[From the Home News, Baltimore, Maryland]

Any nation or civilization which is to endure must build upon the foundation of moral and spiritual forces. Brute force, the law of the jungle, attempted progress in material things only, cannot endure any length of time. However large a nation's army, however invincible its navy or aircraft, however inexhaustible seem to be its financial resources, the moral and spiritual values are the surest guarantors of permanence and enduring stability. ...

It is true also in individual relations that men cannot strive for mastery in the field of competitive rivalry, cannot go after the true prizes of life, if they leave out the moral and spiritual. ... He is a prince among men who regards "a public office as a public trust." He can have the world if he keeps his faith in self and fellow men; if courage, love, and good will are else than empty words in his life; ... if he sympathizes with another in that one's loneliness and aspirations, giving a helping hand to the worthy. That one has found the meaning of life, for his values can never be taken from him. He loves, he hopes, he prays—and never in vain.

[From the Herald, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada]

It is not difficult to imagine a world where the Christian virtues abound—the virtues of kindliness and consideration one to the other. It will be a world without strife and contention; a world without "envy, hatred, and malice"—a world, in short, where the great jewel of Christian charity shines. This is a wide and permeating charity, not limited merely to giving such things as money, food, and raiment to the needy, but far beyond what these count. There is the giving, but what a great giving will it be if we give to others consideration, the kindly word, the kindly deed! Is not this Christianity? Does it not mean charity to all?

[J. W. Studebaker, U. S. Commissioner of Education, in the Brooklyn Teacher, New York]

It is a shortsighted individual who passes by the innumerable opportunities in a free society to enrich his life by exchanging experiences and ideas with those of a different racial or religious background from his own. When shortsightedness of this kind is expressed as a social doctrine and children are taught that blood is the basis of superiority, the rights of those who want to expand their personalities to encompass humanity itself are not only denied, but the whole society becomes sick with the arrogance and brutality which naturally flow from this false theory of superiority. ...

There are those who deprecate the democratic way of life, and even sneer at its realism. They rest their case on the power of physical force exercised by so-called superior persons at the top; they rule the people by dictation and by fear of the sword. We stake our faith on the spiritual power of self-respect and self-reliance among the people. We believe that centuries of history and our own national experience furnish ample evidence that the God-given impulse to be free and the inborn longing for self-development and self-expression cannot be permanently submerged by those few who in times of crisis seize temporarily the power to control and stultify the lives of many.

But this ultimate faith of ours in the triumph of humanity over bigotry calls for positive action, particularly at times when the human spirit is broken by sporadic fanaticism. ... The answer to barbarism has always been enlightenment. And this is still the answer. We shall measure men of all races and creeds by their achievement, their honesty of purpose, and their humility. We shall not turn our eyes to the darkness of the Middle Ages, for we know that our course toward human solidarity leads to a unity based on moral forces capable of meeting today's and tomorrow's crises.

[Bishop F. J. McConnell, in the Religious News Service, as quoted in the Christian Advocate, Cincinnati, Ohio]

What is brotherhood in international or social relations or in any other relations, for that matter? There is no need in trying to tell here all about brotherhoods, but it does not mean that in a normal family brothers stand together with their arms around one another's shoulders. Brotherhood is not necessarily shown in outbursts of emotional affection, but in action based on knowledge that the brothers are bound together in such fashion that they have common heritage, common devotion to the family, common respect for one another, common aims, and certainly mutual good will. Family plans are discussed together on a basis of thoroughgoing good will.

[Rev. J. Lambert Baggott, in the Dereham and Fakenham Times and Journal, Norfolk, England]

"He that is greatest among you shall be your servant," said Jesus, and he illustrated that truth in his own life, for he is humanity's greatest, because he was the greatest servant. It was that sacrificial service of his that brought Christ [Jesus] the name that is above every name. And what we see illustrated supremely in the case of Jesus we see illustrated also in the lives of people. The men and women who stoop to serve their fellows—these are our greatest. If anyone would be great in the kingdom of God he must take as his motto, "Ich Dien" ("I serve"). ...

We have a work to do and a mission to fulfill; we have a character to form and a soul to win, and our part to play in making the world a happier and better place.

[Bishop William T. Manning, as quoted in the New York Times, New York]

With the power of the spirit of God within us we have strength for ... spiritual victory despite the trials, difficulties, and sorrows that come to all of us in our lives. The spirit of God gives us a clear vision of moral and spiritual things, and helps us to think more clearly and to feel more deeply. Be faithful in those things which keep us near the Lord. Be faithful in those things which keep our faith in Him and our consciousness of Him.

[Rev. F. W. Kirn, as quoted in the Detroit News, Michigan]

The Christian has a feeling of divine companionship. There are places where we must go alone. There are experiences where we cannot take others with us. We must pass through them alone, except for that divine companionship.

[From the Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada]

Are you always afraid some other fellow will reap some benefit from what you are doing? Do you worry lest your planning and your labors will prove of advantage to someone else? Many of us do. We hesitate to take some perfectly normal course when we think that Tom, or Bill, or Jack will get some degree of credit or some advantage from it. Do not be that way. It is small. It is unworthy of you. Carry on your work the very best way you know, and forget all about the benefits and the credit. Even do some of the other fellow's work if it comes your way, and say nothing about it.

Yes, it may help him. It may be to his advantage. He may be given some or all of the credit which you might rightfully claim. What of it? Only a little man would object to that. Do not be little. The greatest men the world has ever known were men who gave no thought to the credit when they did anything. They were glad if what they did proved of benefit to another. They rejoiced if someone else garnered where they had sown and reaped. They were unselfish.

[Frank M. Selover, in the Press-Telegram, Long Beach, California]

Friendship in its highest concept might be described as a willingness to forget self while aiding others. This, surely, was the manner in which Christ Jesus expressed his interest in mankind. He asked nothing, expected nothing for himself; but he realized, seemingly, that until there can be a general understanding of the power of God's love to supply human needs, a helping human hand must be extended. To say "Be ye warmed and filled," and to do nothing to make this thought applicable to actual requirements for food and shelter, is not the Christian conception of the duties and privileges of a friend.

Jesus could multiply loaves and fishes by his perfect reliance on his bountiful Father. He could transform water into wine, as at the marriage feast. He could find the tax money in the mouth of a fish. He could tell his followers where to go to a room furnished for them for the Feast of the Passover; but he knew that others could do these things only as their belief became a living faith that all things are possible to God.

[From the Times, Beach Haven, New Jersey]

Progress in the fullest sense means going forward, not by one avenue only, but along all lines. If the race is to be progressive, it must make its progress on the basic moralities of life. The desire to serve must be increasingly accentuated. The heart of man must ever be kinder, truer, juster. The willingness to co-operate in all good things must never abate. Culture and character must go hand in hand.

[From the Review, Burbank, California]

The hardest battles all of us have to meet are the battles with ourselves—mostly with our selfish selves. ... There is no such power in the universe as the power of right. There is no such courage as that which is founded on the sincere belief that one is right, and the cause that he is working for is a righteous cause. ... The fact that so often right conflicts with our selfish selves provides the battle ground for the greatest battles of our lives—the battles with ourselves.

["A Rural Observer," in the Charlotte Republican Tribune, Michigan]

What greater blessing can we have than friends? Those who come to you in your joys and sorrows, and especially in your time of need, and take your burdens upon themselves, and who can sympathize because they someway can say, "We know for we too have trod this same path before you," and show by loving word, plan, or deed that they will help you in your darkest hours. We do not realize until such a time comes, that God gave us riches untold, when He gave us friends.