Presbyterian College - Pac Sac Yearbook (Clinton, SC)

Page 24 text:

8 THE COLLEGIAN. her people and see poverty as it exists at her own doors. Think of the thousands of both her natives and her immigrants who have not where to lay their heads. Let all nations look into the slums of their cities and see crime, disgrace, shame, and cfegradation standing with their feet upon the necks of right- eousness and purity and declaring themselves supreme. Let them note the thousands of their young men and Women who are growing into manhood and Womanhood ignorant of every- thing save the indulgence and frivolity that their liberty affords. They are destined to live worthless lives because they have not the means to demand a higher standard of living and to educate themselves. These considerations should be sufficient to make all nations cry with one accord, Away with armies! Away with navies! Let all disputed questions be settled by cool-headed and un- biased men! Let us educate an army of doctors to conquer the cruel army of disease! Let us cleanse the slums of our cities, dethrone crime, disgrace, shame, and degradation and place upon the throne virtue, purity, and righteousness. For centuries poets have dreamed that there would come a millenium when the foolish expenditure of money and the use- less shedding of blood would cease. Let us hope that it is not very far distant, for the brotherhood of man is advancing hand in hand with civilization. Some say that such a millenium will never be, but remember that We are living in a progressive age. Men have harnessed electricity and made it their servant 5 made the air their stroll- ing groundg all but communicated with the distant planets. There is no end to man's achievement. Then do you not think that people of such an age as this are capable of establishing one common court Where all international differences can be settled, thus giving justice, not to the mighty, but to Whom justice is due? Universal peace has been advancing ever' since the time when the duel began to replace murder and assassination and when the court began to replace the duel. But today the sentiment and progress of the times lead rapidly to peace. Commerce and industry have demanded a closer

Page 23 text:

THE COLLEGIAN. 7 up arms when thousands of men are involved. Let us notice the difference. Here are two men. One has been offended by the other. They are angry and each wants vengeanc. Conse- quently they attempt to secure justice by fighting. In the con- flict one of the men is killed. Then the other man is arrested and carried before a court of justice, where he is tried for his life. The court finds him guilty of breaking the sixth com- mandment and sentences him to die upon the gallows. On the other hand, here are two nations. Gne has been offended by the other. They go to War in order to secure justice. In the battle almost every man in one army is killed. What is done with the other army? Are the victorious soldiers carried be- fore a court of justice and tried for their lives? Instead of this, they are crowned with laurels of honorg revered because they have won for themselves fame by taking the lives of their fellowmen. They are proclaimed heroes, and are set up before the youth of the land as examples of perfect manhood. To the thinking man justice is so obscure in such cases that it cannot be seen. Settling disputes by war is not in keeping with the example that the Prince of Peace set while he was walking upon the earth. I-Ie resorted to neither spear nor swordg he had no standing army with which to- conquer the world. And when God said, Thou shalt not kill, it is not for us to imagine that he made any mental reservation for men collectively. Oh nations, open your eyes! Become masters of your senses! Realize how absurd it is to spend your billions in preparing to conquer foes that are yet to be and to withdraw your liberality while disease is leading an army that is gaining victories every day throughout the world. The army of disease is the most cruel army that has ever ravaged any country. It kills from the cradle to the grave. It pitches no tents at nightg it halts at no Rubicon to considerg it conquers amid the burning plains of the South where the army of Alexander halted in mutinyg it conquers amid the snovvdrifts of the North where the army of Napoleon found its winding sheet. Illiteracy, poverty, and crime are other foes that hold civili- zation in check. Let America look into some of the homes of

Page 25 text:

THE COLLEGIAN. 9 relationship of the world. The Hague Conference and the Peace Congress have done much toward promoting peace. But some nation must lead. The question arises, What na- tion shall be first to disarm her soldiers, sink her battle-ships, raise the banner of peace and command all nations to follow ? Emerson said, As goes America, so goes the world. When the art of printing was introduced into America, it was prophe- sied that she would become the seat of learning. And the time is not far distant when America will be like a beacon set on a hill. When it was discovered that America concealed in her bosom wealth untold, it was predicted that she would lead the world in wealth. VVhen the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, they brought into America the salvation of Christ, and today America is sending into all the world the gospel of the Prince of Peace. America is surely coming into the leadership of the world in wealth, in education, and in Christianity. Now it seems that the honor of leading in this great movement of universal peace is destined to be bestowed upon America. Oh nation, the honor awaits you! The glory is yours! Raise the banner of peace! Lead all nations that have refused to be driven! Hasten the dawning of that brighter day! This world is longing for that day to come when the tie of friendship and brotherhood shall be an unbroken chain, holding all nations in close fellowship with one another, and when there shall be Peace on earth, good will toward men. sleeleeie Ideal Education Since the dawn of true civilization, ideal education has been the standard of many of our truly great educators. Every day we live we constantly meet persons who have developed only one or two of the six great sides of education, and we see constantly the need and value of an ideal educational sys- tem. What do we mean by ideal education? It is that which en- ables us to be the best, and do the most, and get the most out of life. It should open the door of our minds, making the senses respond to the good, the true, and the beautiful. Again,