02. NUMBER OF MAN

THE CLIMAX OF CIVILIZATION

PHILIP MAURO

COUNSELLOR-AT-LAW

*Author of*

*"The World and its God" "Man's Day" "Life in the Word" etc.*

"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast, for it is THE NUMBER

OF MAN; and his number is 666" (Rev. xiii, 18)

MORGAN & SCOTT LTD.

(OFFICE OF "The Christian")

12, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS

LONDON MCMX

THE writer has attempted in this volume to set forth the chief results of an examination which he has made of the great religious and economic movements now in progress throughout the world. Human society the world over is stirred to-day as it has not been stirred since the time when it was split up into separate nations, tongues, and tribes; and this remarkable and simultaneous activity of all sections of the human family is easily the most notable characteristic of the day. The present examination has been undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining the direction and probable outcome of these movements of the modern world. The inquiry is one of great importance, and of vital interest to all human beings. It carries us on to the end of all the struggles, trials, and efforts of mankind. It looks into the future to see what is to be the consummation—the complete numbering or summing up—not merely of the present era of scientific civilization and industrial development,—the age of machinery,—but of the Career of Humanity as a whole. It vi seeks to ascertain the "NUMBER OF MAN" in its totality.

The materials available for the conduct of such an investigation are abundant; but there be few living in these days of high-pressure who have the leisure or ability to pursue it. There are now in progress conspicuous movements, which affect great masses of humanity, and which present characteristics of the most striking nature. These movements are social, political, and religious. Their aims are radical, their strength is great, their speed is accelerating. In each one of them, when considered by itself, may be found indications that the affairs of humanity are approaching a crisis of the first magnitude. Taking them all into consideration collectively, one cannot fail to be impressed with the solemn conviction that mankind as a whole is upon the eve of what a competent observer of current affairs has designated "a great world-crisis." But if we come to share this conviction (which has obtained hold of many of the thoughtful minds of the day), we shall naturally wish to know all that may be learned concerning the nature of this crisis, its proximity or remoteness in time, and the changes in human society, and in mundane conditions generally, which it will bring about. To this end it will be both interesting and profitable to examine the more prominent of the movements of our day, to note the vii essential features and aims of each, and to ascertain, so far as it is possible to do so, the direction they are severally taking and the destination at which each is likely to arrive.

In pursuing this inquiry, the only way to exclude material error and to shut out the writer's own preconceptions, and the only method which will command the confidence of the reader, will be to give the essential characteristics and aims of each movement in the language of some one prominently identified and in full sympathy therewith, and therefore competent to speak for it. This method has accordingly been adopted in the preparation of what follows. When the writer began his survey of the various fields of human activity, and the study of the chief characteristics and tendencies of the prominent movements now progressing therein, he did not in the least suspect the existence of any connection between those movements. On the contrary, between some of them, at least, there appeared to be irreconcilable antagonism. With that view of the state of modern society, he began to collect and to study the more significant utterances of the leaders and historians of these various movements of thought and action, dealing with them as he has been accustomed to do in making an analysis of a machine or industrial process; that is to say, distinguishing the essential features or principles, from the non-essential features or details, which could be viii dispensed with or modified without changing the real character of the thing under examination.

While engaged in this study, the truth dawned upon him, with the force of a great surprise, that all these remarkable movements, however diverse in appearance, were in reality identical in their fundamental principles, and furthermore that they were, one and all, converging towards a common goal. He found that, instead of being engaged in studying a group of different and conflicting movements, he was in fact observing various phases of a single movement,—and that movement one which is world-wide in its influence and operation. He found that, throughout the whole world, wherever human societies exist, in Christendom and Heathendom, in Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Islamism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and even in Agnosticism, there has suddenly occurred the simultaneous uprising of mysterious forces, under whose potent influence even communities that have been stagnant throughout the whole Christian era, are throwing off their lethargy, are putting themselves into motion, as under a common impulse, and are pressing eagerly and enthusiastically in a common direction. The scene may be likened to a great scattered encampment, whose divisions are composed of different races, variously attired, and differing widely among themselves in customs and language, but all sections ix of which have simultaneously struck their tents and started forward in a direction which will quickly bring them to a common destination.

This fact of the essential identity of the several movements of the hour is in itself of sufficient importance to interest all who are living in these energetic times. But what mostly concerns them to know is, that the features which are common to these movements, and which prove their essential identity, are the very features which, according to the prophetic Scriptures of the New Testament, are to characterize the period of the culmination of the career of humanity in its self-chosen path of departure from God's ways. This, however, is an anticipation, and is set forth at the outset, in order to stimulate the interest of the reader by giving a hint of the importance of the matters which are treated, however imperfectly and inadequately, in this volume. The writer is not careful to press his own conclusions upon the reader; but desires rather to put the latter in a position to compare for himself the tendencies of these modern movements (as stated by those who are competent to speak for them), with the descriptions of the end of this age that are found in the prophetic Scriptures written more than eighteen centuries ago. With these materials before him, the reader of ordinary intelligence, if he be not one of those who have purposely turned away their ears from the truth and are turned to fables (2 Tim. iv. 4), can x be safely left to draw his own conclusions regarding the significance of these strange and wholly unprecedented things which are coming to pass on the earth.

What is taking place is, in a word, the consummation of all human activities, the very Climax of our imposing Civilization. There is a limit to what may be accomplished by the natural powers of man exerted upon the natural forces and resources of the physical universe; and there is a limit to the forbearance of God. The results of human energy and human ingenuity are reaching their totality and are about to be summed up. The sum of all Man's efforts has been nearly reached. God has counted them all in advance; and has given us the SUM TOTAL. Not only have man's days been numbered, and the hairs of his head, but his doings have also been numbered; and the handwriting is upon the wall to be seen by all who have eyes to see. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding count the number; for it is the "NUMBER OF MAN,"—the totality of all his achievements. It is the end of all things "under the sun." "Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, COUNTING ONE BY ONE TO FIND OUT THE ACCOUNT: . . . Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" (Eccl. vii. 27, 29).

PREFACE, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V

SECTION 1

HUMAN ACTIVITIES OF THE PRESENT DAY

Knowledge of physical forces and properties of matter applied to multiplying facilities for travel and inter-communication—Many running to and fro, and knowledge being increased, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I Prophetic descriptions of the “Times of the End”; a great System and a great Leader, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Second Wild-Beast of Revelation xiii. : The Last World Power, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Great Monopoly: the Religious “Trust,” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

THE TWO MAIN FIELDS OF HUMAN ENTERPRISE :

Religion and Business — Unprecedented activity in both fields; swift movements and sudden changes, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 xi xii

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THE ECONOMIC FIELD.—Efforts to better the economic condition of Human Beings. The “Ills of Humanity”; what is their source? Do they proceed from Man’s environment, or from Man himself? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Human schemes of deliverance based on the theory that the source of human ills is in Man’s surroundings, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aids to Industrial Development and some of the results of such development, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE RELIGIOUS FIELD.—Great and rapid changes now taking place. All Religions and all Religious Denominations affected. Conditions unprecedented in human history. A great and world-wide spiritual crisis at hand, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The religious and economic movements of the present day have certain features in common, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) Their Common Ideal is the formation of a Great Consolidation. The dream of a “Great Unification.” Human interests of all sorts to be combined, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) They have for a Common Basis, “Faith in the Powers of Man” to effect a permanent betterment of the condition of humanity, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii and to establish "Ideal Social Conditions,"

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(3) They embrace a Common Religious Principle, "The Divinity of Man." Humanism and the coming "Church of Man,"

Human Science: its relation to the Present-Day Activities,

Two Bodies of Human Beings now in process of formation: The Body of Christ, and the Body of Antichrist,

Headless Humanity. The lack to be supplied: God's Method and Satan's,

Factors which Present-Day Movements overlook. Sin and the corruption of human nature not taken into account, and no provision for dealing with them,

SECTION II

Conditions in "the latter days,"

The New Theology of Old England,

Mr. Campbell's statement of the new and popular religious principles of our day,

The Divinity of Humanity. Every man has xiv

"God within," and is hence a discerner of truth, . . . . . . . 66

Proofs—Scriptural and other—no longer needed. If "in search for truth, trust the Voice of God within you," . . . . 67

The "Fall of God," . . . . . . . 68

"No dividing line" between God's being and man's, . . . . . . . 71

Democratic principles incorporated in the New Theology. Religion must be made acceptable "to the masses," . . . . 74

Every man a Saviour. "No stopping-place between sinner and Saviour," . . . 76

New Theology aims at the "Consolidation of all Human Interests," . . . . 78

New Theology identified with Socialism. "The Religious Articulation of the Great Social Movement," . . . . . 79

"New Theology is the Religion of Science," 81

New Theology in various Religious Denominations, . . . . . . 82

Mr. Campbell and Mr. Blatchford, . . . 85

THE NEW THEOLOGY OF NEW ENGLAND, . . . . . . . 88

Dr. Gordon on "The Collapse of the New England Theology," . . . . . 88 xv

Character of the New England Theology, . 92

Reasons why it "collapsed," . . . 97

Beneath the "best religious consciousness"

of the time, . . . . . . . 99

The teaching of the Bible "outgrown in knowledge and in ethical conceptions," . 100

The "collapse" of Bible doctrine in the times of King Ahab, . . . . 101

The "collapse" of the doctrine of Christ in

His own day, . . . . . . 102

"Bondage to a book." Unitarian-Trinitarianism, . . . . . . 104

NEW THEOLOGY IN NEW ENGLAND: . 105

"Humanism" our "greatest word," . 106

Man's essential "nature," . . . 106

God's character to be learned by study of

"man's world," . . . . . . 110

The two voices that speak out of the realm of the unseen, . . . . . . 113

"Looking for the Genius," . . . 114

"MODERNISM" or ADVANCED THEO-

LOGY IN THE CHURCH OF

ROME: A remarkable movement, . 115

"The Programme of Modernism." Its xvi initial assumption that the old "bases of faith have proved themselves rotten beyond cure," . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

"If the Foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Ps. xi. 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Modernism in relation to "Higher Criticism" and Modern Science, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Modernism; its denial of Christ, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Rejects miracles and prophecy because they offend "the modern mind," . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Positive doctrines of Modernism. Its aim to establish in the Church of Rome the

Standards and Ideals of the "Modern

World," and to realise the "dream of a

Great Unification," . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Modernism undertakes to bring the "religious experience of Christianity into line with the data of contemporary science and philosophy," . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

"THE POPE'S ENCYCLICAL ON MODERNISM," . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

A withering denunciation: "The Modernists are enemies of the Cross of Christ," who assail the faith "by arts entirely new and full of deceit," . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

The Pope's description of the methods of the xvii

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Modernists. Their "boundless effrontery" and "domineering overbearance." The doctrine of Humanism or "the identity of man with God." Their system destructive of "all Religion." Modernism defined by "Infallible Authority" as the "Synthesis of all Heresies,"

THE "COMING CATHOLICISM": foreseen by Rev. Newman Smythe.

The "Passing of Protestantism"; signs of disintegration and "of the passing of the Protestant Age of History,"

Dr. C. H. Aked and the "Salvation of Christianity,"

Modernism approved and hailed as a "Mediating" Movement. Its mission the "Reconciliation of the Church with Modern Thought,"

A "World of Titanic Industrial Forces" demands a religion suited to it,

"A new religious order" arising, the "greatest that the world has known," drawn from all nations and classes and from "all Churches,"

The energising principle of this great Movexviii ment said to be the vitalising and profound faith that "God is in Man," that the

Divine is present in the thoughts of men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Progressive Catholics "in the same stream"

with other advanced theologians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

The old prophets delivered their messages in the Name of the Lord. The modern prophets who discredit the former, give no authority for their messages nor any reason why they should be heeded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Is Modern Civilisation characterised by

"the love of the truth," or by failure to receive the love of the truth? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Modernism laying "New Foundations," . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

The present Pope a "Parenthesis," . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Characteristics of Mr. Smythe's "Coming

Catholicism," . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

The unification of mankind promoted by

"Internationalism" — that is, the

"Federation of Industrial Interests throughout the World," which calls for a corresponding Religious Federation, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

What the Religion of Humanity has to offer to the individual man. The contrast with

Christianity, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

A Gigantic Deception, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 xix

SPIRITISM :

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Prophecy foretells a rise of Spiritism in "the latter times," characterised by direct teachings of evil spirits or demons. "Forbidding to Marry,"

Remarkable change of attitude on the part of Physical Science towards Spiritism,

Spiritistic Séances conducted by well-known men of science,

Efforts to communicate with departed spirits of Messrs. Myers and Hodgson. A remarkable "Report." Cryptic Messages from the "Unseen," Scientists deceived,

Spiritism is supplying the supernatural elements required to complete the Religion of Humanity,

Spiritism extending its influence in the sphere of professing Christianity,

An alleged communication from John and Charles Wesley. "New Theology" taught by the spirits,

Displaced and Substituted Personality an experience of Spiritism, and also of Hypnotism, "Suggestive Therapeutics," etc.,

Displaced Personality in gatherings of Christians seeking a new "experience,"

xx

Impairing the Authority of the Bible, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A Strange Fellowship, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SECTION III