Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-11-24
IA SuBGOaSCIOUS EXISTENCE
Ry MASON A. WHITFIELD,
jackson. Miss,

In an attempt to discourse on the
complex, social and political condi-
tion of this. age with Mr.. Biggs, a
white gentleman of broad and con-
sentative views, one statement Of his
tended to change the entire social
plexion of our discussion. Mr..
Biggs said he was impressed nightly
with the consciousness OF an mex
plainable force underlying human af-
fairs This force does not act In the
nature of warning, but seems more
positive and directive in it's mission.
Its position Is at the substratum or
human matters. Its verdict is rem
dered after the vaporings OF superb
cial agitations have passed away.
What is that mysterious something
anyway? It is the voice Of the peo'
Pile? Not necessarily so, l should
think. The people are as prone TO
render adverse judgments as any
other. But the verdict of that subtle
force of which we speak is final in all
matters whatsoever. Can 1t be the
reverberations from the spirit OF
philosophy or the consonant play OF
the forces of dame nature itself?
From each and all of these answers
beg to appeal There is a manifest
conscious force that gives shape to
human affairs. Its voice has been
heard by the spiritual-minded ones OF
earth evir since Man became llv'
ing soul" The scientist hears and
sees it in natural phenomena; the ar
fist sees it on canvas and In stone;
but 1t remains for Christian worship,
pers to see it changing the heart OF
man and producing social upheavals
OF higher tyre.
The cause that is producing such q
marked change in human affairs, then,
is Christianity. 1t is gradually and
effectually ramifying every phase OF
life in national way. 1t is capturing
the hearts of men directly and indi,
rectly. This fact may be illustrated
by our political life. There are
times and occasions when broad poll
cies dominate and win; then there
are times when vicious and discrim'
NATIVE measures assume control The
former hold adamantine sway, with
no one to question their right to rule
The latter always invariably precipi'
tate a struggle for their existence
They serve to conjure the intellect by
inspiring it to concoct schemes and
to invent technicalities. The relation
of the two processes is nicely ex
pressed by the story between the sly
fox and the cat in the "Childs Story
Book" The fox claimed to have q
monopoly Of all tricks. while the cal
claimed but one. In an extreme mo
ment the fox exhausted his bag full
of tricks and was killed. The cat
trusted her one and was saved. Men
may devise and scheme to abridge the
rights of those whom they have be
come deluded into believing are In
ferior to them, but oncoming genera
tons are sure to change the verdict
History teens with evidence to sus
tain this assertion. .
The forces Of Christianity are mar
shalling, though In broken ranks al
yet, as never before in the history Of
the world. Philosophy and science nc
longer exist as distinct entities. but
have been bridled so as to facilitate
the spread of Christianity in all the
world. Aristotle, Plato and Newton
only serve now to embellish and en-
nance the value Of the Christian re
ligion.
Mankind is more and more seeking
how to best live together in, spirit
and power of the Prince of Peace
The most laudable project of this day
is the idea expressed under Inter
national Arbitration" Subordinate
to that great movement Is to be men
toned the great Inter-racial congress
held in London, England, July 1929
1911. No man, of whatever race he is
can fail to see the finger of the AL
mighty writing the destiny of all
races of earth through that great
London meeting. Fully fifty nations
were represented. The consensus OF
opinion was that man is equal to man
irrespective Of race, color. or intern
perate speech.
These general gatherings are
destined to have wholesome bearing
on smaller bodies and even individual
ideas. yet a little while and the
wicked is no MORE" is a logical con
clusion. The negro is scanning the
spiritual skies and Is about ready to
answer Mrs. Sojourner Truths dec
laration to Fred Douglass: go. Is
not dead"
While God has ever been in the
world, his presence was never more
manifest than it Is today. In olden
times 1t was the mission of a Moses
a Joshua or an Elijah to reveal him
to the astounded bystanders. Not al
together so now. The intellectual
giants Of secular knowledge see an in
scription on the walls Of human at
fairs that puzzles them as nightly as
ever Belshazzar Of Babylonian fame
was puzzled. They call it q myster
ious something" Truly 1t Is a mys
terry to them. The tens Of thousands
Of churches and Christian organiza
tons can read the solemn mystery
praise God from whom all blessings
fow."