[President Coolidge, as quoted in Emanu-El, San Francisco, California]

If we are to have that harmony and tranquillity, that union of spirit which is the foundation of real national genius and national progress, we must all realize that there are true Americans who did not happen to be born in our section of the country, who do not attend our place of religious worship, who are not of our racial stock, or who are not proficient in our language. If we are to create on this continent a free republic and an enlightened civilization that will be capable of reflecting the true greatness and glory of mankind, it will be necessary to regard these differences as accidental and unessential.

[From the Literary Digest, New York, New York]

What is the solution of this problem, which concerns every country of a colored race? In Lord Willingdon's opinion there is only one: "I am convinced that the white races must realize the necessity of treating all colored men in a spirit of . . . equality, and give up the attitude of color superiority, which one so often sees at the present time. By our policy in the past we have, quite rightly, developed the efficiency of all colored races, and must realize that it is the character inside the man which counts; and if we wish to continue our association with and exercise our influence on those countries which the white races have developed largely for the ultimate benefit of the colored man, it must be in a spirit of . . . equality, and not by arrogating to ourselves any race superiority. ... I honestly believe that if the whole attitude of white races to colored races could be entirely altered, if the white men would always act in the spirit of giving equality of opportunity to those who are colored, what appears to be the aggressive and unreasonable attitude of colored races would entirely change, and they would be found to be ready to discuss these important matters in a fair spirit, and with a due sense of all the difficulties surrounding them."

[From an article by George L. Collins in the Christian Century, Chicago, Illinois]

While the older generation everywhere has too often fearfully evaded and compromised on racial issues, some of the youth, encouraged by a few of the elders, have been breaking down barriers. Inter-racial forums have come into being in various parts of the Southland. This movement started a little over two years ago. In January, 1924, a special train was carrying delegates from the student volunteer convention at Indianapolis to their homes in the South. A number of white students went into the Pullman coach for Negro students and visited with them. As several individuals in both groups came from Nashville, they decided to have frequent meetings together in their home town. From that decision was born the Nashville student forum. For over two years representatives from the colleges — Negro and white — of the city have been coming together monthly to discuss common problems, to hear reports from joint committees of investigation, and plan for the betterment of human relations. After graduation, students from the forum have been going out to spread the gospel of inter-racial trust and cooperation. Other cities in Tennessee, in Georgia, Virginia, and Texas now have similar movements. They have been fostered by the student Christian associations and sometimes by the inter-racial committees.

But the forums reach only a small body of students. Many more have felt the inspiration of joint meetings, through conferences together. The first such gathering occurred in Atlanta two years ago under the auspices of the student fellowship for Christian life service. Well-meaning people said that the attempt to hold such a meeting would provoke a riot. But instead it was an unqualified success, and students of both races found that together they could best work out the meaning of the kingdom of God. Last year a number of joint conferences were held. White and colored students met together in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia on the world court issue. In Tennessee there met the first state student Christian conference to which students from both races came. The committee on arrangement for the Tennessee conference was inter-racial, and speakers from both groups appeared on the platform.

[From the Hongkong Daily Press, China]

There was a full congregation at St. John's Cathedral when the pulpit was occupied by Mr. T. Z. Koo, who is engaged in work among students in connection with the Y. M. C. A. and is on a brief visit to Hongkong. He said that it was unfortunate that so little was known of the life of Christ [Jesus] but to him personally there were three factors in that life which enabled him to understand it. First, there was the complete certainty of God which Christ [Jesus] always had, a certainty which never for a moment left him. With apt and poetical metaphors he described the life of the young Christ [Jesus]; and as proof of the certainty of God in his life, he cited the finding of him at the age of twelve in the temple, and his last words on the cross, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit," The second great factor in the life of Christ [Jesus] was his absolute surrender to the work of his Father; and the third factor was his unwavering confidence and trust in God. The speaker felt that it was in these simple terms that the life of Christ [Jesus] should be seen; but it seemed to him that these realities were being missed, owing to the obstructions set around his life by so many creeds. . . . He looked upon Christ [Jesus] as the champion of the poor, and deplored the laxity, the oppression, and the plunder of the age. He felt that there was too much pride of the individual, too much pride of nation and of race, and thought that the life of the average so-called Christian was not what it ought to be, and so Christianity was misconstrued and misunderstood by non-Christians. He appealed that men should go back to Christ [Jesus], and understand him as he really was.

Mr. Koo spoke forcefully, with an easy flow of simple and clear-cut English; and his delivery was excellent. The feature of the address was his own transparent honesty, and his devout, and withal beautiful, conception of Christ. It is perhaps not too much to say that such men as he will be the eventual rejuvenators of China.

[From the Boston Traveler Massachusetts ]

The reports of leaders in the missionary field show that there is an insistent demand for actual brotherhood among men and nations, Bishop William F. Anderson told a union meeting of ministers at the Copley Methodist church. Bishop Anderson spoke on "The New Conditions in the Missionary World and What This Means for Civilization." "The non Christian nations are now calling to the so-called Christian nations of the West to set a higher standard for social, political, national, and international life," Bishop Anderson said, "and the swelling tide of race consciousness, which includes so many nations of different languages and color is a notable feature of world life which must be reckoned with seriously. The problem calls for statesmanship and self sacrifice, for the willingness to cooperate in positions of less conspicuous leadership. It is a tremendous movement in the interests of practical union among the missionary forces in lands beyond the seas, and will undoubtedly contribute largely to the cause of organic union in our own country."

[From the Evening Citizen, Glasgow, Scotland]

New motives behind the modern missionary efforts were mentioned by the Very Rev. Dr. J. N. Ogilvie, late convener of the Foreign Mission Committee of the Church of Scotland, at a mission Sunday service in the University Chapel, Glasgow. The activities of present-day missions, he said, concerned both bodies and souls. This was a matter in which they greatly differed from their fathers, and yet more from their grandfathers. One hundred years ago when Christian men and women looked upon multitudes it was with concern undoubtedly for the peril of their souls. Of their bodies they thought little. So grim and so hopeless did they consider the future of these people that they strove with all their might to rescue as many as possible from their impending doom. As a motive for missions the saving of souls of men from everlasting doom had gone; it had ceased to be operative. What had taken its place?—for missions were never more active than at the present hour. It was not the future of men's souls after death. It was the saving of men here and now—men, body and soul—the whole man.

[From the News-Herald, Modesto, California]

When a public speaker takes occasion to call for "tolerance" in this nation he is sure to be cheered warmly and to be commended afterward from press and pulpit for his plea. But how many of us who cheer him are really ready to be tolerant? We may think we are—but are we? Tolerance might be said to consist largerly in minding one's own business. If you are tolerant you do not worry about your neighbor's conduct, his religion, his race, his beliefs. You let him say and think what he pleases. You strive, in plain English, to carry out the Golden Rule to the very best of your ability. It is a fine thing to cheer pleas for tolerance. It is a better thing to take stock now and then, and see if we ourselves are really being as tolerant as we might.

[From the Chicago Leader, Illinois]

It is a healthy omen in the large to note that the old concept of self-sufficient nationalism is surely if slowly passing. First was the individual to himself all-sufficient; broadening, he expanded into a family or clan, then into the tribe. Next was the manor, the social and military unit; and so on up to the nation. And now the growing thought of mankind is refusing to be circumscribed, completely at least, within the confines of a single nationality. This process is symbolical of the human reaching out to grasp the ultimate of ethical attainment—the brotherhood of man.

[From Great Thoughts, London, England]

Our friends may not be perfect, but our ideal of friendship may be perfect, and that is what counts. The ideal friendship means self-sacrifice; it means sympathy; it means helpfulness. Friends see each other's faults, and try to remove them with loving tact. Friends aid each other over the hard places. Friends can do ever so much more because of their friendship. Friendship is one of the world's greatest ideas, and certainly it prompts men and women to the greatest actions.