The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-04-05

God through the bsgetting Of the Holy
Sprtt--only these. Israelites indeed.
are properly reckoned as members OF
spiritual Israel. Of whom st. Peter tells
us. "Ye are Royal Priesthood, holy
nation, peculiar people" COnse.
Juently all others than Jews ana Spir-
itual Israelites are heathens, wheth.
er they live in the Orient or the Occi-
dent.
Two Civilizations Contracted.
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 evi.
IDENTIFY prefer their own, and are 10th
to change to ours. They are. however,
now passively admitting the superior
adopting our schooling system, mill
tary system, naval system and voting
system.
But i'm our contrasting the two ciyill-
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
new TO ourselves? Where We're our
public schools and compulsory educa.
ton century ago? 1t is only twenty
years ago that Great Britain adopted
the present method. Where We're our
railroads, which they are now adopt
ingi Let us remember that there was
not u rail in the world, nor l0como-
tive. nor a car. 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 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. III
To What Extent Has "christian Civiii-
cation Blessed the WerId?
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 Ofsthe
Spirit. TO these 1t 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
cation which identifies itself with
Christianity, without accepting the
terms of discipleship. Has this civiliza-
ton brought to the masses of Europe
and America great. blessing, and, il 1t
be extended to the far East, will 1t
prove 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 a 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
who has seen the two i'm contact.
A Reason For This.
Our fourth question was, Why IS it
So? What pecuiiarties are connected
with Christian civilization or the
Christian teachings which produce
such diverse results-brilging 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-
ditiOn of any people in the world. even
when they are enjoying greater bless
ings and Injuries than the majority?
There is but one answer to this ques-'
ton: 1t 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
so-calIed 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 a time make the peo.
pie OF Europe drowsy. and it was the
custom OF such religious teachers TO