trustworthy guide to the highest and best things-a sure leader of the race forward by the way of a transformed and reorganized humanity to the promised millennium of universal righteousness, brotherhood, and peace. Instead of standing firmly and uncompromisingly for the eternal realities, and for the application of divine moral principles to all the relations and concerns of men, testifying unhesitatingly against prevailing selfishness, greed of gain, lust of power, militarism, and kindred immoralities and abominations, it is often a caterer to them, an excuser of them, a suppliant for favor at their hands; a bond-servant of existing civilization, a retainer of worldly government, a subaltern of the state, to do its bidding and to sanction and sanctify its undertakings, however unjustifiable they may be, regardless of the spirit and requirement of Christ or of any divine authority or right of governance in heaven or on the earth. This pusillanimous subserviency to the powers that be, this treachery to the Master it professes to serve, on the part of the church at large was strikingly illustrated in its action respecting the late war between the United States and Spain, and its deplorable and inglorious sequel, the invasion of the Philippines. While the war-spirit was kindling into life throughout the country by the clamor of the worst elements in the political arena and the frenzied utterances of a depraved portion of the public press; and when the portents of open hostilities, involving incalculable cruelty, bloodshed, and death, with the sorrow and distress attendant thereon, were filling the national sky, the church, in its various branches and through its representatives, protested most vigorously against. the threatening conflict as a most appalling calamity, opposed to the humanitarian spirit of the age, repugnant to the better sentiments of the human heart, and hostile to the beneficent and peaceful genius of the Gospel of Christ. But no sooner was war declared then these protests were hushed to silence, and the voice of the churchman chimed in with those of the politician, the purveyor of a debased press, and the lover of strife and carnage, justifying, encouraging, and urging on the bloody, fratricidal strife. And with a few praiseworthy

exceptions the church through its varied instrumentalities has joined heartily with the world in prosecuting the work of human slaughter, either by active participation therein or by giving it willing support, or it has crowned that work with the laurel of its approbation and sanctified it with commendatory prayer and pious song. As if an act of Congress or the proclamation of a President could convert an awful calamity into a blessing, make a great wrong right, or render the angelic song of "Peace on earth good will to men," and the holiest teachings of the Savior of the world, of no more practical account, and no more worthy of regard in the intercourse and conduct of nations, than the mutterings of a senseless enthusiast or the chattering of foxes in the forest wilds. As a matter of fact, there have been in the closing years of the nineteenth century, no more supple, obsequious, enthusiastic worshipers of the sanguinary war-god than many who dwell in the bosom of the church, than some who stand before the world as its champions and functionaries.

Such being the case the publication of the present volume at the present time seems opportune and needful; and its demand for a regenerate church, fashioned after the pattern given us in the New Testament and embodying in some large measure the spirit of love to God and man, to be amply illustrated in character and life, is as reasonable and fitting as it is Christian. As there is an infinitely Perfect One who doeth His will among the inhabitants of earth as well as amid the armies of heaven, who maketh the wrath of man to praise Him, and the folly of man to serve His cause and kingdom, and who will raise up laborers to work in His vineyard and carry His purpose in the creation of the world and of those dwelling in it to a complete fulfillment, so shall He, in His all-wise Providence and by the operation of His Holy Spirit, some day cause a radical transformation to take place in the church that now is, or create a new one characterized by higher principles, having a more excellent ministry, established upon better promises; a church that will exalt to supremacy the standard of righteousness, brotherhood, peace, and love, and under that standard go forth con

quering and to conquer, till the victory shall be won and the kingdoms of this world shall have become the kingdoms of God and of His Christ. To promote this grand result was this volume planned and written, and for the accomplishment of this purpose is it now sent forth into the world. May the Great Disposer of all events, the Eternal Helper of all beneficent and redemptive undertakings, speed its mission and make it conducive to the enduring welfare and happiness of mankind and to the honor of His ever-blessed name.