The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-15

such worldwide revolution.
 History of all time has witnessed the
 rise and fall of nations and the rise ana
 fall of religions, and there are many un-
 questionably who take the present uh-
 rest to indicate, that not alone are the
 present nations passing their period or
 greatest usefulness, but that the pres
 ent churches are commencing their pe-
 riod of decadence. All nations to-day
 are resting upon a military political
 structure; and although in general
 peace reigns over the world, standing
 armaments alone keep that peace. In our own country we see the tendency or
 the times along this direction in our ! greatly increased navy, and the de- | mandS of the future necessitate con-
 tinuance and a strengthening in this
 department of our government. Armed
 to the teeth with all the latest devices
 of warfare, the nations of the earth are ! peacefully" pursuing their courses. Is this the civilization that we have been
 struggling for for so many centuries is | this the condition of affairs when man
 can pursue his individual intent peace fully and without molestation, with
 freedom of action as well as freedom of
 thought?
 Millions are annually spent in main
 tainng this peace that we so proudly
 boast of. Is it any wonder then that many are questioning civilization that | so largely has it's foundation in Might l Makes Right?" Is the diScOntent and
 unrest of the present due to realiza-
 ton that this is not the civilization man
 has been struggling for? Has the time now come when advance must be along other lines, and where each upward rise will not have to be maint aimed by the bayonet and the cannon.
 | If this is the social-political side, what about the religious? Is the church keeping pace with the great strides of l inventive genius, and is it to-day offer ing to mankind that for which the heart most craves? Is it to-day, as unfortu
 nately it has been at times in the past, reactionary and against all intellectual development; is it putting obstacles in the line of progress; is it holding man by preaching ethical and moral dogmas. when the mind of man is craving a more substantial hope and more solid assurance for the future.
 The church has suffered a change in proportion to that of other institutions of the times. The tendency to drop away from formal and outward connec- tions with present religious bodies is apparent And just as the state broke away from the church, so now the indi- vidual is breaking away The church no longer holds its adherents with the strength of superstition and fear neith- CT with the threats of fire and brim- stone. It no longer appeals to man strictly from it's ethical standpoints, and its claim to-day rests largely on the individual freedom which it allows it's members. Just as the Catholic church lost it's civil power and hold on national institutions, so now many see in the signs of the times the decadence of the Protestant church.
 Among the advances in the line of thought in the past century, none was more pronounced or had more far reaching effect on the church than that l of evolution. And the tide of free thinkers who broke away from the | church on this doctrine is hardly yet | Stemmed The flood of disbelief which 1 it carried-perhaps unwarrantably-is | now one of the features of unrest of the | day. The absolute faith of the past has | been wiped away, and man is struggling | through his doubts and questionings to a new foothod. And just as natural evolution gained a general credence, so is spiritual evolution to-day finding ac- ceptance. The church makes little de- mand now upon it's individual members, and with the freedom thus given, has in many instances come the falling of Of that which requires lit- tie, one is apt to think little. If this is a tendency that points to the decadence of all religious belief it certainly de- mands serious considera tion, and may well give occasion to grave doubts for the future. If, on the other hand, the religious sentiment of the time is find ing a definite response in the human heart, 1 do not know that we are iusti- fled in questioning the final outcome. Each church and each religion in the past has died only to give birth to a ! [ better and a higher divine conception: so now I believe we may rest assured hat if the church of to-day has fulfilled $ ts usefulness, from it will come high er and a noter form of worship. ( u SteIlIS dIIllDSl lltOilDItHelSlDle | when one comes to actually consider the | of the present time. It : every circle of society, it | | extends to all classes and places. It is | lnrest in the full meaning of the word Il The capitalistic class is striving to add | o it's millions by new schemes and de- ices, and yet with the attainment of q great wealth has come the desire to get i'd of it. Never before have such ben factions been known; never before V ave such millions been given to public c purposes. Great wealth of itself has t aied to bring satisfaction and pleas s Ire. V The laboring classes are restive even nder the most favorable conditions yer known. With more knowledge, U arnings and pleasures than ever be- ', | ore vouchsafed, the spirit of dissatis- " action is everywhere apparent. Con a itions have tremendously improved ducation is almost as free as air, freer D bought and freer speech have come W reater opportunities for the enjoy II lents of life, more political equality. u -nd yet neither satisfaction nur uuu- T. With the so-called middle Il lasses the condition is certainly no bet cl er. The keen strife of competition, the h
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