CONCENTRATION MANIFESTS CONDITION The concentration on a specific condition causes that condition to manifest according to the thought force expended. Fear of disease or calamity culminates in the experience of that condition. If thought forces are directed aright our hopes will be realized to the full extent of the ideal. We can tread the foam with the bravery of a master-with no fear of obstacles, breakers, clouds or environment; we can tread the pathway of righteousness strewn with the flowers of fragrant loveliness; we can walk along the banks of the rivers of life. Characterized by the absence of weeping willows, we can drink of the water of life as it sparkles with invigoration and refreshment. We can pluck from the tree of life the ambrosial fruit of harmony and sympathy. We all know the warmth of love, the sweetness of charity, the brightness of virtue and the steadfastness of self-realization and power. We will see the good and not the evil, the virtue and not the vice. We will close the mind to all things that do not possess the attributes of love and purity; we will esteem worth alone. Every flower will have odor; all fruit Faith and force are the same in sub will have flavor; every star will be veiled in brightness; every tree will blush beneath a mantle of beauty. The world will be brought into harmony with self; love will be the supreme ruler; friendship will be exercised, not as an accompaniment to wealth and fame, but for its own sake; thoughts will be directed in the way of purity, fidelity, courage, confidence, determination and assurance. We will attain to the best, the grandest, the most noble traits of character-will have a knowing realization of our own power, divinity and allness with the universe of stance. -The Christian. THE KINGDOM FOR THE SOUL There is a kingdom on the earth, though it is not of it—a kingdom wider than the bounds of the earth, though they were rolled together as finest gold and spread by the beating of hammers. Its existence is a fact, as our hearts are facts, and we journey through it without seeing it; nor shall any man see it until he hath first shown his own soul; for this kingdom is not for him, but for his soul.— From Ben Hur. THE VOICE OF THE SILENCE The voice of the Silence is heard in Jesus, we read, often withdrew from the crowd and retired to a lonely place. If the Master found it well to be alone stillness. That voice may be heard by in order to more clearly hear His God's If us if we but quiet our own voice. we but close our eyes and ears to the outer world, enter the closet-retreat to the inner chamber of the soul-and close the door upon the confusion of the world, then may we hold sweet communion with our God, and we may learn to live in the consciousness of that heavenly Presence. Our great poets caught their inspiration when they put themselves in the right attitude-when they silenced the outer. Longfellow realized that we must get still to hear the voice of God, and in appreciation of the Silence he wrote: "Let us labor then for an inward still ness, voice, how much more do we need this silent communion, that we may learn to know the real and eternal? "The kingis within. Be still and follow this light, dom of God is within you." The light and step by step the kingdom will be revealed to you; for now the kingdom of heaven is at hand-is attainable here and now. We do not gain heaven by dying, but by right thinking, which leads to right living. Heaven is a state or condition of mind, and all, from the least to the greatest, may drink of the Water of Life freely. It is not necessary that we go off to colleges and seminaries to learn about God. Some of the most spiritual An inward stillness and an inward heal- people today are plowing corn or taking THE HORSE'S VACATION I'm going to have a vacation; I don't know where it will be; I know it's away from the city, And that is enough for me. They say I shall roam in pastures, I'm going to leave off my harness; LIBERTY Liberty should be carefully guarded and an improper construction to the term be avoided. Grave dangers may attend the possession of liberty, especially a superficial apprehension of the term. Liberty, as defined by our Constitution and courts of law, is freedom from interference from others. But it also means to guard, and guard well, against the interference in the rights of others. Liberty is a priceless boon we must prize and teach others to prize, for it comes to us from the God-spirit. It has a moral and spiritual element and calls for the highest expression of intelligence. Failing in its true conception, men become bestial, selfish and overbearing. Liberty is license to them to do as they I shall dip my nose in the water pasture Where I for a time shall stay. There are trees with wide-spreading To shelter me from the sun; I shall sleep at night in the open, With stars shining over my head; The air blowing fresh in my nostrils. And the soft grass for my bed. Good-by to the hard city pavements, To feedbags and stuffy stable I'm going away from town. I'm going to have a vacation, The first one I've ever had; Do you wonder that I am glad? they please. Is such "liberty" a gift from Spirit? God forbid! It is ignorant selfishness running riot. Liberty is responsibility. We must maintain the good we have attained. We must conserve our high ideals of manhood. We must grant every one else the privilege of thinking and acting for themselves. As we do for others, and love others, so will others love us and gladly do for us. We will find our happiness in working for the uplift of mankind.Mrs. T. I. Shelton. "These are the gifts I ask Good cheer to help me bear the traveler's load, And, for the hours of rest that come be tween, An inward joy in all things heard and seen." THE HIDDEN SPRING Hidden from view, and clogged by earth and grass, There lay a living spring, unseen, Its worth unrecognized, because unknown. A man to thought much given, quick to see, Wandering o'er the marshy ground, Discovered it, and stopped and mused. Forthwith he set to work and digged about To find its source, and, having found, Revealing thus a living spring, Nearby the spring a highway ran, These, passing in review before Within their reach the boon so craved. Lo, hollowing out the spring and clearing it, He walled it up with stone and made A gourd, old-fashioned, homely, yet Bringing to them sweet memories dear The tired pedestrian on his way, For greed of gold, for lust of power, To all who wished to quench their thirst; No power the deed did bring, save that Oh, love that "vaunteth not itself," That "seeketh not its own," "no evil thinks," That "envieth not," long-suffering is and kind, When thy pure, peaceful reign is felt, The Lord shall no one hurt and none destroy." Then "nation shall not lift up sword 'Gainst sister nations," neither shall they Learn the art of war. This is the love he felt who cleansed The spring to give the thirsty traveler drink. He gave "a cup of water in His name," Who said that such should have their just reward. -Elizabeth H. Coale, Holder, Ill., in Bloomington Pantagraph. If a silvery laugh goes rippling By a friendly, helping hand, Scatter thus your seeds of kindness, IF YOU HAVE A FRIEND WORTH Leave them. Trust the Harvest-Giver; LOVING If you have a friend worth loving, Love him. Yes, and let him know That you love him, ere life's evening Tinge his brow with sunset glow. Why should good words ne'er be said. Of a friend-till he is dead? If you hear an air that thrills you, Sung by any child of song, Praise it. Do not let the singer Wait deserved praises long. Why should one that thrills your heart Lack the joy you may impart? If you hear a prayer that moves you Bow before his God alone. Why should not your brother share The strength of "two or three" in prayer? If you see the hot tears falling From a brother's weeping eyes, Share them. And by kindly sharing Own your kinship in the skies. Why should any one be glad When a brother's heart is sad? He will make each seed to grow. So, until the happy end, Your life shall never lack a friend. -Alice Cary. GIVE WAY Shall we not open the human heart, Swing the doors till the hinges start, Stop our worrying, doubt and din, Hunting heaven and dodging sin? There is no need to search so wide; Open the door and stand aside. Let God in! Shall we not open the human heart, Can He be held in our narrow rim, Shall we not open the human heart, |