I hope they may make extraordinary progress and
become renowned for their virtues.

The issue of paramount importance in the world today is international
peace. The European continent is like an arsenal, a storehouse of
explosives ready for ignition, and one spark will set the whole of Europe
aflame, particularly at this time when the Balkan question is before the
world. Even now war is raging furiously in some places, the blood of
innocent people is being shed, children are made captive, women are left
without support, and homes are being destroyed. Therefore, the greatest
need in the world today is international peace. The time is ripe. It is
time for the abolition of warfare, the unification of nations and
governments. It is the time for love. It is time for cementing together
the East and the West.

Inasmuch as the Californians seem peace loving and possessed of great
worthiness and capacity, I hope that advocates of peace may daily increase
among them until the whole population shall stand for that beneficent
outcome. May the men of affairs in this democracy uphold the standard of
international conciliation. Then may altruistic aims and thoughts radiate
from this center toward all other regions of the earth, and may the glory
of this accomplishment forever halo the history of this country. May the
first flag of international peace be upraised in this state. May the first
illumination of reality shine gloriously upon this soil. May this center
and capital become distinguished in all degrees of accomplishment, for the
virtues of humanity and the possibilities of human advancement are
boundless. There is no end to them, and whatever be the degree to which
humanity may attain, there are always degrees beyond. There is no
attainment in the contingent realm of which it may be said, "Beyond this
state of being and perfection there is no other," or "This has achieved
the superlative degree." No matter how perfect it may appear, there is
always a greater degree of attainment to be reached. Therefore, no matter
how much humanity may advance, there are ever higher stations to be
attained because virtues are unlimited. There is a consummation for
everything except virtues, and although this country has achieved
extraordinary progress, I hope that its attainment may be immeasurably
greater, for the divine bounties are infinite and unlimited.

There are some who believe that the divine bounties are subject to
cessation. For ex