rations we
assure ourselves that we are a great people because we have here so
many acres, so many millions of bushels of corn and of wheat, so high
wages, so vast financial resources. We are living in the glut of
things and setting these things as the end of living.

All this does not mean that prosperity is wrong; it does not mean that
misery or poverty is a virtue. The danger is not in our many acres,
our high wages, our millions of money; the danger is that these are the
ends instead of the means; that we are existing for our living; that we
make the man the tool of his money instead of the money being the
making of the man.

Every man has in his breast the keys to his own heaven. If he will he
may find the riches of character; he may enter into the paradise of a
mind at peace; he may taste of the divine joys of serving his fellows;
he may, in thought, commune with all the good and great; he may hear
the morning stars sing together.

The eternal crown of glory is the crown of character. The streets
paved with gold are the fair, clear ways of virtue. The harps of whose
music we never weary are the strings of sympathy and love and pain;
these make the heavenly harmony. The angels are in the faces we learn
to love. These make heaven when we see them in the light of the
presence of eternal love.

XVI

Truth and Life

_Religion of a Practical Mind_
_The Head and the Heart_
_New Truths for New Days_

_A life is an empty lamp without the oil of love._

_The only way to have happiness as a permanent guest is to keep your
door open to the helpless._

_Self shrinks the soul._

_It is much easier to get interested in art doilies for Hottentots than
it is to be simply human to the washerwoman at home._

_Whoever helps us to think kindly of another aids the coming of the
kingdom of heaven._

_You are not likely to cheer the hearts of men by looking down in the
mouth yourself._

_No man climbs to the Father by treading on his brother._

_Many things may keep you from the triumphs of life but only
selfishness can keep you from the victories of love._

_The child of heaven always sees something of heaven in the child._

_There are too many people trying to clean up the world by scalding
their neighbours._

XVI

RELIGION OF A PRACTICAL MIND

Is there a faith for the practically minded man and woman? Or is
religion exclusively for the dreamers and those who are contented with
senti