Article April 6, 1912 Issue

FROM OUR EXCHANGES

with contributions from James L. Snowden, Roland D. Sawyer, Harriet Russell

[James L. Snowden, D.D., in New York Observer.]

The greatest dreamer this world ever saw was Jesus. He was no local prophet or parochial schoolmaster, much less was he a mere visionary or fanatic, but he was the prophet of humanity and Saviour of the world, who saw sanely into the heart of time and eternity. He had a vision of redeemed humanity compared with which all human dreams of conquest and empire, education and art, democracy and socialism, are petty programs and futile schemes. He had a vision of a kingdom wide as the horizon, long as the centuries, lofty as the stars, white as the holiness and strong as the omnipotence of God. This vision is now winning its victory over the world. It has come down through the ages, unhinging empires and throwing the stream of the centuries into new channels, uprooting slavery, undermining political despotism and putting the people into power, giving liberty of thought, and unshackling religion and giving freedom of worship. It is stopping war, breaking down international barriers of prejudice, and drawing and binding the nations into universal peace and brotherhood. It is ever penetrating more deeply our Christian civilization and healing its sores and solving its problems, and it is sending its light and life out over the world to dissipate its ignorance and superstition, cure its sins, answer its cry for the Father, and build all its kingdoms into the kingdom of our God and of His Christ. This ideal is the grandest and noblest vision that can touch our eyes with light and kindle our minds and hearts with aspiration and enthusiasm. Men may regard it as a fine fancy or foolish fanaticism, but it has in it the omnipotence of God, the stars in their courses are fighting for it; it is even now overcoming the world, and this vision will come to its final and glorious victory when the redeemed return to the heavenly city with songs and everlasting joy. Let us now share in the vision that we may also triumph in the victory.

[Rev. Roland D. Sawyer in Christian Work and Evangelist.]

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