Life of Ahmad — Page 5
as THE MIGHTY HOUR 5 olden times, that dragged cities and nations to destruction, are practised on a worldwide scale. Not openly, everywhere, it is true; but there is no country whither one can flee from them. The corruption has become a world disease, a cancerous growth upon the home life of this last generation, blighting, maiming, spoiling, wrecking. So widespread is the evil that it can be nothing short of a satanic plot to plunge the world in ruin and bring the fair edifice of our civilisation crashing about the heads of a disillusioned race. We face today the greatest crisis in the history of mankind. All the past pales before the stupendous issues of this mighty hour. Like a mammoth liner torn from its moorings and rudderless, the world tosses helplessly upon a raging ocean of trouble and distress. Giant waves of passion beat against it, while swift currents of terror and despair carry it ever nearer to the gaunt, cruel rocks that loom through the darkness ahead. Though equipped with every modern invention, every comfort of civilisation, every aid to material pleasure, none of these lessens its peril. Strong men mount the bridge and seize the helm in vain. It no longer obeys them. The ship is out of control. At the mercy of winds and waves it drifts on towards destruction. Never was mankind in such desperate straits.