Man is possessed of an inherent desire to know the Truth. A few desire the Truth for Truth's sake and are ever ready to make any sacrifice necessary to gain it, but the great majority are disinclined to accept it unless it is in strict accord with their preconceived opinions. It has been said that mortal man will work harder and longer, will make greater sacrifices and more of them, to satisfy himself and convince others that he already has the Truth, than he will to find out what the Truth really is. Strict adherence to one's present sense of things is oftentimes one of the greatest barriers to progress. Such conservatism satisfies the person that he already has the best there is, and this thought excludes the possibility of finding anything better.

We see this sense manifest in politics, religion, and many other phases of human experience. The politician, prejudiced in favor of his own party and principles, views all things from that standpoint and, for this reason he is oftentimes unable to weigh the arguments of his opponent in that unprejudiced manner in which they should be considered.

The adherent of some special religious doctrine is, in a like manner, prevented from realizing how much of true, genuine Christianity is embodied in the teachings of the one who adheres to another form of faith. In the study of the Bible he may be profoundly impressed with the passages which, to his sense, are in harmony with his own convictions, while he passes lightly over those passages that seem to teach something different from what he believes.

Mortals may not be as desirous of knowing the Truth as they think they are. The honest, earnest search for it requires moral courage surpassing that possessed by many. The unwillingness to acknowledge himself in the wrong is one of the weaknesses of mortal man that hampers his efforts to gain the Truth.

All will acknowledge that Truth is one and unchangeable. Every idea or statement of Truth must of necessity harmonize with every other idea or statement. Above and beyond all creeds, beliefs, opinions, suppositions, or convictions is the Truth, undisturbed and uninfluenced by mortal thought. No mortal opinion can affect it. No matter how firmly one believes a thing to be true it cannot make it so. Truth is absolute and final. Human opinion can neither make nor unmake it. It rules with a rod of iron. It makes no concessions but demands implicit obedience to all its requirements, whether it be applied to mathematics, music, religion, or anything else with which mortals have to do. It must be understood before its benefits can be fully realized. Mortals sometimes fancy that a belief, if it is honest, is sufficient to merit and receive the blessing, but this is not so, and experience is teaching this much-needed lesson.

No doubt all are firmly convinced that Truth will ultimately prevail, and that its final triumph will bring infinite blessings. The discords and failures of life result from error, and these bitter experiences are preparing the human mind for the recognition and acceptance of Truth.

One of the strange things is that mortals do not gain the Truth more rapidly than they do. No doubt the greatest barrier to progress is the unwillingness to recognize one's errors. Why is this so, since all will admit that one must see his error and turn from it before he can gain the Truth? "I am in error," is a hard thing for mortal man to say, and because it is so hard he leaves no stone unturned to convince himself that he is not in error. He can readily see that another who pursues this course is only adding a second error to the first, both of which must be repented of, but it is difficult for him to see that he is guilty of the same folly.

It is possible that no two persons have exactly the same concept of any one thing. The present finite attainments of the human mind cause mortals to view all things from slightly differing standpoints. There may be countless beliefs regarding the Truth, but there is, there can be, but one understanding of it. In the understanding of Truth and nowhere else can true harmony and enduring unity be found. Men have sought to establish unity of thought and action by formulating beliefs to which certain persons could assent. But this has succeeded only for a time, for the individual who is really progressing has to-day outgrown the belief he entertained yesterday, consequently there is no longer complete oneness of thought between him and his fellow-men who still hold to that belief. The remedy then is not in harmonious beliefs but in understanding. True there is a growth in understanding, but the gaining of a new idea of Truth to-day does not separate one from the idea he gained yesterday, for they both agree in one.

Since Truth is Truth and nothing can change it, should there not be the heartiest co-operation on the part of all? Since the acquirement of Truth means everything, should not all be united in the earnest endeavor to gain it? Suppose the time and energy spent in endeavoring to prove that others are wrong were spent in the honest, earnest search for Truth, how much better off the world would be.

Experience is the great teacher. Theorizing amounts to nothing unless the theories are put into practice and thus found to be right or wrong. In his search for Truth one need not attempt to put every theory into practice that is presented to him. It would be foolish for him to do so. The mere presentation of some theories may serve to satisfy him that they are impractical, but it does not follow that he should leave his own work of investigation to proclaim those theories from the housetop, and declare they are impractical and misleading. It were better for him to leave the working out of those theories to the one who evolved them, while he continues the even tenor of his way, learning through experience and practical application.

The wise man learns from observation as well as experience. He never fails to profit by the achievements of others. Instead of believing he has gained the whole of Truth he realizes he has just begun to approximate it. He realizes that his present concept of it is rather imperfectly formed and he is so busily engaged in righting the wrongs of his own thought that he has little time, and still less inclination to find fault with the imperfections of others.

Such a man is the true friend of humanity. You may not agree with him in politics, and his religious convictions may differ from yours, but you cannot help but feel that his sympathies and earnest endeavors are on the side of right. You do not fear him. You realize he is laboring for the cause of Truth and humanity, and that he will rejoice in your achievements as well as his own.

The influence of such a man is both seen and felt. He seeks not to drive men into the Truth but goes before them pointing out the way by example as well as precept. Some one has said, "He who would lift me must stand on higher ground." The wise man realizes the truth of that saying and governs himself accordingly.

In the world of business, art, or science, and more especially in the religious world, no influence is so potent as the might and majesty of a truly Christian character. Brotherly love and true charity stem the tide of sectarian bitterness and reveal the saving power of Truth. These Christian graces bring a truer concept of the one God who is Lord of all.

The ceaseless chiseling of human experience is rounding the sharp corners and smoothing the rough edges, giving graceful and harmonious outlines to the human conception of Truth's ideal. Since all who are progressing are being daily lifted into a higher, and consequently more correct, conception of Truth, would it not be well for each honest seeker to say to every other in the language of Abram to Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, ... for we be brethren"? Thus each could go his own way, working from his own standpoint of experience and observation, fully realizing that in the future they will all be united in the understanding of Truth.