Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-10-26
THE FORWARD MOVEMENT.


And the lord said unto Moses:
Wherefore criest thou unto me-?
Speak unto the children of Israel that
they go forward. Exodus 1415.
The world is advancing with increas-
ing acceleration ON every hand. The
nations are drawing together in the
great march OF progress, either TO a
unity that means combined effort or to
a condition that means the absorption
of the weaker and backward by the
stronger and forward.
1t is impossible to resist the tenden-
cy. The growth Of population, of in
dustries, and of mental development
requires new and wider fields for ac-
ton continually. The unknown and
neglected parts of the earth are rap
idly coming into the range Of useful
ness. The mind of man is eagerly
reaching out for universal knowledge
and greater opportunity. Discovery,
invention. Improvement are required
everywhere to meet the demands of
the growing human life. In all direc-
tons there is n forward movement de-
h.yed perhaps here or there by some
temporary reactions or unconquered
difficulties, which, however, are being
rapidly surmounted. The setbacks
which take place occasionally only in
crease the tendency and lead to speedy
recovery and greater movement than
before. Aside from questions Of public
policy or social theory, there is de-
mand everywhere for progress. prog
ress which means expansion, enlarge
ment, more opportunity, greater gen
crosby and larger sympathy. The
whole huma. race is like a great pro
cession moving on to climax that is
drawing nearer every day.
The forward movement permeates
all phases of human life and supplies
the incentive to great achievement and
noble action. All people must par.
take OF it r. enjoy what they possess,
and to succeed in attaining any salts
factory results in whatever station
they FILL We must keep up with the
great procession or fall out and perish
in lamentable failure. Some may de-
plore this condition and try to escape
from it, only to end in discontinue and
despair.
The universe has been. and is, going
forward, through evolution or deyel
opment. from the earliest beginning
1t is the rule of the whole and Of every
part. God proclaims it in his revela
ton to man, and our Lord makes the
keynote Of the Christian religion the
command to go forward
Many people in a narrow spirit tails
of perfecting conditions in certain
places before going out into new feeds
They would limit the efforts IF man L
selfish proportions under the lea tina
we should complete the development
at home. But such a policy defeats it'
own purpose, because Il lacks the en-
thusiasm Of the universal rule tina
alone can surmount the temptations t
incidence and ease that lure men away
from Their good intentions into bast
and false ideas of life.
1t is by going forward that we arise
out of our evil propensities, subdut
the weaknesses of the nesh. and arouse
the highest and noblest instinct of oul
manhood The forward movement
brings out the loyal soldier, the self
sacrificing explorer, and patient dis
tDverer.
The inquiries Of the philosopher. The
dreams of the philanthropist and tn,
aspirations of the saint are alike in
volved in the possibilities of the in
creasing progress. The hopes for bet
ter conditions are kept alive in TIT
hearts OF mel rs they 60 forward, per
sistently advancing and supporting
what they believe to be right.
Not contented with present achieve
ments or respondent over mistake:
al 'ailureS, but BY continually goins
forwa' we shall develop the immorta
faculties of our souls for eternal hap
piness.
The command Isl Go We into nj
the world and preach good tidings II