The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-11-27

person is period Of chaos and ruin.
optirnIst and Pessirn,st contrasted.
Everyone loves an optimIst. and ev-
eryone Is suspicious Of a pessimist. II
the future Is only dark. a shadow is
cast on life's pathway II the future is
bright. the CLEANS Of light fall con-
stantly on the pathway.
These thoughts are 20 be considered
with reference TO the future Of the
present world materially. and OF hu-
man society. Is the ultimate state of
this world 20 be that Of a great mass
Of matter In chaos. something like the
world was In It's earliest daysf Or
Is II TO be world far better than the
present world. and. In the Scripture
language. world wherein dwelleth
righteousness?
And Is man TO be like the beast In
the forestf Or is he 10 be mature In
the likeness Of Christ. all classes OF
men dwelling together In true social
unlty7
Universal approval will be given to
the position Of the optimist with ref.
erence both 10 the world and 10 the
race. This world will be ideal In its
fitness for human habitation. Man
viii be perfect. age cannot enfeeble
aim. disease or death cannot call
halt on him while engaged In his life
work.
Evolution or Revolution.
Now, very important question
arises as TO the person who looks for
ward TO that ideal period Of the world
and of man. What Is the method
whereby this Is to he attained7 Is II
10 he by evolution or revolution7
We commonly hear that man who
does not see that the conditions Of
mankind on this earth are constantly
growing better Is n pesslmlst. and Is
one who should be decried on every
this statement also say that those who
believe in future Edenic condition
of man 10 be brought about by revolu-
ton and catastrophe. are pessimists.
and all such take the Joy out OF life.
Thus those who are real optimists are
oftefitImes denominated pessin:ists.
Those who believe that this condition
Is 10 he brought about by gradual evo-
luton nre sometimes said TO be the
only true optlmists. On the other
hand. thousands and thousands Of
earnest Christians are saying: Eve
do not see II that way. We see that
there is great advance In material
things hut Is II not plain that there
Is a breaking down OF the higher
things. Of the great principles OF pur-
ity. honesty and personal integrity
World Of Today.
Never In the memory Of man living
was there a time when Gods holy day
was more openly descended. Never
was there such contention between
classes OF men. Never was there such |
violation OF the sacredness OF the fam |
lily. upon which national integrity and |
perpetuity are founded. Never was |
there such irreverence as to holy |
things and disregard to the ordinary |
laws Of soclety. Never was there time
when the great and essential truths /
OF our Christian religion were so per |
verted and fatty denied. even by min
listers in prominent pulpits and the
chairs Of theological seminaries.
Many Christians cannot see that the
world Is gradually growing better.
They see that the trend IL downward.
and the speed II increasing. and 10
many there Is nothing but a crash
ahead. a ruin that viii be greater than
the ruin Of Belgium and Russia Of re-
cent years.
But II that the end OF human af- |
fairsr Not ut all. Things may be at
their worst. and mems hearts may be
failing them for fear as never before.
Just then viii there be the appearing
Of the Son OF Man. who will strike the
enemies OF human well-being with a
force that will destroy them, and then
will man he free. Then will there be
A new heaven and n new earth, where
In dwelleth righteousness. Tho man
hat holds this view IL the real opti-