Christianity and Civilization--The Light of the World

The Light of the World

It is claimed by many observers that a two-horse wagon has never gone where the Bible did not go first. It is certainly a significant fact that international commerce has everywhere followed in the wake of the gospel. The intrepid missionary invaded the wilds of China, India, Madagascar and the islands of the southern sea long before the trading ships of the merchants dared to enter their ports. Everywhere the foul and ravenous beasts of tyranny, ignorance and superstition have retired at the introduction of the glorious light of the cross. Christianity has blazed the pathway and civilization has followed. Now the rainbow arch of the gospel spans the continents and seas, from Greenland's icy mountains to India's coral strands, and we seem to hear the glad should of ten million ransomed souls who sing with the ancient Psalmist, "The entrance of thy word giveth Eight."

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Isaiah 4:2

Scanned from Fifty Great Cartoons (Chicago: The Ram's Horn Press, 1899) unpaginated This cartoon is part of the collections of the The Cartoon Research Library of Ohio State University.