DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13852#0015
VI
CREATION OF A WORLD-CENTRE.
as well as to the praetical, that the influence of their highest conceptions
is still felt by the creative genius in man.
They inspired the world-embracing dreams of the great Alexander,
whose unlimited ambition, aimed at nothing short of a world-wide empire.
His strenuous effort to form a world centre by subordinating all nations and
all endeavours to his will and control, are not only positive evidence of
man's creative genius, but also prove the desire to centralise humanity even
at a time when the world was only partly discovered, and the utility of
such a centre not essential.
The great river of life, ever growing in strength and grandeur, soon saw
his highest achievements crumble into oblivion through the force of the ever
growing need of expansion and progress. All human ambitions, soar they
ever so high, yet sink at last into the still waters of forgetfulness.
Again we trace the attempts at world centralisation made by the Caesars,
and we follow their righteous endeavours, as well as their vain ambitions,
to build a world capital, which should control human effort in all parts of
the world, that they could reach and conquer. As Rome rose on the strong
wings of world-embracing motives and ambitions, we find her laying down
noble laws upon broad, human lines, conceived to give strength to her pur-
pose and control to her rights. Immortal creations in art appeared, as she
assumed the right and the responsibility of establishing a world centre. By
her efforts at concentration humanity has profited and has adopted many of
her strongest ideals and aspirations. The decline and fall of this great centre
is the strongest proof that where spiritual motives are not considered essen-
tial, and are absent in human action, no kingdom however powerful will
stand : for only through divine inspiration can men be guided, and only
through spiritual motives will the world unite to build a centre, that will
give lasting protection to their highest ideals.
The imperial " eternal " city rose rapidly in all its glory and grandeur,
but the imagination and soul desire of men grew faster. With all her
colossal magnificence, with her mighty arms stretching East and West, to the
North and to the South, with her powerful laws and strong armies, with her
conquering aims and imperial desires, with every material means of grati-
fying human appetite, the God in man was suffocated and physical and mental
voluptuousness grew apace, sowing the seeds of corruption and degradation.
Then from her high pinnacle, imperial Rome with all her glory and power
fell and failed as a world capital.
The day that followed gave birth to the new soft light of religion,
inspired by messages of righteousness and divinity conveyed by Christ, whose
grand, human symphonic poem, by virtue of its celestial message, penetrated
to the uttermost parts of the inhabited world. Nothing could overthrow the
spiritual teachings of this divine messenger, though men could destroy his
frail body by torture. The power of a centralisation built upon a deeper
CREATION OF A WORLD-CENTRE.
as well as to the praetical, that the influence of their highest conceptions
is still felt by the creative genius in man.
They inspired the world-embracing dreams of the great Alexander,
whose unlimited ambition, aimed at nothing short of a world-wide empire.
His strenuous effort to form a world centre by subordinating all nations and
all endeavours to his will and control, are not only positive evidence of
man's creative genius, but also prove the desire to centralise humanity even
at a time when the world was only partly discovered, and the utility of
such a centre not essential.
The great river of life, ever growing in strength and grandeur, soon saw
his highest achievements crumble into oblivion through the force of the ever
growing need of expansion and progress. All human ambitions, soar they
ever so high, yet sink at last into the still waters of forgetfulness.
Again we trace the attempts at world centralisation made by the Caesars,
and we follow their righteous endeavours, as well as their vain ambitions,
to build a world capital, which should control human effort in all parts of
the world, that they could reach and conquer. As Rome rose on the strong
wings of world-embracing motives and ambitions, we find her laying down
noble laws upon broad, human lines, conceived to give strength to her pur-
pose and control to her rights. Immortal creations in art appeared, as she
assumed the right and the responsibility of establishing a world centre. By
her efforts at concentration humanity has profited and has adopted many of
her strongest ideals and aspirations. The decline and fall of this great centre
is the strongest proof that where spiritual motives are not considered essen-
tial, and are absent in human action, no kingdom however powerful will
stand : for only through divine inspiration can men be guided, and only
through spiritual motives will the world unite to build a centre, that will
give lasting protection to their highest ideals.
The imperial " eternal " city rose rapidly in all its glory and grandeur,
but the imagination and soul desire of men grew faster. With all her
colossal magnificence, with her mighty arms stretching East and West, to the
North and to the South, with her powerful laws and strong armies, with her
conquering aims and imperial desires, with every material means of grati-
fying human appetite, the God in man was suffocated and physical and mental
voluptuousness grew apace, sowing the seeds of corruption and degradation.
Then from her high pinnacle, imperial Rome with all her glory and power
fell and failed as a world capital.
The day that followed gave birth to the new soft light of religion,
inspired by messages of righteousness and divinity conveyed by Christ, whose
grand, human symphonic poem, by virtue of its celestial message, penetrated
to the uttermost parts of the inhabited world. Nothing could overthrow the
spiritual teachings of this divine messenger, though men could destroy his
frail body by torture. The power of a centralisation built upon a deeper