Evening star., 1924-08-29

the guiding power of Providence.
We do not yet understand many Of
its ways. Whatever may appear to
be the temporary power of evil, 1T Is
always overcome by the greater, per-
manent power of good. Not to hold
this faith appears to me to attempt
to fight against the stars in their
courses. Such resistance must end in
destruction. Faith in God is the be-
ginning of religion.
TT is not necessary to refer to the
desirability or my belief in the gen.
eral prevalence of common sense.
Fellowship IN Required.
1T is perfectly evident that the
development of humanity requires
fellowship. The great effort of civil
ization is to provide the right to
come into fellowship among all the
individuals of the human race. 1t
has been and can be somewhat aided
by legislation, but in the main 1T
must be worked out and provided by
the people themselves. 1t is not so
much a rule of law as an attitude of
mind. We cannot improve our con-
dition without sympathy. friendship.
love and cooperation. In one way
or another we are all the recipients
of benevolence and charity. We
could not even exist without them.
These are the spiritual elements of
human relationship which need con-
slant cultivation and improvement.
This is not visionary, 1T is intensely
practical. Without these sentiments.
which find their most complete ex-
preston around the domestic fireside.
no home could be made, no family
could be reared, no nation could be
established.
"A definite and practical standard
of action for the promotion of hu-
man fellowship was stated in the
Sermon on the Mount with clear
ness and precision that have never
been surpassed. 1t has come down to
us through all the generations as the
golden rule of human conduct.
Therefore all things whatsoever
ye would that men should do to you
do ye even SO to them; for this is the
law and the prophets We must
always consider the other fellow.
This is a perfect expression of the
fraternal ideal.
No Satixfaction in Ease.
Il have referred to these as home
ly virtues. They are known OF all
men. Undoubtedly they seem COM
monplace. 1t has been related 10
me that some one asked Henry Ward
Beecher if he did not think Christian
ity had been failure. He replied
that he could not tell, as it had
never been tried. Before we hastily
conclude that we can disregard the
value of industry, thrift, loyalty.
common sense, faith and the golden
rule as adequate remedies for much
that society desires to correct we
might well remember that they. too,
have never been fully tried. We
ora a1x !,
that is new and we are likely to be
impressed with whatever promises
to make existence easier. But there
are no satisfactionS in a life of ease.
No substitutes have ever yet been
found for these virtues. There can
be no substitutes. They do not re-
quire any elaborate preparation in
order to be put into operation. They
do not rely for their use or effect
upon any act of Congress or official
sanction of the Government. They
have that tremendous practical ad-
vantage of being here, now and al
ways within the reach of all of US.
II believe that herein will be found
to very large degree the real sat
isfactions of life. All Of us can, if
we will, become partakers of them.
1t all depends on ourselves for no one
can act for US. I do not wish to be
because L believe in
these I would not have it thought
believe in nothing else or suppose
that in our social and political rela-
tions many other things do not need
to be done. But these are funda-
mental and necessary, they always
work Before we conclude that the
times are altogether out of joint. that
all our institutions have proven
failure, that we must have an entire
new order of things. we ought to be
certain that we have fully avaiIed
ourselves of the advantage of the
observance of these simple, elemental.