Portents at the End of the Century
*The following comment by the Christian Advocate*** on the real condition of things at the end of the nineteenth century, is a true sign of the times:— The nineteenth century goes out in war all around the world. The Hague Conference led some to sing “Hosanna!” and to cry, “The age of peace dawns!” We sat among the doubters; for human nature unregenerated is the same all over the world. The Christians are still cutting one another’s throats in South Africa. The Christians are not done cutting one another’s throats in the Philippine Islands. The Christians and the pagans are but pausing for breath in China. Clouds are rising over various parts of Northern Africa, and the shadow of revolution is upon a score of nations in South and Central America and on the Continent of Europe. An epidemic of lynching pervades this country. Prize fighting is a great popular amusement. New York loves it, and also can breed a race riot. Society at Newport defies conventionalities, social and religious. One of the worst phases of the situation is the development of shamelessness. “First families” rush into the courts with their matrimonial troubles, and appear not able to blush when scenes which would disgrace those born in and to vulgarity are portrayed by the sensational papers. Those premillenarians who think that the world must get worse before Christ can come are solemnly pointing to these things as portents. These things are portents. And why should not people think that the world will get worse before Christ comes, when the word of God says that “in the last days . . . evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”? The item in the Christian Advocate has the heading, “Dark Enough, but Not Midnight.” No; it is not midnight: it is the darkness just before day.