Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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BATELINGS. 9 umph is heard the despairing- wail of opportunity. This nation is today defeat: the joyful song- of the conquer- face to face with problems grave and or makes hideous discord with the dy- serious. The question of slavery in ing- groans of the conquered. His the South has but given place to one robe is crimson — aye! with the blood of more dangerous aspect. The ties of fathers; and those gems that spar- that unite the interests of capital and kle in his crown, are they aught but labor are strained unto breaking. The the frozen tears of widowed mother- gap between wealth and poverty hood? It is as the enemy of war, the seems not to lessen. In the very cen- champion of peace that the Compro- ter of our civilization are want and miser should be crowned the hero of suffering enough to sicken him who is modern civilization! not either blind or heartless. Among The world shows its growth in good- working classes there is a general feel- ness by its appreciation of the good, ing of disappointment and bitterness — There is nothing more hopeful in the li a widespread feeling of unrest and sign of our times than the increasing brooding revolution. ' popularity of arbitration. The Behr- In these times of strik es and riots, ing Sea question was settled without when social disorders are being so the aid of sword and cannon ball, painfully brought before us, may no The world is coming to recognize that false ideas of heroism mislead human- the Pan-American Congress was based ity. Strong, unscrupulous men. ex- upon a principle of wider significance ponents of blind, popular desire, or and greater importance than a mere fierce popular passion, may precipitate selfish compact for national aggrand- a nation into all the horrors of a revo- izement. Xo word today is more fam- lution. May society be deaf to the iliar to the American people than ar- wild appeals of the rash agitator and bitratio)!. ' ' Indeed, we seem to have the ignorant demagogue. The lurid been ushered into an age of comprom- flame of anarchy, the smoke of the sol- ise. dier ' s rifle, which have recently dis- And yet. a wail from Corea tells us graced and startled an American city, that the clouds of war have not passed teach a two-fold lesson. They who away. From out their gloomy depths violate justice must bear her frown; flash the hellish fires of battle, blast- they who seek her altars must respect ing the lives and hopes of Asia ' s mil- the sovereignty of her law! lions. Toward the field of carnage May men learn to heed the voice of are turned the rapacious eyes of Eu- him whose heart and soul are large rope ' s powers, while their peasants enough to see that all have rights: a groan beneath their burden of taxa- man with mind and judgment keen tion and standing armies. When will enoug ' h to discover the sotirce of a contending humanity learn the folly grievance: with strength and courage of crime and war? There will be no enough to relieve it by just and fair brighter page in all history than that compromise. Heaven will unite with which records the names of those who man in proclaiming him hero — whose taug-ht this blessed lesson. Shall it be purpose it is to serve, not self, not par- the American people who will add ty, nay, not country— but humanity, this, the brightest star, to the firma- = raent of their history? Ample is their ••Whatever is. is right.

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8 J! A VELINGS. before the civil war for making more victions of a wise majority can be en- terrible the strife they tried to avoid, forced. Is such criticism altogether merited? Not only has Compromise created In questions of moral right and wrong ' , our nation, but it has been the pre- the practice of Compromise may, no server of our nation ' s life. We are doubt, be greatly abused. An evil disposed to say that the blood of the may often be removed by a single ex- civil war redeemed our nation: but, af- posure: when Compromise would be ter all, was the union saved when the folly. But even in questions where war ceased? Did the contest for ciyil moral principles are at stake, the Com- liberty end there? Far from it! promiser need not stand in the way of When Secession died, then arose that reform. Great social changes are not malign spirit which had hovered in wrought in a day. Although indeed the rear of conflict. It came to gloat truth must conquer, it should not over the prostrate Southern land! It be forgotten that truth may also be asked no right but that of conquest crushed to earth. Extreme meas- and spoliation. Now, indeed, -was the ures are not always pi ' actieable in the union rent in twain! But in those beginning of reform. Opinions, how- dark times of reconstruction, when en- ever right and just, cannot be forced vy, hate, and passion threatened to upon the world, and, in an attempt to plunge the wounded nation into deep- do so, more enemies than friends are er gloom, the voice of Compromise g ' ained. Evils eradicated by sudden counseling forgiveness, amnesty and force often result in still greater evils, peace, rose above the wrang ' lings of Belief is strengthened and deepened the petty spoilsman of the North, and by oppression and persecution. So the ' bitter, vindictive mntterings of has it been with the followers of every the proud Southerner, conquered but faith since history began, for men al- unsubuded, to verify in the most glor- ways believe themselves right, and ious reconciliation of all time, that when forced to give up their opinions prophecy of old — good tidings shall thoughts become convictions, and a bind up the broken-hearted, and to spirit of antagonism is ai ' oused. Fan- them that mourn give beauty for aticism is reform ' s most treacherous ashes, the oil of joy for mourning ' , and ally! Hence, when a reformer endeav- the g ' arment of praise for the spirit of ors to uproot some public sentiment or heaviness. conviction, however wrong, he cannot A nation is prone to glorify its suc- aft ' ord to lay aside the spirit of for- cessful general rather than him who. bearance. Men can be lead — never in legislative halls, quietty guards his driven! Thus the Compromiser has country ' s liberties. Is it true that all proved to be not only one of the ablest the elements of courage and virtue be- but the safest champion of reform. long- to martial success? It is indeed History teaches that some of the a thrilling scene — the conqueror re- greatest strides in progress have been splendent in crimson robe and victor ' s the direct results of Compromise. To crown, cheered by shouts of victory it we owe the birth of ova- constitution, and songs of triumph. But to a nine- Without it, democracy is impossible, teenth century civilization this picture In a country of free opinions like ours, never appears alone. It recalls another it is the only means whereby the con- scene. Mingled with the notes of tri-

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LO RAVELINGS. CHRISTIAN UNION the Bible study department lias been quite satisfactory. In introducing our new paper to the Much interest has been added to the public, there are several important work in general by the reports of the features of the college that are worthy delegates who attended the state eon- of attention, and not the least among ventions of Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. these is the only Christian organiza- A. Hugh B. Speer and John T. Find- tion of the student body, that is the ley were delegates to the Young Men ' s Christian Union. State convention, held in Springfield The primary object of the Union is from Oct. IT to 31. Miss Blanche Mor- the spiritual as well as the temporal row and Miss Jessie Clark attended welfare of every student in connection the Young - Women ' s convention, held with Monmouth College. To accom- in Evanston during Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. plish this object, the Union has its The delegates were highly pleased regular officers and committees, under with the conventions and gave spirited whose supervision are the class prayer reports to the Union on their return, meetings, the missionary department The membership of the Union is about and the Bible study classes of the on the average with other years, if not school. ' The regular Monday evening a little in advance. Fifty-nine new prayer meetings of the Union, togeth- names have been added to the roll this er with the mid-week prayer meetings fall and most of these are engaged in of the different classes, have had a the active duties of the organization, good attendance this fall, and the in- Although the attendance on Monday terest shown in these by the students evening- meetings has been good, we is a good indication of what may be believe it could be increased: an in- done during the remainder of the crease in numbers would add interest year. to the meeting ' s and be helpful to all The Missionary Committee has been concerned. Xow that the athletic sea- successful in laying the foundation for son is about to close, would it not be a g ' ood missionary library in the col- well if more of us would turn our leg ' e, and also have in charge a large steps in this direction? and interesting class which is making Dr. McMichael gave one of his pithy, a special study of missions. practical talks in last Monday even- The Bible study department is one ing ' s meeting on the subject, Our of the most interesting features of the Conversation. based on Ps. 141: 3. work. There are now twelve classes The Doctor is very original in his comprising a total membership of ideas and the students listened to him about ninety, who are engaged in dai- with pleasure. ly active and earnest study of the The Missionary Committee conduct- Word. The plan of study is chiefly ed a very interesting meeting a few that proposed at the summer schools evenings since. The subject was. A of the Y. M. C. A., known as Prof, few of the open doors. In a brief White ' s method. The classes meet for time the field for work was so present- one hour each week and compare the ed that all present might clearly see results of their week ' s work. Consid- that truly the harvest is yet great and ering the amount of outside work the the number of laborers comparatively students have on hand, the work in few.