The spiritual life

162 TheSpiritual Life.

pictureswherebyeveryone of usis constantly

affectinghisbrothers. Inourspirits,aboveall,

and on every'plane of life,brotherhood exists

asfact.

Anditmustberemembered,indealingwith

this brotherhood, that the word is meant to

implyeverythingthatit means mwhatwecall

the closest relationships of dailylife. Weare

aptto make a distinction between brethren in

churchesandthoseoutside. Weshouldfollow

in that which we preach of, if it is that real

brotherhoodoflovethatwedesireamongstmen.

Sometimesitissaidthatbyceasingtolovethe

nearest we shall grow to love impersonal

humanity. Itisnotso. Thelife of loveisa

growth upward, an expansion ever widening,

growing out from the family tothe city,from

thecitytothestate;fromthenationtohumanity.

Itdoes not beginby dwarfing the love of the

home. Itstarts there anditcarriesonall the

passions-the passion and the pity that the

motherfeelsforthechildofherownbody,and

extends that love toembrace everychild and

sonofman-notbycooling down love,butby

strengtheningandwideningitout.

Thusisbrotherhoodtogrowand theraceto

becomepractically,asitisessentially,one. For

it is these relationships that teach the wider