WITHOUT attempting to discuss the evolutionary processes through which the human Ego has passed in its journey from states of least consciousness, on up to the seeming miracle of self-consciousness which lifts it above and distinguishes it from the lower forms of animal life, Jet us proceed to consider man upon the plane of his present state of being, as a sentient, self-conscious entity possessing latent within him all the God-like attributes of the AllGood. Of a being possessing a body, mind and soul, a perfect vehicle through which can and may be expressed the Divine Will. A being made in the image and likeness of Divinity, a child of the living God, a center of conscious life, of thought and of will. Possessing all the potentialities of unfoldment of these attributes unto the highest. A being projected forth to express the Divine Will in its myriad forms; walking in the "light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world," bringing with it the splendid inheritance of all past experiences with the ever present urge of unfolding consciousness welling up from the center of being, possessing a mind out of which proceeds powers of discernment, reason and judgment. The mastery of this mighty instrument of thought is the key to life.

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”

This being true, thought measures the progress of the Ego on its eternal journey toward Godhood.

Is it not all important that our thoughts should ever be constructive instead of destructive, kindly instead of unkindly, pure instead of impure and of love instead of hatred?

That man should understand himself and his relationship to the eternal universe that surrounds him is the purpose of life. Life being conditioned in action the soul presses onward and upward ever seeking at-one-ment with the source of its being. whilst personal man upon the plane of desire seeks expression upon the material or objective plane, and mind-man, the thinker, seeks to apprehend, to understand, to comprehend the problems of life as he finds them facing him upon every hand.

To bring into perfect accord, into perfect harmony all of the functions of his being is the life-task of man, the thinker.

As “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," so eternal endeavor is the price of progress. As the Ego enters the path of self-consciousness, enters the estate of man, he begins to preceive that certain attitudes of thought invariably produce certain results possessing and reflecting all of the attributes and qualities of the thoughts that bring them into form. The exploitation of these realms has taught man to discriminate between the false and the true, between the harmonious and the inharmonious, between the constructive and destructive attitude of mind and thought. It has taught him that fear produces fear not only in his own mind, but in the minds of others; that doubt increases doubt: that fear and doubt are negative forces that destroy peace of mind and paralyze action. He finds, upon the other hand, that the exercise of the positive attributes of faith, hope. love and courage, invariably dispel doubt and fear and restore harmony and peace and point the way to ultimate triumph toward the realization of his Ideals.

Thus we find that constructive thinking is the royal pathway leading ever onward and upward. We find that the practise of optimism enlarges the scope of our vision, increases the measures of our activities and places us in harmony with all of the creative forces of the universe.

Let us consider ourselves as having entered upon an eternal journey out of the eternity of the past, we have our faces set toward the eternity of the future, each individual entity of us, whatever may be our relative position upon the spiral course of evolution, each soul is the center of the universe unto itself. Let us consider that where we stand, others have stood, and still others will stand. when we shall have mounted higher. And as we gaze upon the heights and see our elders far up on the ladder with faces still set toward the eternal goal, let no thought of envy possess us. And again, as we gaze downward upon our younger brothers and sisters. who have not yet reached the same rung of the ladder upon which we stand. let us extend our hands to them with love and compassion. to the end that as we are lifted up. we will draw all others unto us. Let us strive to compete with ourselves. not with other personalities. not with other individuals: to excel others is not worth while. does not bring progress and peace to us nor to them. but to excel ourselves brings lasting triumph and abiding satisfaction. is indeed true competition.

As we mount the heights of accomplishment, as we more and more realize the purpose of life, as the vista of our ultimate destiny more fully dawns upon us, as we come into conscious possession of the imperishable heritage of God's love, wisdom and power, working in and through us, to express and make manifest the Divine Will, as we draw nearer to at-one-ment with the source of our being, as we realize upon each successive plane of action the fruition of our ideals and gain therefrom inspiration for ideals far beyond, as we gather ourselves the priceless gifts of the Father so richly bestowed, upon all those who love Him, as we move forward in the perfect light and wisdom of His way, our example and influence will inspire others to follow until the whole human race will be lifted up in its consciousness to undreamed of realms of joy and of glory.