Article September 21, 1912 Issue

OPPONENTS ALIAS COWORKERS

LUCY HAYS EASTMAN.

Three small boys were eagerly endeavoring to climb a cherry-tree in search of the first fruits of the season. The oldest child, having reached the higher branches, boastfully called to his playmates, "Just look at me and see how far up I am! "You can never get so high." "I can, too; just you wait," the next in age retorted, while the youngest of the three, having vigorously but vainly attempted to follow his elders, abandoned the struggle and manfully brushed away the tears of defeat as he gazed wistfully up at his competitors. Those tears struck a tender chord in the heart of the victorious young climber, and as compassionate love replaced ambition and rivalry he said to the next in age, "Come on down and let's help little brother."

"All right," was the ready response; and then, what pushing and pulling followed, with exclamations of, "Look out!" "Never mind!" "Hang on tight now!" until three happy voices cried exultingly, "Here we are!" Then together three pairs of beaming eyes spied the red cherry balls and three pairs of grimy hands reached out for the fruit. Thus had unselfed love, as it banished the desires of personal attainment, produced the harmony of reciprocal interest and united endeavor, causing the children to rejoice in victory, not over each other, but over the physical limitations of fear and material law.

As it is with children, so in differing degree is it with their elders. Removing from human consciousness the crust of conflicting characteristics and temperaments, hardened by self-love, self-will, and self-justification, and looking deep into the heart of humanity, we find one insatiable desire, one common hope actuating the life-impulse of every creature, namely, the salvation from discord and the attainment of harmony. The fulfilment of this desire will be postponed just so long as mortals believe in the reality of matter, for under this belief human beings, whether Jew or Gentile, are all bound alike by the same chains of fear and subject to the same cruel taskmaster of material law (so called).

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