THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1025, 19 October 1903, Page 2

THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.

Miss Lilian Edger lectured last night in the 'Theatre Royal on “ The Brotherhood of Man” to a largo audience. The Mayor was in the chair.

In the course of her lecture, which was delivered with a clearness and precision, and with an intellectual and logical power seldom heard in this town, Miss JSdger showed that brotherhood wa3 the ideal to be aimed at. She showed that modern scientific discoveries of Professor William Crookes, who has reduced the elements to a common atom called protyle, and of Professor Bose, whose remarkable experiments on stimulus to the living and the non-living that there was a common life and intelligence permeating all things, that there was no dividing line between organic and inorganic matter; that there was a common origin of all things; that man was no exception to the rule, Bach man is to be regarded as a ray from the central sun, and in another sense as a seed containing the divine life in latency, waiting to be evolved into the perfect tree. That men were working towards one common goal—the oneness with the Supreme. Man was made in the,image of God—the difference in one man and another was one of age not of quality. Some formed the baby-souls who were at play in the world, realising the things of sense only the latest novelties, and had no thoughts of the eternal. Thero were the growing-souls, who worked through suffering to find out the lessons of life. There were the gtown- | souls, who were the elder brothers of huI manity, who had gone through every form ; of suffering and experience and triumphed. The duty of the elder brothers was to help, on tho younger to evolve to perfection. The right point of view was to regard the world as a manifestation of God revealing Himself in numberless forms, each expressing a different aspect of life. Man can be compared to a pia-yer in a great orchestra with his part to play, and to be played with that subordination intended to make a perfect harmony. As each man does his duty and plays his part perfectly, so he begins to hear the vastness and the greater harmony of the whole. Apply this to practical life; there can be no neutral position. Man, if not a helper of man must be a hinderer. His duty lies in making his atmosphere pure and true, and to radiate peace and joy. For an hour and a quarter Miss Edger held tho attention of her audience. Tonight she is announced elsewhere to give her second lecture on " The Helpers of Humanity,"