The Gavelyte, February 1909

2 -) •) our problems; hut let,. us never be unmindful of the lessons of the past, for hereby many nations have fallen. Rumors intended to alarm us are everwhere. One reads of political scandals, commercial dishonors. of malfea ance, of corrupt legislation, bought and paid for by those who receive its benefits. One may see how false ideals of life are being set up, how the 1 material is being placed above the spiritual, anrl how greed is becoming the absorbing passion of many lives, driving out that which is nobler and more uplifting . We need to heed the warning. of our wisest men, to realize that popular good is no better than any other, except the virtue of the people make it so. Periods of apathy are times of serious peril and freedom demands eternal vigilance. ''There can be no liberty without law." Honesty and justice demand it "You may build your capitol of granite" said Wendell Phillips, "and pile it as high as the Rocky Mountains, but if is it founded on or mixed up with iniquity, a heart pulse will in time beat it down." Pu hlic spirit, watchfulness, and the participation of all in the heat of the battle are requisities, if America would work out her salvation and therewith almost the salvation of the race. To-day we are involved in one tremendous struggle for riches, but in the very midst of our efforts there comes the warning voice of Hi .--t(Jry uttering the ominou,.: sentence, "Remember Babylon" In– stantly there flashes acro!='s the memory a picture which at first thrills us with its gorgeousness, but gradually it grows dimmer and more distasteful until at last we are filled with loathing for it. We see assembled in ancient Babylon the quintessence of the very best which had been gath~ring in ages past. Here ,,·ere centered all the culture and wealth of ancienL Assyria and Chaldea. Ruling over this vast and powerful kingdom was proud ancl bo.astful r ebuchadnezzar. Hear him exclaim as he views his great city, "Is this not Great Babylon which I have built by the mignt of my power and for the glory of my majesty ." Alas! poor deluded mortal! how weak anrl insignificant thou art in the sight of the Omnipotent. Your eyes are dim with the incense smoke of idol worship, wine and debauchery have depraved ~·our mind, you woulrl compel Daniel to worship your in– famous idols of mucl.