears.
Blessings of intelligence The Sal
mon p. Chases and the Abraham Lin
coins and the Henry Wilson's of the
coming time will not be required to
learn to read by pine knot lights or
seated on shoemaker's bench, nor will
the Fergusons have to study astron-
orny while watching the cattle
knowledge rolls its tide along every
poor mans door, and his children
| may go down and battle in them. If
the philosophers of hundred years
ago were called upon to recite in a
| class with our boys and girls those
old philosophers would be sent down
to the foot of the class because they
failed to answer the questions! Free
| libraries in all the important towns
| and cities of the land. Historical al
coves and poetical shelves and mag
aZine tables for all who desire to
walk through them or sit down at
them.
Blessings of quick information;
Newspapers falling all around US
thick as leaves in a September equi-
noctial. News three days old rancid
| and stale, We see the whole world
twice day-through the newspaper
at the breakfast table and through
the newspaper at the teatable, with
an extra" here and there between.
Blessings of Gospel proclama ton:
Do you know that nearly all the mis-
sionary societies have been born with
in "A hundred years and nearly all the
Bible societies and nearly all the
great philanthropic movements?
Christianity is on the march, while in
fidelity is dwindling into imbecility.
While infidelity is thus dwindling the
wheel of Christianity is making about
! thousand revolutions minute. All
the copies of Shakespeare and of Ten
nyson and of oDisraei and of any ten
of the most popular writer's of the
day less in number than the copies of
the Bible going out from our printing
presses. A few years ago in six
weeks more than 100000 copies of
the New Testament purchased-not
given away, but purchased, because
the world will have it. The most pop
ular book to-day is the Bible, and the
mightiest institution is the church,
and the greatest name among the
nations and more honored than any is
the name of Jesus.
Wonders of self-sacrif1ce: A cler-
gyman told me in the northwest that
for six years he was a missionary at
the extreme north, living 400 miles
from a postoffice, the thermometer 40.
degrees below zero, he slept out of
doors in winter, wrapped in rabbit
skins woven together. I said: "Is it
possible? You do not mean 40 de-
grees below zero?" He said: ST do,
and I was happy All for Christ!
Where is there any other being that
will rally such enthusiasm? Mothers
sewing their fingers off to educate
| their boys for the Gospel ministry
For nine years no luxury on the table
until the course through grammar
school and college and theological
| seminary be completed. Poor widow
putting her mite into the Lords
treasury. the face of emperor Or pres
ident impressed upon the coin not so
conspicuous as the blood with which
she earned it, Millions of good men
and women, but more women than
men, to whom Christ is everything.
, Christ first and Christ last and Christ
| forever.
Why. this age is not so character
lied by invention and scientific ex-
ploration as it is by Gospel proclama-
ton. You can get no idea of it unless
you can ring all the church bells in
one chime and sound all the organs in
one diapason and gather all the con-
gregations of Christendom in one