The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-04-03

God through the begetting of the Holy
Spirit-only these. Israelites indeed,
are properly reckoned as members of
spiritual Israel, of whom st. Peter tells
us. "Ye are Royal Priesthood, holy
nation. a peculiar people" Consc
quently all others than Jews and Spir-
itual Israelites are heathens, wheth-
er they live in the Orient or the Occi-
dent
Two Civilizations Centrastsd.
Our second question was, On the
whole, to 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
IDENTIFY 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 civil
cations. are we not apt to forget that
the very features Of our civilization.
which are now being accepted as su-
perior in the East, are comparatively
~
public schools and compulsory educa
ton a 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
not rail in the world. nor locomo-
tive, nor car, hundred years ago.
The East is rapidly introducing tie.
legraphy, the telephone. the wireless
system. the electric railways: but how
long have we had these in the West i?
Less than 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 Civil-
xation" Blessed the Wcrld7
That Christ's teachings have brought
great blessings wherever they have
been received is. we hold, beyond dis
pute. Individuals have been blessed
hvyf ho t,.,,t 80 rietfa
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 lin 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 civil
zation which Identifies itself with
Christianity, without accepting the
terms Of dScipleship. Has this civiliza
ton brought to the masses Of Europe
and America great blessing. and, If 1t
be extended to the far East, will 1t
prove blessing to the hundreds of
millions there?
Ii larger houses. better streets and
sewers. better water supplies, better
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 blessing to the far East.
But has 1t 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
pies of Europe and America. We are
not blaming this upon Christianity,
mark you've have not yet said why 1t
is so. We are merely noting facts.
which must be manifest to everyone
who has seen the two in contact
A Reason For This.
Our fourth question was, Why ID 1t
SO? What peculiarities are connected
with Christian civilization or the
Christian teachings which produce
such diverse Notwithstanding 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 satisfactory and unhappy con-
dition Of any people in the world, even
when they are enjoying greater bless
ings and luxuries than the majority?
There Ia but one answer to this ques-
ton: It Is because the teachings of
Christ carry with them broadening
Of mind, an emancipation from super
stition. a spirit of liberty. True, there
were Dark Ages. during which many
30 called Christian superstitions pros
pered. But such superstitions were
not the teachings of Jesus and His
Apostles, but the Misrepresentation
Of their teachings. Those superstitions
did indeed for time make the peo-
Pile Of Europe drowsy. and it was the