'Tis as easy to be heroes,

As to sit the idle slaves,
Of a legendary virtue,

Carved upon our fathers' graves,
Worshippers of light ancestral,
Make the present light a crime.

New occasions teach new duties,

Time makes ancient good uncouth,
They must upward still, and onward
Who would keep abreast of Truth.

Lo, before us gleam our camp-fires!
We ourselves must pilgrims be;
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly
Through the desperate winter sea.

TOPICAL SUGGESTIONS:

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

1. Higher ideals inspire co-operation and advance in civilization, as shown in history.

2. The Declaration of Independence, and the ideals therein proclaimed.

3. Washington, Lincoln, and other presidents have held aloft the torch and blazed the way by pointing out higher ideals.

4. Roman History-Catiline to his friends, and St. Paul denounced the wickedness of the age.

5. Wilberforce, Pitt, Fox and Burke in their speeches spread the light of liberty.

6. Be fair to the children-Prepare them to meet the conditions and requirements of this age, in social, industrial, and political life.

7. Higher ideals, great assets in associations of life; not measured by mathematical calculations.

8. Excerpt from "The Present Crisis," by James Russell Lowell.

I

XIV

TIME AND PLACE

N our study of the Creator's wise provision for man

we must observe time and place as well worthy of consideration. Some one has said that time cannot be defined, and, like electricity, can only be described as it figures in the life of man, as we may say this or that shows the marks of time.

So time may be considered as that which marks the succession of events. Place may be featured as that which may be differentiated from every other place in the universe.

As time is swallowed up in eternity, so place is swallowed up in space, or as a very learned university Doctor would say: "In the unfathomable universe."

So we may consider time as an integral part of eternity for use by man to measure the succession of events. By time we mark the points in history as before or after certain other time or event. We mark the beginning of history as 4004 years B. C., and succeeding events as following at a certain point of time thereafter, or as related to another point of time called A. D. This point of time is so commonly mentioned upon our stationery, in our commercial, industrial, educational and political documents that we scarcely stop to consider its meaning.

In considering the periods of time as related to the great creations of the universe, we speak in epochs of time rather than in years, or as the age marked by the various strata and fossils of the earth, but "in the be

ginning" may mean the beginning of all time, inclusive of the epochs or ages of creation. But when man began to function as a creature marked by God's care and consideration as given in Biblical chronology, we take up the events as marked in time by years; and the point in space at which man began to function at a certain time at a certain place.

So our histories are the record of events as they transpired at a given time at a certain place. As the outstanding events and pivotal points in history have been marked by crises, we find that many of these are marked by wars at a certain time at a certain place. These points, as they are brought to our attention and are placed in memory's halls, either to encourage us to higher effort with higher ideals, pushing us forward with nobler and altruistic purpose, or they may cause us to lapse back into pessimism as they pass in review before our mental vision.

The great events of history marked by chivalry, courage and high ideals appear to enthuse us with a passion for like courage and endurance. As when the world's civilization was at stake, Charlemagne rolled back the Moors at the Pyrenees, and Charles Martel forced back the Saracens (732 B. C.) and at Tours, thus saving Europe for modern civilization. Or as we see Britain's unflinching courage and skill marked by the naval victory at Trafalgar by Lord Nelson. These fill us with higher and nobler aspirations; they also lend to our memories facts of experience and observation from which we plan our future course.

As we place the searchlight of memory upon the pivotal points in European history and mark how civilization, caught at times between the pincers of hostile forces and about to be plunged into an abyss of utter dark

ness, we marvel at the timely deliverance when men fought with back against the wall and prayed.

The Frenchmen will always remember the great battles of the late World War and tell their children of their great deliverance at the battles of the Marne, at Chateau-Thierry, at Belleau Wood, at the Argonne, and the timely coming of Uncle Sam's forces from overseas. How the children and grandchildren of Britain's fold will delight to hear of the valour and chivalry of the British and Canadian forces at Ypres and other fields at other times and places. Likewise, the Italian fireside will echo with the stories of bravery of General Diaz and his army at the River Piave. The children of Jewish parentage will always delight to hear of the deliverance of the Hebrew people from the Egyptians, and the crossing of the Red Sea; about David and his singlehanded victory over the great Goliath; of Queen Esther in her wonderful fortitude, saving the race and nation at a certain time and place.

And, as we approach American history, our children will always delight to hear of the bravery and chivalry of their ancestors as we tell of Bunker Hill, Lexington, Yorktown, Washington crossing the Delaware, and the winter at Valley Forge, and as we come on down and note the great battles of the Civil War, the battle above the clouds on the Lookout Mountain, and the battle of Gettysburg and peace at Appomattox. Also as during the Spanish-American War, the wonderful morning when Dewey with his brave men and small fleet steamed into Manila Bay and placed the Philippines under the aegis of the American flag.

Although the past has been replete with the wars and battles marking time and place, yet we can read between the lines the great altruistic motive actuating many

warriors in their loyalty to the higher ideals and desire for world peace. While the historian has placed special emphasis on these outstanding crises in the affairs of men in the past, yet we can see, as we peer into the kaleidoscopic movements of the race, many great accomplishments along the lines of peace which is now appealing to the nations.

Through the outstanding arts of peace which have pushed the world forward to better things, we note the great inventions of the ages. Guttenberg, Watt, Edison, Wright Brothers, and the many other men of genius in the industrial lines have brought out the power of letters, steam, electricity, and along the lines of chemical combinations, so that war must hereafter be crowded out of man's formula for the great combination necessary for the world's advancement. War has become such a waste in the economy of man's relationships, and has at last become so distasteful and so expensive in life and property, that other means must necessarily be found for settlement of all differences between nations as between individuals.

Although we have lauded men in their great accomplishments in wars of the past, and give all honour to those heroes to-day, may we not hope that as much praise shall be in store for those who are so persistently working out formulae for prevention of wars? The pivotal points in the histories of the future will probably be marked by the peace conferences, the great and higher ideals held up to the children of the world, the advances in education and altruistic motives which are now actuating man to the highest and noblest in life. The men of valour will be marked by their contributions to the arts of peace. May it be the boast of all men that their heroes of peace, courtesy, and good-will hold a place in