The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-12-27
IS THE WORLD GROWING
BETTER OR WORSE

= - VI
III sorts OF rimes, scandals and trag-
eales mat are dished out continually
ana conspicuously in our daily news
papels can reach the conclusion that
tie world is growing dangerously
and hopeiessly worse, but to those
who make some pretentiOns to infor-
nation and eruditiOn, We cannot for
the life OF us understand how they
can be SD wholly deceived.
y bishop OF the Methodist church
is reported TO have recently said in
sermon delivered in Savannah, Ca,
that Rome in her worst days, never
harbOred such conditions of vice as
are prevalent in our highest social
circles at the present time
The good bishop, we are told. made
other criticisms equally as appalling
along other lines.
Some centuries after the "declinr
and fall CT the Roman empire" when
the world was supposed to have been
softened and elevated by the mellow
ing influence of the Christian relig-
ion, how did the pulpit itself stand as
compared with its standing today?
| AS late as the seventeenth century
Thomas Darlington Macauley tells us
that the English country squire, who
thought that it belonged to his dig
pity and standing to have grace said
at his table by as ecclesiastic in full
canonicals, found means to reconcile
| his dignity with economy. A young
Levite-such then was the phrase
might be had for his board, a small
garnet and ten pounds year; he
might not only perform his own pro
fessional functions; might not only
be the most patient of butts and Of
listeners; might not only be always
ready in fine weather for bowls, and
in rainy weather for shovelbOards,
but might also save the expense of
gardner or groom. He sometimes
Curried the coach horses and though
nothing of walking ten miles to de-
liver a message TO some other county
squire of equal dignity and impOr-
lance. He was permitted to dine
with the family, but was expected to
content himself with the cOarsest
fare, and when the sweetmeats and
delicacies were brought on he quit
ted his seat and stood alOof until ne
was summoned to return thanks for
the repast, from the greater part 81
which he had been excluded.
Think of a minister OF 4 bishop q
any denomination currying 4 horse
for his board or acting as a menia
in any capacity for country squire
in our day.
How was it in the matter of com
mon education!
Not one person in five hundred
could have spelled his way through
a Psalm. Therefore, says the histori
an it was not strange that Matthia
and kniperdolng. apostles of lust
robbery and murder, were able TO
a time to rule great cities.
How was it in cases of Ordinar
humanity? How did the inIlic'ion q
tortue affect the populace?
If supposed offender was put !
the pillory it were well if he escape
With his life from the shower c
hrickbats and paving stones; il
were tied to the cart s tail the crow
pressed around him imploring tn
iiogging-master to give it to him We
and to make him howl. and the MOI
the unfortunate wretch wrthed
agony the more the onlookars ei
ioyed it.
Wife-beating among those occup,
ing high station was not uncon moi
Wings, supposed 10 DC more Luma,
than tories, murmurra because Sta
ford was suffered to die w.,h, ~ sc
, ing his bowels burned hefDrc IS fac
A man put to death for refusing
plead or a woman burned at the stall
= for coming spurious money excit,
- less sympathy than is now fcl, for
oNer-driven OK or a CALLED hors
N Multitudes assembled to see eladi
= tors hack each other to pieces wi
r deadly weapons. and shouts of delig
X rent the air when one of the comba
= ants lost an eye or was otherwise m
tilated or dismembered. Prisons we
dark and foul. reekino in filth a
n were Summaries Of crime and Olson,
And on all this misery and inhuma
ity society, without discriminate
looked on with profound indifferen,
How was it in matters of religion
The churches were so intolera
towards one another. as well as