It is to be expected that when the historiographers of the not very distant future come to treat of the epoch in which we are at present living, they will be practically unanimous in deciding that its most striking characteristic was the great moral advance culminating in purer and more self-denying ideals which was manifested by the world in general, but especially by those peoples who were commonly recognized as being in the forefront of enlightenment. It will be perceived that this upward striving took the form, first of a vague but widespread feeling of dissatisfaction with the material conditions which everywhere held men in bondage, engendering egotism, want, and woe with their resultant strife; and secondly of a determined endeavor to improve these conditions in every department of human experience.
Mankind will be recorded as having taken itself to task as it had never done before, in the honest endeavor to ascertain the truth concerning being and its signification, and the duty of men toward one another. Moreover, it will surely be credited to this age, as its crowning achievement, that it initiated the first serious attempt which the world at large has over made toward giving to the term "neighbor" its full significance, and bringing about that universal brotherhood which is destined to annihilate the limitations of race and creed. This is outlined in the parable of the good Samaritan, who tenderly ministered to the needs of one whose nation was at variance with his own, both politically and religiously. As the light of Truth shines into the darkness of mortal sense the barriers of racial belief will go down forever.
Among the chief manifestations of this wide-spread awakening of the general conscience, will be instanced the spread of various organizations having for their objects the protection of children and the inculcation in people of all classes and ages of a loftier sense of duty, a steadily increasing sobriety, and a more compassionate regard for the rights of dumb animals; in short, a general uplift of the moral tone of society. But probably nothing will be held to betoken more plainly the change for the better in men's consciences than the growing repugnance to the settlement of international differences by a recourse to arms. Serious crises have arisen which only a very few years ago would almost invariably have occasioned hostilities between certain of the leading nations of the world; but thanks to the changed mentality of humanity in general, they have found their solution through patient diplomatic action, and despite the fact that an international conflict is now raging, war is certainly destined soon to become a thing of the past.
