The Detroit times., 1911-02-21

age OF expansion. IL Is the Zeit- geist.
the time-spirit. II is In the very at
mosphere. II Affects rs principally In
three realms.
First. The realm OF civilization,
OF law and order. OF government IN
doubtedly the highest form OF civiiiza-
ton which the world has yet pro-
duced, AT least the most vigorous and
aggressive form, the form that Is
bound In the end to prevail, Is what
we call western civilization, OF which
the Anglo-Saxon is probably the most
vigorous and aggressive variety. Now
there are those who think that west
ern civilization should be shut up in
It's native home, the western world.
We have no call to carry our civiliza-
ton beyond the seas. TO the realms or
savagery, barbarism or TO the lands
OF lower or different civilization. Keep
II at home. The little Englander'
thinks that Great Britain should con-
fine It's civilization to it's own tight
little island The anti-imperialist
thinks that the American government
should stay at home, mind Its own
business and not NEEDLE with world
politics. And yet I'm spite OF all this,
Britain goes on interpenetrating and
possessing Africa and Asia and the
Islands OF the sea- And we have been
swept into the world movement in the
Philippines and elsewhere. The mo-
tives OF conquest and commercial ag-
grandizement that sometimes inspire
this movement are execrable. The
first forms In which our western civil
ization sometimes manifests itself are
often bad beyond words.
But nevertheless there Is some
thing else In all this besides these evil
symptoms. There Is a great. newt
able forward movement of the
new, vigorous and vital civil
ization upon the regions OF lower de-
velopment. The hand OF God Is in 1t.
To attempt to resist, restrict or limit
this expansion would be as idle as
to try TO sweep back the incoming
tide with your broom.
Then, Secondly. there is the ex.
pansion OF the realm OF knowledge,
science and culture. Western knowl-
edge, western science, western culture
is evidently destined to possess and
rule the new unified world. There are
those who believe that we should limit
and restrict the blessings of educa
ton.
These are certain classes who are
destined by Providence to be the tools
and instruments OF other classes, ceI
tain persons fitted only TO be hewers
OF wood and drawers OF water To
give such the advantage OF education
and the privileges of culture Is simply
to UNIT them for their tasks and make
them disconnected with their lot
Least OF all are we called on to carry
our western knowledge and science
across seas 10 supplant or commingle
with the effete science and knowledge
OF the Orient
And yet We go on, passing laws for
universal compulsory education, plant
ing schools and sociel settlements in
the slums of our cities among the
dregs OF our population and sending
American teachers to the Iggorates in
the Philippines. Western universities
are being planted In China and Japan
and western science and education
are possessing those lands and trans
forming their civilizations.
ITO attempt TO resist or restrict this
expansion of the kingdom OF knowl-
edge is as idle as TO hang up curtains
against the rising sun and try TO shut
out its illumination from any region
of darkness.
Precisely so Is IL with the realm
OF religion. Humanity must have re-
ligion. Man Is religious animal. He
cannot live his best life without it.
What religion shall the new unified
humanity have? Which Of all the re-
ligions now extant, will not say is
final and supreme revelation of God
to man, though / personally have no
doubt about the question But to nut
the matter on lower grounds. Which
religion is the most expansive. most
adaptable to the needs OF a common
humanity? Which Is most inspiring.
consoling. uplifting, regenerating. In
word, which Is most apt to be the
universal religion? / think there can
be but one answer to that question in
every thoughtful mind in Christen-
dom. Even the most intelligent non-
Christians recognize the inevitable
ness OF the university Of some type OF
Christianity, modified and adapted, as
1t always is, by the needs and appre-
tensions of the peoples to whom II is
carried.
And. therefore, new forward
movement, new era of expansion
has set In In our modern Christianity.
To attempt to restrict or limit II would
be as idle as to bid the sun stand still
over the tropic at the vernal equinox,
and not carry its vitalizing radiance
into the frozen regions of the north.
This pis ; the new vision which IL
dawning upon the Christian church
and inspiring her to new and unpre.
cedented efforts in this work of the
worldwide expansion OF the kingdom
OF her Lord and King. This is the ex-
PLANTATION of the Laymen's Missionary
movement, this and a new loyalty to
the leadership OF Jesus Christ and a
new consciousness and love of our
common humanity"
Lac MRNtNar LAlA IL