Disillusionment of the World by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1915

Disillusionment of the World

By F. M. W.

THE beginning, during the summer of last year, of the great war now going on was a severe shock to thousands of people throughout the world. Many had been taught, and fondly believed, that we had come to a time when civilization had reached such a high state among the leading nationalities of earth that war was impossible. But those who thought this way, and many others, for that matter, are wiser today than they were fifteen months ago. They have awakened to realize that human nature in the twentieth century is the same, after all, as in all the ages of the past; that pent-up human passions, envy, and animosity will find vent in this age as in the so-called barbaric ages; that the much-vaunted civilization of the present day is largely a gilded mockery, an outward empty emblem, a flaunted insignia of national pride and human righteousness.

It has been charged that in this terrible war which is going forward, Christianity has broken down, and demonstrated its weakness. Such indeed is not the case. Professed Christianity has not stood the test; civilization has failed. These have not had in them the power which keeps and holds in the storm and stress of the hour of darkness. Christianity—the type professed and practiced by the Lord Jesus Christ—has not failed, and its loyal, sterling advocates and representatives may be found in every land.

An editorial in the Evening Transcript (Boston), July 28, speaks of the shock which the world has received in the rude shattering of its hopes and ideals caused by the present conflict. The editor says:—

The world has suffered disillusionment. That has been, perhaps, the most striking and significant feature of the first year of “the great war,” which began a year ago today (July 28), with Austria’s declaration of war against Serbia. Belligerents and neutrals alike have been surprised and disappointed. On every hand the unexpected has occurred, or the confidently expected has failed to occur. Almost every surprise has been unwelcome. And of such surprises, “the end is not yet.”

The whole world has been surprised and disappointed in that there was a great war at all. It had largely been persuaded to accept as convincing three primary reasons why there should and would be none. Armaments had become so gigantic that the nations would not dare to use them; but while they have in fact proved to be greater and more destructive than any one imagined, the nations have not hesitated to set them loose in all their lethal and devastating fury. The money kings of the world would prevent a war by withholding the needed pecuniary means; but they have in fact promoted and encouraged the war, and have made haste to provide its fiscal sinews on a scale never dreamed of before. The great industrial and mercantile nations, Great Britain and Germany, would not engage in nor permit a war which would destroy their commerce; but they are in fact the chief belligerents.

Other illusions also have been cherished and dispelled in the same way. Many have believed that the great powers would never permit any small question of state or differences over some smaller government to affect the balance of Europe. The present outbreak started over a comparatively trivial question. The belief has been cherished that if war did occur it would necessarily be a very brief one; but it has continued now for fifteen months, and apparently is settling down for a long and tedious future. And not only has the world at large been disillusioned over this conflict and over its results, but the belligerents themselves have been surprised and at times confounded over the unexpected failure of their plans and purposes.

And many surprises as well have been occasioned to the noncombatants in the neutral nations, which we cannot discuss in detail. Speaking of new alignments, new codes of ethics which have been followed, etc., the Telegraph notes the awakening which has come to the United States:—

The United States has had its own special and peculiar awakening from dreams of peace. It had expected that its remote situation and its benevolent neutrality would assure it exemption from the pains and penalties of whatever war the European powers might wage. But it has discovered that it enjoys no such immunity, but that it cannot escape grave concern, even to the menace of actual embroilment, in the war.

With the desires of the peace societies of the world we are in hearty sympathy. We would, indeed, that their fondest expectations, so far as disarmament is concerned and the settlement of all national differences by courts of arbitration, could be met. Connected with these movements are many earnest, devoted men and women. Many of these are now hoping that the lessons from this war will be so potent and effective in teaching the evil of warfare that the nations of men will be forever deterred from engaging in bloody and sanguinary combat. These enthusiasts, we feel assured, are destined to further disillusionment in days to come.

The Telegraph adds that “the world may never again imagine that man has ceased to become a fighting animal, and that wars have therefore become impossible,” and urges that the United States should “abandon the foolish notion that weakness is a source of security,” and that, by developing a suitable degree of preparedness, it become an active agent in the preservation of peace. This, after all, is the old-time cry. It has been advocated for many years that the world’s peace would be best preserved by the nations being prepared for war; that respect for each other’s navies would hold the nations back from entering into mortal conflict. But the present war has long since exploded this theory. The prophet’s word indicates that the nations will continue to arm, and that their preparedness, instead of making for peace, will result in the great universal battle of Armageddon of the last day. Joel 3:9-16.

The recent words of King Alfonso of Spain, in talking to a journalist in Paris, express this sentiment:—

Countries, big and little, realize that to exist it is indispensable to work in time of peace and surround themselves with the most positive guaranties.

To these words of the king the editor of the Washington Times sagely remarks:—

Nothing more illogical could be imagined than the notion, in some minds, that this war explosion will be the last of its kind. Rather, it will likely be the beginning of a series of wars. New alignments may be effected. But will the Allies, defeated, lie supine under German rule? Or will Germany, defeated, stripped of trade and shipping and colonies, accept her position as inevitable and permanent? It is unthinkable in either case. To make a peace after this war capable of lasting twenty years would be a statesmanly achievement whose equal has not yet been seen in this world. There will be more wars. This war may be a good deal bigger before it ends. There is no nation, no people, that dare regard itself as safe; none that dare go unarmed and unprepared.

What the outcome of the present conflict will be no living man can tell. Some have predicted that this war would be the beginning of the last great conflict, and that there will be no cessation of human strife until the kingdom of peace is ushered in. Others have argued that this war would be followed by an interval of peace preceding the last great conflict.Any prediction as to the future must be at best only idle speculation. The Word of God affords us no data by which we may determine just what lies before us in the future. It has told us that certain things will take place, that certain great movements would be carried forward, of the great work which will be done by the beast and his image, and of the warning message that would go to the world to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. But there is much which has not been revealed; and wherein the Word of God is silent, it is wise for us to be modest in our statements. Leave idle speculation to those who have naught to do but to dream and to build air castles. Let us unto whom has been committed a solemn message for this time, give that message in its great, clear outlines. Where we cannot understand the outcome, let us wait patiently for God’s revelation; and where it is dark, let us walk by faith. In this course will be our safety.

F. M. W.