solitary life. Without the fellowship of others, like an isolated coal he soon ceases to glow and burn. Very few can remain for a long time in a white heat of enthusiasm. The flames die down, the warmth disappears unless the fires are kept replenished. Brainard's prayer was "O that I could be a flame of fire in the service of my God." (Text.)
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See Christianity, Social.
Social Faults—See Difficulties, Social.
SOCIAL INSTINCTS IN BIRDS
On one occasion Mr. Leander Keyser's
several cages of birds were moved from
one porch to another on the other side of the
house. The jay's cage, being too big for
the new quarters, was left behind, when at
once the bird began to express his dissatisfaction
and loneliness. All day he rushed
about his cage, calling in the most pitiful
way. The next morning he was no more
reconciled, and showed so plainly by every
look and motion his unhappiness that a place
was made for him near the others. The
moment he saw them he gave a cry of delight,
his calls ceased, he chirped and twittered,
and was his happy self again.—Olive
Thorne Miller, "The Bird Our Brother."
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SOCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE
There was once a rich man who lived in a
certain village. The people were pleased to
have this man of influence among them.
The only fault that they found with him
was that he was selfish. It did not trouble
him if his neighbors were poor or sick or
out of work or in trouble. What was that
to him? It only added to his position of
superiority. He could import his edibles.
He could hire foreign labor. But one day
a family was stricken with a contagious disease
induced by their poverty and poor food.
The village was quarantined. He went to a
gardener for vegetables but the cut worms
had made the garden fail. He went to the
poultry-dealer for eggs, but his hens were
not laying well. He went to the farmer for
fruit, but the drought had injured his vines.
Then the rich man began to realize the relation
between himself and his fellow man.
If trouble came to his neighbor, he could
not escape its blight. It was then that he
became truly humble and began to love his
neighbor as himself.
It is as true in our moral and spiritual life as it is in our physical life. The sin that blasts our neighbor's character will sooner or later cast its shadow upon us, live we ever so blameless. No one can live his life apart from his neighbors. (Text.)
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SOCIAL PROGRESS
"The farmers' telephone was a boon
during heavy and unprecedented snows,"
says The Electrical World and Engineer,
"and many interesting uses are reported in
New York State in places where many roads
were blocked with drifts over ten feet deep.
Hemmed in so that they could not see a
neighbor for weeks, farmers have been able
to converse with their friends and thus keep
in touch with the world." (Text.)
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See Economic Motives.
SOCIAL RELIGION
Only the selfish man could wish to go to heaven alone. The door of life is always closed to the man who is not helping some other man on his journey.
A priest had a striking dream. He
dreamed he had ascended the ladder that
reached from earth to heaven. Expectantly
he knocked upon the door. Some one responded,
and demanded, "Who is there?"
Proudly the priest called his name. "Who
is with you?" came the reply. "No one,"
answered the priest; "I am alone." "Sorry,"
said the angel, "but we are instructed never
to open these gates for a single individual."
And, crestfallen and disappointed, he descended
to earth.
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SOCIAL STRENGTH
A constant struggle is going on in nature,
and those animals best adapted to their conditions
will be the ones to survive and transmit
their superior characteristics to subsequent
generations. This is natural selection.
This same law governed man in his early
history, and in almost the same way as it
governs the brute kingdom. From the time
that the tribal relation is established among
men the struggle for existence ceases to
be one of individuals and becomes one of
tribes. It little profits an individual to be
strong if he belongs to a weak tribe; it little
profits a tribe to be composed of strong individuals
if they fail to work in harmony
with each other. Natural selection will still
preserve the strongest, but it will be the
strongest tribe. It is mutual trust, fidelity,
honesty, concert in action, patriotism, dis-
