[From the Azusa Herald, California]

If all men would recognize the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man as explained by that great sociological Teacher, the lowly Nazarene, there would not be any depression. There would be no starvation of body and agony of mind in this "land of plenty."

Men are offering every other cure for the depression—except the one sane and permanent cure—getting back to God and living by the laws that He has so plainly set forth.

Every intelligent human familiar with those laws must be convinced of their soundness. Every man must realize how flagrantly they are being disobeyed. If every capitalist—every employer, every worker would begin tomorrow to practice the Golden Rule—instead of the rule of gold—in sixty days the sunshine of prosperity and happiness will have returned to every home in the land, driving out pessimism, suffering, and despair.

[H. Vernon Winter, in the Congregationalist, Boston, Massachusetts]

Was it Dr. Meyer who, when rushing to oversee the building of the steeple of his new church, was greeted by an old Cornish mother with, "Are you sure of the foundation, doctor?" And meditating as he went, he stopped the work and began a revival in the church.

[George Lansbury and Stanley Baldwin in the Christian World, as quoted in the Literary Digest, New York, New York]

It would have sounded matter-of-fact in any pulpit. But it was unusual, dramatic, coming from the lips of two members of Parliament, one of them a former Prime Minister, in the House of Commons.

What! Have every Act of Parliament tested by the Gospel !

People rubbed their eyes when they read the suggestion in the Hansard verbatim report of the debate in the House on the Labor party's motion censuring the government for having failed to restore prosperity and deal with unemployment. The London Christian World printed it, and it is reprinted by The Christian Evangelist (Disciples of Christ).

Said George Lansbury, Laborite:

"The last thing I want to say is this, and I ask the House to forgive me, because I know that in this case, probably, I ought not to say it. . . . This old world is in its present condition because we have all been living—all of us, you and I and everybody—the wrong way. We thought that we did the best for ourselves by only thinking of ourselves. We believed that the aim of life was what we got and not what we gave.

"I believe that the British Parliament and the British nation, if they really believe in the Gospel and in doing to others as they would be done unto, could lead the world in a new campaign. I have tried to put this point of view to meetings all over the country for twenty-odd years or more.

"The poor people listen to it. Lots of people believe it, but they do not see their way to do it. You believe it, and if you have the will, believe me, you can do it. We can do it if we have the will, but it must be done on the basis of working in the service of one another, and none of us asking from the world more than we are prepared, according to our ability, to give back to the world."

Said Mr. Baldwin, Conservative:

"I am sure that the right honorable gentleman need make no apology to the House for the concluding words of his speech. I know that they will find an echo in many hearts throughout the House; and I think I can say that I have advocated, perhaps not so ably as the right honorable gentleman this afternoon, the general principles of what he has said on many platforms during the last twelve or fourteen years."

[From the Presbyterian, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]

A wise man once said that he could not and would not allow himself to be much elated or greatly depressed by temporal conditions. If we depend on material things for happiness, we are liable to be deprived of our happiness at any time by losing these things. If we are broken down by the loss of temporal possessions, we are in a very precarious condition all the time. We must depend on something more substantial if we would be secure.

If we would not be moved and overwhelmed, our hope must be in God. We must learn to know and to say: "the Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" If we depend on that which is unsubstantial, our life is liable to crumble. That which is seen is temporal; that which is unseen is eternal.

Let us look well to the foundation on which we build, and other foundation can no man lay than that which has been laid for us by the divine love and grace, even Jesus Christ, the Lord. On him we are secure. Martin Luther kept hanging before him, at his desk, the words, "Si Deus, Quis Contra"—"If God be for us, who can be against us?" No one can destroy or . . . injure those who are under the . . . keeping care of Almighty God.

When David, at one time in his difficult experiences, was very greatly distressed and overwhelmed by the troubles that had come down upon him, it is said that he "encouraged himself in the Lord his God." Where else could he go? Where else did he need to go? God was changeless in His promises and His power. The winds might blow and the floods might rage around him, but the foundations never moved. There was safety. "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" . . .

We must not think, any one of us, that we fill the whole horizon. We are, each one of us, . . . under His special care, but there are many others, and we are all subject to the trying vicissitudes of life. Let us trust in Him, and rest in the eternal covenant of His grace.

He says: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." So we will trust in Him and will not be dismayed.

[Editorial from the Spectator, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada]

"Learn to labor and to wait," says the poet—two things not too easy to learn. It is natural to want to "take it easy," but taking it easy, we find out very early in life, is not good for us.

We have to learn to "labor." Nothing is achieved without effort; if we followed our inclinations, we would be content to loaf along, accomplishing little or nothing. We have to put this indolent mood aside, however, to force ourselves into activity, and after a while, fortunately for ourselves, we find that activity is not the unpleasant thing it seemed at first, but is a joy and a blessing.

Our bodily health, our mental well-bring, our peace of mind, our happiness, depend upon doing something useful. So we gradually master the first and most important lesson—that it is by keeping busy, by movement and not by rest, that we get the most satisfaction out of life. But that is not all that is necessary—we must learn to wait, and many people find waiting the hardest task of all.

We know how it is in nature; there is no impatience there—everything in its season; "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." There are different aptitudes in individuals; it takes some longer than others to reach the goal, but if one goes along steadily working and waiting the object is sure to be attained. The great poet Goethe, who saw deep down into the heart of things, somewhere speaks of the foolishness of human beings who think they know better than Providence what is best for them. But the heavenly powers, able to view the future as well as the present, are not moved by these impatient suppliants; "they never pluck the fruit till it is ripe." Isn't that just what we all try to do—not only pluck but eat the fruit before it has matured? Never be content with half measures. Take time to do the work in hand thoroughly and well. Learn to wait !

[From the Press-Telegram, Long Beach, California]

He who is able to distinguish good and evil, and who does not compromise his position in relation thereto; who makes a consistent practice of observing and doing that which is right in the sight of God and man, is a credit to himself and a help to his neighbor. He who is truly thirsting for righteousness, who is able to give a reason for the faith that is in him, and who is ready to abandon worldliness for a life of service in a divine cause, has reached that state of spiritual development which should lift him above the dangers of temptation. He should be prepared for still greater growth in the highest of all professions—the profession or acknowledgment of belief in the Almighty, of willingness and ability to obey and serve the one ruler in the fulfillment of His holy plan.

Is it possible for one who has been indifferent, or even antagonistic, toward religious teachings and activities, to become a devoted, loyal soldier in the army of the Lord? Conversions in the ancient days, from doubt and disbelief to an earnest purpose to make amends and to aid in gathering the lost sheep into the fold, have been duplicated many times in modern evangelism. The command, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," has been obeyed by outstanding representatives of every generation, many of them salvaged from wreckage along the shores of life's troubled sea.

Discouragements have come to such followers of the greatest missionary. Their good has been evil spoken of; they have been persecuted, even as was he; but they have persevered. When overtaken by disaster, even by death, the cause has persisted.

How marked the difference between those who are restless in the presence of the Word and those to whom the Word is the very bread of their existence, the staff on which they lean in their walk to Emmaus; to the goal of a more complete knowledge of things celestial.

[Chester A. Smith, as quoted by the Republican, Carmel, New York]

Spiritual power—the greatest power in the world, doing those greater things that material power cannot do—is not something only for the few. It can be had by all. But always they must be willing to pay the price.