Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
MORAL SUPREMACY
OF CHRISTENDOM
From the Literary Digest.

From the Literary Digest.
Is the moral supremacy of Christendom In
danger? This question, formulated by
Mr. L. p Jacks, editor of The HILBERT
Journal Qondon), Is one of the many man
ifestations of certain searching of heart
among the western civilizations since Japan
has so marvelously revealed herself TO the
world. That such a question will seem al
most inpious to many readers, ana alto
gether beside the mark to most, says Mr.
Jacks, is due to the fact that Christian
thinkers habitually exhibit an attitude of
security which is almost evasion toward the
stupendous facts Of the non-Chrdstian re-
ligions" The meaning of these facts, he
maintains is $50 subyersive of prejudice
and so opposed to the sense perceptions OF
the ordinary man that the human mino Is
unable to grasp their significance all at
once; and thus they remain unnoticed, pc
cause the sweep of contemporary thought rs
not wide enough to encompass them III
it's earliest stages, he asserts Chrstianity
displayed a wonderful power of assimliAt-
ing elements from the various pagan re,
ligions with which 1t came In contact, ana
this power has been cited as , one OF E Fnr
centuries Christianity has been imperVlous
to outside influences, but now says M.
Jacks, at seems likely that she is about 70
experience return of the conoltlon she
had to face at the beginning. we read
further Gin The HILBERT JournaD:
s.Since the armed aggressions OF Islam
were finally checked Christendom mas liVeo
secure within her own borders; there has
been no development through the reaction
of non-Christian forces; there has been no
assimilation of nonAChristian ideas; there
has been no challenge from the outside
world. there has been no external standard
by which the church could measure either
her faith or her works. Herself the judge
of others she has been judged by none
We may. survey a longer period and say
that for more than 800 years Christianity
has been unaffected by any event in the
worlds history the consequences or whicn
to herself can for moment be compared
with those which followed the fall or Jeru-
salem, the invasion of the Cloths, or
the rediscovery of the teachings of Aris-
totle. Her evolution during this time has
been rapid but 1t has been self-contained.
= =
political changes no doubt have played
a large part in shaping her fortunes, but
these changes took place among races she
had already conquered and In territory that
was already her own. Science, classical
learning and biblical criticism have thrown
doubt upon may OF her formulas, but 1t
was science learning and criticism to which
her own deeper spirit had given birth; ac-
ton and reaction among her own compo-
nent elements have been incessant and pro-
ductive of extraordinary results: this
stream of Christian thought has met and
| mingled with that: this part of Christen-
dom has won supremacy over others. but
Christianity as whole has been unvisited
by any shock from without and the day
| seemed passed forever when, as whole,
she had to give account of herself before
the world
"But now, In spite of all our assumptions,
| tt seems likely that Christianity Ia about
| to experience q return of the conditions
she had to face at the beginning. For the
| first time In the course of many centuries
| she has received q shock from without, A
new development, outside her own borders.
| has taken place In the worlds history, the
peculiar significance of which. for her. Hes
| In This: that 1t affects not this or that eIe-
meat Of her teaching, hut her claim to be
| the universal teacher of mankind, Chris
tendem as whole. long accustomed to
treat all pagan races as morally inferior
70 neTssI; now fasads eoatfonlsg y
and splendid promise. WHOSE claim to moral
! equality. at least, can not be disregarded