Chapter VI: World Citizens

[E]PRECEPTS FOR WORLD CITIZENS

Never allow the glory of the world vision to keep you from performing
your daily duty, be it humble or great; remembering that you are a
part of the whole and that the fullness of the world's life will
not be expressed if one member of the body fails to perform its
function. Remember that vision is worthless unless it helps you to
take hold of the handle of service with a firm grasp and a new
enthusiasm; but also that it is necessary to enter into the spirit
of the world vision a few moments at the dawn of each day.

* * * * *

Do not be deceived into looking upon national bigotry as patriotism. For
the interests of humanity are always primary to the interests of the
nation. What is good for the whole world is good for each continent
and government.

* * * * *

Begin to urge a national individualism among established nations which
insists less on rights and more on duties; which recognizes that the
greed for territory is the "original sin of the nations." God
divided the world into nations so that they might help, not destroy
each other; and when they admit this they will begin to inaugurate
essential world democracy.

* * * * *

Cultivate the spirit of "give and take"; recognizing that there is good
to be absorbed from other nations into the international life as
well as from your own.

Do not labor for a world peace which is to depend on "treaties, or
skillful diplomacy or mutual fear and equal preparedness for war;"
but for one which is based "on the common interests and sympathies
and on the mutual needs and services of a world organism, in which
each nation is a member of a world body-politic."

* * * * *

Urge a more mature development of an international conscience;
remembering that an ethical standard can be established for the
world as it was evolved from the individual to the tribal and then
to the national standard of ethics.

* * * * *

Do not forget that a man of another race is not a different kind of
animal than yourself. For one has well said: "The strangest thing to
me is that people who are so different are so much alike."

* * * * *

Encourage the spread of the new knowledge which has given to us a
clearer understanding of disease and through eugenics a vital
interest in those racial qualities which shall improve future
generations, remembering that when the bodies and minds of the races
are at their best they will be more open to reason and more cordial
to the spirit of harmony among the nations.

* * * * *

Do not be too much alarmed about the talk of foreign labor, or
interracial marriage. But take up the torch of enlightenment and
fulfill today's duty, remembering that in due time the co-operative
council of the Occidental and Oriental mind will see that all
problems are justly solved according to the best interests of the
whole race.

* * * * *

Insist that as soon as possible there be inaugurated a permanent
international court at the Hague, which shall be endowed with the
power to act as well as discuss, in behalf of the interests of the
whole world.

* * * * *

Finally, put on the whole armor of a faith in a deity which is not
tribal nor national but the God of humanity, that you may be able to
defeat prejudice. Stand, therefore, having your manhood girt about
with a broad intelligence; having on the breastplate of
righteousness wrought from the essential morality of the races.
Having your feet shod with the gospel of world peace, your judgment
made discreet with the gospel of contact and your soul made heroic
for service by an invincible faith in a better humanity, such as was
possessed by the Son of Man.

BEAUTITUDES FOR WORLD STATESMEN

Blessed are the poor in spirit. For in leaving the prejudice of
restricted nationalism they will gain the inspiration of the world
view and possess more of the kingdom of heaven.

* * * * *

Blessed are the meek, those possessing the childlike but world view
point of Christ, for they shall inherit the environment of the
earth.

* * * * *

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness. For the
ethics of true religion is to be sifted from the chaff of
superstition, and righteousness is to cover the whole earth as the
waters cover the seas.

* * * * *

Blessed are the merciful nations. For they shall obtain mercy in return
from other nations, and learn that impulsive retaliation is too
costly and that patient and honorable conciliation makes for world
peace and national prosperity.

* * * * *

Blessed are the peacemakers. For now that the nations have entered
through the united seas into a neighborhood; they--by encouraging
disarmament and teaching the gospel of contact as well as good
will--will hasten the day when the nations can live together without
war in the spirit of council and peace.

* * * * *

Blessed is he who is persecuted by people whose minds are filled with
race prejudice, national pride and selfishness; for he has
discovered the secret of seeing good in all nationalities, of
detecting the soul behind the color, and shall be honored by
humanity as a pioneer of international brotherhood.

* * * * *

Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for so persecuted they Him who
said "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature." Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in
heaven and in the councils of the world.

* * * * *

Blessed are the pure in heart. For they shall see God as transcendant
and immanent in the resurrected Christ. They shall find His spirit
in all life and behold His glory wherever they journey throughout
the wide world.

* * * * *

Blessed is this noble brotherhood of manly souls. For ye are not only
the salt of the school, the city, the state and nation; but also of
the earth. Yours is not the light of bigoted patriotism. But ye are
the light of the world. And your city placed upon a hill cannot be
hid.

* * * * *

Blessed are these pathfinders who do not fear the seas, for they have
discovered that the very waters are resolutely moving toward
freedom; and they are being led forward by a pillar of light into
the promised land of the essentially unified races.

THE WORLD'S NEIGHBORHOOD

Remember that a new world neighborhood has been created, bringing
important points on the globe into closer proximity by one-half to
two-thirds of the former distance, through the short route of the
Panama Canal.

* * * * *

Therefore, a new commandment is given to each nation, namely, "to love
thy neighbor as thyself," by entering by thought and co-operation
into such policies as will make for the best interest of the entire
new world neighborhood.

* * * * *

Do not think that other nations are unapproachable. But remember that
North and South America, with all Europe, "are more closely related
in point of time and common interests than were the original
Thirteen States when the necessities of commerce forced them to form
the compact of the Union; that the two geographical extremes of the
colonies were as far separated as Berlin and the Barbary States or
as London and the Black Sea."

* * * * *

Do not think that the short route through the canal is merely a path for
commerce's ships, or only a highway for navies or state dignitaries;
but remember also that it is a short route to the Hague and
international congresses.

* * * * *

And do not fail to recall that brave men opened up this international
highway--not through forests or smoking prairies, but through
mountains, swamps, rocks and hills--in order to hasten the day of
essential world democracy.

* * * * *

So think clearly enough and you will surely see that the completion of
the Panama Canal is virtually the discovery of a basis of essential
world unity. He who walks by land or sails by sea can now read the
will of God.

* * * * *

With increasing numbers we are now arriving at the day that Whitman
speaks of in the following words:

"The main shapes arise!
Shapes of democracy total, result of centuries
Shapes ever projecting other shapes,
Shapes of turbulent manly cities,
Shapes of the friends and home-givers of the whole earth,
Shapes bracing the earth and braced by the whole earth."

* * * * *

The key that is in tune with all other keys of its own instrument is in
tune with all harmony on the earth. And the man that has attuned his
life to justice and liberty in the community in which he lives is in
accord with freemen in every land, loves the vision of world-wide
liberty and prays for its realization.

* * * * *

Tagore, the Hindu poet, says: "I have learned though our tongues are
different and our habits dissimilar, at the bottom our hearts are
one. The monsoon clouds, generated on the banks of the Nile,
fertilize the far distant shores of the Ganges; ideas may have to
cross from east to western shores to find a welcome in men's hearts.
East is east and west is west--God forbid that it should be
otherwise--but the twain must meet in amity, peace and mutual
understanding; and their meeting will be all the more fruitful
because of their differences; it must lead to holy wedlock before
the common altar of humanity."

FOOTNOTE:

[E] I am indebted to Josiah Strong for some of the suggestions in these precepts.