[From the Mercury Herald, San Jose, Calif., Jan. 13, 1924]

Judging from his [Jesus'] words recorded in the gospels it is apparent that his mission and message have regard to the people in this life, not in some other; his commandments and precepts are to be incorporated in the lives of men while in this world. The whole Sermon on the Mount, the most sublime code of ethics ever given to men, is all plainly to be applied to the conduct and intercourse of men here. There is in it not one word that will bear any other interpretation. And the same is true of the lessons conveyed in his parables and in his precepts. His admonition to us to keep his commandments has reference to our life in this world. Otherwise, neither the admonition nor the commandments have any meaning. Of the message conveyed in his life and works it is the same. The gospel record says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." No hint here that he has reference to life in some future state.

Moreover, no part of his message is merely to the few to whom it is recorded as having been personally addressed. It is addressed to all men of every age and nation. His words, life, and works are a universal appeal to the heart of humanity for more love, righteousness, truth, and justice in the daily life and conduct of all men in all time. Otherwise how shall Christianity, as he is represented as having taught and lived it, ever come to dominate the world, which it must do if ever peace and righteousness are to rule among men?

Humanity has made progress very slowly toward universal peace and civilization, because they have striven weakly and imperfectly to realize in themselves the Christ-ideal. They have striven thus because the theologians of the past have placed him upon a pedestal to be worshiped, instead of representing him as an ideal to be realized. Why should it be thought impossible for men to do the works and live the life of the Master, when the gospels declare that we shall? His kingdom of righteousness and peace must reign in the hearts of humanity before peace can come to the earth.

[From the book by Calvin Coolidge, "The Price of Freedom"]

One of the chief requirements of the liberally educated of the present day is that they should contribute to a better art of living. There is an enormous opportunity in this direction, by example and precept, for the educated womanhood of the land. They have the power to set a standard which would be far-reaching in its effects. In number they are already considerable. They are increasing rapidly, and they have an opportunity to wield a vast influence for good. ... The American people are starting to supplement a mechanical age with artistic expression.

All of this is an indication of the direction in which future progress and development lie. In these outside activities and interests those who are engaged in the industries have every opportunity for artistic expression. It is along these avenues that they can employ their latent talents and find a more satisfying existence. It is in the leadership of this social side of life that there is an especial opportunity and requirement for those of liberal education and culture.

It will be readily observed that all of these activities, all of the service and leadership which they require, partake of the nature of a charity. That is always a necessary requirement. The higher and better things of life, without which existence would be altogether vain and empty, can neither be bought nor sold. Unless they are done because they ought to be done, without any direct remuneration, they will not be done at all. In its nobler aspect, like eternal life, civilization is a gift. ...

Yet it is not possible to receive its higher benefits passively. It is only by active cooperation, it is only by intense application, that the individual comes into the enjoyment and possession of the heritage of civilization. It is in this sense that there must be a re-creation. The wonders of civilization do not exist for us unless we make them our own. All the science and art, all the mathematics and literature, all the discoveries of nature and the truths of philosophy are not for us unless we appropriate them. We learn of each other through the contact of mind with mind. There has never been any system of education that did not require clergymen; there has never been any system of government that did not require magistrates and leaders. ... We have reached the antithesis of the asceticism of the Middle Ages. There is no tendency now to despise self-gratification or to hold what we call practical affairs in contempt. To adjust the balance of this age we must seek another remedy. We do not need more material development, we need more spiritual development. We do not need more intellectual power; we need more moral power. We do not need more knowledge; we need more character. We do not need more government; we need more culture. We do not need more law; we need more religion. We do not need more of the things that are seen; we need more of the things that are unseen. It is on that side of life that it is desirable to put the emphasis at the present time. If that side be strengthened, the other side will take care of itself. It is that side which is the foundation of all else. If the foundation be firm, the superstructure will stand. The success or failure of liberal education, the justification of its protection and encouragement by the government and of its support by society, will be measured by its ability to minister to this great cause, to perform the necessary services, to make the required redeeming sacrifices.

[Lord Leverhulme, in Progress, Port Sunlight, England, April, 1924]

I crave a religion that permits me to do my own thinking for myself, and I should be doing violence to my own conscience if I permitted others to do for me the thinking I must do for myself. But I honor and profoundly respect men and women of all shades of belief. ... Just as the flowers all derive their life and colors from the same heavenly source, and yet no two are alike in color or form, although all equally beautiful as part of the same heavenly Father's universe, so it must be with each of us. Like the flowers, let us turn to the light, let us be true and honest in character. The world wants each of us for some good purpose. ... The great lesson taught us by nature in flowers, trees, and life, is that, whilst uniformity is impossible and can never be attained, and that if attained would be meaningless, yet unity of purpose is attainable. The future is bright with hope for humanity. Any fears or doubts have their roots in materialism and not in the teachings of Christ. The branches and leaves of materialism shake in fear from greed, and its ripened fruit is selfishness. All this fear is contrary to the lesson of the Founder of our Christian religion, whose teachings were love, and not greed and envy. The modern materialist declares that neither politics nor business can be run on the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, nor on the practice of the Golden Rule. It is for Christian men and women, true followers of Christ, and for churches and clergy of all denominations, to deny and disprove this false idea of life.

There is nothing more easy than to show by the history of past nations and vanished empires that on no other ... than the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount and the practice of the Golden Rule has any other than temporary success been achieved. To the extent that the British Empire has so far survived and succeeded it has been because to a greater extent than ever before, consciously or unconsciously, we have come nearer than ever before in the world's history to the ethics of Christ's teaching. Let there be unity amongst all sincere Christians in efforts to get this great empire and the business world nearer and nearer to the right, and further and further from the wrong. Let us welcome with confidence in the righteousness of our Christian faith and in ourselves, this burden of Empire. Let us build up a British Empire founded on Christianity in practice, on the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, on the practice of the Golden Rule, on the brotherhood of man and the divine fatherhood of God. ... It is the Christian white man's burden to see that the world follows more and more, and each succeeding year gets closer and nearer to the teachings of Christ, and so to create a world of good-will towards all mankind where life lengthens and joy deepens in universal brotherhood, happiness, and prosperity.

[From the Canadian Baptist, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Nov. 22, 1923]

The sacrifices to which Christ calls us are not senseless demands. They are inevitable if we are to make progress toward the divine goal. We must not make them grudgingly, but gladly. There is a recompense for all that we renounce in order to follow the divine leader. It would be folly though to understimate the sacrifices called for in the true Christian life. Sacrifice lies at its very center. ... But hard as the law of sacrifice may seem to be, it is the only one by which wealth of the soul can be experienced. Selfishness means the slow, sure suicide of all the finer qualities of life. Sacrifice and service are the only pathways to serenity and strength. ... Christ is the only safe guide for life, and man is honored in being called to follow him. The difficult duties he thrusts upon us, and the sacrifices involved in following him, constitute grand privileges and lead to glorious gain.

[Rev. Allen B. Philputt, in the Star, Muncie, Ind., June 11, 1924]

The matter of getting a better world, Dr. Philputt told the graduates, turns on conserving the ethical and spiritual forces of humanity. It is of prime importance to-day that love should supplant hate, a cherishing brotherhood take the place of selfishness and greed, and above all that men and women everywhere should have a passion for doing right. ... He quoted Lloyd George in saying that the difficulty of progress is not always from those who oppose it, but often from those who favor it. In spite of turmoil and unrest, Dr. Philputt can discern hopeful signs for the future. ... He pointed out the task which devolves upon our cultural institutions, schools, colleges, church, families, to provide all the moral contacts possible that the ethical training may keep pace with the mental.

[From the News Letter, San Francisco, Calif., May 5, 1924]

"Sectarianism is bankrupt and if we hope to have a united world we must have a united church," declares the Rev. Dr. Joseph Fort Newton; "and our civilization no less than our theology, must be recast. A civilization built upon power, for domination and exploitation, must give way to the older, gentler, wiser civilization of culture, which seeks to discover and develop human beings. What we need is more light, more love, more understanding."