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 seeks to ascertain the "NUMBER OF MAN" in its totality. [5]

      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 both 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 wit h 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 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. [6]

      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 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 [7] 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 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 [8] 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 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 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 [9] 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" (Ecc. vii. 27, 29). [10]

[TNOM1 5-10]