CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VIHistorical Events of the 20th Century(Concluded)A subdued applause greeted the Professor the next day when he entered the lecture room to conclude his review of events of the 20th Century. Many floral bouquets were tossed to him by his fair admirers, who were augmented from the other classes, on account of the full detail of his encounter with Don Seville having been spread throughout the Seminary.The Professor, despite some discoloration on his benign visage, flushed crimson like a bashful child and bowed his acknowledgements, as he began his discourse thus:1927Colonization of Central AfricaA system of general colonization on a large scale was, during this year, undertaken by theBritish Government. By a new homestead law, embodying liberal inducements, a vast army of colonists from all over the British dominions were transported to Central Africa. Thousands upon thousands of persons from the congested districts of London, Glasgow, Liverpool and other large cities, were persuaded to leave their limited surroundings and uncongenial atmosphere, and go to the promising new land, teeming with boundless opportunities.Almost the entire inhabitants of the isolated islands of the Shetlands and Orkneys, who led an indolent life and eked a meagre existence by fisheries, joined this grand trek to Central Africa. Many thousands from the Canadian provinces and from the United States of America joined this exodus, as did also thousands from the East Indies. The thorough and admirable manner in which this laudable movement was handled mitigated the hardships of transportation, and thus within a few years more than five million, poor, homeless and indolent people were given homesteads of their own, awakening them into energy and thrift.Within a decade the population of Central Africa reached the grand total of 25,000,000 industrious, loyal citizens, forming a flourishing dependency, enjoying home rule and liberty, under the protection of British laws and arms.1928The Conflagration of the Atlantic OceanOne of the most wonderful and at the same time awful conflagrations of its kind on record in the history of the world, was that of the apparent burning of the Atlantic Ocean, covering an area one hundred and fifty miles wide. It started in the Gulf of Mexico and, like a prairie fire, only a thousand times more furious, this floating furnace consumed scores of vessels that came into its fiery path.A few weeks previous to this awful holocaust, the petroleum wells in Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana had run dry, on account of a severe earthquake. It was argued by scientists that, by some subterranean convulsions the oil well fissures had shifted their course, into the waters of the gulf, and the vast accumulation of the inflammable fluid, floating on the ocean,hadbeen ignited, either by an electric spark during a thunderstorm, or by some combustible being thrown from a sailing craft.1929The Court of LaborIn this year was completed and dedicated the Court of Labor at Washington. This was an imposing building, in which all the momentous labor problems were discussed before a tribunal of disinterested justices, through the able representatives of each faction, without resorting to disastrous strikes, lockouts and disturbances of public comfort.One of the most remarkable features of this Court of Arbitration was, the colossal group erected between the two grand entrances to the building. This was not a semi-nude female figure with bandaged eyes, holding in her hand the conventional pair of scales, but a Herculean figure of Uncle Sam with his starry hat and glorious chin whiskers, having three faces, three eyes and three arms. Before him were a group of three figures which represented respectivelyCapital,ConsumerandLabor. In each figure were his eyes wide open andalert, bent with searching scrutiny upon the person in front, to whom he dispensed the just share of each, from a huge cornucopia at his feet.1930Landlordism In AmericaOne of the most scandalous evils which had crept gradually in the United States, and eventually became a source of grave anxiety to the government, was a system of Landlordism amongst the very rich. While the general public were slumbering in blissful ignorance, this coterie of avaricious syndicates and multi-millionaires had mysteriously become possessors of vast tracts of lands, in every state of the Union. Some of these holdings comprised hundreds and thousands of square miles in extent.Miles and miles of shore-fronts, immense areas of forests, whole mountains and lakes, through the conniving, corrupt state and county officials, had passed into the hands of private individuals who, in return had become extremely arrogant in their treatment of the public, by unreasonable restriction.There seemed to be a mocking sarcasm in the fact when common people sang the National Anthem “America,” celebrating its hills and rills, while at every turn of the road, at every shore-front, lake, hill and valley, mountain and forests, the forbidding sign, “No Trespassing Under Penalty,” met their eyes, or the repulsive muzzle of the Winchester was thrust into their faces by private watchmen.This state of affairs had reached such desperate straits, that the public suddenly awakened on the subject. It started first by the protest of the rougher element in the mountain districts, who defied the hired authorities with an organized force. The people committed acts of violence and incendiarism it is true, but by their overt acts they awakened the dormant public to realize the enormity of this scandalous condition of deeding away to millionaires, without the consent of the commonwealth, the common and inalienable heritage of its citizens.By a unanimous uprising and public mandate the Federal and State authorities were compelled to condemn and confiscate these stolen public lands. New laws were then enacted by which the acquiring of extensivelands was limited, except for agricultural purposes.1931The Discovery of the North PoleThe North Pole, that mysterious geographical locality which for centuries had baffled scientists and explorers, was located and verified by the combined efforts of American and British Governments. The expedition was on a gigantic scale, the force of the explorers being in round numbers two thousand five hundred persons who by a system of depots and rendez-vous for supplies, formed almost a continuous chain.All the latest devices in the form of dynamo-vans and motor-sleds, with balloon attachments were employed in the undertaking. Strange to say the casualties did not exceed more than ten per cent of the expeditionary force. It was discovered, to the great surprise of scientists, that the locality was nothing more than a plateau, studded with cones of ice!1932Cure for LazinessThe discovery, by an American, of a germicidefor indolence was announced during this year, by which lethargic persons were regenerated into acute activity. It was a concentrated double extract of pitch-blend, containing the radio active element, and when applied to certain parts of the body, it instantaneously transformed the feeling of laziness and ennui, into one of hustling energy and alertness.The negroes of the Southern States, the natives of tropical countries and also officials in the police departments of large cities, were the ones benefitted by this “golden medical discovery!”1933Capital PunishmentThe abolishment of capital punishment in many States of the Union, through the impulsive sentimentality of a minority, had given birth to an old time evil, that of feudalism. It was well for people preaching mercy for murderers, when somebody else was the victim, but when the crime was perpetrated against one of their homes, their feelings were entirely changed. The increase of vendetta was the result, and it occurred with such a lamentabledegree of frequency, that the old uncontrovertible Mosaic law, blood for blood, and life for life was re-established.1934Abolition of Hereditary Titles In EnglandThe agitation for the abolition of hereditary titles in England caused a crisis in the political and social world of Great Britain. The degeneracy of hereditary nobles, their utter incapacity adequately to fill the positions left by their illustrious ancestors, to the detriment and retrogression of the British government, was the main cause of bringing about this bloodless internecine revolution.Despite the most strenuous opposition by the friends of the nobles, a new law was added to the revised Magna Charta, by an overwhelming public demand. With few exceptions, it nullified the existing titles, and elevated to peerage only worthy citizens for life, on condition of the good behavior of the incumbent. This excellent law brought fresh and saving blood into the political and civic life of England. The movement precipitated the abandonment of the House of Lords andcreated in its stead a body called Senatorium, whose members were elected by the tax-paying citizens.1935Blowing the Earth Into FragmentsThe most remarkable sensation of this year was that of a German scientist and statistician who, after a thorough investigation and mathematical calculation, announced his conclusions, that it was in the range of collective human power, that is, by the combined aid of labor, time, money and high explosives, to rend the earth in twain, or into fragments, and thus create new planets in space, producing new climatic conditions, fauna and life, adaptable to their new positions in the solar system.1937An American Penal ColonyThe census of this year revealed an unprecedented number of evil-doers, causing great anxiety to the Government. There were recorded ninety-two thousand criminals in prisons and seventy-six thousand paupers in the poor houses. This army of public charges costthe State authorities more than thirty million dollars for their maintenance.At last by the stress of popular agitation the government adopted a policy of penal colonization. Selecting a desirable island in the Philippines, the Federal authorities succeeded in transporting to the island, within three years, and with half the cost of their maintenance at home, one hundred thousand of these unfortunate malefactors.Here, they were given every facility and aid, for acquiring and building of homes, farms and factories, and within ten years, under a wise military administration more than half of that number were reclaimed, forming a prosperous and loyal community in the Eastern Hemisphere.1938The Great TelescopeWith the munificent contributions to a general fund, amounting to two million dollars, by the English, American and French Governments, the greatest telescope which the world has ever known was constructed in Paris. Its lenses measured more than two meters indiameter which, combined with a mammoth revolving camera obscura, brought the moon and some of the planets within the range of visual observation, revealing on Venus and Mars the existence of vegetation and moving objects.1939The Earth An Electric MotorEmil Flammarion, the worthy grandson of the eminent French astronomer, demonstrated by an extremely clever mechanical contrivance in Vacuo, that the Earth was merely an electric Motor in space!1940The Trend of Religious ThoughtReligious thought or spiritual belief is not an invention of mortals. It is an inborn attribute of the human mind. While man was in his savage or semi-barbarous stage, the ethical and spiritual conceptions were correspondingly crude and religious warfare predominated. With the advance of civilization its development kept pace with it until at the dawn of the twentieth century it had undergone, by natural evolution, a marked metamorphosis.It gradually divested itself of its legendary mysticism, fantastic dogmas and spectacular schisms, and all intelligent thinkers promulgated a propaganda, not of external forms of worship, but those uncontrovertible basic truths, which always will hold.It is true that in an era of commercial materialism great masses of people embraced agnosticism and ethical culture, rejecting that supernatural conception of a first cause of which they claimed their limited intellect had a vague idea and was deeper than the hazy human comprehension, yet, the shallow Ingersolian philosophy of attacking a force—which filled millions with hope and goaded them to self-sacrifice, mercy and charity—without substituting something better, was repudiated by the intelligent, and appealed only to the abnormal and the foolish.This tendency of materialism in religion continued unabated, until the startling announcement of a German scientist—who claimed it was within human power to rend the world in twain—also the marvelous revelation through the mammoth telescope—by which was discovered moving objects and vegetationin other planets—brought on an acute crisis. A tremendous religious revival swept all over the world. It expanded the mental horizon of human conceptions. The existence of living organism in other spheres came within rational deductions. The possible existence of beings far superior in intellect to ourselves, came within the limit of legitimate theorizations, and the more men began to grasp with the co-operation of science, the infinite vastness of the universe, with its numberless millions of habitable worlds, the probability of an intelligent force of vast creative power came within the scope of human understanding.The forceful passage in the Holy Writ “that God created man in his own image” became more and more lucid. Consequently the pantheism of the old Greeks were revived with more clearness, and the existence of a personal God somewhere in this boundless universe appealed to multitudes with new zest.“Pray, Professor, what is your opinion of a first cause?” ventured one of the students.“There are so many mysterious forces,” answered the Professor, “that although we cannot see, yet we feel their power and areconscious of their results. And as our mortal organism cannot conceive a thought which is beyond its own limitations, the very idea of our thought of a first cause falls within the range of human conceptions.“When we gaze at an automobile, which is the creation of a creature, we see a wonderful parallelism; its requirements to make it an active energy, bears a strong analogy of its inventor, yet, an automobile with all its requirements for power supplied, is a worthless mass, unless operated and guided by its creator. Does not this vast universe with all its wonderful manifestations suggest a creative force, which governs it?”“Albeit, it is not within my province nor in my power to penetrate the veil” continued the Professor, looking up in pensive mood.“But as the coral protoplasm begins its edifice from the calcerous mire in the dark recesses of the ocean, upwards through the murky and semi-transparent liquid, finally reaches the pelucid surface, kisses the wave and sees the light, me-thinks likewise, the spiritual perceptions of mankind which has grown from the depths of savagery and through the maze of intolerance,dogmas and schisms, will go onward in its evolution and perhaps our posterity will at last penetrate the mystic veil and see the light,—God.”1941The Birthday Anniversary of Noted Centenarians“Lithia Bingham,” “Young Dr. Bray” and “Sister Eddy” received the homage and congratulations of millions of their admirers, on their hundred and fiftieth birthday anniversary.The remarkable longevity of this trio of Methuselahs was attributed, in the case of the two first mentioned, to their own “cure all” concoctions, and the last, to her scientific revelation of thinking that, there is no such thing as pain or death!“In closing this review of historical events,” said the Professor looking around the auditorium, “there are a few other important happenings that bring us to the present decade.“The remarkable decadence of Germany under a Socialistic regime, a doctrine, that although theoretically seems to be so desirably altruistic, convincing, and in poetry sounds so well, but in practise has proved to bedetrimentalto alife of strenuous efforts, and suicidal to individual ambitions—conditions which are eminently essential to growing and prosperous communities.“The consequent exodus of Teutons to other parts of the world that promised freedom to independent action.“The political union of Spain and Portugal.“The re-conquest by France of Alsace Lorain.“The puerile uprising by a section of Irish people against England are still fresh in our memory—and to which most of you have been eye-witnesses—are some of the events worthy of record.”Here the Professor, after a pause, changed his subject to future possibilities and, presenting to the class in eloquent words a glowing, optimistic picture of conditions for future generations, brought his discussion to a close. When he stepped down from the rostrum he was at once surrounded by the entire class and was tendered an impromptu but agreeable reception.

CHAPTER VIHistorical Events of the 20th Century(Concluded)

A subdued applause greeted the Professor the next day when he entered the lecture room to conclude his review of events of the 20th Century. Many floral bouquets were tossed to him by his fair admirers, who were augmented from the other classes, on account of the full detail of his encounter with Don Seville having been spread throughout the Seminary.The Professor, despite some discoloration on his benign visage, flushed crimson like a bashful child and bowed his acknowledgements, as he began his discourse thus:1927Colonization of Central AfricaA system of general colonization on a large scale was, during this year, undertaken by theBritish Government. By a new homestead law, embodying liberal inducements, a vast army of colonists from all over the British dominions were transported to Central Africa. Thousands upon thousands of persons from the congested districts of London, Glasgow, Liverpool and other large cities, were persuaded to leave their limited surroundings and uncongenial atmosphere, and go to the promising new land, teeming with boundless opportunities.Almost the entire inhabitants of the isolated islands of the Shetlands and Orkneys, who led an indolent life and eked a meagre existence by fisheries, joined this grand trek to Central Africa. Many thousands from the Canadian provinces and from the United States of America joined this exodus, as did also thousands from the East Indies. The thorough and admirable manner in which this laudable movement was handled mitigated the hardships of transportation, and thus within a few years more than five million, poor, homeless and indolent people were given homesteads of their own, awakening them into energy and thrift.Within a decade the population of Central Africa reached the grand total of 25,000,000 industrious, loyal citizens, forming a flourishing dependency, enjoying home rule and liberty, under the protection of British laws and arms.1928The Conflagration of the Atlantic OceanOne of the most wonderful and at the same time awful conflagrations of its kind on record in the history of the world, was that of the apparent burning of the Atlantic Ocean, covering an area one hundred and fifty miles wide. It started in the Gulf of Mexico and, like a prairie fire, only a thousand times more furious, this floating furnace consumed scores of vessels that came into its fiery path.A few weeks previous to this awful holocaust, the petroleum wells in Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana had run dry, on account of a severe earthquake. It was argued by scientists that, by some subterranean convulsions the oil well fissures had shifted their course, into the waters of the gulf, and the vast accumulation of the inflammable fluid, floating on the ocean,hadbeen ignited, either by an electric spark during a thunderstorm, or by some combustible being thrown from a sailing craft.1929The Court of LaborIn this year was completed and dedicated the Court of Labor at Washington. This was an imposing building, in which all the momentous labor problems were discussed before a tribunal of disinterested justices, through the able representatives of each faction, without resorting to disastrous strikes, lockouts and disturbances of public comfort.One of the most remarkable features of this Court of Arbitration was, the colossal group erected between the two grand entrances to the building. This was not a semi-nude female figure with bandaged eyes, holding in her hand the conventional pair of scales, but a Herculean figure of Uncle Sam with his starry hat and glorious chin whiskers, having three faces, three eyes and three arms. Before him were a group of three figures which represented respectivelyCapital,ConsumerandLabor. In each figure were his eyes wide open andalert, bent with searching scrutiny upon the person in front, to whom he dispensed the just share of each, from a huge cornucopia at his feet.1930Landlordism In AmericaOne of the most scandalous evils which had crept gradually in the United States, and eventually became a source of grave anxiety to the government, was a system of Landlordism amongst the very rich. While the general public were slumbering in blissful ignorance, this coterie of avaricious syndicates and multi-millionaires had mysteriously become possessors of vast tracts of lands, in every state of the Union. Some of these holdings comprised hundreds and thousands of square miles in extent.Miles and miles of shore-fronts, immense areas of forests, whole mountains and lakes, through the conniving, corrupt state and county officials, had passed into the hands of private individuals who, in return had become extremely arrogant in their treatment of the public, by unreasonable restriction.There seemed to be a mocking sarcasm in the fact when common people sang the National Anthem “America,” celebrating its hills and rills, while at every turn of the road, at every shore-front, lake, hill and valley, mountain and forests, the forbidding sign, “No Trespassing Under Penalty,” met their eyes, or the repulsive muzzle of the Winchester was thrust into their faces by private watchmen.This state of affairs had reached such desperate straits, that the public suddenly awakened on the subject. It started first by the protest of the rougher element in the mountain districts, who defied the hired authorities with an organized force. The people committed acts of violence and incendiarism it is true, but by their overt acts they awakened the dormant public to realize the enormity of this scandalous condition of deeding away to millionaires, without the consent of the commonwealth, the common and inalienable heritage of its citizens.By a unanimous uprising and public mandate the Federal and State authorities were compelled to condemn and confiscate these stolen public lands. New laws were then enacted by which the acquiring of extensivelands was limited, except for agricultural purposes.1931The Discovery of the North PoleThe North Pole, that mysterious geographical locality which for centuries had baffled scientists and explorers, was located and verified by the combined efforts of American and British Governments. The expedition was on a gigantic scale, the force of the explorers being in round numbers two thousand five hundred persons who by a system of depots and rendez-vous for supplies, formed almost a continuous chain.All the latest devices in the form of dynamo-vans and motor-sleds, with balloon attachments were employed in the undertaking. Strange to say the casualties did not exceed more than ten per cent of the expeditionary force. It was discovered, to the great surprise of scientists, that the locality was nothing more than a plateau, studded with cones of ice!1932Cure for LazinessThe discovery, by an American, of a germicidefor indolence was announced during this year, by which lethargic persons were regenerated into acute activity. It was a concentrated double extract of pitch-blend, containing the radio active element, and when applied to certain parts of the body, it instantaneously transformed the feeling of laziness and ennui, into one of hustling energy and alertness.The negroes of the Southern States, the natives of tropical countries and also officials in the police departments of large cities, were the ones benefitted by this “golden medical discovery!”1933Capital PunishmentThe abolishment of capital punishment in many States of the Union, through the impulsive sentimentality of a minority, had given birth to an old time evil, that of feudalism. It was well for people preaching mercy for murderers, when somebody else was the victim, but when the crime was perpetrated against one of their homes, their feelings were entirely changed. The increase of vendetta was the result, and it occurred with such a lamentabledegree of frequency, that the old uncontrovertible Mosaic law, blood for blood, and life for life was re-established.1934Abolition of Hereditary Titles In EnglandThe agitation for the abolition of hereditary titles in England caused a crisis in the political and social world of Great Britain. The degeneracy of hereditary nobles, their utter incapacity adequately to fill the positions left by their illustrious ancestors, to the detriment and retrogression of the British government, was the main cause of bringing about this bloodless internecine revolution.Despite the most strenuous opposition by the friends of the nobles, a new law was added to the revised Magna Charta, by an overwhelming public demand. With few exceptions, it nullified the existing titles, and elevated to peerage only worthy citizens for life, on condition of the good behavior of the incumbent. This excellent law brought fresh and saving blood into the political and civic life of England. The movement precipitated the abandonment of the House of Lords andcreated in its stead a body called Senatorium, whose members were elected by the tax-paying citizens.1935Blowing the Earth Into FragmentsThe most remarkable sensation of this year was that of a German scientist and statistician who, after a thorough investigation and mathematical calculation, announced his conclusions, that it was in the range of collective human power, that is, by the combined aid of labor, time, money and high explosives, to rend the earth in twain, or into fragments, and thus create new planets in space, producing new climatic conditions, fauna and life, adaptable to their new positions in the solar system.1937An American Penal ColonyThe census of this year revealed an unprecedented number of evil-doers, causing great anxiety to the Government. There were recorded ninety-two thousand criminals in prisons and seventy-six thousand paupers in the poor houses. This army of public charges costthe State authorities more than thirty million dollars for their maintenance.At last by the stress of popular agitation the government adopted a policy of penal colonization. Selecting a desirable island in the Philippines, the Federal authorities succeeded in transporting to the island, within three years, and with half the cost of their maintenance at home, one hundred thousand of these unfortunate malefactors.Here, they were given every facility and aid, for acquiring and building of homes, farms and factories, and within ten years, under a wise military administration more than half of that number were reclaimed, forming a prosperous and loyal community in the Eastern Hemisphere.1938The Great TelescopeWith the munificent contributions to a general fund, amounting to two million dollars, by the English, American and French Governments, the greatest telescope which the world has ever known was constructed in Paris. Its lenses measured more than two meters indiameter which, combined with a mammoth revolving camera obscura, brought the moon and some of the planets within the range of visual observation, revealing on Venus and Mars the existence of vegetation and moving objects.1939The Earth An Electric MotorEmil Flammarion, the worthy grandson of the eminent French astronomer, demonstrated by an extremely clever mechanical contrivance in Vacuo, that the Earth was merely an electric Motor in space!1940The Trend of Religious ThoughtReligious thought or spiritual belief is not an invention of mortals. It is an inborn attribute of the human mind. While man was in his savage or semi-barbarous stage, the ethical and spiritual conceptions were correspondingly crude and religious warfare predominated. With the advance of civilization its development kept pace with it until at the dawn of the twentieth century it had undergone, by natural evolution, a marked metamorphosis.It gradually divested itself of its legendary mysticism, fantastic dogmas and spectacular schisms, and all intelligent thinkers promulgated a propaganda, not of external forms of worship, but those uncontrovertible basic truths, which always will hold.It is true that in an era of commercial materialism great masses of people embraced agnosticism and ethical culture, rejecting that supernatural conception of a first cause of which they claimed their limited intellect had a vague idea and was deeper than the hazy human comprehension, yet, the shallow Ingersolian philosophy of attacking a force—which filled millions with hope and goaded them to self-sacrifice, mercy and charity—without substituting something better, was repudiated by the intelligent, and appealed only to the abnormal and the foolish.This tendency of materialism in religion continued unabated, until the startling announcement of a German scientist—who claimed it was within human power to rend the world in twain—also the marvelous revelation through the mammoth telescope—by which was discovered moving objects and vegetationin other planets—brought on an acute crisis. A tremendous religious revival swept all over the world. It expanded the mental horizon of human conceptions. The existence of living organism in other spheres came within rational deductions. The possible existence of beings far superior in intellect to ourselves, came within the limit of legitimate theorizations, and the more men began to grasp with the co-operation of science, the infinite vastness of the universe, with its numberless millions of habitable worlds, the probability of an intelligent force of vast creative power came within the scope of human understanding.The forceful passage in the Holy Writ “that God created man in his own image” became more and more lucid. Consequently the pantheism of the old Greeks were revived with more clearness, and the existence of a personal God somewhere in this boundless universe appealed to multitudes with new zest.“Pray, Professor, what is your opinion of a first cause?” ventured one of the students.“There are so many mysterious forces,” answered the Professor, “that although we cannot see, yet we feel their power and areconscious of their results. And as our mortal organism cannot conceive a thought which is beyond its own limitations, the very idea of our thought of a first cause falls within the range of human conceptions.“When we gaze at an automobile, which is the creation of a creature, we see a wonderful parallelism; its requirements to make it an active energy, bears a strong analogy of its inventor, yet, an automobile with all its requirements for power supplied, is a worthless mass, unless operated and guided by its creator. Does not this vast universe with all its wonderful manifestations suggest a creative force, which governs it?”“Albeit, it is not within my province nor in my power to penetrate the veil” continued the Professor, looking up in pensive mood.“But as the coral protoplasm begins its edifice from the calcerous mire in the dark recesses of the ocean, upwards through the murky and semi-transparent liquid, finally reaches the pelucid surface, kisses the wave and sees the light, me-thinks likewise, the spiritual perceptions of mankind which has grown from the depths of savagery and through the maze of intolerance,dogmas and schisms, will go onward in its evolution and perhaps our posterity will at last penetrate the mystic veil and see the light,—God.”1941The Birthday Anniversary of Noted Centenarians“Lithia Bingham,” “Young Dr. Bray” and “Sister Eddy” received the homage and congratulations of millions of their admirers, on their hundred and fiftieth birthday anniversary.The remarkable longevity of this trio of Methuselahs was attributed, in the case of the two first mentioned, to their own “cure all” concoctions, and the last, to her scientific revelation of thinking that, there is no such thing as pain or death!“In closing this review of historical events,” said the Professor looking around the auditorium, “there are a few other important happenings that bring us to the present decade.“The remarkable decadence of Germany under a Socialistic regime, a doctrine, that although theoretically seems to be so desirably altruistic, convincing, and in poetry sounds so well, but in practise has proved to bedetrimentalto alife of strenuous efforts, and suicidal to individual ambitions—conditions which are eminently essential to growing and prosperous communities.“The consequent exodus of Teutons to other parts of the world that promised freedom to independent action.“The political union of Spain and Portugal.“The re-conquest by France of Alsace Lorain.“The puerile uprising by a section of Irish people against England are still fresh in our memory—and to which most of you have been eye-witnesses—are some of the events worthy of record.”Here the Professor, after a pause, changed his subject to future possibilities and, presenting to the class in eloquent words a glowing, optimistic picture of conditions for future generations, brought his discussion to a close. When he stepped down from the rostrum he was at once surrounded by the entire class and was tendered an impromptu but agreeable reception.

The Professor, despite some discoloration on his benign visage, flushed crimson like a bashful child and bowed his acknowledgements, as he began his discourse thus:

1927Colonization of Central AfricaA system of general colonization on a large scale was, during this year, undertaken by theBritish Government. By a new homestead law, embodying liberal inducements, a vast army of colonists from all over the British dominions were transported to Central Africa. Thousands upon thousands of persons from the congested districts of London, Glasgow, Liverpool and other large cities, were persuaded to leave their limited surroundings and uncongenial atmosphere, and go to the promising new land, teeming with boundless opportunities.Almost the entire inhabitants of the isolated islands of the Shetlands and Orkneys, who led an indolent life and eked a meagre existence by fisheries, joined this grand trek to Central Africa. Many thousands from the Canadian provinces and from the United States of America joined this exodus, as did also thousands from the East Indies. The thorough and admirable manner in which this laudable movement was handled mitigated the hardships of transportation, and thus within a few years more than five million, poor, homeless and indolent people were given homesteads of their own, awakening them into energy and thrift.Within a decade the population of Central Africa reached the grand total of 25,000,000 industrious, loyal citizens, forming a flourishing dependency, enjoying home rule and liberty, under the protection of British laws and arms.

1927Colonization of Central Africa

A system of general colonization on a large scale was, during this year, undertaken by theBritish Government. By a new homestead law, embodying liberal inducements, a vast army of colonists from all over the British dominions were transported to Central Africa. Thousands upon thousands of persons from the congested districts of London, Glasgow, Liverpool and other large cities, were persuaded to leave their limited surroundings and uncongenial atmosphere, and go to the promising new land, teeming with boundless opportunities.Almost the entire inhabitants of the isolated islands of the Shetlands and Orkneys, who led an indolent life and eked a meagre existence by fisheries, joined this grand trek to Central Africa. Many thousands from the Canadian provinces and from the United States of America joined this exodus, as did also thousands from the East Indies. The thorough and admirable manner in which this laudable movement was handled mitigated the hardships of transportation, and thus within a few years more than five million, poor, homeless and indolent people were given homesteads of their own, awakening them into energy and thrift.Within a decade the population of Central Africa reached the grand total of 25,000,000 industrious, loyal citizens, forming a flourishing dependency, enjoying home rule and liberty, under the protection of British laws and arms.

Almost the entire inhabitants of the isolated islands of the Shetlands and Orkneys, who led an indolent life and eked a meagre existence by fisheries, joined this grand trek to Central Africa. Many thousands from the Canadian provinces and from the United States of America joined this exodus, as did also thousands from the East Indies. The thorough and admirable manner in which this laudable movement was handled mitigated the hardships of transportation, and thus within a few years more than five million, poor, homeless and indolent people were given homesteads of their own, awakening them into energy and thrift.

Within a decade the population of Central Africa reached the grand total of 25,000,000 industrious, loyal citizens, forming a flourishing dependency, enjoying home rule and liberty, under the protection of British laws and arms.

1928The Conflagration of the Atlantic OceanOne of the most wonderful and at the same time awful conflagrations of its kind on record in the history of the world, was that of the apparent burning of the Atlantic Ocean, covering an area one hundred and fifty miles wide. It started in the Gulf of Mexico and, like a prairie fire, only a thousand times more furious, this floating furnace consumed scores of vessels that came into its fiery path.A few weeks previous to this awful holocaust, the petroleum wells in Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana had run dry, on account of a severe earthquake. It was argued by scientists that, by some subterranean convulsions the oil well fissures had shifted their course, into the waters of the gulf, and the vast accumulation of the inflammable fluid, floating on the ocean,hadbeen ignited, either by an electric spark during a thunderstorm, or by some combustible being thrown from a sailing craft.

1928The Conflagration of the Atlantic Ocean

One of the most wonderful and at the same time awful conflagrations of its kind on record in the history of the world, was that of the apparent burning of the Atlantic Ocean, covering an area one hundred and fifty miles wide. It started in the Gulf of Mexico and, like a prairie fire, only a thousand times more furious, this floating furnace consumed scores of vessels that came into its fiery path.A few weeks previous to this awful holocaust, the petroleum wells in Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana had run dry, on account of a severe earthquake. It was argued by scientists that, by some subterranean convulsions the oil well fissures had shifted their course, into the waters of the gulf, and the vast accumulation of the inflammable fluid, floating on the ocean,hadbeen ignited, either by an electric spark during a thunderstorm, or by some combustible being thrown from a sailing craft.

A few weeks previous to this awful holocaust, the petroleum wells in Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana had run dry, on account of a severe earthquake. It was argued by scientists that, by some subterranean convulsions the oil well fissures had shifted their course, into the waters of the gulf, and the vast accumulation of the inflammable fluid, floating on the ocean,hadbeen ignited, either by an electric spark during a thunderstorm, or by some combustible being thrown from a sailing craft.

1929The Court of LaborIn this year was completed and dedicated the Court of Labor at Washington. This was an imposing building, in which all the momentous labor problems were discussed before a tribunal of disinterested justices, through the able representatives of each faction, without resorting to disastrous strikes, lockouts and disturbances of public comfort.One of the most remarkable features of this Court of Arbitration was, the colossal group erected between the two grand entrances to the building. This was not a semi-nude female figure with bandaged eyes, holding in her hand the conventional pair of scales, but a Herculean figure of Uncle Sam with his starry hat and glorious chin whiskers, having three faces, three eyes and three arms. Before him were a group of three figures which represented respectivelyCapital,ConsumerandLabor. In each figure were his eyes wide open andalert, bent with searching scrutiny upon the person in front, to whom he dispensed the just share of each, from a huge cornucopia at his feet.

1929The Court of Labor

In this year was completed and dedicated the Court of Labor at Washington. This was an imposing building, in which all the momentous labor problems were discussed before a tribunal of disinterested justices, through the able representatives of each faction, without resorting to disastrous strikes, lockouts and disturbances of public comfort.One of the most remarkable features of this Court of Arbitration was, the colossal group erected between the two grand entrances to the building. This was not a semi-nude female figure with bandaged eyes, holding in her hand the conventional pair of scales, but a Herculean figure of Uncle Sam with his starry hat and glorious chin whiskers, having three faces, three eyes and three arms. Before him were a group of three figures which represented respectivelyCapital,ConsumerandLabor. In each figure were his eyes wide open andalert, bent with searching scrutiny upon the person in front, to whom he dispensed the just share of each, from a huge cornucopia at his feet.

One of the most remarkable features of this Court of Arbitration was, the colossal group erected between the two grand entrances to the building. This was not a semi-nude female figure with bandaged eyes, holding in her hand the conventional pair of scales, but a Herculean figure of Uncle Sam with his starry hat and glorious chin whiskers, having three faces, three eyes and three arms. Before him were a group of three figures which represented respectivelyCapital,ConsumerandLabor. In each figure were his eyes wide open andalert, bent with searching scrutiny upon the person in front, to whom he dispensed the just share of each, from a huge cornucopia at his feet.

1930Landlordism In AmericaOne of the most scandalous evils which had crept gradually in the United States, and eventually became a source of grave anxiety to the government, was a system of Landlordism amongst the very rich. While the general public were slumbering in blissful ignorance, this coterie of avaricious syndicates and multi-millionaires had mysteriously become possessors of vast tracts of lands, in every state of the Union. Some of these holdings comprised hundreds and thousands of square miles in extent.Miles and miles of shore-fronts, immense areas of forests, whole mountains and lakes, through the conniving, corrupt state and county officials, had passed into the hands of private individuals who, in return had become extremely arrogant in their treatment of the public, by unreasonable restriction.There seemed to be a mocking sarcasm in the fact when common people sang the National Anthem “America,” celebrating its hills and rills, while at every turn of the road, at every shore-front, lake, hill and valley, mountain and forests, the forbidding sign, “No Trespassing Under Penalty,” met their eyes, or the repulsive muzzle of the Winchester was thrust into their faces by private watchmen.This state of affairs had reached such desperate straits, that the public suddenly awakened on the subject. It started first by the protest of the rougher element in the mountain districts, who defied the hired authorities with an organized force. The people committed acts of violence and incendiarism it is true, but by their overt acts they awakened the dormant public to realize the enormity of this scandalous condition of deeding away to millionaires, without the consent of the commonwealth, the common and inalienable heritage of its citizens.By a unanimous uprising and public mandate the Federal and State authorities were compelled to condemn and confiscate these stolen public lands. New laws were then enacted by which the acquiring of extensivelands was limited, except for agricultural purposes.

1930Landlordism In America

One of the most scandalous evils which had crept gradually in the United States, and eventually became a source of grave anxiety to the government, was a system of Landlordism amongst the very rich. While the general public were slumbering in blissful ignorance, this coterie of avaricious syndicates and multi-millionaires had mysteriously become possessors of vast tracts of lands, in every state of the Union. Some of these holdings comprised hundreds and thousands of square miles in extent.Miles and miles of shore-fronts, immense areas of forests, whole mountains and lakes, through the conniving, corrupt state and county officials, had passed into the hands of private individuals who, in return had become extremely arrogant in their treatment of the public, by unreasonable restriction.There seemed to be a mocking sarcasm in the fact when common people sang the National Anthem “America,” celebrating its hills and rills, while at every turn of the road, at every shore-front, lake, hill and valley, mountain and forests, the forbidding sign, “No Trespassing Under Penalty,” met their eyes, or the repulsive muzzle of the Winchester was thrust into their faces by private watchmen.This state of affairs had reached such desperate straits, that the public suddenly awakened on the subject. It started first by the protest of the rougher element in the mountain districts, who defied the hired authorities with an organized force. The people committed acts of violence and incendiarism it is true, but by their overt acts they awakened the dormant public to realize the enormity of this scandalous condition of deeding away to millionaires, without the consent of the commonwealth, the common and inalienable heritage of its citizens.By a unanimous uprising and public mandate the Federal and State authorities were compelled to condemn and confiscate these stolen public lands. New laws were then enacted by which the acquiring of extensivelands was limited, except for agricultural purposes.

Miles and miles of shore-fronts, immense areas of forests, whole mountains and lakes, through the conniving, corrupt state and county officials, had passed into the hands of private individuals who, in return had become extremely arrogant in their treatment of the public, by unreasonable restriction.

There seemed to be a mocking sarcasm in the fact when common people sang the National Anthem “America,” celebrating its hills and rills, while at every turn of the road, at every shore-front, lake, hill and valley, mountain and forests, the forbidding sign, “No Trespassing Under Penalty,” met their eyes, or the repulsive muzzle of the Winchester was thrust into their faces by private watchmen.

This state of affairs had reached such desperate straits, that the public suddenly awakened on the subject. It started first by the protest of the rougher element in the mountain districts, who defied the hired authorities with an organized force. The people committed acts of violence and incendiarism it is true, but by their overt acts they awakened the dormant public to realize the enormity of this scandalous condition of deeding away to millionaires, without the consent of the commonwealth, the common and inalienable heritage of its citizens.

By a unanimous uprising and public mandate the Federal and State authorities were compelled to condemn and confiscate these stolen public lands. New laws were then enacted by which the acquiring of extensivelands was limited, except for agricultural purposes.

1931The Discovery of the North PoleThe North Pole, that mysterious geographical locality which for centuries had baffled scientists and explorers, was located and verified by the combined efforts of American and British Governments. The expedition was on a gigantic scale, the force of the explorers being in round numbers two thousand five hundred persons who by a system of depots and rendez-vous for supplies, formed almost a continuous chain.All the latest devices in the form of dynamo-vans and motor-sleds, with balloon attachments were employed in the undertaking. Strange to say the casualties did not exceed more than ten per cent of the expeditionary force. It was discovered, to the great surprise of scientists, that the locality was nothing more than a plateau, studded with cones of ice!

1931The Discovery of the North Pole

The North Pole, that mysterious geographical locality which for centuries had baffled scientists and explorers, was located and verified by the combined efforts of American and British Governments. The expedition was on a gigantic scale, the force of the explorers being in round numbers two thousand five hundred persons who by a system of depots and rendez-vous for supplies, formed almost a continuous chain.All the latest devices in the form of dynamo-vans and motor-sleds, with balloon attachments were employed in the undertaking. Strange to say the casualties did not exceed more than ten per cent of the expeditionary force. It was discovered, to the great surprise of scientists, that the locality was nothing more than a plateau, studded with cones of ice!

All the latest devices in the form of dynamo-vans and motor-sleds, with balloon attachments were employed in the undertaking. Strange to say the casualties did not exceed more than ten per cent of the expeditionary force. It was discovered, to the great surprise of scientists, that the locality was nothing more than a plateau, studded with cones of ice!

1932Cure for LazinessThe discovery, by an American, of a germicidefor indolence was announced during this year, by which lethargic persons were regenerated into acute activity. It was a concentrated double extract of pitch-blend, containing the radio active element, and when applied to certain parts of the body, it instantaneously transformed the feeling of laziness and ennui, into one of hustling energy and alertness.The negroes of the Southern States, the natives of tropical countries and also officials in the police departments of large cities, were the ones benefitted by this “golden medical discovery!”

1932Cure for Laziness

The discovery, by an American, of a germicidefor indolence was announced during this year, by which lethargic persons were regenerated into acute activity. It was a concentrated double extract of pitch-blend, containing the radio active element, and when applied to certain parts of the body, it instantaneously transformed the feeling of laziness and ennui, into one of hustling energy and alertness.The negroes of the Southern States, the natives of tropical countries and also officials in the police departments of large cities, were the ones benefitted by this “golden medical discovery!”

The negroes of the Southern States, the natives of tropical countries and also officials in the police departments of large cities, were the ones benefitted by this “golden medical discovery!”

1933Capital PunishmentThe abolishment of capital punishment in many States of the Union, through the impulsive sentimentality of a minority, had given birth to an old time evil, that of feudalism. It was well for people preaching mercy for murderers, when somebody else was the victim, but when the crime was perpetrated against one of their homes, their feelings were entirely changed. The increase of vendetta was the result, and it occurred with such a lamentabledegree of frequency, that the old uncontrovertible Mosaic law, blood for blood, and life for life was re-established.

1933Capital Punishment

The abolishment of capital punishment in many States of the Union, through the impulsive sentimentality of a minority, had given birth to an old time evil, that of feudalism. It was well for people preaching mercy for murderers, when somebody else was the victim, but when the crime was perpetrated against one of their homes, their feelings were entirely changed. The increase of vendetta was the result, and it occurred with such a lamentabledegree of frequency, that the old uncontrovertible Mosaic law, blood for blood, and life for life was re-established.

1934Abolition of Hereditary Titles In EnglandThe agitation for the abolition of hereditary titles in England caused a crisis in the political and social world of Great Britain. The degeneracy of hereditary nobles, their utter incapacity adequately to fill the positions left by their illustrious ancestors, to the detriment and retrogression of the British government, was the main cause of bringing about this bloodless internecine revolution.Despite the most strenuous opposition by the friends of the nobles, a new law was added to the revised Magna Charta, by an overwhelming public demand. With few exceptions, it nullified the existing titles, and elevated to peerage only worthy citizens for life, on condition of the good behavior of the incumbent. This excellent law brought fresh and saving blood into the political and civic life of England. The movement precipitated the abandonment of the House of Lords andcreated in its stead a body called Senatorium, whose members were elected by the tax-paying citizens.

1934Abolition of Hereditary Titles In England

The agitation for the abolition of hereditary titles in England caused a crisis in the political and social world of Great Britain. The degeneracy of hereditary nobles, their utter incapacity adequately to fill the positions left by their illustrious ancestors, to the detriment and retrogression of the British government, was the main cause of bringing about this bloodless internecine revolution.Despite the most strenuous opposition by the friends of the nobles, a new law was added to the revised Magna Charta, by an overwhelming public demand. With few exceptions, it nullified the existing titles, and elevated to peerage only worthy citizens for life, on condition of the good behavior of the incumbent. This excellent law brought fresh and saving blood into the political and civic life of England. The movement precipitated the abandonment of the House of Lords andcreated in its stead a body called Senatorium, whose members were elected by the tax-paying citizens.

Despite the most strenuous opposition by the friends of the nobles, a new law was added to the revised Magna Charta, by an overwhelming public demand. With few exceptions, it nullified the existing titles, and elevated to peerage only worthy citizens for life, on condition of the good behavior of the incumbent. This excellent law brought fresh and saving blood into the political and civic life of England. The movement precipitated the abandonment of the House of Lords andcreated in its stead a body called Senatorium, whose members were elected by the tax-paying citizens.

1935Blowing the Earth Into FragmentsThe most remarkable sensation of this year was that of a German scientist and statistician who, after a thorough investigation and mathematical calculation, announced his conclusions, that it was in the range of collective human power, that is, by the combined aid of labor, time, money and high explosives, to rend the earth in twain, or into fragments, and thus create new planets in space, producing new climatic conditions, fauna and life, adaptable to their new positions in the solar system.

1935Blowing the Earth Into Fragments

The most remarkable sensation of this year was that of a German scientist and statistician who, after a thorough investigation and mathematical calculation, announced his conclusions, that it was in the range of collective human power, that is, by the combined aid of labor, time, money and high explosives, to rend the earth in twain, or into fragments, and thus create new planets in space, producing new climatic conditions, fauna and life, adaptable to their new positions in the solar system.

1937An American Penal ColonyThe census of this year revealed an unprecedented number of evil-doers, causing great anxiety to the Government. There were recorded ninety-two thousand criminals in prisons and seventy-six thousand paupers in the poor houses. This army of public charges costthe State authorities more than thirty million dollars for their maintenance.At last by the stress of popular agitation the government adopted a policy of penal colonization. Selecting a desirable island in the Philippines, the Federal authorities succeeded in transporting to the island, within three years, and with half the cost of their maintenance at home, one hundred thousand of these unfortunate malefactors.Here, they were given every facility and aid, for acquiring and building of homes, farms and factories, and within ten years, under a wise military administration more than half of that number were reclaimed, forming a prosperous and loyal community in the Eastern Hemisphere.

1937An American Penal Colony

The census of this year revealed an unprecedented number of evil-doers, causing great anxiety to the Government. There were recorded ninety-two thousand criminals in prisons and seventy-six thousand paupers in the poor houses. This army of public charges costthe State authorities more than thirty million dollars for their maintenance.At last by the stress of popular agitation the government adopted a policy of penal colonization. Selecting a desirable island in the Philippines, the Federal authorities succeeded in transporting to the island, within three years, and with half the cost of their maintenance at home, one hundred thousand of these unfortunate malefactors.Here, they were given every facility and aid, for acquiring and building of homes, farms and factories, and within ten years, under a wise military administration more than half of that number were reclaimed, forming a prosperous and loyal community in the Eastern Hemisphere.

At last by the stress of popular agitation the government adopted a policy of penal colonization. Selecting a desirable island in the Philippines, the Federal authorities succeeded in transporting to the island, within three years, and with half the cost of their maintenance at home, one hundred thousand of these unfortunate malefactors.

Here, they were given every facility and aid, for acquiring and building of homes, farms and factories, and within ten years, under a wise military administration more than half of that number were reclaimed, forming a prosperous and loyal community in the Eastern Hemisphere.

1938The Great TelescopeWith the munificent contributions to a general fund, amounting to two million dollars, by the English, American and French Governments, the greatest telescope which the world has ever known was constructed in Paris. Its lenses measured more than two meters indiameter which, combined with a mammoth revolving camera obscura, brought the moon and some of the planets within the range of visual observation, revealing on Venus and Mars the existence of vegetation and moving objects.

1938The Great Telescope

With the munificent contributions to a general fund, amounting to two million dollars, by the English, American and French Governments, the greatest telescope which the world has ever known was constructed in Paris. Its lenses measured more than two meters indiameter which, combined with a mammoth revolving camera obscura, brought the moon and some of the planets within the range of visual observation, revealing on Venus and Mars the existence of vegetation and moving objects.

1939The Earth An Electric MotorEmil Flammarion, the worthy grandson of the eminent French astronomer, demonstrated by an extremely clever mechanical contrivance in Vacuo, that the Earth was merely an electric Motor in space!

1939The Earth An Electric Motor

Emil Flammarion, the worthy grandson of the eminent French astronomer, demonstrated by an extremely clever mechanical contrivance in Vacuo, that the Earth was merely an electric Motor in space!

1940The Trend of Religious ThoughtReligious thought or spiritual belief is not an invention of mortals. It is an inborn attribute of the human mind. While man was in his savage or semi-barbarous stage, the ethical and spiritual conceptions were correspondingly crude and religious warfare predominated. With the advance of civilization its development kept pace with it until at the dawn of the twentieth century it had undergone, by natural evolution, a marked metamorphosis.It gradually divested itself of its legendary mysticism, fantastic dogmas and spectacular schisms, and all intelligent thinkers promulgated a propaganda, not of external forms of worship, but those uncontrovertible basic truths, which always will hold.It is true that in an era of commercial materialism great masses of people embraced agnosticism and ethical culture, rejecting that supernatural conception of a first cause of which they claimed their limited intellect had a vague idea and was deeper than the hazy human comprehension, yet, the shallow Ingersolian philosophy of attacking a force—which filled millions with hope and goaded them to self-sacrifice, mercy and charity—without substituting something better, was repudiated by the intelligent, and appealed only to the abnormal and the foolish.This tendency of materialism in religion continued unabated, until the startling announcement of a German scientist—who claimed it was within human power to rend the world in twain—also the marvelous revelation through the mammoth telescope—by which was discovered moving objects and vegetationin other planets—brought on an acute crisis. A tremendous religious revival swept all over the world. It expanded the mental horizon of human conceptions. The existence of living organism in other spheres came within rational deductions. The possible existence of beings far superior in intellect to ourselves, came within the limit of legitimate theorizations, and the more men began to grasp with the co-operation of science, the infinite vastness of the universe, with its numberless millions of habitable worlds, the probability of an intelligent force of vast creative power came within the scope of human understanding.The forceful passage in the Holy Writ “that God created man in his own image” became more and more lucid. Consequently the pantheism of the old Greeks were revived with more clearness, and the existence of a personal God somewhere in this boundless universe appealed to multitudes with new zest.“Pray, Professor, what is your opinion of a first cause?” ventured one of the students.“There are so many mysterious forces,” answered the Professor, “that although we cannot see, yet we feel their power and areconscious of their results. And as our mortal organism cannot conceive a thought which is beyond its own limitations, the very idea of our thought of a first cause falls within the range of human conceptions.“When we gaze at an automobile, which is the creation of a creature, we see a wonderful parallelism; its requirements to make it an active energy, bears a strong analogy of its inventor, yet, an automobile with all its requirements for power supplied, is a worthless mass, unless operated and guided by its creator. Does not this vast universe with all its wonderful manifestations suggest a creative force, which governs it?”“Albeit, it is not within my province nor in my power to penetrate the veil” continued the Professor, looking up in pensive mood.“But as the coral protoplasm begins its edifice from the calcerous mire in the dark recesses of the ocean, upwards through the murky and semi-transparent liquid, finally reaches the pelucid surface, kisses the wave and sees the light, me-thinks likewise, the spiritual perceptions of mankind which has grown from the depths of savagery and through the maze of intolerance,dogmas and schisms, will go onward in its evolution and perhaps our posterity will at last penetrate the mystic veil and see the light,—God.”

1940The Trend of Religious Thought

Religious thought or spiritual belief is not an invention of mortals. It is an inborn attribute of the human mind. While man was in his savage or semi-barbarous stage, the ethical and spiritual conceptions were correspondingly crude and religious warfare predominated. With the advance of civilization its development kept pace with it until at the dawn of the twentieth century it had undergone, by natural evolution, a marked metamorphosis.It gradually divested itself of its legendary mysticism, fantastic dogmas and spectacular schisms, and all intelligent thinkers promulgated a propaganda, not of external forms of worship, but those uncontrovertible basic truths, which always will hold.It is true that in an era of commercial materialism great masses of people embraced agnosticism and ethical culture, rejecting that supernatural conception of a first cause of which they claimed their limited intellect had a vague idea and was deeper than the hazy human comprehension, yet, the shallow Ingersolian philosophy of attacking a force—which filled millions with hope and goaded them to self-sacrifice, mercy and charity—without substituting something better, was repudiated by the intelligent, and appealed only to the abnormal and the foolish.This tendency of materialism in religion continued unabated, until the startling announcement of a German scientist—who claimed it was within human power to rend the world in twain—also the marvelous revelation through the mammoth telescope—by which was discovered moving objects and vegetationin other planets—brought on an acute crisis. A tremendous religious revival swept all over the world. It expanded the mental horizon of human conceptions. The existence of living organism in other spheres came within rational deductions. The possible existence of beings far superior in intellect to ourselves, came within the limit of legitimate theorizations, and the more men began to grasp with the co-operation of science, the infinite vastness of the universe, with its numberless millions of habitable worlds, the probability of an intelligent force of vast creative power came within the scope of human understanding.The forceful passage in the Holy Writ “that God created man in his own image” became more and more lucid. Consequently the pantheism of the old Greeks were revived with more clearness, and the existence of a personal God somewhere in this boundless universe appealed to multitudes with new zest.“Pray, Professor, what is your opinion of a first cause?” ventured one of the students.“There are so many mysterious forces,” answered the Professor, “that although we cannot see, yet we feel their power and areconscious of their results. And as our mortal organism cannot conceive a thought which is beyond its own limitations, the very idea of our thought of a first cause falls within the range of human conceptions.“When we gaze at an automobile, which is the creation of a creature, we see a wonderful parallelism; its requirements to make it an active energy, bears a strong analogy of its inventor, yet, an automobile with all its requirements for power supplied, is a worthless mass, unless operated and guided by its creator. Does not this vast universe with all its wonderful manifestations suggest a creative force, which governs it?”“Albeit, it is not within my province nor in my power to penetrate the veil” continued the Professor, looking up in pensive mood.“But as the coral protoplasm begins its edifice from the calcerous mire in the dark recesses of the ocean, upwards through the murky and semi-transparent liquid, finally reaches the pelucid surface, kisses the wave and sees the light, me-thinks likewise, the spiritual perceptions of mankind which has grown from the depths of savagery and through the maze of intolerance,dogmas and schisms, will go onward in its evolution and perhaps our posterity will at last penetrate the mystic veil and see the light,—God.”

It gradually divested itself of its legendary mysticism, fantastic dogmas and spectacular schisms, and all intelligent thinkers promulgated a propaganda, not of external forms of worship, but those uncontrovertible basic truths, which always will hold.

It is true that in an era of commercial materialism great masses of people embraced agnosticism and ethical culture, rejecting that supernatural conception of a first cause of which they claimed their limited intellect had a vague idea and was deeper than the hazy human comprehension, yet, the shallow Ingersolian philosophy of attacking a force—which filled millions with hope and goaded them to self-sacrifice, mercy and charity—without substituting something better, was repudiated by the intelligent, and appealed only to the abnormal and the foolish.

This tendency of materialism in religion continued unabated, until the startling announcement of a German scientist—who claimed it was within human power to rend the world in twain—also the marvelous revelation through the mammoth telescope—by which was discovered moving objects and vegetationin other planets—brought on an acute crisis. A tremendous religious revival swept all over the world. It expanded the mental horizon of human conceptions. The existence of living organism in other spheres came within rational deductions. The possible existence of beings far superior in intellect to ourselves, came within the limit of legitimate theorizations, and the more men began to grasp with the co-operation of science, the infinite vastness of the universe, with its numberless millions of habitable worlds, the probability of an intelligent force of vast creative power came within the scope of human understanding.

The forceful passage in the Holy Writ “that God created man in his own image” became more and more lucid. Consequently the pantheism of the old Greeks were revived with more clearness, and the existence of a personal God somewhere in this boundless universe appealed to multitudes with new zest.

“Pray, Professor, what is your opinion of a first cause?” ventured one of the students.

“There are so many mysterious forces,” answered the Professor, “that although we cannot see, yet we feel their power and areconscious of their results. And as our mortal organism cannot conceive a thought which is beyond its own limitations, the very idea of our thought of a first cause falls within the range of human conceptions.

“When we gaze at an automobile, which is the creation of a creature, we see a wonderful parallelism; its requirements to make it an active energy, bears a strong analogy of its inventor, yet, an automobile with all its requirements for power supplied, is a worthless mass, unless operated and guided by its creator. Does not this vast universe with all its wonderful manifestations suggest a creative force, which governs it?”

“Albeit, it is not within my province nor in my power to penetrate the veil” continued the Professor, looking up in pensive mood.“But as the coral protoplasm begins its edifice from the calcerous mire in the dark recesses of the ocean, upwards through the murky and semi-transparent liquid, finally reaches the pelucid surface, kisses the wave and sees the light, me-thinks likewise, the spiritual perceptions of mankind which has grown from the depths of savagery and through the maze of intolerance,dogmas and schisms, will go onward in its evolution and perhaps our posterity will at last penetrate the mystic veil and see the light,—God.”

1941The Birthday Anniversary of Noted Centenarians“Lithia Bingham,” “Young Dr. Bray” and “Sister Eddy” received the homage and congratulations of millions of their admirers, on their hundred and fiftieth birthday anniversary.The remarkable longevity of this trio of Methuselahs was attributed, in the case of the two first mentioned, to their own “cure all” concoctions, and the last, to her scientific revelation of thinking that, there is no such thing as pain or death!“In closing this review of historical events,” said the Professor looking around the auditorium, “there are a few other important happenings that bring us to the present decade.“The remarkable decadence of Germany under a Socialistic regime, a doctrine, that although theoretically seems to be so desirably altruistic, convincing, and in poetry sounds so well, but in practise has proved to bedetrimentalto alife of strenuous efforts, and suicidal to individual ambitions—conditions which are eminently essential to growing and prosperous communities.“The consequent exodus of Teutons to other parts of the world that promised freedom to independent action.“The political union of Spain and Portugal.“The re-conquest by France of Alsace Lorain.“The puerile uprising by a section of Irish people against England are still fresh in our memory—and to which most of you have been eye-witnesses—are some of the events worthy of record.”Here the Professor, after a pause, changed his subject to future possibilities and, presenting to the class in eloquent words a glowing, optimistic picture of conditions for future generations, brought his discussion to a close. When he stepped down from the rostrum he was at once surrounded by the entire class and was tendered an impromptu but agreeable reception.

1941The Birthday Anniversary of Noted Centenarians

“Lithia Bingham,” “Young Dr. Bray” and “Sister Eddy” received the homage and congratulations of millions of their admirers, on their hundred and fiftieth birthday anniversary.The remarkable longevity of this trio of Methuselahs was attributed, in the case of the two first mentioned, to their own “cure all” concoctions, and the last, to her scientific revelation of thinking that, there is no such thing as pain or death!“In closing this review of historical events,” said the Professor looking around the auditorium, “there are a few other important happenings that bring us to the present decade.“The remarkable decadence of Germany under a Socialistic regime, a doctrine, that although theoretically seems to be so desirably altruistic, convincing, and in poetry sounds so well, but in practise has proved to bedetrimentalto alife of strenuous efforts, and suicidal to individual ambitions—conditions which are eminently essential to growing and prosperous communities.“The consequent exodus of Teutons to other parts of the world that promised freedom to independent action.“The political union of Spain and Portugal.“The re-conquest by France of Alsace Lorain.“The puerile uprising by a section of Irish people against England are still fresh in our memory—and to which most of you have been eye-witnesses—are some of the events worthy of record.”Here the Professor, after a pause, changed his subject to future possibilities and, presenting to the class in eloquent words a glowing, optimistic picture of conditions for future generations, brought his discussion to a close. When he stepped down from the rostrum he was at once surrounded by the entire class and was tendered an impromptu but agreeable reception.

“Lithia Bingham,” “Young Dr. Bray” and “Sister Eddy” received the homage and congratulations of millions of their admirers, on their hundred and fiftieth birthday anniversary.

The remarkable longevity of this trio of Methuselahs was attributed, in the case of the two first mentioned, to their own “cure all” concoctions, and the last, to her scientific revelation of thinking that, there is no such thing as pain or death!

“In closing this review of historical events,” said the Professor looking around the auditorium, “there are a few other important happenings that bring us to the present decade.

“The remarkable decadence of Germany under a Socialistic regime, a doctrine, that although theoretically seems to be so desirably altruistic, convincing, and in poetry sounds so well, but in practise has proved to bedetrimentalto alife of strenuous efforts, and suicidal to individual ambitions—conditions which are eminently essential to growing and prosperous communities.

“The consequent exodus of Teutons to other parts of the world that promised freedom to independent action.

“The political union of Spain and Portugal.

“The re-conquest by France of Alsace Lorain.

“The puerile uprising by a section of Irish people against England are still fresh in our memory—and to which most of you have been eye-witnesses—are some of the events worthy of record.”

Here the Professor, after a pause, changed his subject to future possibilities and, presenting to the class in eloquent words a glowing, optimistic picture of conditions for future generations, brought his discussion to a close. When he stepped down from the rostrum he was at once surrounded by the entire class and was tendered an impromptu but agreeable reception.

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