Editorial July 5, 1924 Issue

Let There Be Lifting Up

Ella W. Hoag

The endeavor to lift up mankind in any direction is invariably actuated by a purpose for betterment. The moment one speaks of lifting up there comes a thought of improved conditions. When in the long ago the Psalmist sang, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in," he evidently saw that the human consciousness must necessarily become exalted before it can begin to take cognizance of holy things. There must be gates opened, doors thrown wide, in order that real good may enter and abide.

The writer to the Hebrews went further and indicated plainly the perpetual need of also helping to lift up our brother, that he may gain thereby a better sense of life and its activities. He counseled those who were professed followers of the Christ to "lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."

At the present time there is, perhaps, the most universal desire to bring about a higher, more harmonious state of things along every line that the world has ever known. Society after society, organization after organization, has been established to help lift humanity into greater comfort, happiness, intelligence,—yes, even into a larger understanding of holiness itself. To be sure, men generally believe they must do this largely from material standpoints. Nevertheless, no right purpose, however mistakenly pursued, can be entirely lost or fail of some fruition. Because, however, men are not gaining the complete results they have hoped for, and are still longing for that lifting up of humanity which shall bring satisfactory peace everywhere, they are beginning to reach out, as never before, for that which God alone can supply,—namely, a practical method of helping the world out of its wrongs and wretchedness.

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