Missing Links

MISSING LINKS.

BY ELDER WILLIAM HALLS.

In allusions to the Darwinian theory of evolution, we have seen the expression, "The Missing Link." A little reflection may convince us that Darwinism is not the only system that has a missing link. The alchemists who sought to get gold by transmutation of the base metals encountered a missing link. The machinists

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who souffiit to invent, or discover, perpetual motion encountered a missing link. The philosopher who sought a "first cause" also encountered a missing link. These examples show that when we search for that which does not exist, or draw conclusions from false premises, seeking to verify that which is not true, there is a missing link in our logica chain. What of our school system? Is the hope that education would lessen crime realized? What is the product? "By their fruits ye may know them;" are the best educated the most humane and the least criminal? Let the senseless, inhuman custom of hazing, the brutal sport of football, the barbarous college yell, and the criminal courts, Who are guilty of graft, bribery, answer. forgery, defalcation and Who are most promi- counterfeiting? nent in social scandal, divorce and "race suicide?" Who are the agitators and prime movers in industrial and political frctions, jeopardizing life and property, leading to assassination? Is there

a lack of religious and moral training? Is it possible there is a missing link in our pedagogical chain? Instinctively, we turn to the Christian church to supply this lack of religious and moral training to supplement the schools. This reminds us of a man who was asked, "Mr. W., why don't you join the church?" He answered by the question, "Which church?" Being so many different sects, and as many different creeds, he was unable to decide which church to join, and in the uncertainty as to which, if any, is right he stood aloof. Did Christ command his disciples to be one, saying, "if ye are not one ye are not mine" ? Are the so-called Christian sects one? If not, why? Is the bond that should unite all the followers of Christ in love and fellowship with "one faith, one Lord, and one baptism," broken? Is it con-

ceivable that the great theological chain of modern Christendom has a missing link? In our industrial system,the irrepressible conflict between capital and labor, the frequent strikes, causing demoralization, dissi-

pation, loss of time, and wages, destruction of property, and often rioting and bloodshed, may indicate that the paternal chain that should bind employer and employee in a common brotherhood and communal interest, has a missing link.

964 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

To illustrate the condition of the political world: Imagine two neighbors living on adjoining estates, each having a very numerous family. Instead of using all their income for their educational and material advancement, a great part is spent for munitions of war, and in fortifying their premises. A number of the most active, able-bodied, of each family,* instead of assisting to develop the resources of the estate, spend all their time maneuvering in military tactics, to prepare to attack their neighbor, or to defend themselves against an attack from him. The head of each family, with a few of the most intelligent members, manage the estates, make all the rules, dictate all affairs, and handle the revenue; but instead of sharing the proceeds equally with the rest, they take most of it for themselves, living in luxury and extravageance, while those who do the work receive a bare subsistence. Instead of union, love, and domestic peace, they have division, hatred and strife, every member of both families being about equally dissatisfied with the existing regime. Would anyone presume to say these families are highly civilized Christians, observing the golden rule? Yet are they not typical of the most civilized Christian nations? Is there anything wrong in our national and

international relations? Has the world's great governmental chain a missing link? If this is the condition of the world, after thousands of years experience, at this rate, when will the millennium come? Is it time, and is it necessary, for a new revelation from heaven, for the commencement of a new era, for the opening of the dispensation of the fulness of times, as promised in the scriptures, that the words of th-^ prophets may be fulfilled? Is there inherent power in humanity to rise, without divine aid? "To raise a mortal to the skies," is it necessary to "bring an angel down" from heaven with the everlasting gospel to be preached to every nation (Rev. 14: 6, 7, ) that the work of the Lord may continue with Ephraim, Judah, and the outcasts of Israel that they may be gathered, (Isaiah 11: 1-13) "that out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem;" "that nations shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and learn war no more"? (Isaiah 2: 3, 4.) Is it necessary that an angel come down from heaven with a great chain in his hand and bind Satan that he deceive the nations