[From Public Opinion, London, England]

General Smuts, in the course of a message to the Students' Congress at Durban, said: "In your discussions, in your debates, learn those habits of high courtesy and chivalrous fairness which will stand you in good stead in after life, and which will raise the tone of our public life to a higher level. Make public life sweet and fair and attractive. Do not let us sink in our politics to a level which makes public life a pain a deterrent to those who truly wish to serve their country. ... There is a culture of the spirit, as there is a training of the mind. And a nation, like an individual, can only realize its real self through this higher culture of the spirit, which shows itself in an instinctive sense of fair play and true sportsmanship even under the keenest provocation."

[From an article by John Leslie Lobingier, in the Congregationalist, Boston, Massachusetts]

Under the leadership of the Rev. Warren M. Blodgett of the First Church of Christ (Center Congregational) of New Britain, Connecticut, a most interesting project was recently carried out by boys and girls of the seventh grade in the United Week-day Church Schools. Its value lay in part in such facts as these: it was a real interracial project, in the sense that it brought young people of two races into contact in a worth-while task; it started white boys and girls on a search for the best they could find in the Negro race—not the peculiar, nor the weak, nor the worst aspects of Negro life; and it was carried out in such a way as to give satisfaction to both races.

The occasion for this particular effort was furnished by the nearness of the birthday of Lincoln, honored by white and colored alike, and remembered as the great Emancipator. The aim was to lead junior high school boys and girls to a greater appreciation of the contribution which Negroes have made to our common life. The enterprise began with a study of biographical material, and it was agreed that if any of the classes worked up appropriate dramatizations these would be given as part of a program to which they might invite their parents and also the members and children of a local Negro church. "The idea of working up such a program seemed to catch fire," Mrs. Blodgett writes, "and the work began. One class decided to work out a movie scenario of the life of Dr. Samuel Chapman Armstrong, including his influence on Booker T. Washington through Hampton Institute. A second class decided to learn to sing one good Negro spiritual. A third class worked out a dramatization of the life of Booker T. Washington." Other classes made their contributions, too, one being a display of pictures including Hofmann's "Christ," Abraham Lincoln, Samuel C. Armstrong, and Booker T. Washington. These were displayed with suitable readings or statements in an effort to show how the spirit of service might be traced continuously through individuals of different races.

During the time when the classes were at work on their tasks the colored Y. M. C. A. secretary of Hartford talked to them about the aspirations of his race, and through his courtesy a colored quartet was secured for the public program. When the time came for the general meeting, a large audience was present. Besides prayers by the pastors of the Congregational and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion churches, there were hymns, spirituals, dramatizations, a picture reading, a movie scenario, a pantomime, and the reading of an original poem by a visiting Negro, a graduate of Tuskegee. The value of the program was not to be judged on the basis of its numbers being "finished products." Its value may more truly be found reflected in a letter which later came from the Hartford man who had addressed the boys and girls a while before. "The Negroes from Hartford who attended the interracial program," he wrote, ... were unanimous in saying that they have never in their lives witnessed such an impressive program upon the subject of relations between your race and ours. ... This sort of work will do more to educate the members of your race to an appreciation of our race than thousands of dollars spent in ways that are supposed to be for the betterment of the Negro."

[From the Literary Digest, New York, New York]

Occasional reports of peonage and lynching in the South are relieved by pictures of cooperation between the two races which are usually lost sight of in the record of current events, but which will ultimately find a large place in permanent archives. The truth, we are told, is that the obstacles inherent in the race problem, and once believed to be insurmountable, are vanishing under cooperative effort; if there are places where injustice is practiced by the white man against his black brother, there are other places where the two live in peace. Madison County, Tennessee, is cited by James D. Burton writes of the Interracial Commission, as a good example of what is being accomplished under the auspices of this cooperative movement. At Jackson, the county seat, Mr. Burton writes in the Southern Agriculturist (Nashville), the State Conference of Social Work has decided that no program of community betterment is complete that does not include the entire population, white and colored. The resolution drawn up by the white chairman of the Madison County Interracial Committee, says Mr. Burton, has caused public and private welfare agencies to consider the needs of an entire population when planning housing, sanitation, street improvement and lighting, recreation, child welfare, education, church, home, court justice, and rural development.

The plan of marketing in Madison County, we read, has been improved through cooperation of the two races, resulting in greater profits. Banks have cooperated in aiding colored farmer boys in improving the soil and in growing crops. Colored agricultural and home demonstration agents are employed who make regular contact with the interracial committee. The colored rural school exhibit this year was a big success because of cooperation. After some difficulty a Rosenwald consolidated school for four communities was established through the joint effort of the white and colored interracial committees. In addition, we learn that the two races cooperate in community chest drives, that the woman's division of the interracial committee conducted a Better Home Week, in which a model home for colored people, with furnishings loaned by the merchants of Jackson, was displayed. ... Of further importance: "The Madison County Interracial Committee reports that no crimes have been committed in this county in years which would involve both races. The chair of the subcommittee on court justice reports no cases of injustice coming before it, that no discrimination has been practiced by the courts because of race or color, that the colored people have a representative at the bar; and he asserts that he is given absolute justice and fairness, and that justice is not withheld from him because of his color. Obstacles which seemed to be in the way of cooperation of the races in Madison Country in the beginning of this movement have in a large measure disappeared. Nothing sensational has developed, and it is evident that the two races have benefited materially. The venture has proved a success."

[From the Herald, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada]

Paul put charity on the pinnacle of virtues. He even put it above faith when he said, "Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." Do we realize to the full the meaning of charity? Do we comprehend to the full the that is signified in charity, that charity which envieth not, that vaunteth not itself, that is not easily provoked, that thinketh no evil? It is wonderful in its attributes, unsparing in what it demands. It tests the individual to the full, and he or she who can stand the test is surely approaching the divine perfection. Take what charity demands and apply it to ourselves, asking ourselves in what measure we answer to its calls. This is an introspection which will reveal many shortcomings, often thoughtlessly incurred. He or she is the true Christian who applies this measure to himself and herself, and with true Christian sincerity endeavors to overcome these shortcomings and so seek to live up to what charity demands. Charity is all-pervading, all-embracing. It is the genius which directs our every thought and action. It is the mainspring which guides our work, our play, our social relations, our business transactions in the best directions. It plays a very great part in our life. No wonder that the Apostle to the Gentiles magnified it in the way he did. He gave it a crowning glory when he said, "Charity never faileth." No individual can fail in a Christian life and a Christian duty if he or she realizes to the full the great and wonderful meaning of charity.

That consideration for others which is a refining influence in our nature is governed by charity. When we realize what charity means, there is unfolded to us the great possession of a charitable heart. Charity is not merely the giving in what is called a charitable spirit, but includes in it all those essences which give charity its sweet flavor. How often do we find those who are given to charitable work, who are members of public societies which seek after the welfare of mankind, and worthily engaged let it be said, fail in that secret, quiet charity, the charity of the heart, when it comes to private relations as apart from public ones! There are times when what has the appearance of gold is only a gilt veneer, revealed by the light of true charity, the charity which Paul so minutely defined, that charity which "seeketh not her own," and which embodies and glorifies all the Christian virtues. How often can we check up on ourselves when we do or say, often innocently, often unmeaningly, things which are not in the meaning of true charity? How often, if we are true to ourselves, and sincere to WE reprimand ourselves finding fault with ourselves and seeking not to offend again? We are truly doing something noble, something charitable, when we do this, and truly, even in the endeavor, go very far to earn our heavenly reward.

"Faith, hope, charity." "But the greatest of these is charity." How very true, if we only seek to divine what charity means!

[The Rev. Honor L. Wilhelm, as quoted in the Post Intelligencer, Seattle, Washington]

The words and works of Jesus are the plan and design of God for the life of humanity upon the earth. They were not only exemplified in the career of Jesus, but were imparted to and are enjoyed by all who believe in him and take up their cross and follow.