sage through what would seem to human judgment an impassable barrier. The scene reminds us of what changes have taken place and what barriers have been broken down, through the silent force of the ages.

Living in the midst of such scenery, we never get far from God's glory, reflected in the massiveness of His handiwork. The sublime psalmody of hidden strength, the deep tone of the mountain thunder storm, the moaning of the winds in the pine tree tops, the cloud shadows chasing each other over rugged paths, the white purity of snowcovered peaks, are revelations and visions that should bring any mind into the tabernacle for reverential and fervent worship.

We may rightly assume that Deity had good reasons for the choice of mountain summits, as landmarks on which to make known His sublimest revelations. It may be because these are striking topographical localities which designate them from common features of the earth, and as such would not likely fade from the memory of man.

Another reason may be found in their isolation and far removal from human interruption and the noise of a busy world. But whatever the reason, we know that many mountains have been worldwide renowned, because of their sacred associations, and places of divine revelation.

This West suffers not in comparison with any

part of the world, in all that nature has ever done to enthrall the senses, to inspire the tongue, and fill the soul with high ideals. Are we mistaken then in assuming that these silent forces and sublime environments, have an important mission in developing a high standard of Christian civilization? Surely they have a quickening power in the growth of physical and spiritual activity. Extended horizon enlarges vision. If our prophetic dreams of future possibilities seem to lack the elements that make fulfilment probable, we answer that many of them have already emerged into realization.

These sovereign states of the West have been moulded from regions long abandoned to wilderness and desert. From the product of their mines and valleys, they are building enduring monuments of their genius and foresight. The unrealized responsibility of the church, is to redeem these forces of undreamed possibilities of righteousness and the extension of the kingdom of God throughout the world.

F

CHAPTER III

OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

ROM the statements in the former chapters, there can be no doubt in regard to the ma

terial conquest of the West. Where there are such material rewards for material investments, investments will be made. There is no want of money to buy securities such as the West affords. The lure of profits is well nigh almighty. Those who have capital are telescopic in their vision, and those who have muscle, are not slow to recognize where its rewards are sure. A conservative estimate will give the United States a population in 1950, of 200,000,000. The eastern cities may double their population but the eastern country population will not be much increased. The western country will be the home for coming generations of the tillers of the soil. There are signs already for a new era in rural life. With telephones, automobiles, and post-office at the door, the farmer comes into all the advantages of city life, with all the freshness of country life added. If the country church is dying out in the old settled communities, it is being built in the new, as the only centre of social life and

religious worship. There need be no fear but the cities, both West and East, will have ample Gospel privileges. How about the village and the country church in the West? This is the problem of more importance to the church than any other at the present time. It is seldom that the people of any age can grasp the significance of events which are most powerful in projecting their influence into future generations. Persons not intimately acquainted with this western country have difficulty in appreciating the magnitude of the awakening in agricultural interests, or comprehending the extent of territory involved. Take for example the four states of the Northwest, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Montana and the adjacent territory of Alaska and state of Wyoming, are equal in area to that of all the states lying east of the Mississippi River, together with the great states of Minnesota, Iowa and a large part of Missouri included in the calculation. The most rapid increase in population the coming years will be in this western area.

The spiritual vision that fails to appreciate the magnitude of this country and embrace its opportunity, will awake too late to find that the opportunity of a century has passed. Much of this area will always be waste land, but there is so much of it arable that its magnitude is not easy to realize by figures. Thousands of acres which only a few years ago were considered waste lands, are to-day

some of the richest farm and fruit lands on the continent.

It takes a wide perspective to get a comprehensive view of the magnitude of the work the church has before it, in the spiritual conquest of these rising empires. We are not engaged in a hopeless struggle, nor are we fighting a losing battle, but in so great an undertaking, the task is no less than the christianization of American civilization.

Emerson said, "He was never confused if he could see far enough. That the cure for scepticism was to set the year against the day, and the century against the year; to look at happenings and experience, in the light of a large perspective."

Aggressive action, a forward movement, is better than the most vigorous defensive. One thousand dollars spent in the beginning of a new town or community of settlers, in behalf of moral and spiritual welfare of the people, is worth more than ten thousand dollars spent for the same purpose ten years later, when settled indifference has become a fixed condition. The real science of medicine to-day is prevention, rather than the cure of diseases. The cure is given over to the practitioner, while prevention engages the thought of medical science. To save a people from being lost, is better and less expensive than saving them after they are lost. A very large proportion of the new settlers in the West to-day come from Christian