oseph H. Hannen

The doctrines and creed of this church, so capably expressed by its
revered minister, are truly commendable, sanctified and worthy of praise
and glorification, for these precepts are opposed to the deep-rooted
religious prejudices of the day. It is evident that prejudices arising
from adherence to religious forms and imitation of ancestral beliefs have
hindered the progress of humanity thousands of years. How many wars and
battles have been fought, how much division, discord and hatred have been
caused by this form of prejudice! But inasmuch as this century is a
century of the revelation of reality--praise be to God!--the thoughts of men
are being directed toward the welfare and unity of humanity. Daily the
mirage of imitations is passing away, and the ocean of truth is surging
more tumultuously. All the existing nations had a divine foundation of
truth or reality originally, which was intended to be conducive to the
unity and accord of mankind, but the light of that reality gradually
became obscured. The darkness of superstitions and imitations came and
took its place, binding the world of humanity in the chains and fetters of
ignorance. Enmity arose among men, increasing to such an extent that
nation strove against nation in hatred and violence. War has been a
religious and political human heritage.

Now it is enough! We must investigate reality. We must put away these
superstitions. It is a self-evident truth that all humanity is the
creation of God. All are His servants and under His protection. All are
recipients of His bestowals. God is kind to all His servants. At most it
is this: that some are ignorant; they must be educated in order that they
may become intelligent. Some are immature as children; they must be aided
and assisted in order that they may become mature. Some are sick and
ailing; they must be healed. But the suffering patient must not be tested
by false treatment. The child must not be warped and hindered in its
development. The ignorant must not be restricted by censure and criticism.
We must look for the real, true remedy.

All the Prophets of God, including Jesus Christ, appeared in the world for
the education of humanity, to develop immature souls into maturity, to
transform the ignorant of mankind into the knowing, thereby establishing
love and unity through divine education and training. The Prophets have
not come to cause discord and enmity. For God has wished all good for Hi