Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-10

In various parts OF the world
an unusual number Of great dis
asters.
There was the famine In India,
whereby thousands persisted.
The fearful tornado on the Texas
coast, by which some 5000 people
lost their lives at Galveston, and
by which upwards Of S2O,OOO,O0O
worth of property was destroyed,
followed in 1900.
More recently the volcanoes in the
West Indies have shocked mankind
by the appalling loss Of life wrought
by them.
But these dark pictures have
been relieved by the bright lines OF
human kindness which have been
drawn through them.
The whole world undertook the
relief Of India's starving multitudes.
The voice Of the fierce gale which
swept over Galveston had scarcely
died away in the distance before
hundreds of kind people were hast
ening to the scene of sorrow and
desolation, bearing in their hands
every sort of relief for the suffer-
ers. Millions of dollars were sent
to restore the sorely afflicted city,
conspicuous among the gifts being
$50, 900 voted by the Mexican con-
gress. When It Is remembered that
the battlefield of San Jacinto is al
most within sight Of Galveston and
that It was on Galveston island
Santa Anna was, after the battle,
held prisoner by Sam Houston, the
gift of Mexico viii appear as one
of the most beautiful instances Of
international compassion to be
found in the history Of nations.
The other day when the island Of
Martinique suffered so fearfully by
the eruption Of Mt. Pelee the gifts
of the world were so prompt and
generous the authorities felt con-
strained to cry enough" within
very few days after the news Of
the disaster came to the ears Of
Christendofn. The congress of the
United States voted $500, 900 and the
good ship Dixie" flying the stars
and stripes "a name suggesting the
spirit Of brotherly kindness in the
union), went speeding over the sea
bearing relief for the stricken ones
of st. Pierre.
All these things are felt to be mat
tiers of course, and this very feeling
is itself proof of how profound is
the sense of human BROTHERHOOD
which has taken hold Of the Chris
tan nations and which has extend
ed even beyond their borders. The
oh "
easily imagine that it has always
been so with men. But such is not
the case. All this Astounding phil
anthropy is entirely modern-which
is another way of saying it is the
outgrowth Of Christianity.
1t is a fact that when the Chris
tian religion came to the Greeks
the most refined and sympathetic
of ancient peoples-it found in their
rich and flexible language no word
for philanthropy" and II was fore
ed to coin the word to express the
idea. The Greeks contemptuously
called all men but themselves bar
barians" and treated the ''barba-
rians" accordingly. The Jews with
the oracles of God in their hands
were an exclusive nation who treat
ed the outside world-"the Gentle
dogs''-with proud and heartless in
difference. The Roman extended
his dominion but Tot his kindness
to all nations within the reach OF
his conquering power.
1t is true that the Latin dramatist
Terence put into one Of his plays
the famous apothegm II am a man
and nothing of man is foreign to
me-" and it is said the sentiment
called forth the greatest applause
in the Roman theatre. But it is
very significant that the noble words
were put into the mouth Of father
and husband who on starting on a
Journey commands his wife to de-
stroy their expected child If 1t
should prove to be daughter. Thus
tainted with cruelty was even the
best sentiment of humanity which
the noblest of Romans could con-
ceive. How infinitely removed is it
from the spirit of Christianity which
has filed the earth with homes
and asylums with orphaned chill
dren!
It is quite true that many people
who are not Christians contribute
to these things and even unchris-
tian nations now heed the cries Of
human want and woe. But this
fact does not subtract from the
honor due Christianity in the mat
ter. Our holy religion has created
this worldwide atmosphere of broth
erliness which even unchristian peo-
pies cannot wholly escape. 1t pene-
trates with it's power hearts and ma
lions which do not formally ac-
knowledge 4ts authority. The
achievement is not the less real
and glorious because wrought on
hearts which deny the authority Of
the faith that affects them so, but
on the contrary, it is the rather
more sublime a manifestation Of the
imperial force OF the Christian re-
ligion which changes those whom
1t cannot absolutely control.
That all these humane efforts to
ALLEVIATE human suffering and ele-
vate human life are the direct fruits
of Christianity, even though many
unchristian hands take part in such.
efforts is evident from the fact that
they all have taken their rise in
Christian lands since the beginning
of the christian era, and be-
yond the limits of Christendom are
nowhere so plentiful or so potent
Here, for example, are the modern
schemes for free popular education.
Thousands of irreligious voters give
support to this great work and