The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-10-14
WORLDS GREATEST DOZEN.
". <. Curtis Names Twelve Men
Who Leaf in iiuman History.

Who Lead in Human History.
William E. Custis writes in The
Chicago Record-Herald: 1t is very
difficult to answer an inquiry I have
received from Catherine Byrne Of
EEnglewood, who asks me to name the
Swsiye most eminent men to human
history, not including those mentioned
ia the Bible; and she asks particularly
how many Americans should be in
cluded in that number. On such a
question there would be wide differ
ence Of opinion. People estimate emin-
ence, influence and mental and moral
nature by different rules OF measure
ment, and probably if this inqnlrv
were submitted to hundred Judges
few of them gould agree as to ali Of
the names that snould be inclnded in
the list. In my opinion, 5he only. way
to determine a mans greatness is by
measuring the influence he has exerted
upon the affairs of mankind; and IN
selecting the twelve men who have
been most conspicuous in that dlrec-
tion We must include first the found
ers of the great religions, who during
the present day guide and control the
conduct of hundreds of millions OF the
worlds inhabitants.
/, I would rank first Of the twelve,
Buddha, man of humble origin, who
was born in little village in the
Himalaya mountains in the year $50
B. G. and died ins472 B. G. He taught
a simple and sublime faith, which has
been accepted by larger number. OF
people than any other. And it is the
highest source OF qualification to the
Buddhist believers that no crop Of
blood was ever she'd in the propaganda.
The adherents OF the Buddhist faith
today number about 400, 900, 900. The
foundation of the religion preached
BY Buddha is defined as the four noble
traths-loves mankind, holy, calm,
the suppression Of desire and the pro-
lection Of life. True Buddhists will
never kill an animal or even an insect.
2. Next in influence perhaps and
with almost as many followers as
Buddha is Confucious, Chinese phil
osopher, who lived from $50 to 478 B.
c.. He taught no religion, but was
great moralist, and his maxims are
Che foundation of Chinese morals, law,
Justice and system Of government.
With the great majority Of the Chinese
education is limited to the study of
his maxims.
3. Mahomet, the camel driver 1910
632 A. d J, the founder Of the Moslem
religion and the author of the Koran,
has probably exercised as much in
fuence as any man who ever lived ex-
cept Buddha and Confpcius, although
he was iIliterate apd bis teachings
are mostly plagiarisms from the Old
Testament. The followers OF Mshomet
today number not less than 300, 009, GOO,
and the adherents Of no religion are
more sincere, devoted and scrupuious
IN practicing the principles of their
truth.
4. Perhaps Constantine the Great
{272-337 A. d. J, the Roman Emperor
who first accepted and recognized the
Christian religion, should be number
ed next, for he was the founder Of both
the Greek and Roman Catholic
churches. During his reign and
through, his influence Christianity
was substituted for paganism in the
civilized nations of the earth.
5. Martin Luther {1483-1546l, the
founder of the Protestant faith, l think
should come next, and after him.
6. Charlemagne (7S2-814), who may
be- termed the founderof modern civil
hzation, for during his reign began
the movements which developed the
present conditions Of society and gov
=. Alfred the Great of England (871-
9o1) should perhaps be ranked before
Charlemagne, but is placed after him
because he lived a hundred years
later. He was the founder of law,
courts, trial by jury and first over
threw the doctrine that might makes
right,'' which had prevailed among
human beings up to his reign. He
was the first to establish in practical
manner the principle that reason
should be moro respected than force.
Alfred the Great waS also the founder
of the modern system of education.
s.. George Washington (E32-i7991
naturally comes next as the founder
of civil liberty. =.
We have four places to dispose or
and I should assign them to:
9. Napoleon Bonaparte t1769- 1921,
the greatest of soldiers.
10. Michael Angelo ((1475- 1854, the
greatest Of architects, artists and
scalptors.
IL. william Shakespeare 1854 1916,
the greatest of writer's, and
II. Plato (427-347 B. G. J, the found
er of philosophy and ethics.
Unfortunately for Christopher Co
iumbus, there is 40 room for him in
this list, and although he has probab-
" exercised as much influence upon
the destiny Of mankind during the
last four centuries as any of those
named, it was the result of an accident