Editorial January 2, 1902 Issue

The New Year

Editor

WE have entered upon the second year of the Twentieth century. We now write 1902, A.D. A marvelous year has closed; a marvelous year, no doubt, has opened. Many great events have occurred since the dawn of this century. Many happy events, many sad ones. One of the sad ones was the death of England's great and good Queen Victoria. Another was the unfortunate taking off of America's great and good President McKinley.

Unfortunate wars have also marred the history of the first year of this century. England and South Africa are yet engaged in an unhappy conflict. The United States has not yet compassed peace in the Philippines. Wars and rumors of wars yet exist. Fortunately, however, the world's best sentiment is rapidly growing in the direction of peace. Arbitration, rather than conflict of arms, is the incoming order for the settlement of international disputes. War is discouraged by the best statesmanship as by the best philosophical and religious sentiment. Its whilom pomp and circumstance no longer dazzles or inspires. Those who uphold it as of divine institution are growing less and less in numbers. It is hoped by myriads and prophesied by many that this century will witness the end of wars, the end of bloody strife and selfish contention between nations.

Christian Scientists dare to hope for the bringing about of this desired consummation in much less time than a century. They read in the signs of the times many encouraging things. The rainbow of promise brightly spans the heavens of their hope. The star of Bethlehem is to them, not a declining but an ascending star, leading on and on toward the final consummation of "the glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," which, by angelic song, ushered in the Christian era.

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