Word: skeptics
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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There is a temptation to say that they are merely a few of the "doubting Thomases" who make up the over-whelming majority of a skeptic world. Sir Oliver Lodge and Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle have not yet persuaded the rest of humanity of the reality of ectoplasm, even though they have secured many staunch followers for their ideas. Nobody really knows one way or the other that is admitted. Everyone is interested in the idea of thought-transference and future existence--man may be said to have incurably necromantic tendencies--but unless the knightly necromancers establish something definitely soon...
...skeptic will probably not be silenced by being reminded that the Greeks raised Clio to the highest place among the Muses, or that a galaxy of writers from Cicero to Bishop Stubbs have spoken in the loftiest terms of the value of History: "the light of truth and the mistress of life"; "philosophy teaching by examples"; "the great school of truth, reason, and virtue"; "next to theology the most thoroughly religious training that the mind can conceive...
...What's the use of studying History anyway?" the modern skeptic is apt to declare, particularly if the impressions of his school days are fresh in his mind, and if he has had an over-dose of the "drum-and-trumpet" brand of History or of the genealogical and chronological table variety. "History is just a chaos of inconsequential facts", he is likely to add, "not the thousandth part of which is worth remembering. History has no laws that can be deduced from this welter of facts and applied for practical purposes, unless it be for a few vague generalizations...
...important member of the Assembly of 1922 was Lord Chelmsford, a hard headed British proconsul who had been Governor successively of Queensland and New South Wales, and for five years Victory of India. He came to Geneva reluctantly and as a skeptic, in the position of First Delegate of India to the Assembly. After a few weeks of participation in the work of the League, he admitted gracefully that he had been mistaken in his judgement, and delivered the following thoughtful tribute from the door of the Assembly...
...accepted the invitation of the Government of India . . . because I was ready and willing to serve India in any capacity in which it might be thought I might be useful; but I am bound frankly confess that I came here a profound skeptic as to the value and utility of the League of Nations. A fortnight's acquaintance, however, with the working of the Assembly and the Commissions has made me hope my skepticism was unwarranted...