The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-24
Religious Liberty.

"hA 'hibi o''o All ldA'h anu Dtbplth
In common cause OF brotherhood
liberty and freedom
Religious Liberty.
Again. the signs Of the times in
dicate that the tendency now is in
the direction Of religious liberty
and the freedom OF conscience. Per-
secution is giving way to federation.
and federation is yielding to religi-
Gus liberty Even in Catholic coun-
tries there is trend towards the
disestablishment OF Church and State
where the people can worship God
according to the dictates OF their
oEl consciencos. and not be taxed
10 support a form of religion with
which they have no sympathy. II
does look as II the prophecy OF Mi
cab Is beginning to be fulfilled
Every man shall sit under his own
vine and fig tree. and none shall
make them afraid"
DenOminational Coo oration.
And yet. In discerning the signs
OF the times. another hopeful thing
is the growing harmony, good
will and cooperation between the
various evangelical denominations
A very marked advance has beer
made in this direction in the last
half-century. Concord has takeI
the place of discord, and good will
brotherly kindness and mutual help
fulness have taken the place d
harsh criticism and antagonism. i
Is now seen that Impotence Will
denominationalism, save in so fal
only as II is opposition to mere sec
tarianism, is unseemly and unproflt
able. and that brotherly kindnes!
and mutual helpfulness are far bet
ter than criticism and antagonism
The various evangelical denomina
lions are now seeing eye to eve a!
never before. and Christ's interces
sorry prayer for his disciples. tina
they all may be one" is being an
swered as never before. They seen
one In spirit and aim, though not II
organic union.
Missionary Awakening.
The great missionary awakening
in the churches Is still another yer,
encouraging sign of our times Fa
more is being done and given 70
the worlds eyangelizatiOn than eve
before. The Laymen's Movemen
brings a new vision to the laymel
themselves and promises ncy
and rich blessing to the cause o
Christianity, resulting in new sery
Ice and new power to Christs king
dom. There is inspiration in tn
very motto OF the Laymen's Mis-
sionary Movement: THE world
evangelization during the presen
generation" The sense OF respons
bility for eyangelistic service seem
profoundly deepened In the churche
of the present day, and they eel
ready as never before TO ODE
Christ's last command. GO We int
all the world and preach the gosps
TO every creature. Already Chris
tian principles are leavening all tn
civilizations of the world.
Educational Awakening.
And still another hopeful sign
the times is the great educatloh'
awakening and the advance III ger
eral education. Such Is the prOgrsi
lin this direction that. with a schoO
house In every neighboorhood an
with compulsory education as II
law of the land, soon illlteracy WI
be a thing OF the past. Already
our country the prophecy OF Dam
Is being fulfilled: Many shall ~
to and fro, and knowledge shall
increased. One who has live
three-duarters of a century is Dol
astonished and delighted to see Il
great progress in education and q
Increased facilities for the gener
and higher education OF all the pc
pie.
International Peace.
And last, but no meal
r. least. among the cheerll
, signs of the times Is u
growing tendency and desire
: the leading nations of the earth
= abolish war and settle all intern
| tional differences and disagreement
nv the peaceable means OF arDitr
tion rather than the sword. The CT
Ilized nations OF the world are ra
idly awaking to see the folly, COS
Iiness and even wickedness OF W;
, which Gen. Sherman has said,
!, hell" and they are turning
|, peaceable and honorable means
!, settling all international dispul
: rather than the implements OF q
= struction and death. In the ID
: few years two Hague Conferen6
. have been held, permanent Gov
:. of Arbitration has been establish'
4 and almost a hundred treaties ha