Millennium Table! by M. E. Cornell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 26, 1873

Millennium Table!

By M. E. Cornell

The peoples and nations of the earth have so long been drunk on the wine of Babylon that they seem not to discern the true state of the world and tendency of the present age. They turn from the truth to their favorite song of “peace and safety.” They grasp at straws, and watch in vain for some favorable indication. Every now and then, they will seize upon some bubble of hope, only to find it suddenly vanishing from before them. Their hope is in this world, and they want it to be perpetuated as their inheritance in its present, temporal, mortal state; and hence they say it will be so. The wish and desire is father of the thought. They are bound to believe and preach the world’s conversion, notwithstanding the word of God, that it will grow worse and worse till the end, so that it will be even as it was in the days of Noah and Lot.

They begin to realize that they are not making much headway in bringing on the time of peace, and are troubled, for they must have the world converted, and so are continually devising plans which they hope will result in the desired change. England, in distress and fear because of the vast war clouds rising in the east and north of Europe, is pleading for a new law of nations, to settle all difficulties by “arbitration.” All eyes are now turned in that direction, hoping that at last the keynote is struck, and the “good time coming,” will soon be here. The following, from the San Francisco Daily Call, shows how they long and hope for what can never be realized:—

“Authors have written and minstrels sung of an age when the ‘sword shall be beaten into a plowshare, and the spear into a pruning hook; when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.’ This long-looked-for and devoutly-to-be-desired period is known as the ‘millennium.’ The religionist has looked for its advent through the conversion of the world to Christianity; but the statesman hopes to find it by arbitration, through the medium of diplomacy. In view of the obduracy of the human heart, which resists its own convictions, when they seem counter to personal interest, the statesman’s expectations are likely to be realized the soonest, if realization be among the possibilities. While nations are notoriously divided on matters of religious faith, there is a common object between them to attain governmental power and commercial prosperity. Whatever line of policy will promote these ends, is most likely to be adopted. The cessation of wars—the removal of all provoking questions to war—the harmonious interchange of feeling, free from jealousy or wish to encroach upon each other’s personal, political, social, or religious rights, or landed domain—this would be a ‘millennium.’ How shall it be brought about? Henry Richard, Secretary of the London Peace Society, has struck the keynote, by his resolution introduced into the English House of Commons, to wit, a resort to arbitration for the settlement of all international difficulties. It is certainly better to arbitrate before a war than be compelled to make concessions after it. In the first instance, the pride and dignity of both the treating powers is preserved. In the second, one or both of the belligerents may come out of the conflict greatly injured, if not abased and dishonored.

“This view of the question is a mere discussion of the logic of wars. Mr. Richard refers to their cruelty and criminality. His figures—adduced to illustrate a supposititious case—might be increased by reference to the history of the past, till they amounted to a sum, in human lives and money, which the mind is incompetent to grasp. He said:

“‘The danger of war kept four millions of men armed annually in Europe, rendering necessary a taxation of $2,000,000,000, and the payment of a yearly interest on war debts of $750,000. In addition to this, the value of labor drawn from industry was estimated to be $1,250,000,000. In Germany, the conscription forced an emigration which was depopulating the country; and Russia, France, and Italy, were financially crippled by the expense of their enormous war establishments.’

“This picture is by no means overdrawn. How intensely it would be heightened by painting the suffering and groans of the wounded on the field of battle, crushed beneath the feet of marching columns and the wheels of flying artillery—by depicting the thousands of scattered dead, who fought for a cause in which they felt no interest, and gave their lives without knowing why or wherefore—by representing in the background the homes rendered desolate, the wives and widows bereaved, and the helpless children made orphans.

“Mr. Richard has done a noble thing. His resolution was radical in its nature, and therefore a surprise to the House of Commons. But it passed, although only by the casting vote of the Speaker. England was the proper place for such a motion to originate. The great power, intelligence, and philanthropy of her people are an indorsement that will commend the subject to other nations and peoples, who, it is to be hoped, may act out the spirit of this resolve—thus securing to all nations a large degree of happiness.”

M. E. CORNELL.