The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-03-04

I'VE are hidden to watch as well as
pray; unless we watch for the an
swer of our prayer 1t is proof that
our prayers are not sincere We must
not only be vigilant to note the full
filment of our wishes we must know
where to look and how to look for 1t.
How II is said Jesus, that ye do not
discern this timer Wonderful things
were taking place then and the people
we're wholly oblivous of them. The
kingdom that they had been praying
for was coming, nay, it had arrived;
1t was there in power and great glory.
but they did not see it. The same
thing is always happening to us. The
forces of the kingdom are marching
in and taking possession of one
stronghold after another and we are
hardly aware of their presence 1t
Is all done silently, without noise or
demonstration; nobody is crying, 10.
herei or 10. therel but the kingdom
of God is among us.
Happening Right Here.
Right here I'm Columbus things of
great significance have been happen
ing every year every month. and not
much notice Is taken of them. one
who has been watching the progress
OF events in this community for %
years is able to note some decided
gains for the kingdom of the Spirit.
The standards of religion. of refine
ment, Of business integrity, of politi
cal decency. of social morality are a
great deal higher than they were in
1888. We had high public officials
here 20 years ago who were often
drunk in their offices. We had shoot
ing ARRAYS in the public places which
were treated as jokes by the magis-
trates. We had newspapers of large
circulation which were supported by
blackmail and with whose diabolical
business no man dared to meddle
The gambling houses We're as wide
open and as wen known as the res
taurants. the big gamblers were point
ed out as personages of distinction
in the streets and the newspapers
were apt TO report big winnings in
these exchanges. Things are bad
enough now. in SOME respects but
in almost all respects they were in
finitely worse n quarter of a century
ago.
And the best Of the gain Is not in
suppressing the evil but in fostering
the good. How many movements
have been set on foot in Columbus
during the past 25 years for the alle-
Walton of human woes and the i'm
provemcnt of human conditions!
How many. many men and women
are working now. In ways which We're
not dreamed of % years ago. to light
en- the burdens and brighten the
lives of their fellowmenl A gentle
man who has lived in Columbus long
er than I have whose business II
Is to observe and study social condi-
tions. said To me the otner daI'
There is more good of all kinds go
ing on in Columbus today than ever
before
ANYONE who will attend the month
ly meetings OF the general coun-
Gil of the churches. and listen to the
reports from all the rields Of philan-
thropic activity will get a vivid i'm
preston not only of the work that
needs to be done but of the work
that is being done for humanity in
this city.
Not Very Wen Posted.
"Of much of this work too many of
us are largely unaware-at least we
do not see as clearly as we should
the effects of 1t. The outstanding
evils are in full view; we are much
less familiar with the good that is
working effectually. in many ways 70
counteract the evil. And what l am
urging is the need of cultivating the
habit OF observing the signs of the
times that are cheering and reassur-
ing. 1t is for this reason that I call
your attention to movements of
opinion In various parts of the world
which seem to me significant. What
seem to discover is a deepening con
scientiousness and a growing sense
Of responsibility on the part of mer
who ought to be the leaders OF
opinion.
81 have been greatly impressed by
an article which occupied the place OF
honor in the July number of Tho
Hilbert Journal. entitled An open
letter to English Gentlemen It is q
pseudonymous article; Pars Mini
ma is the signature. II has not beer
matched. think, by any appeal tc
Bnglishmen since Carlyles Past and
Present and Ruskin's Grown Of wild
olives Indeed / think that this
strikes a distinctly higher note thar
either Of those trumpet calls His APP
peal Is 10 the wen bred Englishman
TO men Of gentle birth, of an inherit
cd courtesy, courage, good sports
men, incapable Of dishonesty, lying
with difficulty, unassuming, undemon-
strative, plain, blunt, loyal and he
proposes to remind them Of a tithe
Of fhnir O hNn N a r,no y