Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-21
DREAM OF BROTHERHOOD
The Ruling Ideas of Modern PhilO-
sophy and TheolOgy-Falling Back
to Barbarism Is Not a Pleasant
Thought The Condition of Three
Continents-The Effect of the War
We May Learn at The Cost of
(. Europe.
W. t. Williams. :

The dream of brotherhood has
been with US a long while. We do
not know exactly how long, but as
we have it, it followed the teaching of
the Fatherhood of God. These are
the two ruling ideas of modern philo-
sophy and theology. They have worm
world of thought, and even though
the setbacks are numerous and very
trying, we still believe that they are
right-in accord with the teachings
of the Nazarene-and also in ac-
cord with the best that is in us. We
know at our best moments that they
are what we need, and that they are
equal to all purposes-religious, social
and political. In the abstract they are
grand, and to think of them as such
is edifying, but in the concrete they
are the mighty powers of good and
uplift. This is acknowledged on all
sides. 1t seems to many that we
cannot go beyond them, and that if
we should fail in this course. our
condition in all avenues would be la
mentable indeed. Falling back to bar
barism is not a pleasant thought.
Savagery is not attractive from our
boint of view, and yet, sad and sore
though it is, if the signs of the times
count. for anything, we have every
reason to believe that we are losing
our moorings. The two ruling ideas
of modern philosophy and theology
have become to a very large number
no more than the two prongs of a
huge farce, and the question is: Have
they been to hasty in their conclus-
| ion? Let us see.
Europe is vast house of mourning.
It's color and tones are black and sor-
rowful. The grave is fed as it was
never fed before. Death reigns su-
preme with outstretched arms, cut
ing down on all hands, revelling in
the. blood of it's victims. The people
have been ruthlessly separated, and
widows and mothers cry for their
lear ones from one corner of the con-
tinent to the other. Philosophy, the
art of culture, and theology, the
science Of God, have been set aside,
and the primitive passions, hate and
rage, are working their havoc and
woe. Men and women in all chan
nels are at the throats of one an
other. displaying a type of bitterness
the world has not witnessed hereto
fore. Scholars, men Of letters, scien-
! fists! and even preachers of The Word
have ceased to be gentlemen. They
| are demanding revenge. Instead OF
being thirsty for righteousness. they
| are thirsty for the blood of Their
neighbors. Fierce hate has taken 9
: hold of their bosoms, and nothing less
: than slaughter will satisfy them. The
\ names that the centuries have re.
!. fused to let die have no assuagine
influence in these ferocious days
Shakespeare and Milton, Victor Hugo
and Mirabeau, Goethe and Luther
! Tolstoy, Haydn, have been dethron
v ed. The engines of destruction ar,
: turned on them without mercy. The,
e have become the offscourings of tn
+ earth to the warning nations. The,
}. are savagely denounced and bias
n phemed in callous brutality.
e The same may be said of Asia. In
@ nocent men, women and children ar
Q butchered because they are of a Ger
4 tain color and belief. The Turk agai
3 has risen to kill in his wonted, un
r sparing fashion. 1t matters not who
His thirst must be quenched by blood
This has been his history for man
years. He has become acquainte
with killing the weak and the dc
IS fenseless. He has done it for so Ion
y that we are justified in calling it hi
le craft. Besides, Japan is encroacf
e ing upon the rights of China. He
. demands unkind and inhumal
u They undermine that indepenC
L ence which belongs to every ns
Continued on page 10)