Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-31

We stand near the close of a most
remarkable year in the worlds history.
The year 1912 has witnessed the over
throw of the Manchu dynasty in China,
and the adoption of "A republican form
of government by the most populous
nation on the globe. 1t has also seen
the defeat of Turkey by Italy and the
war of the Balkan States upon the same
great Mohammedan power. Whatever
may be the final outcome of the pend
ing contest between Turkey and the Bal
kan allies, the situation can never be
again what il has been, and the end
of the 'unspeakable Turk in Europe
draws nigh. The year 1912 for these
things only, if there were nothing else,
will be memorable.
Meanwhile the great nations of chris
tendom-especially the Englishspeal<ing
nations-are more prosperous and pow
erful than ever before. Their prosper
ity is so great that it has become their
peril for their social unrest, which is
their only disquieting condition. is dis
quietude about the distribution of
wealth. 1t is one of the striking facts
of modern times that in the lands where
there is most wealth there is most dis
turbance about matters of mere mate
rial good; in heathendom there are no
strikes or lock-outs. but only a monot-
onous stretch of deep poverty and quiet
contentment. AS has been truly said of
certain heather, their greatest want is
a want.
1t would seem impossible for any
discerning mind to consider these
striking conditions of religious and po-
1itieal revolution in pagan and semi
pagan lands in connection with the vast
wealth and immense power of the chris
tian nations, without drawing the con-
clusion that Providence is calling chris
tendon to an unprecedented missionary
opportunity IN the fulfillment of which
the whole world may be speedily evan
gelized. This call could not be more
clear and constraining If it were writ
ten in starry lines across the armament.
AS idols fall and hoary superstitions
totter to their ruin in unchristian lands,
Christ must be proclaimed to all men
as the Saviour of the world, the only
God worthy of universal alteration and
service. The highest consideration of
religious duty, as we'll as the most COM
polling requirements of earthly interest,
should impel us to this great and beneh-
cent work.
The nations are being drawn closer
and closer together by the ever improv-
ing means of rapid transportation and
swift communication. Political barriers
are being pulled down, and isolated and
unbrotherly religions are being renounc
ed Mankind is moving towards family
relations among the nations, the real
cation of the conception of the whole
family of man on earth. But it is obvi-
GUS that the nations can not dwell to-
gether in peace under such conditions
unless they can be brought to accept
and abide by universal principles of
morality. No system of tribal or ethnic
ethics will suffice for regulating their
relations: such systems lack both the
universally and the authority required
to restrain wrong and impel to right
eousness everywhere. There is but one
system of morality among men that is
high enough and holy enough to be-
come the rule of conduct for all men
in all lands. and that is the christian
system. Polygamous Mohammedanism
and Buddhism can never supply a. moral
standard for mankind, and far less can
Brahmanism and Conhucianism (the one
a system of caste and the other an
ethical philosophy terraced tyranny
nourish the moraldlife of the race Only
is equal to the demands of
worldwide moral needs. The world