[E. S. Martin, in Harper's Magazine, New York, N. Y.]

It is notable that confidence in the continuance of life after death does not make for the neglect of terrestrial life while we have it. While our adventure on earth lasts, it is our great concern to make the most of it; to develop our powers and the bit of earth we live on, in the highest possible degree; to learn all we can, to teach all we can, to get out of... life as much as possible, and gain by it all that goes with the conception that the whole of existence is not in sight, nor this world our final home. The enviable people on earth are those who know that there is more awaiting and affecting than they can see, and who can draw wisdom and strength out of the invisible. It is they that are the hope of the world and the number of them seems to be increasing. Moreover, they all seem nowadays to get very much the same message, that comes by various channels to people in all parts of the world, to the learned and the unlearned, the sophisticated and the humble—a message of encouragement and of stimulation, and assurance that there is a way out of the present difficulties of earth, and that men can find it.

["The Brotherhood of Man," from the News-Index, Evanston, Ill.]

When a man says "Our Father" to God, he must soon say "My Brother" to man. The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man are truths so interlocked that, in a Christian sense, either is unthinkable without the other. "Brother" is a term so reasonable, natural, beautiful, satisfying to human need, so axiomatic when once heard, that it has affected every department of life.

Industrially and commercially, Christian brotherhood... proved many hoary standards false and many practices unjust, and notwithstanding the dust and smoke from the serious and disappointing outbreaks of ignorance and selfishness that are radically anti-Christian, we see the morning glow of a better day — the day when the powerful will not deliberately hold the weak in weakness to add to his strength, and when the weak will not hate the strong for his strangle grip by which he is held helpless; the day when the young, with reason, may be full of hope, and the aged may have no fear; when the strong shall gratify his ambition by service, and the weak shall be helped by the strong; when none shall suffer from another's selfishness, greed, or cruelty; when all shall have enough and none too much; when all shall be friends to all because all are friendly; when all shall be brothers because all are children of Our Father.

[From the Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colo.]

Rev. Robert Hopkin in his sermon has said: "Gentleness is a virtue that does not commend itself to the average man to-day.... Notwithstanding the fact that all history shows the poverty and weakness of brute force, and the wealth and power of gentleness and love, men continue the use of brute force in almost every effort to gain their desired end. Gentleness is not weakness, or effeminacy, or cowardice. It is found only in the strongest, bravest souls.

"Long centuries before his birth, the prophet Isaiah said of Jesus' coming: 'He will not wrangle nor brawl, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets. A reed that has been bruised, he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench.' Jesus lived the gentle life; not a life of cringing submission to wrong, for no man ever revealed as lofty a spirit as he.... He never carried a theological chip upon his shoulder, as so many are doing to-day. On more than one occasion he spoke with no uncertain sound against the hypocritical pretenders of his time, those who boasted that they were religiously correct, while all who did not belong to their little circle were wrong, but his message as a whole was not one of denunciation, but of blessing.

"The real issue to-day is not between one set of religious doctrines and other sets, but between those who love and those who hate. Instead of becoming noisy, and wrathful, and ugly over questions of theology and Biblical criticism, every man who bears the Christian name should take his place among those who love the common humanity, and spend himself freely and gently for the common good. In the name of Christianity to-day, many of its exponents are blaring against this, that, and the other, and are altogether neglectful of any teaching that is positively constructive. The popular idea of the preacher in many quarters to-day is that he stands for censorship rather than friendship, and that his chief business is ... to reprove and correct, rather than to hold aloft the friendship of the world's best Friend, and to commend his spirit of gentleness and love."

[Rev. T. H. Mackenzie, in the Christian Intelligencer and Mission Field, New York, N. Y.]

Let us remember that there is just one reason for the existence of the church, and just one work that it is called upon to do—the healing of the lame man. It is by its success and efficiency in performing this work that the church is to be judged, and by nothing else. Are we as a church healing the lame man? As a result of our efforts are sins being forgiven and lives being purified and strength being imparted that shall help the world on to a larger, fuller life? If yes, then as a church we are fulfilling our destiny; but if no, then none of the gains our statistics may show are of the smallest value.

The purpose that ought to animate the church is the purpose that ought to animate every Christian, and the purpose that ought to animate every Christian is the purpose that ought to animate every man or woman who wants to make the most of life. That purpose is the healing of the lame man. No life that does not find its aim and object in the relieving of the needs of others and making this world a better and happier place in which to live, can be a satisfying life. Remember that the value of your life will one day be appraised by the infallible judgment of the immutable God and that judgment will be based on the service your life has rendered and the help that you have given to those with whom you have to do. That is true success and there is no other.

And I would remind you, too, that the only power by which this highest service can be rendered is the power of Christ. It is as you take him into your lives and allow him to dominate your purposes and actions, that you will succeed in making your life a blessing to mankind. It is only as your life is quickened and strengthened by his power that your best endeavors can be preserved from failure, and that all the privileges you have been permitted to enjoy can be justified. Of ourselves we can do nothing, but we can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us.

[From the San Jose Mercury-Herald, San Jose, Calif.]

All of this discussion about the nature and government of God, religion and the hereafter, would be largely futile and unnecessary if we could only all come really to know the "living God" revealed by Jesus in the New Testament. When we can come into real personal relation with Him, our minds will all be enlightened; we shall then not only all see and know Him as He is, but the same truth—the truth—will be revealed to each of us. We shall all agree about the essentials of religion; there will be no Catholic, no Protestant, no Jew, no infidel, no sinner—all will be one in the knowledge of God and His truth, and that truth shall make us truly enlightened and free. Nothing else will.

["Oneness With God Is Topic," from the Press, Glendale, Calif.]

"What is it that has been hidden from the ages?" queried Rev. E. Morgan Isaac. "Man's oneness with God," was his answer. "'Look unto me, and live.' This is the one thing; and it is surely coming. The kingdom of heaven, as Jesus said, is within you, and no one has power over you. What is faith? Understanding. What is understanding? Your oneness with God. Herein lies healing power."

["Uncommon Sense," from the Evening World, New York, N. Y.]

Indifference to others, callousness to suffering, ignorance of the gathering forces of destruction, always precede destruction, If you are intent only on what you yourself are doing; if you case to wonder enough at the marvels in the world to study them, you will soon bankrupt your powers and be at the mercy of the intelligent people about you. Continue to wonder and you will continue to study and think. Continue to study and think and you will continue to learn and grow. And only by learning and by growth can you retain even a comfortable place in this world.

[From the Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire, England]

The Vicar of Leeds (the Rev. Bernard Heywood) has said that it was significant nowadays how frequently one came up against the subject of healing by mental or spiritual methods. There was evidently great interest in the subject in Leeds. ... Dr. E. W. Braithwaite said there was a strong demand that the church should be again, after many years, identified with healing processes. The barrier which had existed for a long time between anything mental and anything physical was being rapidly demolished.

[Rev. Clinton Scott, in the Universalist Leader, Boston, Mass.]

The Kingdom of God is at hand. It has always been at hand, waiting only for men made ready to possess it. It is to be achieved in the lives of men, however, not accepted by any man-made formula. We were warned long ago against those who would prophesy the coming of the Kingdom by scheme or schedule, and enjoined to remember that "the kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

["The Deity and Disaster," from the Examiner, Los Angeles, Calif.]

It is a curious fact that most people link Deity with disaster. Somehow or other the idea of the Deity in the average mind is connected with fear, danger, and punishment. This notion is the inheritance ... from thousands of years of savagery and hundreds of years of mediævalism. It has gotten itself bred into our ... thinking.

We have no desire to meddle with any man's religion, but, at least, we may urge that it is no more than fair to give the idea of Deity a square deal. It does not matter so much what name you give the Supreme Being, so long as you conceive of Him as friendly. The best name for Him is not the Great Detective, nor Policeman, nor Judge, nor Monarch—the best of all His names is—Father.