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J. PRESENTED BY is te ema tae University Library. Division.......--2----- Sechontse fe es ff f f am * ’ ave y frm } é eo / ef / “ y f } 4 ty } & « THE NEWER DISPENSATION aN OF PRIN Oy iy AR G 1929 wm y x “OL ogicaL se Py CASPER BUTLER KOKOMO, INDIANA THE NEWER DISPENSATION PUBLISHING CO. PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1926 By CASPER BUTLER All rights reserved Notr.—All Scriptural references and quotations appearing in this work were taken from the American Revised Version of the Bible. PRESS OF BRAUNWORTH & CO., INC, BOOK MANUFACTURERS BROOKLYN, NEW YORK PREFACE PROBABLY not since the Reformation has been manifested such general interest in reli- gion as exists at the present time. It has been growling gradually for several years. It is the subject of an infinite number of conversations ; and there seldom is a secular gathering even, that does not have some aspect of the subject injected into its program. ‘There is scarcely a periodical devoted to the more serious ac- tivities of life that does not carry one or more articles on some phase of religion in almost every issue. Nor is interest in religion confined alone to Christianity either in America or Europe. In- dications of quickened religious interest and symptoms of religious unrest are to be noted in widely separated areas among other sys- tems. ‘The Moslem world probably affords an example of the most unsettled religious equilibrium of any; and from the Far Hast, especially from Japan, come murmurings of dissension in Buddhism. lil iv PREFACE Since the World War, interest in religion has received an added impetus. As a result of the War it has been subjected to a closer scrutiny and analysis than for several cen- turies. There appears to be a pronounced demand for change. Daily one hears or sees allusions to the ‘‘new religion.’’ Throngs of people are asking themselves the questions: ‘‘Does my religion adequately express my highest religious conceptions and loftiest as- pirations? Is not the religion to which I have subscribed, somewhat lacking in vitality ?”’ The religion of a large number of persons appears to be undergoing a transition that transcends the bounds prescribed by the sys- tem to which they have hitherto given alle- giance. However, while conscious of a chang- ing religious atmosphere without, as well as a transformation within themselves, they yet are reluctant to sever the connections which have bound them to their former beliefs. They are in a mental haze regarding their religious bearings. Their ideas are unsettled—unclassi- fied, therefore in an unsatisfactory state. The numerous contributions on religion de- signed to clarify the subject in the minds of those who are disturbed and who are conscien- tiously seeking more light, generally have been: either too technical to be popular with PREFACE v the average reader, or too biased by partiality to conservatism or prejudiced by liberalism, to be of much real assistance to intelligent and fair-minded persons; or they have com- promised with both groups, sacrificing clarity and truth for the sake of maintaining the good-will of both classes. So far as the writer’s knowledge extends, no other contributor has approached the sub- ject of religion from quite the point of view that is set forth in this treatise. While many have discoursed on points of difference be- tween the new and the old, no one thus far has attempted to define approximate lines of demarcation between them, or differentiate them into separate cycles or epochs. i i) ra eS ‘yy ele ‘ » . i ; cps pt, e a Fore Ae De oe nw) ; ae apa Peek as 4 if ' ' . ov" bs Le Sa a4 oe rit oe ie Yee tL 4 py eso nr Me a ars ORES ! ih i] 1 } wf i , 7 - : 7 vs : = my i . 2 ys . ~ ron 4 - ; ? ’ } 2 Vin ae at tr) ¥ ¢ ae we Al n bd { ‘ 4 Pa’ ! y ' ‘ ia Kies Cae ; ua : ; A ‘ 7 r3) 2 Pe P ‘ ‘ e a 3 ] - ¢ y 4’ vy sae ' Wie a + A ‘ i, @ v9 : P P bs 4 ) : “2 paly ree f Pi Aya arts ‘ 4) i £ : yy Poa E ‘ 4 & i ; { —" A ‘ wv af nt y ‘ — Fat] f x 1 : ‘ z i i « « - % y a , r ‘ bi ‘abt Pa o ' 4 ' re 1 - - é ‘ 4 . , ' y ae “1 i X y i ‘ Pon” js 7 F Les ¥ N pat / is + | whe ; Nd Ts, = : - ’ A * . r [ i‘ ae hae bys. ' 7 - . 4 ‘ s " * 7 ; J vi a i ; Z. f Y 4 g i. § ' ' ' sy waa) oat - i . £ r ! 4 ' A y. r ° “ ‘ ye 4 E. . i tla f Ly a ‘Dy ps , Ps ‘ ~ r é . : ={ ts € gr : * , F 4 i j al Ly ‘ ‘ rf Dae hee - ti 27 i ‘ ~Soee + ‘ 3 : . 4 d e * he % 4 L a Hy 1 Fa ' - en F J ) #3 t a ' - if ‘ : 2 ' - as ’ Al ae oe 3 : Cae P ‘ a 9 - « + - ; ' py we 3 - @ - as hy . y= Rea é el aoe ly | Vy ri = 1 ie i : at or ~*~. j “ . : eit ' Fe 4 P Pa + . ’ « Fi 1 ‘ ‘ ce : A =; 1). ee wea < ve ~~ 4 ‘ 1 “y . » i 1% b , =, | Ve AP! : “ ; jag, to ie ee e — vy ep é rr v4 } 4 y ¥ : va = 5) + ? as” ¥ \ > ; ‘ ; for ¥4 r] y ; 4 4 b ; io ay iG } 2 Ai r 7 ¢ ne f hae ' Pr 1 : } et | onl rh 5 Ae " + * “ ; 4) ie a f rit 4 t : 4 > | j Fi , wie > 4 ; ‘ eT pa i pe flan hs ) rea ‘! vy 99 By i ; + ake Bie F 5 cae a Lee Bia, Spee Tae Waa } “4 7 iy ot vee \ hf ,) ‘ i ia ~ f Fei op nee i a, hy : - 5 h ta , es 4 Maes ) ca y | ie i 9 - p pF ¢ if Wii | CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PAGE CHAPTER I Progressed Generally ‘ : ; Me : : ogee fee CHAPTER II Religion Defined : . : ‘ : 5 ; : : aulce Part I THE OLD DISPENSATION CHAPTER III Brief Survey Early Hebrew Race, Semi-Primitive, Nomads, Government Patriarchal, Monotheistic Conception Unique, Anthropomorphic, Employ Pagan Rites in Worship of Jehovah, Use Arts of Divination, Means and Methods of Communicating with Jehovah . : sseaee ' CHAPTER IV Recitation on Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Periods Hebrew History, Prophetism, Amos First Contributor to Religious Progress Since Abraham, Productions of Amos Examined . ‘ ; : : : : - : j OL CHAPTER V Hosea, Second Contributor to Religious Progress Since Abra- ham, Jehovah Endowed with New Quality. . . . 65 CHAPTER VI Recitation Completing Sixth Historical Period, Jeremiah and Habakkuk Contemporaneous, Contributions of Jeremiah and Habakkuk Analyzed ; AS YC ee 5 et Vii vill CONTENTS CHAPTER VIL PAGE Brief Review of Seventh Historical Period—the Exile, Jews Freed by Cyrus the Great, Last Contributor to Religious Progress of Israelitish Nation—‘‘Second Isaiah,’’ Con- ception of Jehovah Enlarged, Fifty Thousand Led Back by Zerubbabel, Rebuilding Temple, Rebuilding Wall Under Nehemiah, Difficulties Encountered—Summary— Part. : : ; : : : ; é ; i eh) Part II THE NEW DISPENSATION CHAPTER VIII History of Jews Between the Testaments, Brief Period Jewish Independence, Colony of Rome . ‘ ; : : es CHAPTER Ix New Light on Biographies of Jesus and John the Baptist . 103 CHAPTER X Doctrine of Tri-Une Deistic Conception Examined . . gi At CHAPTER XI Tri-Une Deistic Doctrines, Atonement Adapted from Old Hebrew Rite, Incarnation Borrowed from Brahmanism, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism A ‘ ; F ’ e115 CHAPTER XII Doctrine of Holy Ghost (Spirit) aie ake Found in The- osophy. Function Explained . ; te ee CHAPTER XIII Doctrine of Resurrection Obtained from Mere Pepe e Doctrine Reviewed . : 132 CHAPTER XIV New Moral and Ethical Codes of ‘‘Kingdom of Heaven,’’ Brotherhood of Man, Golden Rule, the New Command- ment e e e e e e e © e e ° e 141 CONTENTS CHAPTER XV PAGE Jesus’ Age the Redemptive Age, Precedents for that Belief, Common to Zoroastrianism, Old Story of Struggle Be- tween Good and Bad, God and Satan in World, The Prize CHAPTER XVI Summary of Doctrines and Teachings of ‘‘ Kingdom of Heaven,’’ Points of Superiority of New Over Old Dis- pensation, Points of Inferiority, Degradation of Mono- theistic Conception, Tri-Une Conception a Reversion, Signs of Decay in Christianity Parr III THE NEWER DISPENSATION ‘CHAPTER XVII Newer Dispensation Predicated on Progress, or Change, Out- growth of Great Events and Movements, Dissolution Western and Eastern Roman Empires, Rise of British Empire, Founding of Russian Empire, Discovery of West- ern Hemisphere, Development of the Americas, Changing Form of Government, Doctrine of Divine Right of Kings, Republics the Fruits of War . : d : CHAPTER XVIII Founding and Rise of Mohammedan System of Religion, Both a Religious System and Social Order, Patterned After Both Judaism and Christianity, Champion of Monotheism, Aggressive Like Christianity, Doctrines Common to Both, Third Largest Religious System Ate at i CHAPTER XIX The Crusades: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh, Beneficial Results CHAPTER XX The Reformation: An Aspect of Renaissance, Reformation in Germany, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, England, Scotland, Bohemia, Fruits of Reformation . : ; CHAPTER XXI ° Growth of Knowledge, Vast Increase in Facilities for Dis- semination of Information, Rapid Progress Made in LOL ea to! meLey . 203 a CONTENTS PAGE Modern Science: In Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology also Philosophy, Evolution the Mode, Evolution Explained, Concord of the Sciences ’ CHAPTER XXII . 224 Summary of Chapters XVII, XVIIT, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII 248 CHAPTER XXIII Newer Dispensation Defined, Deistie Conception, Impossible to Define the Infinite, Knowledge Relative, Newer Dis- pensation Distinguished Both for what it Discards and Perpetuates, Sacred Writings Not Closed Book, Creation Still Taking Place, No Provision for Supernatural, or Religious Hero Worship, Creeds and Ordinances, Present Life an Opportunity Instead of One of Probation, Chief End of Man is Service, Education, the Chief Agency in the Establishment of the Newer Order, the Emancipation of Man : ; : ; ; : . 256 GEDA PI Ria INTRODUCTION SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE Morse on the night of March third, 1843, retired disheartened and discouraged. For days he had been impor- tuning Congress to make him a grant of thirty thousand dollars with which to construct a line from Washington to Baltimore to demon- strate the practicability of his new invention, the electric telegraph. Because of the skep- ticism of many and the ridicule of others, he had given up hope of his request being eranted. But to his great surprise the next morning he learned that Congress at its night session had passed the act authorizing the ap- propriation. There are many persons to-day who can remember when that incident hap- pened. The development of the electric tele- eraph and the effects of that invention on the economic and commercial interests of the world are hard to estimate. Only thirty-two years later Alexander Graham Bell invented the electric telephone. For some time he had been experimenting on 2 THE NEWER DISPENSATION anappliance for the transmission of the human voice over long distances. But the solution of that problem came to him quite by accident while experimenting on a device calculated to improve the telegraph. In tuning the har- monic receiver it was Professor Bell’s habit to press the reed closely to his ear. While doing that he was startled to hear the twang of the vibration of a steel spring. Going quickly to the sending instruments in an adjoining room, he found that his assistant, Mr. Thomas Wat- son, had snapped one of the springs 1n order to free it and put it into vibration again. It was the vibration of this spring that Professor Bell had heard. The snapped spring having generated an alternating current in the coils of the sending instrument which, traversing the line and passing through the coils of the receiving instrument, had caused the tuned reed to reproduce the sound made by the reed at the sending end. ‘Thus was the speaking telephone born. Professor Bell exhibited his invention at the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia the following year. As a re- sult of his demonstrations of it before the judges of the exposition and a large number of people, its fame spread rapidly. However, it is probable that few people at that time imagined that it ever would become almost an THE NEWER DISPENSATION 3 indispensable business and household appli- ance. | Great as the inventions of the electric tele- graph and telephone are, they have about seen their day. ‘Twenty-five years ago if anyone had predicted that Captain Donald F. MacMil- lan could sit in his flagship the ‘‘ Bowdoin”’ in tah, Greenland, and report by radio to the National Geographic Society in Washington, D. C., over thirty-seven hundred miles away, the safe arrival of its arctic expedition, he would have been considered visionary. For a group of Eskimo guests of that expedition, to listen by radio to a program given by a dif- ferent race in Chicago, sounds like a miracle. Yet both of those incidents took place. Within approximately three quarters of a century, this enormous progress in long-distance com- munication has come about and the end is not yet. The marvel of the radio as exemplified by Captain MacMillan being able to pick out of | the air ordinary tones from such distant points as Chicago, London, Paris, New York and Berlin, is only approached if not equalled by another invention destined to play an impor- tant part in that expedition. The allusion is to the airplane. Captain MacMillan’s expedi- tion being equipped with three airplanes, 4 THE NEWER DISPENSATION radiating from a common base, it was planned to employ them in further explorations of the Arctic Cirele. While, according to the radio reports from Captain MacMillan, the unfavor- able weather conditions thus far have offered insuperable obstacles, no doubt the airplane or dirigible later on will accomplish that feat. The fate of the ‘‘Shenandoah’’ will only tend to greater improvement in air craft construc- tion. Without doubt air crafts of various types are destined to play a major role in fu- ture transportation. It is doubtful if Orville and Wilbur Wright, the inventors of the bi- plane, fully realized the possibilities, future usefulness and practicability of the airplane even at the time of their first suecessful long- distance flight at Dayton, Ohio, in 1905. Yet within ten years from that date, it became one of the most important agencies in the greatest war the world has ever seen. At the time of the airplane’s first successful demonstration in 1905, doubtless few people even dreamed that within twenty years air routes would be established similar to highways on land. Steps are being taken to safeguard them, landings provided at frequent intervals, connections between different lines arranged, and regular schedules adopted similar to those existing on railroads. THE NEWER DISPENSATION 5 Whether the railroad ultimately will be en- tively superseded by aircraft transportation, it is too early to foretell. But even if such does not take place, its scope and importance will suffer by reason of aircraft transporta- tion. Yet less than one hundred years ago, there was not a railroad in the United States. Many people are alive who’can remember when the first line was built. To-day there are in the United States more than two hun- dred and sixty-five thousand miles—two-fifths of all the world. During this period the rail- roads themselves have undergone vast changes resulting in great improvement. Not only in the way of road-bed, station and terminal facilities, but in equipment of all kinds. The modern locomotive is a most formidable power-unit as compared with the first one. Equally great progress may be noted between the rolling stock of the present day as com- pared with that of the first railroads. However, railroads are not the only thor- oughfares that have originated and been de- veloped within the memory of some of this generation. Country roads, likewise, have undergone tremendous development during this time. When the writer was a child, im- proved roads—or turn-pikes as they were called then—were the exception and the per- 6 THE NEWER DISPENSATION son who traveled over them had to pay toll. They were owned and operated by private associations. ‘To-day all highways of every description are owned by the counties, and states through which they pass and therefore the toll fees have been eliminated. Moreover, the majority of the roads in all states are as well improved to-day as the best of them were forty years ago. ‘To have suggested to our grandparents that within a generation there would be national metal-surfaced highways traversing the United States north, south, east and west, would have been thought a foolish suggestion. Yet at the present time, there are several such thoroughfares under construction. Better roads have kept pace with the im- provement in vehicles. The transition from the ox-cart and jolt wagon, to the spring car- riage and buggy, and from those to the auto- mobile, have necessitated better roadways. The country highways are destined to undergo, ~ within the next few years, vastly greater im- provement. Short hauls formerly handled by the railroads exclusively, are being shifted to paved highways by truck transportation. The universal use of the automobile will make further improvement imperative. ‘The com- paratively short time in which the transporta- tion and vehicular progress has taken place, THE NEWER DISPENSATION 7 is a remarkable example of the speed with which the economic development of the coun- try 1s moving. In the economic growth progress has not been confined to those things thus far men- tioned. It extends to agriculture—in fact to practically any sphere one might mention. Considering agriculture: when Henry Ogle in 1826 invented the first reaper that actually accomplished the task, a great benefit was conferred upon the farmers of the world. Hitherto the cutting of grain had been done by hand, using a sickle or cradle. From Ogle’s machine, developed in rapid succession the self-rake reaper in 1855, the wire-binder in 1870 and the twine-binder five years later. The twine-binder still continues to hold the stage, but it has been greatly improved since it was first invented. The writer well remem- bers the first wire-binder that was put in operation in his native county in Indiana. It required eight horses to draw it. People came from several miles distant to see it in opera- tion. A distinct remembrance is that of a large number of laborers sitting on the rail fence that surrounded the field, deploring the inven- tion of it and predicting starvation for them- selves and families, because of the much smaller number of laborers that would there- 8 THE NEWER DISPENSATION after be needed to harvest the grain. Instead of it having the effect they predicted, quite the opposite obtained. More persons were re- quired in building binders, manufacturing twine for its use, and more railroad employees and equipment to transport them, than the harvest laborers it displaced. Kkeeping pace with the progress made in reapers, was that made in plows, cultivators, threshers, planters and other agricultural labor-saving devices. Many persons who read this will have witnessed the transition from the walking-plow and double-shovel one-horse cultivator, to the riding-plow and -multiple- cultivator drawn by a tractor. Older men, whose sons to-day plant corn with a modern check-rower planter and sow grains like wheat and oats with a drill which applies fertilizer at the same time, will recall when they dropped the corn by hand and covered it with a hoe and sowed other grain broadcast harrowing iA abate To furnish still further examples of the progress that has been made within very re- cent times may be mentioned the factory sys- tem. Our grandfathers made the shoes for the entire family, while our grandmothers spun the flax and wool, wove the cloth and made the clothing the family wore. The local THE NEWER DISPENSATION 9 blacksmith, or wagon maker, turned out every part of the vehicle or tool, by hand. With the development of the factory system and the in- vention of machinery, a much more complex division of labor has come about. ‘Tasks formerly performed by hand are performed much quicker and easier by machines. The factory system has resulted in commodities be- ing produced in vastly greater quantities. Lathes, drill-presses, milling and_ boring machines, shears and electric hammers do the work that fifty years ago was largely done by hand. Huge looms fabricate hundreds of vards of cloth in the same length of time re- quired by our grandmothers to weave one yard. All of those things have conspired to reduce the cost and increase the variety, thereby rendering more comfortable living conditions for society. Turning to a somewhat different sphere, progress within a short space of time 1s equally obvious. Johannes Gutenberg became one of the world’s chief benefactors when he invented the printing press in 1450. His in- vention was a crude affair as compared with even an old flat-bed press of a hundred years ago that had to be fed by hand, to say nothing of the great complex rotary presses with auto- matie feed and which print, fold and count as 10 THE NEWER DISPENSATION many as a hundred thousand multiple-paged newspapers per hour to-day. Or to obtain another angle of the progress that has been made in the art of printing, compare the present-day methods of type-setting with those of only a few years ago. When Ottmar Mergenthaler in 1885 invented the linotype machine, probably the most perfect specimen of a series of inventions of that nature by many persons, the improvement of the mechan- ical process over the hand method is amazing. Selecting a field entirely different from any of the foregoing where progress has taken place within a comparatively short time, at- tention is directed to the treatment of disease and to surgery. When the English physician, Wilham Harvey, discovered the circulation of the blood in 1600, he laid the foundation for modern Materia Medica. The discovery of bacteria and the invention of an antitoxin for hydrophobia by the French physician, Dr. Louis Pasteur in 1870; and the discovery of the bacilla of tuberculosis and of cholera in 1882 and 1883 respectively by the German physician, Dr. Robert Koch, not only show the progress made in therapeutics, but how one discovery leads to another. While Hippocrates and others of the an- cients knew something of surgery, their skill THE NEWER DISPENSATION 11 and knowledge of that art does not measure up to those of the present day. The difficult operation of trepanning is known to have been performed sometimes by surgeons in ancient times and the amputation of limbs and the reduction of fractures were quite common. But the ancient surgeon’s lack of knowledge of physiology and anatomy precluded any ad- vanced progress being made by him in that art. Prior to the sixteenth century no schools existed for the teaching of either medicine or surgery. Since then schools of both kinds have increased at a rapid rate. The perfecting of the anesthetic, which chiefly has come about since 1846, and later on the knowledge ac- quired regarding antisepsis, have greatly aided the progress of both medicine and sur- gery. How to procure true aseptic conditions has reduced the mortality of surgical opera- tions from 66 per cent in 1846 to only 6 per cent at the present time. No better proof exists of the progress that has been made in those fields than that furnished by the experience tables of mortality. Mr. Louis A. Hansen in a recent article published in Life and Health (Washington, D. C.), states that in 1800 the average length of life was thirty-three years; in 1855 it was forty years; and in 1920 it was fifty-eight vears. Highteen years have been 12 THE NEWER DISPENSATION added to the average duration of life since 1855. From 1910 to 1920 the increase in the life span was four years. The above figures are for the United States. Five or six other countries excel the United States in the ex- pectancy of life. New Zealand has an expect- ancy of sixty years. In 1910 Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Holland and Norway were from one to six years in advance of the United States on life expectancy. In the United States in 1911 a death rate of 17 per 1,000 persons was generally accepted as normal. In 1923 the rate was reduced to 12.3 for the regis- tration area of the country. For 1924 the estimated rate was only 11.6 per 1,000. The above facts give some idea of the enormous progress made in warding off and curing dis- ease Within a decade. It is reasonable to ex- pect the average span of life to be lengthened by the time another ten years roll around. Considering still another field somewhat different from any of those mentioned in the fore part of this chapter, one is able to note colossal achievements. Probably no sphere of endeavor affords a more convincing proof of progress than does that of education. Indeed, other realms must credit Education with a good portion of the progress made by them. Few people realize the stupendous sums that THE NEWER DISPENSATION 13 are being spent on education in its various forms to-day. The Rockefeller, Russell Sage, Carnegie and other foundations form in them- selves an enormous sum. but when to these are added the millions of lesser bequests, which total an incomparably greater amount, the ageregate is beyond one’s powers of compre- hension. Nor, are these all the sources of wealth devoted to education. The sums ex- pended by individual states and the United States Government, cause the above amounts to appear insignificant in comparison. In Indiana, which may be taken as typical, forty- seven cents out of every dollar of municipal tax raised, goes for the public school system of the state. But the foregoing are not all the sources of educational revenue. The sums spent by individuals and by parents for the education of their children, when added to all the others, represent a total so vast that one is entirely unable to grasp its magnitude. These facts pertain to the United States alone. What other countries are doing along educa- tional lines are not taken into consideration in this connection. Such resources are having the effect of making education universal at least so far as the United States is concerned. Kdueation in this country has progressed to the point that it makes school attendance be- 14 THE NEWER DISPENSATION tween certain ages in the juvenile period com- pulsory. It has come to an appreciation that it is better for the country and for society, to raise the educational standards of the masses rather than to super-educate a few, however desirable that may be. It realizes that the greatest obstacle to progress in any sphere is ignorance. | Never in the history of the world were there so many facilities for the dissemination of knowledge. Books, periodicals, and newspap- ers flow from the press forming a million branches terminating in an ocean of litera- ture. Add to these the contributions of the modern inventions such as the radio, telc- graph, telephone, cinema, and the fast moving vehicles of transportation, the sources and modes of conveying information are seen to be stupendous. The achievements in all the sciences reflect the progress of education. By means of it a Burbank is able to create new varieties of plants at will; a Steinmetz can produce a bolt of hghtning; an Edison invents an incandes- cent electric lamp and a kinetoscope; a Curé discovers a new element; a Geikie is enabled to read the history of the earth in the strata of the rocks; and a Sanford and a Frost can THE NEWER DISPENSATION 15 measure and compute the size and distance to the stars. In the foregoing, the facts and incidents mentioned in the different spheres of human endeavor are such as the reader himself has experienced, observed, and can verify. Theaim ~ has been to take a bird’s-eye view of each field, rather than a detailed study of it, in order not to tire the reader, and yet show that the law of progress is common to every realm of activity humanity is heir to. If it is admitted that the law of progress is universal in its operation in all the spheres the individual him- self experiences, and over a period of time no greater than the span of a human life, does it not seem reasonable and probable that it must be operative in respect to those things that he beyond and outside of man’s experi- ence, and over infinitely longer periods of time? If progress is a universal principle recognized in connection with the products of man’s intellect such as have been pointed out, then it must follow that it is equally operative in respect to his religious beliefs; because they are quite as much a product of his mind as any of those other things. If it can be shown in subsequent pages that religion, like all those other things that have 16 THE NEWER DISPENSATION been mentioned in the foregoing pages, likewise conforms to the law of progress, it follows as a consequence that given a sufficient lapse of time, there would come about a development in religion sufficiently great to mark a new epoch. In other words: there would take place a religious development as great as that which distinguishes the Christian from the Mosaic Dispensation. For example: from Abraham to Jesus 1s approximately twenty-five hundred years, and from Jesus to the present day, approximately nineteen hundred years. But computing the time from the Exodus or Moses to Jesus, when in fact the Old Dispensation in reality began, from Jesus to the present day is about equal to the period from Moses to Jesus. However, it is not contended that the intervals of time between religious epochs must be of exactly the same duration; because there might be more or less progress in some periods than in others. A restatement of reli- gion is due whenever the old order no longer reflects the beliefs of a large number of its constituents. It 1s somewhat like a political partv: when the party principles no longer express the sentiments of the party’s ad- herents, it 1s time, either to adopt a new set of principles, or organize a new party. To deny that epochs in religious thought THE NEWER DISPENSATION 17 ultimately will come, even if it is denied that a new epoch is already at hand, 1s to repudiate the law of progress in the world. If there is such a law, it inexorably follows there will come sooner or later a time when the develop- ment of religious belief will become sufficiently ereat as to warrant a differentiation of it from its immediate predecessor. Not that such changes come about abruptly, or that the lines of demarcation separating one epoch from another are sharply drawn. But a gradual transition takes place like the night shading into the dawn and the dawn into the daylight. There are strong indications that we are on the threshold of such a transition at the present time. The growing religious unrest that has been noticeable for several years, has within the last decade—and especially within the last three or four years—assumed a more acute stage. At the present time a heated con- troversy is raging between the ‘‘modernist”’ and ‘‘fundamentalist’’ groups. Liberal minded clergymen are being dispossessed of their charges; insistent demands for the lberaliza- tion of creeds by some of the prominent sects have been made. On every hand one hears references to ‘‘the new religion,’’ showing un- mistakable signs of change in religious beliefs. In Czecho-Slovakia since the signing of the 18 THE NEWER DISPENSATION Armistice, three distinct religious movements have taken place. The first was the establish- ment of a new and independent Catholic Church into which over eight hundred thou- sand former Roman Catholics have been in- ducted. The second was an exodus of over sixty thousand Roman Catholics to the Prot- estant church. And the third and most sig- nificant of all, was that more than a million persons comprising both Catholics and Prot- estants, have withdrawn from those branches and have declared themselves without church affihation of any kind. Similar movements are reported to have taken place in Jugo- Slovakia and Poland.* Nor is the heated controversy betwen con- servatists and liberalists confined to Christen- dom alone; for we read in the press-dispatches of the day that the same thing is taking place in the Near East. In Turkey the progressive elements of Islamism headed by Mustafa IKKemal have banished the Sultan and Caliph, separated church and state, unveiled their women and suppressed the dervishes; they have banned the fez and appeared in complete Huropean costume.” } However, such religious innovations are not 1 Literary Digest, Oct. 22, 1921. 2 Iiterary Digest, Oct. 12, 1925. THE NEWER DISPENSATION 19 being accomplished without strong opposition from orthodox Moslems, especially in Arabia. Islam too, has its ‘‘fundamentalists,’’ who are prepared to rebel against the reforms of Mustafa Kemal, and if necessary to enforce the original Mohammedan faith at the point of the sword. Ibn Saoud, the head of the Wahabis sect, is the leader of the ‘*funda- mentalists’’ and has obtained possession of the holy shrines. As in Christianity, orthodox Mohammedans brand ‘‘modernists’’ as heretics and punish by excommunication and by re- moving them from ecclesiastical positions. _ Also an indication from the Far East that Buddhism is not measuring up to modern religious standards in that quarter, is evi- denced by the fact that Japan in 1918 sent emissaries to the United States to study Chris- tianity at close range as practised by probably the most progressive people in the world, with a view of adopting it as her state religion. However, the transforming power of Chris- tianity was not sufficiently convincing to war- rant them recommending it as an ideal religion for the subjects of that nation. Such controversies and changes noted in the foregoing are the best evidences that the law of progress is operative in religion as else- where. So long as people are satisfied with 20 THE NEWER DISPENSATION existing standards, there is not likely to be much if any change for the better. ‘ J / “4 ry mi” ' ; ed ‘ ee z . ¢ ' ers . \ ~ ut yt <3 Fal Q a el ; — - a. - ' a4 ht 3 J : poe : / 1 : b& bi] od 4 ’ [ ‘ ¥ M a : " } F : ee a, , . avs = 6 tel 2 j a . ad i vy ’ 4 y i fe ‘5 9) , y wh, —_ Be © ind A 4 f Po. y 2 a ee | +.) 0s 2st poe j v yeh) i : ¥ 4 Weibe ; é * ahs : 7 ‘ oN * u2e. a) is 7 ’ be = ph > we, 1 - i < ‘ ‘ ® wv. Pe yt i " f ifs ‘a ?,' 5 cue any als Whe ps \. }: 7 Zz av fe re iat “i THE NEW DISPENSATION CHAR AIBESVLEL Tort NEw DISPENSATION HAvinG traced the steps of religious prog- ress of the Hebrew people, or Israelitish na- tion from its earliest history to the Christian ira, which marks a new epoch in religious development, it is now the task to consider the fundamental doctrines and principles under- lying the New Covenant. Moreover, it is necessary to note points of difference existing between the two dispensations. Before doing so however, a brief review of the political his- torical background, from the end of the cap- tivity to the beginning of the Christian Era needs to be supplied, in order to bring our last political survey down to that point, as well as furnish the reader with the setting in which the New Covenant originated. | Approximately 525 years intervened from the time the Jews were freed by Cyrus, to the birth of Jesus. During that period they had a checkered career. More than half the space 93 94 THE NEWER DISPENSATION intervening is known as, ‘‘the period between the Testaments.’’ There being no canonical books in the Bible which deal particularly with this period, it is necessary to obtain In- formation concerning it from the apocryphal books, especially those of the First and Second Maccabees and secular sources. The company of fifty thousand exiles led back to Judaea* by Zerubbabel in 526 B.c. and the seventeen hundred and fifty-four, who re- turned with Ezra in 458, experienced many hardships and much adversity after they arrived in their native land. The first com- pany, with Zerubbabel still their leader, laid the foundations for the new temple in 520 B.c. but owing to interference by the Samaritan | settlers, it was not completed until 516 B.c. The difficulties attendant on re-establishing themselves in the land were almost insuper- able. Not only were they annoyed and hindered by the Samaritans, but they had to contend with drouths, plagues of locusts and ~ other difficulties. They became greatly dis- couraged. One of their number, Nehemiah a representative Jew, who was still in Babylon Serving in the capacity as cup-bearer to the King, Artaxerxes, obtained permission from 1'The spelling commonly used to designate the former kingdoms of Judah and Israel from the end of the exile to the death of Herod the Great when the name Palestine applied. THE NEWER DISPENSATION 95 his master to return to Judaea to assist his people. Through Nehemiah’s words of cheer and advice, their morale was strengthened, and under his leadership the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem was undertaken. Working with their weapons close at hand and with others of their number standing guard to ward off attack by the Samaritans, the feat was completed in fifty days. In 434:B.c. after having remained in Judaea ten years, Ne- hemiah returned to Babylon. 'T’wo years later with a commission as governor general of Judaea from King Artaxerxes, he returned. Nehemiah and the two prophets of this period, Zechariah and Haggai, had the effect of greatly encouraging the Jews and retrieving them from the despondency and hopelessness into which they had fallen. Judaea being a dependency of Persia, the fortunes of the Jews fluctuated with those of that country and its successors. In 330 B.c., Darius, king of Persia, was defeated by Alex- ander the Great at Arabela and Darius was assassinated. Alexander himself died in Baby- lon only seven years later. He left no heirs —his only son being born after his death. Alexander’s generals rivaled each other as his successor. In the course of this contest, Syria and EHgypt regained their independence. ‘The 96 THE NEWER DISPENSATION Seleucid rulers of Syria had their capital at Antioch and the Ptolemy rulers of Egypt had theirs at Alexandria. The Seleucid Dynasty lasted from 312 B.c. to 66 B.c.—a period of 246 years, when it became a province of Rome. The Ptolemy Dynasty of Egypt lasted from 323 B.C. to 30 B.c.—a period of 293 years, when it hkewise became a Roman province. Judaea lay between those two kingdoms and for three centuries was the object of their conquests. She first fell under the dominion of Egypt, but in 203 B.c., Antiochus the Great, succeeded in wresting her from Kgypt. Judaea now under Syrian rule, continued to be gov- erned by the Seleucids until 165 B.c., when she succeeded in throwing off the Syrian yoke and practically gaining her independence. It came about in this way: Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria at that time, had an ambition to Hellenize the Jews. He overran Jerusalem and ordered pagan rites substituted for Jewish rites. Moreover, he decreed a sacrifice should be made to Zeus on the altar in the Temple. The aged Jewish priest, Mattathias ignored the edict, slew the royal messenger and de- stroyed the altar. He then fled with his five sons to the mountainous part of the country and stirred up a revolt. The story of Mac- cabean courage and martyrdom is one of the THE NEWER DISPENSATION 97 most compelling of its kind. Two years after the flight of Mattathias and his family into the mountains, he died and Judas, his third son, became leader. His skill as a leader coupled with the religious fervor character- istic of the family, enabled him to defeat three Syrian generals in succession. In 165 he drove the Syrians out of Jerusalem and reconse- crated the T'emple-to Jehovah. In 162 B.c. Lysias, the Syrian regent, granted religious © freedom to the Jews. Judas Maccabeus de- cided to fight for political independence. | J a | ‘ var : * : Pr oy ‘ FE WA ERNE Toy eats Ve? i eesgare ; x or | i me ae edt is Coa - ei ra wd 4 Pes | ] > , 4 ‘aha Heo PG eld gy oa on 4 " - 1 ry Hi ay > é { ° é “ ‘5 ; A ’ oh per Wek “ ‘ ‘ +4 Pi A) af Pa ve . ‘ ; . A - ; = “ ‘ * i 7 a 7722 %% { é » 4 ‘ - ® . Cro ‘ 4 : i , ad La j F q are + d ; \ i : x 4 "a 1 vf, . ¥ , ’ M 4 ‘LP = ict VS Pe . ‘ ? : ; { yi z s 4 ' 7 é / s 2 ve a4 j hooey yi-F . A ’ bd by : ; i [ ae 7 A é 1 uh! od t . | of ¥ 7 . af m7 a aT oO ef - . = 7 iy bd : ‘ = rue . a ‘ : ena . ‘ j 4 ‘J t 7) ‘ - . ¥ ‘ ° ‘ Th , % Weil 4 * « ) ‘ ; « > "oe At { ‘ i " ' a 7 . ‘ ‘ vo a ’ ' . ‘7 1 1 t ‘a f ‘ ‘ ba { j Dat x i —~. t 2 » . * v ‘ ' re * ; . 4 Lie | ps)\ . “ ; ; i - ‘ 4 > ¥ - ? i ! : / A y - ’ : 5 P ’ . tie ++ . n® z ( , = = £ ; ‘ M4 , ; ; ; oy ‘ jaet # ‘ . id . ty we 7 : rT @ i ye a THE NEWER DISPENSATION CHAPTER XVII IN the first division of this work was traced the steps of religious progress under the Old Dispensation, upon which a considerable por- tion of the New Dispensation founded by Jesus was based. In the second division our aim has been to analyze the doctrines and teachings of the New Dispensation, ascertain their origins and precedents and determine which of them constitute contributions to the religious progress of the world. It is now our task to survey the history of civilization dur- ing the last nineteen hundred years and note the principal changes that have taken place along the various lines of activity employed by the race, with a view to showing the prog- ress exhibited through such change. In doing so, it is not the intention to tire the reader by entering into all details of such matters, such as showing all the transitional steps; but merely to give a bird’s-eye view of civilization during this period. Such a recitation appears necessary in order that the claims hereinafter made may appear reasonable. If it can be 181 182 THE NEWER DISPENSATION shown that contributions to religious progress of sufficient moment have been made since the beginning of the Christian Ira to warrant the suggestion of a Newer Dispensation, it will be because transformations many and great have taken place. Neither progress or retro- gression ever happens under stationary con- ditions. Whether anything moves forwards or backwards, it 1s conditioned by variation. That the modifications that have taken place in all departments of social activity during the last nineteen hundred years, exceed by far those for the previous corresponding period, after consideration, it 1s believed few people will deny. Moreover, it is expected that the majority of persons will readily admit that the results attendant upon those mutations have been momentous. Another factor that should be taken into consideration in this connection is the mo- mentum gained by civilization as it moves. Civilization ean not be said to be over three thousand years old. Prior to that time no stage of racial development reached higher than the barbaric state. But since the time when portions of the race attained the civilized status, its development has been at least twice as rapid as before. Surely the eivilizing in- fluences have been multiplied during even the THE NEWER DISPENSATION 183 last five hundred years. And have increased more during the past one hundred years than for the four hundred years previous. Each goal attained serves as a base from which to launch still other campaigns of achievement. It is with a society as with an individual: the educated person accomplishes infinitely more and has the capacity for enjoying vastly more than a person having no education. He moves faster to his objective. He spends time and money to educate himself in order that he may vain more time and money in the end; that he > may have more of the fruits of the world of whatever nature he desires; that he may the sooner realize his ideal. So civilization spreads; becomes more general and of a higher quality. With the added velocity imparted to civilization during the last nineteen hundred years, the changes ought to be far more numerous and the progress considerably greater, than for the corresponding period immediately preceding. It is confidently ex- pected that such can be shown to be the case. The new philosophy of religion, the ‘‘king- dom of heaven’’ was formulated a little over nineteen hundred years ago. It cannot be said to have been established until three centuries later, when it was chosen by Constantine to be the official religion of Rome. That fact 184 THE NEWER DISPENSATION assured its success if there were no other rea- sons. Prior to that time it experienced the bitterest struggles and the fiercest competition. Considering first the great political changes that have taken place since the establishment of Christianity, attention is directed to Rome. Karly in the Christian Era, the Western Roman Empire succumbed to the perpetual attacks of the Goths, Visi-Goths and Franks; so that out of it were carved the Latinized and Germanic states of Europe. The Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantium held together much longer, but finally yielded in the fifteenth century to the assaults of the Turks and was swallowed by the Ottoman Empire. During this period, the British Empire, probably the greatest, all things considered, the world has ever witnessed was born and has grown to maturity. It comprises the largest number of square miles in area and the largest number of inhabitants under one jurisdiction of any on the globe. One-fourth of the land and one- fourth of the inhabitants of the earth belong to the British Empire. Its present area is over 12,500,000 square miles. Large portions lie in each of the five grand divisions of the world. The population of this vast empire numbers more than 400,000,000 inhabitants. Assyria, Chaldea, Egypt, Rome, in the height of their THE NEWER DISPENSATION 185 glory never approximated in area or in- habitants the British Kmpire. Yet it has accomplished this feat within the last nineteen hundred years. Size and numbers are not the only distinctions enjoyed by this empire. It is one of the greatest civilizing agencies in the world. Wherever the Union Jack goes, law and order and sanitation follow. Yet its sub- jects enjoy as much liberty and are as free from interference by the government as any on the earth. The British Empire has been the world’s greatest colonizer. It has planted the seed of civilization in the most benighted and remotest districts of the world and the leaven of such influence is slowly but gradually spreading. Nor is the British Empire the only one that has arisen since the beginning of the Christian Kra. Another great empire has attained at least the adolescent stage since then, Russia, which is the second largest in the world from the standpoint of area. The Empire of Russia has an area of over 8,291,429 square miles— the greatest lying all together of any empire in existence not excepting China. When it is contemplated that in less than twelve hundred years semi-savage tribes of different stocks have been organized into an empire of that magnitude, not only have there been great 186 THE NEWER DISPENSATION changes attendant thereon, but the progress of that people has been prodigious. Plunged into a state of chaos through changes brought about by the World War whereby the govern- ment of Russia made the unprecedented tran- sition from almost an absolute monarchy to a communistic one, makes it impossible at present to determine whether such a radical change as she has undergone will prove per- manent or not. However, the long-standing insistent demand upon a large element in Russia for a more democratic form of govern- ment, 1s some evidence of a capacity to ex- tricate themselves from their present dilemma even though the government loses some of its extreme democratic features. But the rise of the British and Russian Iimpires since the beginning of the Christian Era are not more momentous than the dis- covery of the Western Hemisphere com- prising the continents of North and South America by Columbus in 1492—less than five hundred years ago. The two grand divisions of North and South America form a con- tinuous body of land over 10,500 miles long and more than 3,000 miles broad at its greatest width and comprise an area of over 15,750,000 square miles. The two continents of North and South America are the second largest THE NEWER DISPENSATION 187 isolated land masses on the globe. ‘They com- prise three-tenths of the total land surface of the earth. The history of the exploration, colonization and wresting of these continents from the savages; the development of the natural resources; the building of cities, towns -and villages, railroads, highways, bridges and electrical communication lines, need only to be mentioned in order for one to realize that the discovery of the Americas was the greatest political event in more than two thousand years. The changes entailed by their dis- covery and the bringing under subjection of such vast areas is the most conclusive evidence of material progress than can be mentioned. On these two grand divisions are the Do- minion of Canada, the republics of the United States of America, Mexico, Brazil, Argentine, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brit- ish, French and Dutch Guiana, besides those of Central America. In addition to the fore- going should be included the vast tracts lying within the Arctic circle, which are a part of the North American continent. But political progress has not been all of one kind. During the last nineteen hundred years there have been enormous changes made in the forms of government which have been 188 THE NEWER DISPENSATION productive of religious as well as material progress. The trend of government has been from that of an absolute monarchy towards that of a pure democracy. At the beginning of the Christian Era there was not a republic in the world. There had been three prior to that time, those of Greece, Rome and Carthage, none of them extending representation to all classes of citizens. In 1914 when the World War started there were only five republes in Europe: France, Switzerland, Portugal and the two tiny republics of Andorra and San Marino. Yet each of the monarchies of Hurope before the World War, excepting one, had many democratic features. The reservation is that of Turkey. Prior to the World War she was an absolute monarchy there being no vestige of representative government in that country. ‘To-day she is rated as a republic and actually dominated the Balkan settlement. Turning to the Western Hemisphere: there is not at present and never has been, an inde- pendent monarchy in it. Canada of course, as well as the three Guianas in South America, and a few smaller dependencies are colonies of monarchies, but in reality they are representative governments and to all intents and purposes are republics. Since a republican form of government re- THE NEWER DISPENSATION 189 sults from a demand on the part of subjects for a chance to be heard and a hand in making the laws that govern them and the form of government they wish to live under, it is a sign of greater intelligence on the part of the sub- jects. Just to the extent that people become en- hghtened do they refuse to waive their rights and delegate their authority. But the attain- ment of representation in government usually comes at the end of a bitter struggle. Gen- erally, it is the fruit of revolution. Absolute, or even lmited monarchs, are most reluctant to relinquish their power. The old doctrine of ‘‘the divine right of kings,’’ has been the chief bulwark of the despot. In our branch of civilization it no doubt had its origin in the Israelitish nation, whose government was a theocracy. Jehovah was the head of the nation and government. The patriarchal ruler or king was the ‘‘Lord’s anointed.’’ In the day of the patriarchs and kings of Israel, the rulers were held sacred by their subjects. In the episode recorded in Second Samuel where David with his band came by stealth at night to Saul’s camp and while Saul slept, cut off the skirt of his coat instead of taking his life as they easily might have done, was due to the reverence subjects had for the ‘‘Lord’s 190 THE NEWER DISPENSATION anointed.’’ Later, after time for meditation, David’s conscience troubled him and he re- eretted that he had even done that, because Saul was the mundane representative of Jehovah. The doctrine of ‘‘the divine right of kings’”’ since the beginning of the Christian Era, prob- ably made its first permanent surrender of authority to the Swiss people in 1291 when the Swiss defeated the Austrians at Morgenthau. Nominal freedom of the Swiss was achieved by 1474. By 1499 Switzerland was practically an independent republic. There had been a score or more of mediaeval petty republics, principalities and free cities, but they proved impermanent. Among them may be mentioned the Lombard Communes, Mantua, Susa, Piedmont, Florence, Milan, Padua, Pia- cenza, Treviso, Modena, Cremona, Vicenza, Bologna, Venice, the cities of the Hanseatic League, Iceland, the Dutch Republic and others. The two small republics of San Marino and Andorra are remnants of the mediaeval republics. The next blow struck at the doctrine of ‘divine right’? was in England. After a series of insurrections that culminated in the ‘‘Glor- ious Revolution’’ in 1688 a.p., the English THE NEWER DISPENSATION 191 people procured full representation in govern- ment and the Bill of Rights, the guarantee of inglish liberty. In the United States, any remnant of that theory that may have been cherished by an Hnglish monarch, even in view of concessions made at home, was dispelled by the Revolu- tionary War in 1776. The notion that colonies were chattels must have been predicated on the notion that kings ruled by ‘‘divine right.’’ When it came to taxation without representa- tion the American colonists did not have much respect for the sacredness of kingly authority. The theocratic doctrine of kings received its death knell in France at the conclusion of the Hrench Revolution in 1799. Since that event, _ no monarchical aspirant has ever had the remotest chance of reviving monarchical gov- ernment in that country. True, there is a monarchistic political party in France, but its members are few and its strength negligible. The next European people to dispute this ancient doctrine was Portugal. She had en- joyed a constitutional government since 1853 and for a temporary period prior to that time. However, it was not until August, 1911, at the conclusion of a nation-wide strike, precipitated chiefly because of unequal franchise rights, a 192 THE NEWER DISPENSATION national assembly was formed, a constitution was signed and a president elected, making Portugal an independent republic. Thus far, all the examples of the trend in gvovernment from a monarchical to that of a more democratic form have been in Hurope. Up to this time, the Orient has but one example, China. Ever since the Boxer Re- belhon in China in 1900 and the inauguration by United States Secretary of State, Hon. John Hay of the ‘‘open door’’ policy in that country, China has undergone enormous change and development. In February, 1911, the Ta Tsing dynasty came to an end. China was declared a republic and Dr. Yuan became her first president. The government adopted a flag of five colors, the bands or stripes repre- senting China, Manchuria, Mongolia, Tibet, and Turkestan. Japan and India are the only nations left in Asia that have not completely thrown off the yoke of monarchy and disputed the doctrine of ‘‘rule by divine right.’’ But ever since her war with Russia, every one of whose officers could read and write, Japan has realized the disadvantage of ignorance and lack of education. Since then, she has been making enormous progress along educational lines. It requires no special gift of prophecy to predict that Japan will be a republic within THE NEWER DISPENSATION 193 the life of the present generation. India like- wise is chafing under even nominal monarch- ical control. All the foregoing examples of governments changing from an autocratic to a more democratic form have taken place prior to the World War. A wholesale transition from monarchical to republican form of government has taken place since the signing of the Armis- ticens Lhe theory’ of the’ <’divine right of kings’’ was probably for all time disposed of by that event. ‘T'rue, there are a number of monarchies left in the world. But the minds of their rulers have been disabused of the idea of divine authority and such monarchies as remain are largely republican in form. The defeat of Germany and the forcing of the Kaiser to abdicate has probably removed the last fanatical ruler cherishing that doctrine. Whatever fears, if any, the Kaiser may have entertained regarding the outcome of the War, that Germany would emerge a republic was probably farthest from his thoughts. But that change was a result of the conflict that has raged for centuries between subjects and despots obsessed with the idea of ‘‘divine right.’’ It was in harmony with the law of political development—the trend from mon- archical to democratic form of government. In 194 THE NEWER DISPENSATION other words: it was not because of the trivial excuses given by the Kaiser, but a case of monarchy vs. democracy. It was succinctly stated by President Wilson, when he said in his declaration of war with Germany, it was a contest to determine whether or not free gov- ernment should survive or perish. With a large Socialistic representation in the Reichstag, a Socialist mayor of an im- portant city like Berlin as well as the country being highly democratized economically, the KXaiser no doubt saw that it would be a matter of only a short time until the democratic spirit would overthrow the monarchical rule. By employing the same tactics as did Bismarck in 1870, the Kaiser sought to distract the atten- tion of the people from their grievances against the government and unite them in a project against an imaginary enemy from without. From having the result expected the direct opposite obtained; so, not only did Ger- many herself emerge a republic, but a flock of European republics was the result. It has been shown that prior to the War there were only five republics in Europe. Since the signing of the Armistice, there are eighteen: Switzerland, KFrance, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, Finland, Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukrania, the Caucasian THE NEWER DISPENSATION 195 States (comprising Daghestan, Georgia and Azerbaijam), Andorra, Armenia, ‘'urkey, San Marino, Austria and Russia. The only results of the World War of a beneficial and constructive nature so far dis- eernible are the democracies it contributed to the world. Probably no event in history, cer- tainly no war, has contributed more to the cause of democracy than did the World War. What a staggering price liberty is forced to pay! Freedom, perhaps the most priceless thing in the world outside of life itself, has had to fight for every inch of ground it ever gained. Yet it is chiefly on free soil that prog- ress takes place. Hreedom of body results in freedom of mind. Solving problems of gov- ernment and responsibility in political affairs develops latent faculties and results in prog- ress. ‘The fruits of such pertain to every sphere of man’s activities. Anything that widens man’s horizon and increases his knowl- edge, even in the most material way, reacts on his spiritual nature. Every great step in religious progress has been intimately con- nected with some material circumstance. From an event having the result contemplated in the beginning it generally happens that an entirely different and far greater benefit ob- tains. Our own Civil War furnishes an 196 THE NEWER DISPENSATION example. At first dimly conceived of, if at all, freedom of the slaves was the result. By the abolition of slavery in the United States a precedent was established and a great moral truth that slavery is wrong was taught the world. ‘To-day no eivilized nation counte- nances it. So even in war, we see the principle enunciated by Habakkuk illustrated. It is seen how the forces of evil are made to serve the ends of good. CHAPTER XVITI AN event of more than usual importance that took place during the period under con- sideration and which materially influenced and changed the subsequent history of the world was the founding of the Mohammedan, or Islamic religion. The Islamic, or Moslem religion as it is also called was founded by Mohammed in 622 4.p. It is unnecessary for the purposes of this work to go into many of the doctrines or tenets of Mohammedanism, it being sufficient to show the general nature of that religious system and its influence on the world. Mohammedanism, or Islamism, is a half sister to Christianity. Like Christianity it grew out of Judaism. Both systems belong to the Semitic branch of religion. Like Chris- tianity it bears the marks of influence of other religions of that day, but not as much so as does Christianity. That is probably due to the fact that it was founded several centuries later. Mohammedanism resembles both Judaism and Christianity. A study of its general 197 198 THE NEWER DISPENSATION nature leads one to suspect that it might have been patterned after both. It looks as though there might have been a thought in the mind of its founder to combine the good features of each of those systems. Like Judaism it is a social order as well as a religious system. The moral and ethical codes of Mohammedanism appear to be the statutes governing the daily life of the people and their relationships with each other as well as the precepts and injunctions of their reli- gion. The two are inextricably woven. Like Judaism its deistic conception is purely mono- theistic. Another feature they have in common is, both were uncompromising with idolatry. True, the Israelites lapsed into idolatry many times, but it never had any sanction in that nation’s religious precepts or tenets. Moham- medanism has always been intolerant of paganism in all its forms. It resembles Judaism again, in that it has its sacred city, Mecea, to which devout Moslems are expected to make annual pilgrimages similar to those made by the Jews to Jerusalem on the occasion of the Feast of the Passover. Mohammedanism resembles Christianity in that the Koran, the Bible of Mohammedanism, contains many quotations from the Old Testa- ment of Judaism. That is not strange since THE NEWER DISPENSATION 199 it grew out of Judaism the same as did Chris- tianity. Like Christianity Mohammedanism has its religious hero and alleges many super- natural things in connection with his life, but not in respect to his birth. The method by which the Koran was communicated to Mohammed is probably the most miraculous thing alleged. Another similarity it bears to Christianity is that Abu-Bekr is the St. Paul of Mohammedanism. As Christianity prob- ably owes its existence to the early organiza- tion of churches and centers of Christian influence by its very able convert, St. Paul, so Mohammedanism owes to Abu-Bekr, the father-in-law of Mohammed and first caliph after his death, the perpetuation of Islamism. Abu-Bekr was an organizer and a missionary. His able leadership was available at the most critical stage of that religion’s existence—the earliest stage. Mohammedanism shares with Christianity the doctrine of the Resurrection showing the influence of the Egyptian religion. Few of the religions originating immediately preced- ing and after the Christian Era, that did not incorporate that doctrine. It is noted in Zoroastrianism, Mithraism and others. Mohammedanism is similar to Christianity in another respect: it is an aggressive reli- 200 THE NEWER DISPENSATION gion. It is missionary in spirit. While not exactly recognized as one of its principles, still the tacit understanding to wage holy wars was firmly rooted in the minds of its followers. Jn the early days at least, every Moslem looked forward to a world-wide conquest having for its aim the bringing the inhabitants of all countries under the banner of Mohammedan- ism, or Islamism. The Moslems held eut three propositions to those it conquered: embrace Mohammedanism, pay tribute, or suffer death. At the present time, due no doubt to the civi- lizing influences several centuries of social contact with other religious systems have con- tributed a far more lberal policy is in effect. The Mohammedan religion is the third larg- est religious system in the world. Only Chris- tianity and Confucianism are larger. Moham- medanism numbers more than 220,000,000 adherents. It is the religion professed by the inhabitants of Turkey, Syria, most of Pales- tine, Arabia, Persia, Asia Minor, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Turkestan and the Malay Penin- sula. Besides there are over 97,000,000 Mohammedans in India and more than 25,- 000,000 in China, also a large number in Egypt. The literature of the Koran is not the equal to either the Old Testament of Judaism, or the New Testament of Christianity. Its teachings THE NEWER DISPENSATION 201 are not portrayed in incomparable parables such as were employed by Jesus. Neither are they couched in the lofty language character- istic of many Old Testament narratives. Yet they subserved a purpose that on the whole has resulted in good. What then has Mohammedanism given to the world that is of a constructive nature ? The contributions of Mohammedanism to the religious progress of the world are chiefly these: first, it has been one more agency de- voted tomoraluphft. The Koran contains very strict moral laws. For example on murder: when one Moslem kills another maliciously, he is punished by being consigned to hell forever. But should it be by accident, he may escape eternal punishment by certain expiations. It has very strict laws against drunkenness and eambling. The Koran states: ‘““They will ask thee concerning wine and lots; answer in both there is great sin and also some things are of use unto men; but their sinfulness is greater than their wp) use. In the second place: the Koran contains many excellent statutes on marriage, divorce, prop- erty, wills and crimes of all kinds. The Mohammedans who live up to them are worthy and entitled to the respect of any people. After all, they may come as hear conforming 202 THE NEWER DISPENSATION to their religious and social statutes as the adherents of some of the other religious sys- tems do to theirs. In the third place: prob- ably the most important and valuable con- tribution made by Mohammedanism to the world is that it has perpetuated and kept alive the monotheistic conception. In Islamism there is no God but Allah. The personality of Allah is not divided. In the deistic conception of Islamism, the polytheism of the pagan reli- eions of Egypt and India have made no impressions. The monotheistic conception brought by Abraham, the progenitor of the Hebrew race, to Canaan and which was the characteristic that rendered that nation unique in contemporaneous history has been perpe- tuated in all its purity by Mohammedanism, or Islamism. Without doubt, Mohammedan- ism has countenanced, sanctioned and even committed, many crimes. It is also true that charges of that nature can be preferred against Christianity, but even so, Mohammedanism has been a powerful factor in the civilization of the world. It retrieved the standard of monotheism when the Jewish nation had been destroved and the Jewish people dispersed, no longer able to preserve it inviolate. Tor this, if for no other reason, Mohammedanism has performed a great service for the world. CHAPTER XIX ANOTHER source out of which grew steps of religious progress during the period under consideration were the great movements that took place. Passing over all those of a minor nature attention is called directly to the Crusades that were launched in Kurope against the Moslems, in an effort to recover Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulcher for Christianity. A brief survey of the political situation of that time will assist the reader in appreciating what was involved. In the year 66 4.D. a Jewish revolt cecurred in Palestine, the Jews gaining possession of Jerusalem. Vespasian was sent by Rome to suppress the insurrection. In the year 70 A.D., after one of the most cruel sieges in history, the city was captured, the Temple burned and the walls and buildings razed to the ground. The population numbering something like thirty-five to forty-five thousand Jews were scattered. .This event is known in history as the Dispersion. Jerusalem remained in ruins until 131 4.D. when Hadrian, the Roman em- peror contemplating the restoration of pagan 203 204 THE NEWER DISPENSATION worship in a measure rebuilt it. The scattered Jews and the remnant that was left stirred up another revolt. Hadrian decided that rather than furnish another center for Jewish disturbance he would abandon his project; so he made of it a Roman colony and prohibited the Jews from entering it. Nothing further is known of its history until the time of Constantine. Upon his adopting Christian- ity as the State religion of Rome and through the entreaties of his mother, Helena, he built the church of the Holy Sepulcher. Pilgrims flocked to Jerusalem from all parts of that and other Christian countries and it became a shrine of Christendom. But in 614 a.p., Jerusalem was captured by KKhorsru of Persia. However, it was retaken by Heraclius, the Roman emperor, in 625 A.D. In 6387 «.D., 1t was captured by the Moslems under the caliph, Omar. A long line of Arabian caliphs ruled until they were suc- ceeded by the Seljuk Turks. Under the Turkish rulers, the Christians were perse- cuted, the holy places defiled, their commerce was prohibited and conditions became un- bearable. Religious feeling and commercial interests in Christian Europe were deeply aroused. Churches had been turned into mosques and Christian pilgrims visiting the Or THE NEWER DISPENSATION 20 Holy Land were insulted and injured. Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand) in 1074 a.p., ap- pealed to the western nations for volunteers to rescue it from the Moslems, but his appeal went unheeded. Conditions in Palestine con- tinued to grow worse. Finally in 1095 -A.D. under the preaching of Peter the Hermit, who had visited the Holy Land, Pope Urban II called a council of the various Kuropean coun- tries. The council was that of Clermont and met at Piacenza and was attended by ambas- sadors from all the nations. After Peter had described to them the deplorable conditions, they unanimously voted to undertake the Crusade. That same year a number of detachments that were hastily recruited and poorly organ- ized set out. Not having been provided with adequate supplies for such an expedition and being put to the necessity of foraging off the countries through which they passed they were almost completely destroyed before reaching Constantinople. The First Crusade in reality was undertaken a year later, in 1096 when Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of Lower Lorraine; Hugh of Vermandois, brother of Philp, king of France; Baldwin, brother of Godfrey; Robert II of Flanders; Robert If of Normandy, brother of Wilham II, king of 206 THE NEWER DISPENSATION England: Raymond of Toulouse; Bohemond of Tarentum; Tancred of Apulia and others, in command of 100,000 recruits marched to- ward the Holy Land. The various divisions of this Crusade met in Constantinople on Christmas of that year. There they were delayed for a while. Somewhat later, they crossed over to Asia by the strait of Gallipoli. In June, 1097 a.p., they captured Nicea, their first conquest. On the fourth of July that same year, they met and defeated a powerful Moslem army at Dorylaeum. They marched through Asia Minor to Antioch which they captured after a siege that lasted until June, 1098 a.p. Their strength was very much dis- sipated after the siege of Antioch, so they re- mained nearly a year in that vicinity. In May, 1099 a.p., they resumed their march towards Jerusalem. In June the attack of Jerusalem was begun and at the end of six weeks capi- tulated. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was es- tablished and Godfrey of Bouillon was chosen the first king. However, he refused to accept the title on the ground that he was unwilling to wear a king’s crown on the spot where the Savior had worn the crown of thorns. He chose for his title, that of Defender of the Holy Sepulcher. He died in less than a year and was succeeded by his brother Baldwin. THE NEWER DISPENSATION 207 In 1144 a.p. the Saracens captured Edessa. This produced great consternation in all the Christian countries. They feared that all the other fruits of their victory might also fall again in the hands of the Moslems. Accord- ingly, a Second Crusade of 140,000, led by the German emperor, Conrad III and Louis VII, king of France, set out in 1147 to recover Kdessa. They not only failed to recapture Edessa, but were unable to render any as- sistance to the tottering State of Jerusalem. The Crusading armies returned to Europe twe vears later, in 1149. In 1187 the Moslems under Saladin recap- tured Jerusalem. That act again stirred the zeal of the Christians in Europe; so a Third Crusade was undertaken. It consisted of three armies led by three of the chief monarchs of Kurope: Frederick of Barbarossa, emperor of Germany; Philip Augustus, king of France; and Richard Coeur de Lion of England. Frederick’s army defeated a powerful Turk- ish army at Philomelium in May, 1190. Not long afterwards he was drowned, his death destroying the morale of his troops. His son assumed command, but shortly afterwards the army abandoned the expedition. The two re- maining armies under Plilip and Richard united at Messina in Sicily, where they re- 208 THE NEWER DISPENSATION mained until the spring of 1191. Philip reached the Holy Land the day before Easter and began the siege of Acre. Richard joined him somewhat later. Jealousy arose between the two monarchs, so that shortly after the fall of Acre the French abandoned the expedi- tion. Though Richard, single-handed, defeated Saladin he was unable to recapture Jeru- salem. He succeeded in capturing Jaffa and negotiated a truce with Saladin by which the sea-coast from Tyre to Jaffa remained with the Crusaders and Christians were allowed to visit unmolested the Holy Sepulcher. The Fourth Crusade promoted chiefly by Pope Innocent III and a few others was an abortive attempt to retrieve Jerusalem, being diverted from its original purpose. ‘The leaders of that Crusade lent their assistance to a revolution that was taking place in Constan- tinople. In 1203 a.p., Constantinople was cap- tured by the Crusaders. Jerusalem still re- mained with the Moslems. By this time the Christian forces in Kurope had become somewhat discouraged in their attempts to regain and keep Jerusalem and the Holy Land. They came to believe there was some important factor that had been over- looked in the kind of persons recruited. About that time 1212 a4.p., Stephen, a French peasant THE NEWER DISPENSATION 209 boy, began preaching a children’s Crusade. His theory being the Holy Land would be won only by innocent Crusaders. In the belief that chil- dren might accomplish what adults could not, an army of 30,000 French children and one of 20,000 German children was recruited. No more ill-advised project could have been under- taken. The fate of the Children’s Crusade is one of the most tragic episodes connected with European history. Many of the French children were tempted on board vessels at Mar- sellles and were sold into slavery. The Ger- man children crossed the Alps, many dying from the hardships endured on the march, others being lost at sea, while still others being scattered over the countries through which they passed. One would think that after suffering such a dire calamity as resulted from the Children’s Crusade, the attempt to retrieve the Holy Land would be abandoned. But such was not the case. After a lapse of only five years an expedition made up in Hungary, set out for Egypt as its objective. That army cap- tured Damietta, but owing to disaffection among the Crusaders themselves the expedi- tion broke up and returned. While this is sometimes spoken of as the Fifth Crusade, in reality the Fifth Crusade was led by Frederick 210 THE NEWER DISPENSATION Il of Germany, having been promoted by Popes Honorius II and Gregory LX. About the time the expedition was ready to start a pestilence broke out in the army which neces- sitated delay. Irederick lost interest in the enterprise and by so doing incurred the dis- pleasure of Pope Gregory IX. However, the next year he took his expedition to the Holy Land. Without engaging in any battles he negotiated a treaty with the Sultan whereby Jerusalem was to be a Christian kingdom, but on condition that the Mohammedan religion would be tolerated. The treaty, however, was soon broken. The Sixth and Seventh Crusades, like the Hungarian expedition, were directed at Hgypt and were led by St. Louis IX of France. He considered that the Moslem power centered in Egypt and that a blow struck there would prove more effective than if directed against the Holy Land. He captured Damietta after a short siege in 1249 a.p. The difficulty his troops encountered in the way of swamps and marshes up the Nile caused him to turn back. His forces overtaken by the army of the Sultan hopelessly defeating him forced him to surrender Damietta which he had just eap- tured. Disappointed at not receiving reinforce- ments Louis returned home. ‘Twenty years THE NEWER DISPENSATION 211 later, in 1270 a.p., he launched the Seventh and last Crusade. An English expedition under Prince Edward, afterwards Edward I, co-operated. Louis landed his forces on the north coast of Africa. After having lost a large number of his leaders, he himself died at Tunis and the French Crusaders returned home. lidward went to Syria, but finding that little was to be gained concluded a truce for ten years likewise returning home. Some of the acquisitions of the Crusaders maintained their independence for twenty years. Finally the Sultan recaptured Acre in 1291 a.pD., just one hundred years after it had been won to Christendom by Richard Coeur de Lion re- moving the last remnant of the kingdom founded by the Crusaders. Except for a brief space during the Crusades, the Holy Land remained under Moslem rule for 1280 years. During the World War in December, 1917, in the Palestinian campaign after a short siege conducted by the British under General Sir EK. H. Allenby it once more passed into Christian hands. In what way did the great movement known as the Crusades benefit civilization and either directly or indirectly contribute to the relli- gious progress of the world? From the stand- point of having accomplished the thing those 212 THE NEWER DISPENSATION promoting them set out to do, they were utter failures. Moreover, judged from the motive that prompted them, they probably deserved to fail. But viewed from the standpoint of benefits to civilization the Crusades were eminent successes. It has been stated more than once heretofore in this work, that social intercourse is one of the chief factors in the development of race consciousness; also that every progressive religious step grows out of some material transaction. ‘The movement brought the people of Huropean countries in contact with those of Arabia. They learned something about Arabian institutions and cul- ture. They became somewhat acquainted with its philosophy and religion. Mathematics and physical science of Arabia have exerted a great influence on those sciences in other countries. Byzantine architecture is reflected in the Gothic architecture of Hurope. Stained glass making, metal working and needle working were far more advanced in the Kast than in the West. In addition to the foregoing there were the political benefits obtained. It resulted in a more equitable distribution of power in Europe. Many of the nobility lost their lives and thereby their rule, so that government became more consolidated. ‘The expenses con- THE NEWER DISPENSATION 213 tingent on the various Crusades, resulted in a more general and more equitable distribution of wealth. They provided an opportunity for poor people to engage in industry and occupa- tions, who otherwise would have been unable to do so. In addition to all these they opened the way for commerce between the Kast and the West, which proved most profitable to all concerned and promoted a better understand- ing between them. Another thing, the Huro- pean countries found out that when it came to fighting, the East was fairly able to take care of itself. Christianity, too, needed just such a brush as it had with Mohammedanism. The check it received from Mohammedanism caused it to direct its attention, for a time at least, more to introspection than to the exten- sion of its domains. Christianity needed more thought and less zeal. Probably to the Crusades more than to any other factor, re- sulted the Renaissance, or revival of learning assuming many aspects. CHAPTER XX No list of movements resulting in changes contributing to the religious progress of the world would be complete that did not include the Reformation. Not that the Reformation supplied any new ideas that religion was not already in possession of, but because it was an agency assisting in purging religion of some of the abuses with which it was affected. After the rise of temporal power, the popes had been the head of both Church and State. Asa result, the Church became most intimately identified with politics. Because of such close relation- ship between Church and State, abundant op- portunities were afforded for abuses to enter, which weakened the vitality of the Church and destroyed its capacity for usefulness. It is a well-known fact that some of the popes were immoral and notoriously corrupt. Such a con- dition was recognized a long time before the Reformation took place. In the fifteenth cen- . tury the first steps were taken to rid the Church of some of its questionable practices. The attempt was made along two distinct lines. One method was to employ the efforts — 214 . : ‘ THE NEWER DISPENSATION 215 and services of certain influential men, monastic orders and general councils, to bring about the needed changes. In other words, to work from within the institution. The second plan was to form separate organizations out- side of the Church, such as the Albigenses and the Waldenses. Neither of the two plans proved effective. The Reformation proper which came in the sixteenth century inaugu- rated by Martin Luther accomplished what neither of the former methods could perform. As just stated, not that the Reformation con- ferred any benefits by reason of new ideas not already possessed, but because it caused the Church to slough off excrescences that were handicapping its usefulness and defeating its purposes. Catholicism was the chief benefi- ciary of the Reformation. Luther’s slogan of ‘‘justification by faith,’’ was not a new doc- trine. His chief quarrel with the Church was over the authority it exercised in the sale of indulgences and the denial to com- municants to interpret the Scriptures for themselves. There is abundant evidence that in the beginning Luther did not have for his objective separation, or division. A sepa- rate branch such as Protestantism was not his goal. Luther did not foresee the full need of the Church, because he did not realize the 216 THE NEWER DISPENSATION necessity for freeing it of mysticism and superstition. We are told that Melanchthon was the brains of the Reformation and that Luther was the leader. Some estimate of Melanchthon’s caliber is obtained, when it is learned he threw his ink well at the devil. Re- gardless of the foregoing, the movement must be considered in the ight of results, even if those results were different from those originally conceived. The Reformation was the religious aspect of the Renaissance. The revival of learning along all other lines could not help but be reflected by religion. People were thinking for themselves more than they had ever done before. The Church had stifled independent thought for centuries. People had been kept In ignorance. Few persons could read or write aad sources of knowledge had been denied them. Much knowledge formerly known was lost during the ‘‘dark ages’’ and had to be relearned. But with the revival of learning that began shortly after the Crusades, a marked change took place. The revival of learning was aided immensely by the inven- tion of the printing press. It made possible a wide diffusion of knowledge. More people learned to read. 'The Bible became available to thousands because of its being printed in THE NEWER DISPENSATION 217 book form, instead of on papyrus fastened to rollers, making it Inexpensive in comparison. The literature of the early Church likewise was made available so that individuals could compare what the early fathers wrote about the Church in the first two or three centuries, with the Church of the sixteenth Century. The art of printing made possible the distribution of large quantities of tracts enabling people to judge for themselves both sides of the con- troversy. People who could not read before, because of no special inducement to learn, after the printing press was invented forth- with acquired that accomplishment. Inde- pendent thinking had more to do with the bringmg about the Reformation than any other cause. Because of it, the Reformation ran away from its original promoters such as Luther and resulted in Protestantism. While the Reformation started in Germany no one country had any monopoly on it. Had it not started there and when it did it would not have been long until it would have originated elsewhere. The issue was already brewing in Switzerland. Ulrich Zwingli while preaching at the Cathedral in Zurich ques- tioned some of the teachings and practises of the Church. The movement grew in Zurich and finally a referendum was held in that city 218 THE NEWER DISPENSATION to decide which kind of preaching they would have. The Reformation party won. Other cities and districts throughout Switzerland took similar action. The cities usually re- turned a verdict in favor of the Reformation while the country districts decided against it. Both in Germany and Switzerland there were many who believed that neither the Lutheran or Reform branches went far enough in their interpretation of the New Testament. They were known as Anabaptists, because they re- jected infant baptism and held that believers only should be baptized. This class was per- secuted by Protestants and Catholics alike, many of them dying as martyrs to their beliefs. In France there was not in the beginning a prominent leader such as Luther in Germany ~and Zwingli in Switzerland. Jean Jacques Lefever (Faber-Stapulensis) was the nearest approach to one. He greatly aided the Re- formation by translating the New ‘Testament into French. One of his pupils, Briconnet, bishop of Meaux propagated the Reformation movement in France by inviting preachers of reform views to assist him. Protestantism in that country did not assume much importance until the Frenchman, John Calvin, established himself at Geneva, making that city the center of the Reform movement. ‘The followers of THE NEWER DISPENSATION 219 Calvin in France were known as the Hugue- nots and became a political as well as a reli- gious party. For fifty years war was waged be- tween the Catholics and Huguenots in France. Finally, Henry of Navarre became king. While he himself was a Protestant he became a Roman Catholic and issued the Edict of Nantes granting a lhmited toleration to the - Huguenots. Through the protection of that edict the Huguenots greatly increased their numbers in France. The proximity of the Netherlands to Ger- many and their commercial relations were in a measure responsible for the spread of the Reform movement in that country. Charles V, while he lived and his son Philip II, his suc- cessor, pursued a vigorous policy of perse- cuting the Protestants, but were unable to stamp Protestantism out. Heretics were exe- cuted by the hundreds. Philip was deter- mined to root out Protestantism even if it ruined the country. Notwithstanding all that he did, the Reformation spread and gained its independence under the leadership of William of Orange. In England the break with the Catholic Chureh, which happened while the Reforma- tion was fomenting in other countries was not due to the same causes that produced it else- 220 THE NEWER DISPENSATION where. In England it was because the Pope of Rome would not grant King Henry VIII a divoree from Catherine, so that he could marry another. He took matters into his own hands and obtained his divorce through the Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry VIII had a law passed revoking all authority of the Pope in England and instituted the Episcopal Church as the State Church in that country. However, upon the accession of his daughter, Mary, to the throne, allegiance to the Catholic Church was again established. But when her sister, Elizabeth, succeeded to the rulership, her sympathies were with the Protestants al- though she was very discreet in her actions. While John Knox is usually credited with being the leader of the Reform movement in Scotland, others prepared the way for him. One of them was Patrick Hamilton, who was burned at the stake for preaching the Re- formation in Scotland. Another early re- former was George Wishart who was protected for a time by the nobles he succeeded in win- ning. But ultimately Wishart was captured and executed. One of his followers was John knox who became the leader of the movement in Scotland after Wishart. Knox fled to the continent when the persecution broke out. He spent some time at Geneva where he became THE NEWER DISPENSATION 221 unbued with the views of John Calvin, the French reformer. Knox returned to Scotland in 1559 and became the head of the Protestant movement in that country until his death. The Reformation spread to Sweden, Den- mark, Bohemia, Hungary and Poland. The leaders in those countries mostly were pupils of Luther. In some of those countries the State had espoused it before the people had a chance to consider it. The Reformation was thrust upon them. However, in Bohemia John Huss and his followers had prepared the _ way for it. The result was that the Reformation re- sulted in Protestantism, a separate branch of the Church. A separation, not only unpre- meditated by Luther, Zwingli and others in the beginning, but one of wide divergence and scope; a branch of the Church in which formal- ism has little, or at most, a minor part; where mysticism and superstition play an ever-di- minishing role; where religion is stripped of most of its grosser aspects. The untrammeled freedom of thought permitted by Protestant- ism is largely responsible for the multitude of religious sects to be found in its ranks. And that is a good symptom. It indicates not only independence in thought, but that the tenets of Christianity are being studied from all 222 THE NEWER DISPENSATION angles. The different sects furnish the chan- nels for religious expression suited to their adherents’ religious attainments. Time will reduce their number and will alter all. What then are the chief contributions made by the Reformation to the religious progress of the world? Progress does not consist wholly in the promulgation of new ideas. Re- hnquishment of unsound and erroneous notions are quite as much progressive steps as the expressicn of new thoughts. What a person does not believe, may be as big an aid to his development as that he does believe. The per- son who employs discrimination and has the courage in the face of majorities to reject the unsound and erroneous, removes the most formidable obstacles in the way of his develop- ment. The mythological and the superstitious interfere with the operation of one’s rational mental processes. It is as true of a group as it is of an individual. The chief contribution the Reformation made to religious progress and to society was just that. It caused the Cathohe Church to discard a great deal of the dross in religion. By its removal the Church was freer to move forward and perform the function of its destiny. It left it in a position to inspire greater confidence and respect, both on the part of those within it and without. It THE NEWER DISPENSATION 223 gave people a better medium through which to express their religion. The very act of Protestantism itself is an indication of a growing race consciousness. Growth is progress. Consciousness 1s moral- ity. Kreedom of thought guaranteed by Protestantism, insures a larger vision sure to result in further expurgation of the dross from religion. CHAPTER XXI SINCE the beginning of the Christian Era no agency has been more responsible for change and more fruitful of contribution of every kind to the progress of the world than has that of science. It is almost solely within this period that science itself has been devel- oped. Moreover, modern science can not be said to have existed before the sixteenth cen- tury —in reality the seventeenth century. Like the Reformation, it was one of the products of the Renaissance which in turn, was largely the result of the Crusades. The ‘‘revival in learning,’’ or the seemingly greater interest manifested in learning of every kind shortly after the Crusades, without doubt was some- What responsible for the interest in natural philosophy, as all science was then called. Roger Bacon in England in the thirteenth cen- turv had kept alive a little spark of science. But Copernicus and a little later, Galileo in the first half of the fifteenth century may be credited with being the fathers of modern science. In 1597 a.p., Galileo invented the ther- mometer and in 1609 A.p., the telescope with 224 THE NEWER DISPENSATION 225 which he discovered the satellites of Jupiter and the Sun’s spots the following year. Other scientists of that period were: Torricelli, Paseal, Von Guericke and Huygens, who laid the foundation for physical optics. Sir Isaae Newton, who was born the year Galileo died, built upon the work of Galileo and published in his ‘‘ Principia’’ in 1686 A.D., a complete sys- tem of mechanics. The following century the number of persons devoting their talents to natural philosophy was considerably aug- mented. Such men as Benjamin Franklin, Cavendish, Black, Young, Volta, Fresnel, Ohm, Galvani, Ampére, Davy Gauss, Faraday and others are included in the lst. It was only after the discoveries and inventions of Copernicus and Galileo that natural philos- ophy came to be differentiated into branch sciences, such as geology, astronomy, physics, chemistry and biology. Still, the end is not in sight. Such a vast amount of information has been gained concerning each of those branch sciences that they have been still further subdivided forming special sciences, which in turn are being still further differ- entiated. It is true that Aristotle (384-322 B.c.) laid the foundations of science in the wide range of subjects written on by him. His treatises 226 THE NEWER DISPENSATION on politics, rhetoric, logic, on animals and parts of animals, without much question, fur- nished at least the suggestion for subsequent studies of those subjects. But outside of one or two followers, the foundations laid by Aris- totle were not built upon until the rise of modern science in the fifteenth century. Not only has the development of science almost wholly taken place since the Christian Era, but it has done so within the last quarter of that time. Indeed, the last fifty years prob- ably has seen more progress in science, than the last four hundred years; and the last twenty-five years, more than the last century. So much has been discovered that thus far it has not been possible to assimilate all of it. Yet more and more, scientists are coming to realize that they have only begun; that they are only on the fringes of a universe of knowl- edge and that every discovery serves as a base from which to launch still greater scientific conquests. Nineteen hundred years ago people’s knowl- edge of geography did not extend beyond the bounds defined by the oceans that touched the lands upon which they lived and those in the immediate vicinity. A few wise men like Aris- totle knew that the earth was round and some- thing of its structure. Regarding astronomy, THE NEWER DISPENSATION 227 they surmised. that the earth revolved around the Sun, but they probably did not suspect that the Sun itself revolved around some center. ‘They were able to identify and name a few of the constellations, such as the Pleiades, Arcturus and Orion, but they had no concep- tion of the nature and number of them such as astronomers have of to-day. It is claimed by modern astronomers that only about five thousand stars are visible to the naked eye. The big, one-hundred-ton Hooker telescope at Mt. Wilson Observatory is said to bring into view a half a billion. Nor did the astronomers of nineteen hundred years ago have any con- ception of the size and how distant were some of the stars and constellations they knew. With the knowledge that light travels at a speed of 11,000,000 miles per minute, modern astronomers inform us that it would take four years traveling at that speed, to go to the nearest fixed star, Proxima Centauri. It would take eight years to go to Sirius and 329 years to go to the Pleiades. To go to Rigel in the constellation of Orion, would require 500 years. Through the invention of mar- velous telescopic apparatus, modern astrono- mers are able to measure the diameter of stars and compute their size. ‘They have found the diameter of Arcturus to be 21,000,000 miles, 228 THE NEWER DISPENSATION that of Betelgeuse, 215,000,000 miles, and of Antares, 400,060,000 miles. If Antares were hollowed out and our Sun placed in its center, the Sun could still revolve in its orbit without touching the rim. If a one-hundred-ton tele- scope, equipped with a one-hundred-inch lens, brings into view a half billion stars, what would one double that size reveal? A few years ago, astronomers thought there was only one universe, now they are practically agreed that there are more than a million universes. The science of physics affords an excellent example of progress of a material nature. Probably the first mechanical principle ever learned by man was when he discovered that by putting the end of a hand-spike, or pole under a rock or log, he could lift a weight impossible for him to move by his own strength alone. About the next discovery he made was when he learned that by placing a log too heavy for him to carry across a short one and by pushing, he could transport burdens that several of his number could not bear. Hrom using a short log, he cut off a section or slice through which he made a hole in the center and inserted a stick, the projections support- ing spikes or handles, making a wheel-barrow —the first vehicle. From the use of only one wheel with a short axle to an extension of it THE NEWER DISPENSATION 229 passing it through two wheels by means of Which he could more easily balance his load and move a larger one, no doubt was the next step. Unquestionably the wheel has been one of the very greatest inventions in the experi- ence of the race. Without it most of our sub- sequent discoveries and inventions could not have been made. There is scarcely any kind of a machine or contrivance that does not use wheels or employ its principle. The transmis- sion of power never could have been developed beyond the individual hand- and foot-applica- tion had it not been for the wheel. Machinery of any kind would have been out of the ques- tion, from the wheel-barrow to the airplane, the spinning wheel to the complex looms of a silk factory, from a wind-mill to a dynamo. It was the one indispensable invention that was just absolutely necessary. It is doubtful if many people stop to think just what a great invention the lowly wheel is. In the course of the ages it has been greatly improved in looks and has been made after many patterns and out of a great variety of materials, but in one respect it has never changed, it has always remained circular and the axis at or near the center. Moreover, the wheel-barrow, the first vehicle, continues to be a useful and convenient conveyance. Yet, at the beginning 230 THE NEWER DISPENSATION of the Christian Era people had not learned to couple four wheels together so far as the writer has been able to ascertain. They were used ox-cart plan, except when used as a bar- row. ‘The chariot was the most fashionable vehicle contrived from a two-wheel arrange- ment. [Even then it did not supersede animals as the chief means of transportation. In the time of Jesus, people were still riding on the backs of donkeys, camels, elephants and a few horses and mules. It requires a bit of imagination to bridge the gap from the chariot and ox-cart of nine- teen hundred years ago to the modern auto- mobile and from the automobile to the air- plane and dirigible. '’ennyson’s dream of less than seventy years ago is already a reality. ‘*Hor I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; Saw the heavens fill with ecommerce, argosies of magic sails, Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales ; Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rained a ghastly dew : From the nation’s airy navies grappling in the central blue ; For along the world-wide whisper of the south-wind rushing warm, THE NEWER DISPENSATION 231 With the standards of the people plunging through the thunder-storm ; Till the war-drum throbbed no longer, and the battle- flags were furled In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world.’’ 1 The airplane and dirigible already have ful- filled all the prophesies of Tennyson’s vision except the last. However, they still may be the chief factors in the realization of the ‘federation of the world.’’ ‘The wholesale death-inflicting inventions of the future in- tended to be dropped from the skies may become so frightful that war will be aban- doned. When such an air-craft as the ‘‘Shen- andoah,’’ 682 feet long, weighing 82,000 tons and carrying a load of over 100,000 pounds, can make a trip of more than seven thousand miles across the American continent and re- turn, some idea is obtained of the enormous progress that has been made in_ physical science. Turning our attention to still another branch of physics that has played a leading part in the progress of science, is that of photography. Only one hundred and thirty- four years have elapsed since Thomas Wedge- wood produced his first photographic likeness. Since then photography has undergone re- 1 Locksley Hall. 232 THE NEWER DISPENSATION markable development and has been respon- sible for some marvelous discoveries and achievements. One of the greatest photo- graphic improvements is that of the spectro- scope. By its aid, astronomers are able to obtain pictures of phenomena on planets mil- hons of miles removed that cannot even be seen through a telescope by the naked eye. It makes possible what it records for future reference and comparison. By means of it certain elements have been found in the Sun before they were discovered on the earth. Helium gas, discovered by Lockyer is an example. Had it not been for photography astronomy would not enjoy quite the high place it holds among the sciences. ‘To photography, surgery and medicine owe a vast amount of their achievements. The discovery of the X-Ray by Roentgen of Wurtzburg in 1895 has revolutionized the diagnosis of dis- ease. By being able to photograph internal organs and structures, surgeons are no longer compelled to take a chance, but are able to verify their diagnosis before operating. Who ean estimate the contributions it may make to the progress of the world in the future? Already there is a prospect of the cinema being greatly improved. It is prom- ised that it will not be long until we can sit THE NEWER DISPENSATION 233 in our homes and view moving pictures accom- panied by the spoken word transmitted by radio. Pictures of natural phenomena in all its forms will be available for comparison with those of centuries later. What would not many persons in this age give to see an actual likeness of Jesus, John the Baptist, St. Paul, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Mohammed, Gautama Buddha, Solomon’s T’emple, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Tabernacle? But physics is not the only branch of science in which great progress is to be noted. Chem- istry, possibly its closest ally furnishes an excellent example also. Dealing as it does with the constitution and transformation of matter, the fortunes of the race are very much dependent upon the fruit of its labors. Hrom a mass of disconnected data has grown an orderly and synthetic classification of its rules and principles. From being a phase of the science of physics it has developed into an order embracing several branches or classes. The ancients knew a little about chemistry. Aristotle and other Greek philosophers in their attempt to interpret matter, assumed the existence of only four elements: earth, air, fire and water. Modern chemistry has shown them not to be elements at all, but merely the prop- erties of elements. The number of original 234 THE NEWER DISPENSATION elements remains comparatively small, but the compounds aggregate more than one hundred thousand. Modern chemistry in reality does not go farther back than 1661 when Robert Boyle distinguished between simple elements and compounds. An element is a substance that cannot be further decomposed, but which is obtainable from a compound body and from which the latter again can be prepared. Boyle held that chemical combination consisted in an approximation of the smallest particles of matter, thus adopting the atomic theory which had been current in philosophy for a long time. Since the time of Boyle, chemistry has under- gone marvelous development. In 1766 Caven- dish discovered hydrogen and in 1774 Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen. In 1781 Caven- dish proved that water was composed of the two gases, oxygen and hydrogen. He also determined the composition of the atmosphere. Hiom the discoveries of the foregoing, the foundations of a new chemistry were laid. The two chief followers to build on the foundations were a Frenchman by name of Lavoisier and an Hnelishman by name of Dalton. Lavoisier proved that matter was constant in weight and could neither be created nor destroyed. In any chemical change the weight of the substance engaged in the reaction, remained unaltered. THE NEWER DISPENSATION 235 In 1803 Dalton announced his atomic theory. But the atomistic theory of Dalton had httle in common with the speculative theories of the ancients. Jn connection with his theory, Dal- ton established two laws, the laws of definite and multiple proportions. Dalton found that to every element a definite combining number could be assigned, and that when two elements united in more than one proportion, even mul- tiples of that number appeared. Each element has its own distinct combining weight. Frac- tions of the weights did not occur, therefore, fractional atoms could not exist and the two thoughts were connected by Dalton. Chemical union takes place through a juxtaposition of atoms, whose relative weights are indicated by their combining numbers. First, every element is composed of similar atoms which have con- stant weight. Second, chemical compounds are formed by the union of the atoms in sim- ple numerical relations. Upon these two prin- ciples established by Dalton, the philosophy of chemistry rests. For over a hundred years, the history of chemistry has been the history of the atomic theory. The atom appears to be the key that will unlock vast storehouses of scientific knowledge. ‘To-day it is being broken up. It has been found that the atom is a miniature solar system with a sun and in 236 THE NEWER DISPENSATION some cases, scores of attendant planets form- ing a siderial svstem. The planets revolving around the atomic center are called elec- trons. Moreover, scientists have ascertained these electrons have orbits corresponding to the planets of the ‘‘milky way.’’ Further- more, they have discovered that in certain in- stances the orbits are irregular—they expand and contract. They think this irregularity is due to difference in the amount of heat, to magnetism, pressure, ete. ‘T'o gain some idea of the enormous progress that has been made in chemistry, one needs only to glance at the fields in which it is being employed. A century ago, probably no manu- facturing establishment thought of maintain- ing its own chemical laboratory. ‘To-day thou- sands of such plants have their own research laboratories for the purpose of producing not only a better product, but to salvage waste and to produce therefrom profitable by-products. In some instances, the by-products have proven more valuable and important than that of the original from which they were ex- tracted. Gasoline, coke, coal-tar, etc., are examples. In 1820 the chemical industry was of little consequence. Ten years later, thirty firms in the United States were engaged in the manufacture of chemicals. In 1914 the THE NEWER DISPENSATION 237 American chemical industry ranked among the largest manufacturing interests of the country. It was outranked only by such in- dustries as those of iron, steel, woolen and cot- ton manufacturing interests—packing house, shoe, clothing and several other manufac- turing interests that employ assembling of materials not being rated as manufactories by the Census Bureau. The manufacture of chemical products also represents a wider diversity of interests than any of the other great industries which combine to represent the source of revenue that has made the United States the most prosperous of nations. The leading chemical industries are the refin- ing of petroleum which ranks first, with that of agricultural fertilizer second. The manu- facturing of acids comes next, the output of sulphuric acid being especially heavy. Bleach- ing materials, cyanides, plastics, sodas and sodium products, gases, electric chemicals, potash and potassium products, coal-tar prod- ucts, fine chemicals, explosives, paints and varnishes, soaps and wood-distilled products, are a few of the more important articles manufactured by the chemical industry. From the foregoing, it will no doubt be con- ceded that the progress made in the science of chemistry has been enormous. ‘That the 238 THE NEWER DISPENSATION achievements of chemistry have contributed a vast amount of comfort and prosperity to mankind, doubtless will be admitted. Indi- rectly, the progress made in the science of chemistry, affects the ethical and moral natures of humanity and conspires to bring about spiritual development also. Passing from chemistry to biology, equally marked progress is to be noted there also. Probably no branch of science has stimulated more interest among inquiring minds prompt- ing an attempt to solve the riddle of the universe, and has made greater contributions to the progress of the world, than has biology. T'reviranus in 1802 A.p., was the first to em- ploy the term biology to this subject. It deals with living organisms and the phenomena of hfe. What is life? is the goal or problem, it is seeking to solve. Its field is the whole organic world. Its business is to mark the boundaries which exist between it and the inorganic; to discover the processes by which living things have developed; and to dis- cover the laws of unification between those processes; to ascertain the nature of life itself, and predicate, if possible, the future in store for it. Biology, then, comprehends all the special departments of study that deal with plants and animals, which of course includes THE NEWER DISPENSATION 239 man. Botany, zoology, and their associate and subordinate sciences such as anthropology, physiology, psychology, bacteriology, micros- copy, and many more, come within the scope of biology. Hrom Aristotle down, naturalists have been trying to solve the mysteries of life and in- quiring into its nature. A list of those who have materially contributed to biological re- sults embraces some of the most prominent names among scientists—Leibnitz, Harvey, Buffon, Lamarck, Cuvier, Lyell, Owen, Agas- siz, Darwin, Wallace, Huxley, Weismann and others. Every naturalist is at work upon some part of the bundle of interwoven strands of phenomena seeking to isolate it from the rest. In some eases, associations of scientists exists for the purpose of disentangling only one strand. While this is going on, the philosoph- ical biologist is seeking to unify all biological discoveries into a harmonious systematic whole. The study at first amounted only to a gather- ing of specimens and records of observations. Next a crude sorting of the specimens was begun. From that elemental beginning the broad distinction between the organic and the inorganic was made. However, it is impos- sible even to-day to determine to which of 240 THE NEWER DISPENSATION these two branches certain manifestations of natural phenomena belong. The collecting and sorting continued and the next classifica- tion was the separation of the two great branches of the organic world—animals and plants. Between animals and plants, as be- tween the organic and the inorganie, it is dit- ficult to establish the exact boundaries in some instances. In some of the unicellular organ- isms, no one is able to draw the line and deter- mine whether they belong to the animal or plant kingdom—or in the case of some, to determine whether they belong to either. Such phenomena are on the border line between the two kingdoms. There are phenomena to be found in certain slimes, the only manifesta- tion of life being that of faintest motion, or movement. Whether they are living organ- isms or merely chemical reactions is not as yet known. The indications are that biologists are on the very threshold of the discovery of the principle of life. From trying to find as many different speci- mens as possible, as was done at first, the aim came to be to find as many like specimens. Research disclosed that there were far more creatures and plants than had at first been suspected. Early students of biology had as- sumed that each species of both plants and THE NEWER DISPENSATION 241 animals had been specially created. From the time students of biology began to search for similarities instead of dissimilarities, classifi- cation pointed to a series of development from lower to higher forms; from the one-celled protozoa at the foot of the list, to the highest and most complex specimen of life. This was true of both animals and plants. As more students were attracted to the sub- ject, some became interested in certain groups of animals and plants. ‘Thus arose sub- divisions, such as ornithology, anthropology, Zoology, botany, anatomy, physiology and his- tology. From animal anatomy, plant anatomy came into use and from these, comparative anatomy. Similarity of structure between animals and plants were noted, and the dis- section of each was carried to the minutest part—the cell of protoplasm or life substance. All organic substances from the simplest to the most complex are composed of cells. The number of cells determine the growth and the combination of them the form of an organism. From a study of this smallest unit of struc- ture, the cell, resulted embryology. That branch of biology disclosed that the changes each individual passes through from egg to birth are a series of changes from simplicity to complexity; and that they parallel in fea- 242 THE NEWER DISPENSATION tures the various groups of classification through which its species has passed to its present attainments. Paleontology supported that view. Paleontology disclosed that the most ancient animal fossils found in the rocks were simple and general in structure, as com- pared with those of modern geological forma- tion. In short—structural development had become more complex as time went on. All those facts conspired to show that life was a gradual unfolding from simpler to higher forms. Moreover, it suggested that the cycles recognized in the embryo of the individual were analogous to the cycle through which the individual passes from birth to maturity, from maturity to old age and from old age to death. Biologists gradually came to recog- nize Evolution as the mode by which the proc- esses Involved in such changes takes place. Aristotle had a slight idea that some such principle as Evolution was involved, but con- ceived of it as being operative only after the species existed, not before it. However, most of the knowledge possessed by Aristotle and other ancients was lost during the ‘‘dark ages.’’ The Evolutionary theory, in reality may be said to have originated with modern biology. Buffon had hinted at it as early as 1779 and Lamarck in 1815. But Darwin’s THE NEWER DISPENSATION 243 ‘Origin of Species,’’? in which is enunciated the law of ‘‘natural selection’’ which results in the ‘‘survival of the fittest,’’ probably affords the best explanation of how this unfolding from simpler to higher forms takes place. Wallace arrived at the same conclusion almost simultaneously. The publication of the ‘* Origin of Species”? by Darwin was an epoch-making treatise in the field of biology. Most of the other biologists of note, sooner or later came to accept Evolution as the fundamental law of that science. Not only biologists, but students of other sciences, recognized in it the underlying principle of the special branch in which they were engaged. If Evolution was the basic principle of one class of phenomena, it was possible that it might be of others. Moreover, if it was opera- tive in the organic world, it might be equally so in the inorganie. The function of the scientist 1s to make collections, examinations, classifications and deductions from those classifications of phe- nomena more or less closely related. The field of the scientist is restricted to a separate branch of the whole subject. The province of the philosopher is to examine the data, verify the classifications and deductions made by scientists in all the fields and to weld, recon- 244 THE NEWER DISPENSATION cile and unify them into a harmonious whole. Probably no one has succeeded better at that task than has Herbert Spencer. Also, it is quite possible that no one has done more to prove the rationability of Evolution, than has he. All branches of science are more or less intimately related, so that there is an overlap- ping of one field with that of another in respect to many things. Spencer’s plan was to eliminate those factors on which philosophers differed and consider only those upon which there was unanimity of agreement. Assuming that the hypothesis of Evolution was true, he undertook to show, that, if it was true, it must be universally so. It must act in the same manner in respect to all data and all kinds and sorts of phenomena. It must be true biologically, physiologically, psychologically and sociologically. With the foregoing as a basis, he scientifically examined the data, classifications and deductions, both from the deductive and inductive methods of reasoning, in all the scientific fields. Krom the deduc- tions made by him concerning that vast amount of phenomena, he formulated his definition of Evolution, which is: ‘“Evolution is an integration of matter and a concomi- tant dissipation of motion; during which the matter passes from an indefinite, incoherent homogeneity to a THE NEWER DISPENSATION 245 definite, coherent heterogeneity; and during which the retained motion undergoes a parallel transformation.’’ * ‘l’o the above formula of Evolution, Spencer subjected a colossal amount of data provided by the various branches of science. If the actions of phenomena in any one field did not conform to that formula, it was an indication that either the formula was inaccurate, or the hypothesis of Evolution was unsound. ‘The fact that the natural phenomena of all the different fields of science accorded with his formula was not only proof of its correctness, but strongly confirmed the soundness of Evo- lution as the fundamental law underlying the unfolding of the universe. In that capacity, Evolution does not undertake to account for the absolute beginning of things or the ul- timate end of things. The doctrine of Evolu- tion takes into consideration only a_ cross- section of the universe, situated in a niche of space occupying a period of only a few hun- dred millions of years of time, between two extremes. The doctrine of Evolution implies that the absolute beginning and the ultimate end of things, are alike inscrutable. If the law of Evolution as formulated by Herbert Spencer accounts for the method of 1 See. 145, First Principles, Fourth Ed. 246 THE NEWFR DISPENSATION development in respect to the physical aspects of all species including man, then, it follows as a corollary, that it must also govern all the expressions of the species. That is to say: the religion, government, language and civiliza- tion in all its forms developed by the human race likewise conform to that same principle. In support of that conclusion Mr. Spencer has this to say: ‘‘The law which is conformed to by the evolving human being, and which is consequently conformed to by the evolving human intelligence, is of necessity con- formed to by all the products of that intelligence. Show- ing itself in structures, and by implication in the fune- tion of those structures, this law cannot but show itself in the concrete manifestations of those functions. Just as language, considered as an objective product, bears the impress of this subjective process; so, too, does that system of ideas concerning the nature of things, which the mind gradually elaborates.’’ * Probably no idea since the dawn of civiliza- tion has done more to emancipate man’s mind, than that of Evolution. To it, no doubt more than to any other factor has resulted the present-day renaissance that is observable on every hand. The monumental achievements in all branches of science have largely taken place since the promulgation of the doctrine of Kvolution. Since its enunciation, astronomy, 1 Principles of Sociology, Third Ed., See. 207. THE NEWER DISPENSATION 24:7 physics, chemistry and biology with all their subordinate branches of special sciences, have maintained a solid front, marching shoulder to shoulder in a united assault to compel the universes to surrender their most guarded secrets. Evolution has shown an orderly arrangement of this universe where formerly it was chaotic. Instead of a blind groping among the infinite diversifications of phe- nomena, the road for further research has been revealed. CHAPTER XXIT At the close of a discussion such as is em- braced in these last four chapters, it is needful to contemplate as a whole, that which has been presented in parts. In order to obtain the full force of the arguments that have been made in support of the Newer Dispensation, it is necessary to show how each minor group of truths fits into some major group and how in turn the groups fit together. Such a brief recapitulation as will be made, is intended to form a general view of the subject matter con- tained in the third division of this work. In this division have taken place the changes, events, movements, discoveries and inventions out of which the Newer Dispensation has grown. Such transactions viewed in their ensemble present a unity not hitherto dis- — cernible. In Chapter XVII was pointed out that all progress, as well as retrogression, is predi-— cated on change. It was affirmed that if progress could be shown to have been made since the Christian Era, it would be because variations many and great have taken place. 248 THE NEWER DISPENSATION 249 Moreover, it was predicted that the mutations that have taken place during the last nineteen hundred years would be found to be vastly greater, than for the previous corresponding period. Also in that connection, was pointed out the momentum eivilization gains as it moves. ‘Following the foregoing affirmations were shown the great changes and momentous effects occasioned by the dissolution of the Western Roman Empire, from which were carved the Latin and Germanic states of Europe. Next, attention was called to the breaking up of the Eastern Roman Empire and its becoming a part of the Ottoman Km- pire. Attention was then directed to the rise of the British Empire, the largest and most powerful that ever existed. Facts were sup- plied pertaining to its. scope, the number of inhabitants and some of the benefits it has con- ferred on civilization. Following that was shown how the Russian Empire was built from semi-savage tribes. It was pointed out that the Russian Empire is the second largest empire in the world from the standpoint of area, also that it is the largest empire in the world contained in one body of land. Attention was called to the fact, that most of the organization of the Russian 250 THE NEWER DISPENSATION Iimpire has been accomphshed within the last twelve hundred years. The foregoing was followed by the discovery of the Western Hemisphere, in which are situated the two grand divisions of North and south America. The reader was reminded of the incomparable physical development that has taken place on those two continents within a period of less than five hundred years. Attention was next called to the political progress that has been made within the period under consideration. It was demonstrated that the trend of government has been from that of monarchical to a democratic form. Such change was shown to be in response to a demand for representation on the part of sub- jects resulting from growing intelligence. The origin and history of the theory of ‘‘divine right of kings’’ was reviewed. It was shown that revolution is the chief agency for obtain- ing representative or democratic government ; that the World War was in reality a case of monarchy vs. democracy—there being only five republics in Europe at the beginning of the World War and at present there are eighteen. It was shown that liberation of body also results in freedom of mind. It was pointed out that the Civil War in the United States which resulted in the freedom of the THE NEWER DISPENSATION 251 slaves, taught the world a great moral truth— that slavery is wrong, a principle now uni- versally accepted in civilized countries. Next in order was the founding and devel- opment of the Mohammedan religious system with its more than 220,000,000 adherents. Some of its chief characteristics were re- viewed. It was pointed out that since the Dispersion it and Judaism have been the sole champions of monotheism in the world; that it is uncompromising with idolatry and abhors drunkenness and gambling. It was shown that ~Mohammedanism resembles Judaism in that it is both a religious and social system in one. Mention was made that it cherished several things in common with Christianity; that it and Mohammedanism were both the offspring of Judaism. Immediately following the foregoing a reci- tation was given on the political history of the Holy Land, from the Christian Era to the launching of the Crusades. The great move- ment known as the Crusades was next re- viewed and the reaction of that movement on those taking part in it was noted. It was shown that while the Crusades did not accom- plish their objective, they subserved a far ereater purpose by reason of the social inter- course they afforded. 252 THE NEWER DISPENSATION Attention was next called to the Reforma- tion, a brief history of it in the different coun- tries of Kurope being given. It was shown to be the religious expression of the Renaissance which corresponded to the revival in learning along other lines. The Reformation resulted in Protestantism and at the same time reacted in a beneficial way on the Catholic Church itself. Coming down to the fourth and last chapter of this division of the work, the various sclences were discussed, with a view to show- ing the marvelous progress that has been made in all branches of Knowledge within the period under consideration. It was shown that modern science had its rise in the Renaissance. The progress of the different branches of it, such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, and biology was then traced, ending with a brief discussion of Evolution. Thus, the reader is furnished with a bird’s- eye view of the period from nineteen hundred years ago to the present day. Only the larger events and movements have been considered, care being taken to avoid purely local happen- ings and those whose influence were more or less circumscribed. It is confidently expected that the majority of persons will agree that the events and movements mentioned in this THE NEWER DISPENSATION 253 survey have been more momentous and pro- ductive of greater changes that are responsible for a vastly greater amount of progress, than the corresponding period immediately preced- ing. In the hght of so many and such great transitions, resulting in such enormous prog- ress of all kinds, exists the basis for the Newer Dispensation; the warrant for a restatement of the fundamentals of religion; a statement. in keeping with the advanced grounds to which civilization has moved. While some will contend that the events and movements enumerated and the progress noted are largely those of a material nature, it may be necessary to state again that no spiritual or religious step of any consequence has ever been taken that was not inextricably bound up with a material transaction. It is so, because the same faculties are employed in dealing with both kinds of experiences. That such a change in religious beliefs has been keeping pace with the progress made along material lines, even though unstated in any new system of religious thought, is ob- vious on every hand. Many religious ideas to-day are credited to Christianity that were never contemplated by Jesus in the formula- tion of his new philosophy of religion, the ‘‘kinedom of heaven.’’ Indeed, many things 254 THE NEWER DISPENSATION credited to Christianity would not be recog- nized by Jesus were he to appear on the scene to-day. Such ideas have taken root so gradu- ally that little thought has been given to their origin. The average person not given to tax- ing his mind regarding such matters assumes that they were always a part of the system of which he is a member and to which he gives allegiance and is loyal. He considers such ideas new knowledge of its teachings, perhaps tardily acquired by himself. A further difficulty encountered by the majority of persons who fail to distinguish the old from the new is that there is no line of demarcation separating them. It is like youth blossoming into maturity and maturity shading into old age. It is difficult to say just where youth and maturity meet and maturity and old age coalesce. The reason is, there is so much of the past carried over into the future. All that has gone before in this work has been for the purpose of showing that there is a rhythm in the evolution of religion, separating it into cycles which are quite as observable as those of any other sphere; that the length of the cycle depends upon the num- ber and magnitude of the changes that take place within it and the results attendant THE NEWER DISPENSATION 255 thereon; and that the progress achieved dur- ing the period under consideration warrants a new statement of religious principles—in other words: is the foundation of a Newer Dispensation. The following chapter will undertake to outline and define it. In doing so it does not mean that all the old will be discarded. That which has stood the test of time and that has demonstrated its soundness through reason and experience, will be pre- served. But it does mean that the unsound and those ideas and doctrines of the past that have not stood the test of experience and reason will be discarded. Religious progress eannot afford to be burdened by such a handicap. CHAPTER XXIII Ir has been stated more than once in previous chapters that religion in its earlier or formative stages revolves around, and is inextricably woven with the deistic conception of its adherents. As the race attains ever higher standards of civilization and religion becomes maturer, the deistic conception, itself undergoing modifications paralelling that of the race, ceases to occupy the position of most importance. We have seen how, as with the Israelitish Nation, which furnishes a typical example of a people passing through progres- sive stages of development, that even the form of their government was predicated on it, being that of a theocracy. Indeed, it has been only within comparatively recent times that Church and State have been separated. ‘The religion reflected by the most representative classes of civilized nations to-day, having passed the formative stages, is not predicated chiefly upon their notion of God. However, since such a conception should and does have a place in any religious system, it is probably as well to consider it in the beginning as later. 256 THE NEWER DISPENSATION 257 While it should not be within the province of any system of thought to arbitrarily deter- mine what anyone’s notion of the Deity shall be, yet suggestions on the subject might prove helpful to those who have difficulty in reach- ing a satisfactory conclusion. It would appear entirely consistent to submit a conception in harmony with modern science and Evolution —one in keeping with the fullest information of to-day, respecting the universes. Such a state- ment should reflect, at least in a general way, the notions of those possessed of such knowl- edge. Inattemtping this task,it must be remem- bered that no possibility exists of accurately defining the Infinite. That is an undertaking entirely beyond the human faculties. It must be understood that since all knowledge is rela- tive, so must any notion or ideas expressed concerning anything also be relative. It 1s customary to say .a thing is good or bad, this truth, that falsehood, this harmony, that dis- cord, this bitter, that sweet. By such asser- tions we understand the difference between these positive and negative statements to be one of degree only. ‘T’o illustrate: one can not conceive of anything so good, but that it still could be truthfully alleged that it might be better, even though it is impossible to perceive how it might be improved. That being the 258 THE NEWER DISPENSATION case, there must be some bad left in it, else one could not validly make that allegation. On the other hand: one can not conceive of any- thing so bad, but that it could be suggested veraciously that it might be worse, even if impossible to see how that could be. Conse- quently there must remain a residuum of good in it, else it could be stated positively that it could be no worse. The same reasoning holds in respect to the other pairs of opposites con- tained in the premise. Since our knowledge is only relative, there-- fore our conception of the Deity must likewise be relative. We bring to any conception of it only those ideas known to us growing out of the experience and reason of the race. As primitive people in the earler formative stages of development endow the Deity with the qualities and attributes that they them- selves possess, so highly civilized people con- ceive of it in terms corresponding with their more mature attainments. The multitude of greater and lesser spirits of the aborigines, the polytheistic hierarchies headed by Zeus and Jupiter of Greece and Rome, the patriarchal Jehovah-Ruler of the Hebrew nation, the kind and loving Father-God of Jesus and the First Cause of the Newer Dispensation, simply re- flect the stages of man’s mental development THE NEWER DISPENSATION 259 and his grasp of the universes. With the knowledge of a million universes in boundless space, God becomes more and more remote; loses his anthropomorphic qualities and at- tributes; becomes less tangible and more and more ethereal, until at last only an abstract idea remains. In the hght of the comprehensiveness of creation, such as modern science has disclosed, the conclusion is forced upon us of the rela- tive ununportance, not only of the human race as a whole and the planet upon which it 1s situated, but the entire siderial system to which they belong. Man obtains at most, a view of a little cross-section of creation consisting of only a few hundred million years. He occupies—comparatively speaking —a minute of time between two extremes of eternity. The absolute beginning of creation and the ultimate end of it are alike inscrutable. Man observes its modes operative within cir- cumsceribed limits. In his searching to find out and discover the nature of the Infinite, he can go back only a few hundred million years. And in his quest to know the ultimate goal, he must be satisfied with even less. But he still speculates. Consistent with his mental processes, he postulates that all creation, both that of which he is, and is not cognizant, must 260 THE NEWER DISPENSATION have had an originator. If it were possible to go back, not only to the first world in the first universe created, but to the very first par- ticle of nebulae out of which it was made, the human intellect still reasons something before that—a Cause. Like Space and Time, the Infinite becomes an Abstraction; like them too, is indefinable. We would not perceive Space, were it not that bodies are distended in it. Neither would we perceive Time, were it not for sequences and co-existences. We can not conceive of Space having bounds and Time having a beginning, therefore to conceive of absolute Space and ‘Time is impossible ; neither can we conceive of the nature of the First Cause, the Creator, God." Viewed from our circumscribed plane the abstract appears invariably to precede the concrete. A thing is thought of or conceived in the mind before it assumes tangible form. There is an implication in Nature that Crea- tion as a whole is describing a vast cycle similar to that performed by its parts that may ultimately reduce all phenomena again to the abstract. 1Sir William Hamilton, ‘‘Philosophy of the Unconditioned.’’ Mr. Herbert Spencer, First Prin. Fourth Ed. ‘‘The Relativity of All Knowledge. ’’ THE NEWER DISPENSATION 261 In view of the foregoing, some intimation will be gained of the religion of the Newer Dispensation. With the advent of it people will talk less and less about God, but they will speak more and more of the laws of the cosmos. They will strive to discover the universal laws in order that they may conform to them. The discernment of natural law is the key to progress. Correspondence with it is the realization of it. In the future, men will not discourse so much on the will of God, as they will seek through nature to discover his plan. Man already has come to a realization that creation is not finished; that he is in the midst of the most complex processes of crea- tion that have hitherto existed on this planet. He already has found that through recognition of the natural laws and by correspondence with them, his welfare has been greatly en- hanced. In the future, to detect, harness and utilize both the natural resources and the un- seen forces of the universe, will hold- the interest of vast numbers of persons. The wel- fare of the race will be greatly improved through such labors. Better and more facili- ties of enlightenment, universal educational. advantages, more labor-saving devices, better health and social conditions, general thrifti- ness and through these greater spiritual prog- 262 THE NEWER DISPENSATION ress, are some of the benefits that will result from such endeavors. The religion of the Newer Dispensation will be distinguished for many customary things it will not have. Formal creeds will have no place in it because they tend to restrict men’s minds rather than broaden them. Besides the need of amendment is too frequent. The aim will be to avoid fixed standards and to en- courage moving ideals. Instead of sacerdotal rites and ceremonies such as are employed to impress barbaric minds will be substituted simple, natural, direct expression. Frankness will displace mystery in religious practises. There will be no ordinances to celebrate, be- cause the Newer Order will not depend upon the sanctimonious to impress its adherents. Neither will it seek to control its subjects by means of mythological traditions. In the Newer Dispensation there will be no place for the supernatural. Any truth of any nature is valueless that can not be expressed in terms adapted to man’s comprehension. It is time to cease appealing to man’s credulities born of his ignorance and begin to appeal to his higher faculties begotten of his intelligence. In the Newer Order all practises of propitia- tion and extollation of the Deity will be abandoned. The futility of such is readily THE NEWER DISPENSATION 263 appreciated in the light of the modern deistic conception. Primitive man sent his first-born through the fire. The semi-primitive sacri- ficed hecatombs of the choicest of his flocks and herds in efforts to appease and propitiate his gods. By the beginning of the Christian Hira, prayer, which is merely another form of propitiation, had almost wholly superseded sacrifice aS a means of incurring deistic good favor. The change is accounted for in man’s modified notion of the Deity. ‘To-day, the modern conception shows the childishness of such a practise. The inconsistency of attempt- ing to induce the First Cause of the universes to employ special acts for individual, or even race benefit, when cosmic laws are everywhere recognized as controlling, becomes obvious upon a moment’s reflection. in the Newer Dispensation, this life will not be viewed as one of probation in order to determine man’s eligibility for a future ex- istence. but it will be regarded as a present opportunity for the fullest development of all his faculties. In this life, in this age, in this world, man will recognize a portion of eternity, perhaps as important as any other. The Newer Order will hold that it is a higher con- ception of morality to do right because it is right, regardless of any reward which may be 264 THE NEWER DISPENSATION bestowed in a hereafter for so doing, or through fear of punishment in a future life for failing so to do. The growing conscious- ness of the race will find in the present life sufficient inducements for its utmost efforts and abundant rewards. No motive could bet- ter prepare the soul of man for a future state than a full appreciation of the opportunities he enjoys here. If one has not the vision to discern the advantages of the present life, it is quite possible one may overlook those the future may hold. Like the ‘‘prodigal son,’’ millions of people, who are living starved lives, merely subsisting on the husks left by the swine, will come to realize that this world affords a vast storehouse of viands that may be had for the asking. In the future, people will concentrate more on what this world offers and speculate less on what the next will be like. It is a virtue to be forward looking, but it 1s a crime to overlook the present. Any future life in store for the race will be for everybody and not for any particular part of mankind. In the Newer System, people will not be concerned about the saving of men’s souls, but will be intensely interested in the development of character in order to fit them for useful- ness. The chief end of man will be service: THE NEWER DISPENSATION 265 for it is only by trying to raise others that we hft ourselves. In the Newer Dispensation many things judged moral and right at the present time will be considered immoral, coarse and low. In the Newer order, the equality of women already recognized in some countries will be universal. Within a generation, people will look back with the same degree of horror on the practise of lynching that still persists in some quarters as the present generation views the Inquisi- tion. To large groups of persons at the _ present time, prize fighting is as degrading and coarse as the gladiatorial combats of Greece and Rome. In the near future the nation that refuses to arbitrate its differences and abide by the de- cision of a ‘‘league of nations’? or ‘‘world court,’’ will be adjudged an outlaw. By the same token, society collectively will not tolerate and commit crimes individuals are forbidden to commit and for which they are punished. It will not deny murder to the individual and itself engage in wholesale murder under the eulse of war. It will not condemn lying, cheating, stealing and deceit in the individual and itself engage in a systematic commission of those vices. In the Newer Régime, the liquor traffic 266 THE NEWER DISPENSATION proven the most prolific source of misery and crime in the world, and which already has been outlawed in the United States of America, will have no place. Governments will realize that it is a monster gnawing at the very vitals of their structures. Nations will come to outlaw it from an economic stand- point alone, not to mention the moral aspect GLits Corporeal slavery, recognized as legitimate in both the Old and New Dispensations, will be illicit in the Newer Order. Already cor- poreal slavery is recognized by all the civilized nations of the world as immoral and wrong. With the complete consummation of the Newer System, not only corporeal, but economic slavery will be banned. An economic system that grinds down the poor and takes advantage of his conditions which result chiefly from ignorance and an incapacity to protect his interests will be deemed as culpable as if his whole body were enslaved. It is already recognized by employers of character that employees are entitled to more than a mere ‘‘living wage.’’ Ultimately it will appear that the interests of capital and labor are one and each is entitled to the full measure of its earnings. Moreover, any system of whatever kind, THE NEWER DISPENSATION 267 that permits the exploitation of either body or mind of humanity, can have no piace in a religious system that purports to be based upon justice and right as well as on exper'- ence and reason. Whether it be a political party that clouds the minds of its constituents by confusing and misrepresenting the issues, or a religious system that obscures the vital truths with grotesque and fantastic mysticism —in either case, the individual so exploited is as much enslaved as though his body were weighted with chains. With the establishment of the Newer Dis- pensation, people will talk less and less about loving God, but more and more of loving their fellowmen. The ‘‘brotherhood of man’’ doc- trine enunciated by Jesus and epitomized. by him in his new commandment, ‘‘that ye love one another,’’ above all other teachings of his will be perpetuated. As has been stated before, a new order does not necessarily imply all new ideas. The treasuring of old truths and the giving to them a new setting 1s within the province of a new system. Retrieving them from a maze of the obsolete, performs for them a service by removing the handicap stifling their influence. In the ‘‘brotherhood of man’’ doctrine given us by Jesus, there is both the inspiration for an ever-expanding 268 THE NEWER DISPENSATION love for humanity and an ever-increasing worthy outlet for it. In that teaching all the emotions and passions of the race find expres- sion. Love, pity, merey, Justice, compassion, admiration and loyalty are reflected in its operation. With the unhampered freedom of expression afforded by the Newer Order, in- stead of people professing to love an abstrac- tion or imaginary being, the recipient will be imminent, pulsating, deserving humanity. Sincere, altruistic service to mankind by thought, word and deed will be the concrete, unimpeachable testimony of the emotions to a higher power. Instead of trying to divert the natural channels of the emotions by di- recting their course where there is no outlet, their refreshing currents will flow into the hearts of thirsting humanity. Any emotion or passion inspiring action for the ameliora- tion of conditions in behalf of ife—human or brute—is a higher testimonial than any pro- fession of words directed at an abstract being or cause. The succoring of humanity, raising the general average of character, increasing the happiness of the race now, exemplifies the doctrine of the ‘‘brotherhood of man’’ and is a task to which the Newer Dispensation will be devoted. In the Newer system men and women will THE NEWER DISPENSATION 269 participate upon equal terms. Discrimination ‘ because of sex, nationality, color, or belief will be discouraged. The question asked of those seeking to ally themselves with its cause will not be: What do you profess? But rather: What have you done? The standard of worth will not be based on wealth, name, nationality, or race, but determined by the contribution made to society in the form of service. In the Newer Régime, hero-worship will have no place. Although many persons will be venerated by those subscribing to its prin- ciples, because of service rendered civilization. Some contributing talents of mind, others their fortunes, while still others performing lowly acts of kindness thereby softening the lot of the unfortunate, lightening the load of the overburdened and bringing solace to troubled souls will be entitled to renown in such an order. — The sacred writings of the Newer Order will not be confined to any one book, but to many, both of the present and yet to be writ- ten. Its Seriptures will not be closed, but will be supplemented as new light and experience are gained. It will accept as authoritative, truth imbedded in any composition or ema- nating from any source, so long as it squares with experience and reason. Nothing will be 270 THE NEWER DISPENSATION so sacred that it may not be investigated with impunity. The freest and fullest examination of its most cherished precepts and principles will be invited. If they are sound and true - they will withstand any ordeal to which they may be subjected and skeptical minds. will be convinced of that fact. But if in any respect they are lacking in veracity, that test applied to them will correct their deficiencies. Lofty literature, profound writings pointing out the laws and modes of creation, philosophies, his- tories, fiction and poetry inspiring the soul to higher ideals, ambitions and benevolent ac- tions, will be accepted as authoritative by ad- herents of the Newer Régime. Its sacred music will be any sweet, plaintive, or sublime and grand harmonies that charm the ear, exalt the soul and that arouse within the human breast noble aspirations. Its music will not be propitiary or petitionary, but in simple, yet dignified and majestic rhythm, will reflect the universal spirit of mankind. The religion of the Newer Dispensation will be more spiritual than any of its predecessors, because the race possesses a larger knowledge of the psychical and spiritual nature of man than has existed in any previous age. ‘The ‘‘unpardonable sin’’ will be not to grow men- tally and spiritually. Further acquisitions of THE NEWER DISPENSATION 271 knowledge supplied by science and experience will result in spiritual growth. The spiritual attainments of any people are only as high as their mental development. While the religion of the early Hebrews was tribal and that of Judaism national, and such systems as Christianity, Moham- medanism and Buddhism being international, that of the Newer Dispensation will be univer- sal. It will be unbounded by geographic lines. Evidence that a demand for a universal reli- gion exists comes from the Orient. ‘‘A Far _ Kastern Buddhist Congress held in Tokyo in December, 1925, which was attended by dele- ‘gates from Formosa, Korea, China and Japan, the reports of which are just reaching this country as this is being written, has arranged for a great world religious conference early in 1928. All religions and all bodies working for a better world order will be invited to send representatives. The Oriental supporters of the proposed convention speak of it as a ‘‘spiritual league of nations.’’* A natural ob- jective of such a gathering will be that of reaching a general understanding as to what constitute universally accepted religious prin- ciples and the combining of them in a program that will challenge the world. 1‘*The Christian Century,’’ Dec. 31, 1925. 272 THE NEWER DISPENSATION The consummation of a Newer Dispensation will require many years of time. It took three centuries for Christianity to establish itself. The Newer Order will not attempt to propagate itself by seizing the ecclesiastical machinery of any other system. Jesus and his followers tried to appropriate. that of Judaism and signally failed. Kvery scientific association organized for the purpose of com- paring data and disseminating knowledge is a center operating for the establishment of the Newer Régime. [Every society and club de- voted to self-improvement of the individual and the seeking of more hight for its members is a potential nucleus making for the realiza- tion of such a system. No one can predict with accuracy how the machinery for the functioning and propaga- tion of this Newer System of religion will take place. Necessity will take care of that. Little time needs to be spent in planning the mechanics for its extension and operation. The organization will take form when the demand becomes sufficiently urgent. As al- ready intimated, there may be agencies already existing that are unconsciously performing that function. Dismissing as speculative by what method the organization will be brought about and the THE NEWER DISPENSATION 273 form it will assume with certainty can be pre- dicted the chief agency that will be responsible for its ultimate establishment. The reference is to that of education. With a more serious and scientific study of education as a subject in itself, there will come about a system based upon the more primary heeds of society, in- stead of upon its secondary requirements. The education of the future will consider any- thing educational that enables one better to correspond with his environment and which cultivates and develops all one’s latent facul- ties. It will be observed that such a method implies symmetrical development. It does not contemplate the cultivation of one set of facul- ties to the exclusion of others. Just as the education and unfoldment of the material in- stincts of persons make for thrift and auto- matically reduce poverty, so the improvement of the moral instincts will reduce and limit erime. In the lhght of present conditions, ethics as a separate and distinct branch in the curriculum will be co-extensive with the school life of the child and youth. From the lowest erade to the highest in the public school sys- tems moral instruction will be given adapted to the age of the pupil. Deportment of chil- dren in the home and outside of it, duties children owe to their home, to their parents, to 274 THE NEWER DISPENSATION themselves and to others can and should be taught at an early age. The correct attitude of children towards their government and its institutions, towards society as well as their relationships with each other, is subject mat- ter coming well within the period of early adolescence. With the arrival of later adolescence, pupils in the schools no doubt will be taught child- psychology and pedagogy as among the most important branches of the school’s curriculum. Since a large majority of pupils at maturity naturally may be expected soon to marry and assume the responsibilities of parenthood; and since the sole education of the child for the first several years of its life devolves upon the parents, it would appear as necessary for them to understand the psychology of the child as teachers in the school. Such courses ought to be as fundamental as history and geography. One frequently hears the remark, ‘‘the trouble is in the home.’’? Obviously then, the need is to adapt the school system to cor- rect the deficiency. In the face of growing delinquency on the part of both youth and adults, it 1s evident that the schools as organized are not fitting later adolescent pupils for the task of supply- ing adequate and the proper kind of home THE NEWER DISPENSATION 275 education. Since the family is the basic unit of society it should receive first consideration. The best way to cure an ill is to treat 1t at its source. The instruction of the maturer youth in the schools in child-psychology and pedagogy would have the additional advantage of procuring sympathy with the school on the part of parents and closer codperation be- tween parents and school throughout the school career of the child. In addition to the foregoing and probably next to it in importance, is the problem of the sexes. Instead of eugenics, as at present having no place in the curriculum of the public school systems, without doubt in the near future it will be deemed one of the most important branches of study for later adolescent pupils. Through it information relative to the proper mating of the sexes, most vital to the welfare of society, will com- mand serious attention. With the proper emphasis and instruction given by the schools on eugenics will result a better stock of the human species. General knowledge of that subject and crystallized sentiment will ma- terially reduce the number of morons and imbeciles. In the future as much care will be exercised in the propagation of the human animal as is employed in the breeding of 276 THE NEWER D.iSPENSATION domestic beasts. A pedigreed ancestry and a certificate of registration certifying the genealogy of mankind ought to be as un- portant as one for sheep or swine. The study of ethics as a branch throughout the school life of the child and thorough courses in eugenics for later adolescent pupils for a generation, will contribute greatly to the re- duction of crime and the propagation of the unfit. In addition to which, divorce without doubt would be reduced to almost a minimum and the family unit become stabilized. Not only can it be predicted with a tolerable degree of certainty that great changes and improvements will be made in the curriculum of the schools of the future, but in the content of the subject-matter or studies as well. specially will that be so regarding history. Instead of the histories of the future being biased by partiality to the home country and prejudiced against a competitor nation or one with which unfriendly relationships have been experienced, the true facts will be given. Moreover, instead of the histories of the future devoting by far the larger part of their space to war, thereby leading the youth to believe that war is a virtue and something to be per- petuated, it will be allotted a minimum space and facts of a constructive nature pertaining THE NEWER DISPENSATION 277 to peace-time pursuits and achievements will occupy the major portion of space in such works. The histories of the future will teach militarism is a destructive institution and a relic of barbarism rather than a _ civilizing agency. ‘The historians of the future will not exalt the soldier and hold him up before the eyes of the young as an ideal to emulate, but will fill their pages with the names and ac- counts of persons and events of a constructive nature. Nor will modification of educational methods and organization be confined to the elementary school systems alone. ‘The colleges and uni- versities likewise will come in for a share of adjustment. Instead of students being denied admission to the higher institutions of learn- ing, or if admitted, being discharged later be- cause of inability to maintain fixed standards of scholarship,. provision will be made for every shade of normal ability represented by the student body. Indolence and lawlessness ought to constitute the chief grounds for the discharge of any student. Since the average high school graduate probably ranks in scholastic attainments far below the standards required at present by most colleges and universities, the greatest good to the greatest number would be subserved by making provi- 278 THE NEWER DISPENSATION sion for that constituency. It is a good deal better from the standpoint of society to have the general average of intelligence raised, than to have a minority of its citizens highly educated. Moreover, the higher institutions of learning of the future without doubt will devote more time and effort to teaching students to think, than to search for precedents on what has already been thought. It is well enough to be familiar with the different varieties of thought on any subject, but after such has been acquired, original opinion on the part of the student is more valuable to him and society than the ability to collate authorities. Furthermore, higher education in the future will not be regarded by educators as an end in itself (although few at present probably vould admit they so regard it), but look upon it as a means to an end. Educators will come to recognize the fact that the social structures of society are largely the product of the educational systems. The condition of the social structures furnishes a fairly accurate means by which to gage the educational sys- tem of any country. As in the elementary schools, so in the higher institutions of learning, militarism will have no place. ‘The inconsistency of a con- THE NEWER DISPENSATION 279 structive institution lending aid to a destruc- tive one will be recognized. The function of a civilizing agency ought not to be devoted to perpetuating a barbaric product. ‘The universality of education that will come in the civilized countries of the earth and especially in the United States of America and other republics will set a precedent for the entire world. The civilization of all races depends upon the practical and general educa- tion of the masses. Not necessarily education in accomplishments, but respecting those things upon which the foundations of society and civilization rest. Instead of superstition, ignorance, poverty, crime, discord, unhappi- ness and war being common, education will be the agent that will promote knowledge, thrifti- ness, order, harmony, happiness and peace in their stead. With such vast facilities for the dissemination ‘of knowledge as we already possess and others yet to be acquired, the universality of education will be hastened. Edueation is the implement that 1s prepar- ing the soil and making possible the establish- ment of the Newer Dispensation. The two go hand in hand. The basis of the spiritual is physical. It is possible to have low moral and ethical standards even with a high intellectual development, but it is impossible to have high 280 THE NEWER DISPENSATION moral attainments and ethical ideals with low mental development. ‘‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’’ The standard of morality among savages 1s lower than that of bar- barians; that of barbarians lower than that of civilized societies. So it 1s with individuals, those of the highest mental attainments, taken on an average, observe higher moral customs than do those of less developed minds. The Newer Dispensation will be devoted most zealously to the freedom of man’s mind. It will seek to rend the clouds that obscure the political horizon of the individual citizen. It will strive most earnestly to brush away the cobwebs of theological mysticism from the eyes of the religious adherent, which so long have made of him a cringing slave at the feet of priest and potentate. And when the Newer Order shall have reached its zenith and the end of its cycle draws to a close, in the dawn- ing of a still Newer Day, men will look back upon the past and say: ‘‘The emancipation of man’s mind has been its greatest achieve- ment.”’ a A i a eens ve ys : ne ¥ ; ae, TA e Moet maf. he (Ga) San rnin : i AN rn a ae % i + PLOW Ou { » fl —————~} i — On ————— ———— ——— ——————— ———— << ——— | ov ——T—== T" ania —— ° | | ——_——_ : a | ——<$—$—_——> | = ——— s a | > — : Co | —=—== l =——————— — > -" 1 Le . 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