accepted His
teachings are lovers of peace, peacemakers ready to sacrifice their lives
and expend their possessions for it. Now let this standard be upraised in
the West, and many will respond to the call. America has become renowned
for her discoveries, inventions and artistic skill, famous for equity of
government and stupendous undertakings; now may she also become noted and
celebrated as the herald and messenger of universal peace. Let this be her
mission and undertaking, and may its blessed impetus spread to all
countries. I pray for all of you that you may render this service to the
world of humanity.

13 May 1912
Talk at Reception by New York Peace Society
Hotel Astor, New York

Notes by Esther Foster

Although I felt indisposed this afternoon, yet because I attach great
importance to this assembly and was longing to see your faces, I have
come. The expression of kindly feelings and the spirit of hospitality
manifested by the former speakers are most grateful. I am thankful for the
susceptibilities of your hearts, for it is an evidence that your greatest
desire is the establishment of international peace. You are lovers of the
oneness of humanity, seekers after the good pleasure of the Lord,
investigators of the foundations of the divine religions.

Today there is no greater glory for man than that of service in the cause
of the Most Great Peace. Peace is light, whereas war is darkness. Peace is
life; war is death. Peace is guidance; war is error. Peace is the
foundation of God; war is a satanic institution. Peace is the illumination
of the world of humanity; war is the destroyer of human foundations. When
we consider outcomes in the world of existence, we find that peace and
fellowship are factors of upbuilding and betterment, whereas war and
strife are the causes of destruction and disintegration. All created
things are expressions of the affinity and cohesion of elementary
substances, and nonexistence is the absence of their attraction and
agreement. Various elements unite harmoniously in composition, but when
these elements become discordant, repelling each other, decomposition and
nonexistence result. Everything partakes of this nature and is subject to
this principle, for the creative foundation in all its degrees and
kingdoms is an expression or outcome of love. Consider the restlessness
and agitation of the human world today because of war. Peace is health and
construction; war is disease and