The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-04-11

are pIOpeTly TeCkOuCU rs members OF
spiritual Israel. Of whom st, Peter tells
us. ''Ye are Royal Priesthood, a holy
nation. a peculiar people," Consc-
quently all others than Jews and Spir-
itual lsraelites ara hcathens, wheth-
er they live In the Orient or the Occi-
dent.
Two Civilizations Contracted.
4 Our second question was, On tho
whole, 20 what extent is our Western
civilization. which is often called
Christian civilization, superior to that
Of the East?
Considerable could be said in favor
Of each. We who have been accus-
toned from childhood to Western
methods, customs, dress, etc. prefer
our own, but the Eastern peoples EVIL
IDENTITY prefer their own, and are 10th
to change to ours. They are. however,
now passively> admitting the superior
ity Of ours in that they are gradually
adopting our schooling system, mill
tary system, naval system and voting
system.
But in our contrasting the two civill-
cations, are we not apt to forget that
the very features of our civilization,
which are now being accepted rs su-
perior In the East, are comparatively
new to ourselves? Where were our
public schools and compulsory educa-
ton century ago? 1t Is only twenty
years ago that Great Britain adopted
the present method. Where were our
railroads, which they are now adopt
ing? Let us remember that there was
tive, nor cur, u hundred years ago.
The East Is rapidly introducing te-
legraphy, the telephone. the wireless
system. the electric railways; but how
long have we had these in the West?
Less than q century-some Of them
for only ten years. Viewing the mat
ter from this standpoint should help
to keep us Of the West quite humble
when we think Of and speak Of the
awakening in the East-in China, ia
pan, etc.
To What Extent Has "Christian Civili-
cation" Blessed tho Wcrld?
That Christ's teachings have brought
great blessings wherever they have
been received is, we hold, beyond dis
pute. individuals have been blessed
by the precious truth Of Christianity
rich and poor, Of every nation. kindred
and tongue. TO these the Gospel Mes
sage has brought peace with God
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
and the salvation provided through
Him. TO these the instruction Of the
Bible and the guidance of the Holy
Spirit have brought the fruitage Of the
Spirit To these it has brought "the
peace Of God which passeth all under
standing" ruling in their hearts at all
times, and under all conditions-wheth
er 'in sickness or health, in poverty's
vale, or Astounding in wealth.
But our question does not relate to
these sanity followers of the teachings
Of Jesus, who walk in His footsteps.
Our question is in respect to the civili-
Christianity, without accepting the
terms Of discipleship. Has this civilian
ton brought to the masses Of Europe
and America great blessing, and, If it
be extended to the far East, will it
prove a blessing to the hundreds Of
millions there?
If larger houses, better streets and
sewers, better water supplies, better
clothing. better schools, ETC., are bring
ing to- the people Of Europe and Amer
lea more JOY, more peace, more happi-
ness, more contentment, more kind
ness, more usefulness in the present
life and more preparation for the life
to come, then our Western civilization
is blessing to US, and would doubt
less prove a blessing to the far East.
But has it brought these blessings?
Alas, no! AS far as our observations
in China and Japan go, we are led to
believe that their peoples are far hap
pier, far more contented, than the peo-
pies of Europe and America. We are
not blaming this upon Christianity,
mark you've have not yet said why it
is SO. We are merely noting facts,
which must be manifest to everyone
a Reason For This.
Our fourth question was. Why is it
so? What peculiariti2s are connected
with Christian civilization or the
Christian teachings which produce
such diverse rcSultS-bringinS one
class, the sanity followers Of Jesus.
into the utmost peace and joy, and
bringing others, the masses who are
merely nominal Christians. into this
most unsatisfactory and unhappy con-
1ition Of any people in the world, even
when they are enjoying greater bless
ings and luXulies than the majority?
There is but one answer to this ques-
ton: 1t is because the teachings Of
Christ carry with them q broadening
Of mind, an emancipation from super
stition, q spirit Of liberty. True, there
were Dark Ages, during which many
so-called Christian supersttions pros
pered. But such suDerstitions were
NOT fonphinTa hP Icons and His