[Editorial in the Press-Telegram, Long Beach, California]

By those who "draw near to God" there will be found a storehouse that will meet every earthly need; but when the material is emphasized over the spiritual, there is that divorcing of interests which cannot do otherwise than create doubt. ... Yet who shall say that the fault can be placed justly elsewhere than at the door of human fickleness? "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

Out of today's trials two great truths are being learned anew. One is that "it is more blessed to give than to receive;" and the other, that God is "a very present help in trouble."

The spirit of helpfulness was never more widely expressed; and while the need is great, and relief plans do not always mature in the way desired, yet the fact remains that these endeavors will persist until the victory of brotherly love over indifference and selfishness is complete.

It is not a stone, nor a serpent, that the hungry will find when they turn humbly to God's throne. David relates this experience: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

Unity is being developed; self-interest is giving way to interest in one's neighbor and his problem; the right of all men to earn a living in an honest way is being widely recognized. The passing emergency is being accepted as a command for protective measures that will prevent a repetition of this grievous cycle of discouragement. Now let the realization be more complete that only as God's way is followed can a permanent cure be found; and then will come one of the greatest reforms ever recorded in the regeneration of the race.

"Banish poverty" is the goal to which all should be committed. First, of course, it will be necessary to banish war and other frailties in worldly systems and practices before the ideal can be achieved.

[From the Times, London, England]

"In response to our Prince's speech last night we feel, as brothers in this Home Camp, we would like to issue an invitation to those who may have some misconception of our troubles and difficulties, and to all who sympathize with us in our efforts, to come among us and share our life.

"We are a little group of unemployed, daring to share the life of friendship, and making a great effort to conquer those 'devil's weapons of depression and apathy' by caring for each other and sharing with each other. Seeing that we are 'daring, caring, and sharing' in Blaina, we would like to extend our friendship to those others of whom the Prince spoke."

This missive is the response of a group of unemployed Welsh miners to the Prince of Wales' appeal to the more fortunately placed to play the part of the "good neighbor" to the less fortunate. It was written from the Home Camp at 83 High Street, Blaina, Monmouthshire, established last November by the "Blue Pilgrims," a band of social workers drawn from various parts of the country, and from all ranks in life.

The Home Camp is housed in premises formerly occupied by a workingmen's club. The ground floor, at one time a shop, serves as the general meeting room, and three rooms upstairs are used as workshops or committee rooms. The camp has a membership of ninety-eight men and women, ranging in ages from sixteen to sixty, all of whom have attended the Blue Cross camps at various times during the past four years.

Friendship is the keynote of the camp. The members engage in various activities, but the golden rule to be observed is that each must be ready to help another if and when necessary. Hitherto the members have confined themselves chiefly to allotment work, for which seeds, manures, and tools were provided by the Blue Pilgrims or by the Central Allotments Committee; just before Christmas they took to making toys for their own children or those of other unemployed men, and the seat-caning of chairs, the making of doormats from the outer covers of motor tires, and air cushions from the inner tubes are other activities. Women members engage one night a week in cutting down discarded garments for children, while another night is taken up by a study circle. Wednesday night is "guest night," and Friday evening is reserved for "family" gatherings, when entertainments of various kinds are provided by the members themselves. A gymnasium housed at the old tin works is one of the main attractions for the younger members of the camp.

[Editorial in the British Weekly, London, England]

There was a day in the escape from Egypt which must have seemed to the Israelites the end of everything. They had escaped indeed, so far. Acting upon the impulse which God had stirred within them, they had prospered—so far. God had been as good as His word—so far. But suddenly it seemed as though He had led them out only that they might fail—at length. For there behind them was Pharaoh, with his chariots and horsemen; and there in front of them stretched the sea!

It seemed the end of everything! They spoke against Moses. They even tried to persuade themselves that they would have been wiser to remain in Egypt: as though it could ever have been better to be slaves! Moses cried unto God! And God answered Moses. ... "Wherefore criest thou unto me?" He asked. "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward"!

Is it not as though God were saying to those who at His instigation had set out, that the resources which had enabled them to set out were there at their disposal to sustain them? And is it not the truth and our own experience that there is a power which comes to us from God which cannot come to us until we set out upon some task or crusade in which we shall need that very power? That surely is the truth. There are no inert resources! We have no reserves for the high strain of life until we call them out! It is foolish to expect the happy sense of God and the victory of God in us and through us, whilst we ourselves are still debating whether we should set out at all, and are not sure even that there are enemies in the field.

Once upon a time and far away, we heard a Negro make a testimony in which the simple man, speaking for himself, spoke for us all. He told us how he had been wont to pray, "Lord, help me!" There were times when, he confessed, his own mind was quite dull even when he used the words; times then when, expecting nothing, he received nothing. There were other times when he was somewhat more alert in the presence of God as he prayed his habitual prayer, "Lord, help me!" On one of those days, when he was more or less alert before God, he became suddenly more alert, and next moment ashamed! For the prayer, "Lord, help me!" had scarcely crossed his lips when he seemed to hear, that is to say he did hear, the voice of God saying to him with a certain brusqueness, "Help you? How can I help you? You are doing nothing!"

[John C. Porter, Mayor of Los Angeles, in the Parent-Teacher Bulletin, Los Angeles, California]

Herewith is a remarkable document, when we consider its source—a resolution adopted by the Downtown Business Men's Association of Los Angeles, an organization composed of practical, hard-headed business executives operating in the downtown area.

This resolution appeals to the people of Los Angeles to turn more sincerely and whole-heartedly to God in the present crisis through which this nation is passing, and requests that those who minister in all places of worship in this city call the particular attention of their audiences to the need for individual and persevering prayer. I am, therefore, transmitting the same to you, with the earnest recommendation that you pass it on to your organization, urging a compliance with this plea for consecrated prayer. ...

"Whereas, a changing economic condition exists in the United States which demands individual consideration by those who feel that our national welfare is of great importance; and

"Whereas, this condition is affecting the optimism and mental attitude of many of our fellow citizens of Los Angeles in a depressing manner which is really unjustified by the true factors of the situation; and ...

"Whereas, Almighty God has always dealt mercifully and generously with all nations, peoples, and individuals who recognize Him as a just and loving God; and

"Whereas, He has urged us to approach Him in prayer, promising to give us those things which will be for our spiritual and material well-being; now

"Therefore be it resolved by the Board of Directors of the Downtown Business Men's Association of Los Angeles that we sincerely urge all people everywhere to go in all humility to the Supreme Source of real power and seek His comfort and blessing; and

"Be it further resolved that those who minister in all places of worship in this city be requested to call the particular attention of their congregations to the need for individual and persevering prayer to the end that as we believe in and accept those comforts and blessings we may pass them on in brotherly love to those whose faith may need our personal encouragement."

[Rev. Leslie J. Nevins, as quoted in the Moon-Journal, Battle Creek, Michigan]

There is nothing in the world quite so sad as a hopeless man. ... Paul stated it right in his epistle when he said, "We are saved by hope." ...

There is not anything that will help the day to close with a keener sense of satisfaction than to start the day off with a smile and a song. It is the best medicine of the day, and cures all the ills of the mind and gives invigorating force to the body. Christ [Jesus] was a man of good cheer.

Kindness "is Christianity on foot, the symphony of the voice, the warmth of the hand, the sunshine of the eye." ...

Above all other builders of health stands love. Jesus exalted it to highest degree. ... It is a tremendous aid to health. ... Love means an overflowing, abounding life. It represents a surplus of strength and power. It is a tonic, an elixir, a vitalizer of one's powers.