The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-06-12

THERE Is NO RELIGION HIGHER d THE
RECOGNITION OF TRUTH
1t IS not often that We find brother
hood acknowledged or advocated by q
member OF the %aristocracy, vet the
prince OF Wales said: 1.-THE
time has come when class can no loneer
stand aloof from class; and that man
has done his duty best who works most
earnestly In bridging wei the gull be-
tween different classes, which it is the
tendency OF increased wealth and in
creased civilization to widen" The
newspapers TEEN with horrors-records
OF murders, suicides, robberies, want
and suffering. And as if these were not
sufficient there is the constant threat
Of wars between the nations. Each ma
ton trying to enlarge it's possessions,
the Christian nations being the most
aggressive and INSCRIPTIONS. In this
country there are over 300 religious
sects, each claiming to be the possessor
OF the truth and working tooth and
nail to bring people to it's special line OF
thought. Yet IN spite Of their activities
the fact remains that trouble, suffering,
depression and sectarian hatred are
rampant. In business, in science and
art the same seifishness prevails. 1t is
taught the child as q first lesson. De-
sires and appetites are gratiied until
they m%onopolize the attention OF the
mind and all thought is conferred upon
their qualification. 1t is but a week
since $4,000, 600 was spent in the
glorifcation OF one man and his czarlna,
and only one voice was hes I'd in this
broad land IN protest and that the
voice Of one for whom thousands Of
prayers were offered on one day for his
conversion. On that day the 'agnostlc's'
daughter was mentioned IN the dis
patches as figuring as a witness against
a brutal car driver and having him
placed under bonds. As the Chicago
Tribune says: Gwen the most straight
laced OF the calvinists and endeavorers,
who proposed to convert them by cod
certed prayer, must concede that they
are sound upon the great religious prin-
cipal OF love for man and beast, and
that they have set an example that can
be initiated without prejudice to mans
church or ereed.'
Any breach of the law OF the Unity OF
all Beings" brings suffering. There is no
noo1 fns aNnAinf orI Wy orfo, ~ -, Tho
world since we are all the same in es-
sence and in origin. 1t is due to nothing
but s%elfshness, based on ignorance that
these attempts are continued to grind
out our fellow man by competition IN
business. 10 pay starvation wages to
operatives, leading to vice; theft or
prostitution. The robbery of mans
PHYSICAL and mental strength by the
poisonous drink. The deprivation OF a
nation OF It's territory upon the ground
that "might Is right" The enforcing Of
narrow sectarian beliefs at the muzzle OF
the cannon, by social ostricism Or by
All are breaches of the law; the motives
are selfish.
The various Christian sects accept the
bible as the word of God. There they
read"there is one God and father OF ALL
What possible excuse then IS there for
this widespread competition to get the
better Of our brother; to cause him sui
fering? If you believe the bible why not
apply it's plain teachings to daily life?
We live in this world for the purpose OF
gaining experience of all that life can
teach us; not in one body or in one
country; but the Immortality of the
soul has brought US into many bodies,
among different races, ages and develop
ments. in this way the results Of each
life returns to US in the future one. and
the interests of mankind are identical
instead of antagonistlc. An apprecia
ton 0f this fact must in time enable
men to realize that brotherhood is not
a vague ideal but a living actually in
nature.
"For mankind ls one in spirit and in
instinct bears along
Round the earth's electric circle the
swift flash of right or wrong;
Whether conscious or unconscious, yet
humanlties vast frame
Through it's ocean sounded fibres feels
the gush OF Joy or shame.
In the gain or loss of one race all the
rest have equal claim"
Howell.
Brotherhood teaches that the soul ia
the only real and permanent part OF