_The power of mere activity is often overrated. It is not what the best men do, but what they are, that const.i.tutes their truest benefaction to their fellowmen. The things that men do get their value, after all, from the way in which they are able to show the existence of character which can comfort and help mankind.... It is the lives, like the stars, which simply pour down on us the calm light of their bright and faithful being, up to which we look and out of which we gather the deepest calm and courage._

PHILLIPS BROOKS.

Thou knowest, dear Father, how often we wish to do many things which are beyond our power. Help us to believe that Thou dost accept the wish when we cannot do the deed. But we thank Thee that we can do some things, though they are not large nor many. We know that as we grow in faith, in patience, in courage, in love, we radiate light and peace and power to those who are around us. As we begin a new day, we are uplifted by the thought that we have been called into being because Thou desirest the love of children, and because we are to co-work with Thee by loving and serving all whom we can reach. Always, we believe, art Thou ready to help us. Always art Thou brooding over us to draw us nearer to Thee, and to give us light and strength to be fellow-workers with Thee. In this new day, may we speak some word and do some work which shall please Thee and give us joy as we shall lie down to sleep. Amen.

HENRY BLANCHARD.

January 23

_We pride ourselves, in weighing worth and merit, Too much in virtues that we but inherit.

Some punctual grandsire makes us hate delay And we are proud to keep our oath and day.

But our ancestral follies and abuses We still indulge in, and make for them excuses.

Let him be proud, dared man be proud at all, Who stands where all his fathers used to fall, Holding their virtues fast and pa.s.sing on Still higher good through his own victories won._

ISAAC OGDEN RANKIN.

This morning, the sun shines by his own inherent worth. The clouds often intercept his influence but he shines back of them and finds a way through the slightest cleft to tip them with glory. He always reveals himself--his inner self--and makes all purer and more beautiful. May we so shine! The world needs the divinity there is in us. We are a part of Thee. Thou art our deeper self. The Nazarean prophet relied entirely upon his inner life and found ancient good uncouth. Whatever clouds intercept our influence, teach us to reveal what conscience dictates, what intuition illumines, what reason shows, to purify our time, and all unrighteousness, wrong thinking and useless and hurtful custom. To this end, give us purity, courage, and n.o.bility. Amen.

WILLIAM S. MORGAN.

January 24

_My faith begins where your religion ends,-- In service to mankind. This single thread Is given to guide us through the maze of life.

You start at one end, I the other; you, With eyes fixed only upon G.o.d, begin With lofty faith, and, seeking but to know And do His will who guides the universe, You find the slender and mysterious thread Leads down to earth, with G.o.d's divine command To help your fellowmen; but this to me Is something strangely vague. I see alone The fellowmen, the suffering fellowmen.

Yet, with a cup of water in my hand For all who thirst, who knows but I one day, Following faithfully the slender thread, May reach its other end, and kneel at last With you in heaven at the feet of G.o.d?_

ALICE WELLINGTON ROLLINS.

Our Father in heaven, author of life and light, justice and mercy, liberty and love, we hail with joy and grat.i.tude this new born day, token of Thy presence, good will and continued care. Help us with high ideals, pure thoughts and n.o.ble endeavors to hallow Thy name, trusting where we cannot prove, proving where we cannot trust, by a willing service to our fellowmen, ever advancing by faith, by works, with a strong heart, a firm step, a generous hand, a sunny smile, and a cheering voice, until we all come into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen.

HENRY N. COUDEN.

January 25

_If you would have sunlight in your home, see that you have work in it: that you work yourself and set others to work. Nothing makes moroseness and heavy-heartedness in a house so fast as idleness.

The very children gloom and sulk if they are left with nothing to do. Every day there is the light of something conquered in the eyes of those who work. In such a house, if there be also the good temper of love, sunshine never ceases. For in it the great law of humanity is obeyed, a law which is also G.o.d's law. For what said Christ, "My Father worketh hitherto and I work." Sunlight comes with work._

STOPFORD A. BROOKE.

O Thou, who art the source of light and life, we pause in Thy presence at the opening of the day, that in the light of thy countenance we may see ourselves as we are and as we ought to be, and receive the inspiration to consecrated effort and worthy achievement. We thank Thee that Thou hast done so much for us and yet left so much for us to do.

May we think how important are these lives we are going to live today; that no matter how small we are, this universe in all its majesty can never be complete without our effort, and Thou, Almighty G.o.d, art waiting with infinite patience for us to do our part. Thus shall our work, however humble, be glorified by a G.o.dlike temper and a Christlike faith. Amen.

FREDERICK A. BISBEE.

January 26

_All that is, at all, Lasts ever, past recall: Earth changes, but thy soul and G.o.d stand sure; What entered into thee, That was, is and shall be._

_He fixed thee 'mid this dance Of plastic circ.u.mstance, This Present, thou, forsooth, wouldst fain arrest; Machinery just meant To give thy soul its bent, Try thee, and turn thee forth, sufficiently impressed._

ROBERT BROWNING.

We thank Thee, O Father, for the yet unwrought possibilities of this day. Show us Thy purpose; or, if it please Thee, withhold the entire plan, yet may our faith claim a divine sanction for each hour's work as a part of the fulfilment of Thy purpose. We pray for strength and patience to have our souls rightly impressed by the cares, the joys, and disappointments of life. Make the things of the body only incidental to us. Save us from all but the best things. Give us the happiness of harmony with Thee. Wilt Thou grant these things through the power of Thy spirit, and in the name of Thy perfect Son, the vision of whom transforms our lives. Amen.

GEORGE W. OWEN.

January 27

_Beloved, let us love so well, Our work shall still be better for our love And still our love be sweeter for our work._

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.

_If your name is to live at all, it is so much more to have it live in people's hearts than only in their brains! I don't know that one's eyes fill with tears when he thinks of the famous inventor of logarithms, but a song of Burns or a hymn of Charles Wesley goes straight to your heart and you can't help loving both of them, the sinner as well as the saint._

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

Our Father, who art in heaven, help us to hold Thee in our hearts this day, that we may live for Thee, from the love of Thee. Forgive us that we have not always a thankful spirit. Strengthen our wills to do good work, as in Thy sight, with clean hands and heart. Help us now as we pray, and flood the morning with the sunshine of Thy face, that we may be glad all the day long, and bring other lives into the brightness of Thy light. Save us from a partial mind, that we may love all Thy little ones with the same love of Him who said "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Amen.

C. W. HOLDEN.

January 28

_All thoughts of ill; all evil deeds.

That have their root in thoughts of ill; Whatever hinders or impedes The n.o.ble action of the will;-- All these must first be trampled down Beneath our feet if we would gain In the bright fields of fair renown The right of eminent domain.

We have not wings, we cannot soar; But we have feet to scale and climb By slow degrees, by more and more, The cloudy summits of our time._

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.

We bless Thee, Lord, for the new day and for the new chance which it offers to our wayward lives. Forgive the evil in them, and make the good efficient. Let the tides of Thy spirit bring to us cleansing, refreshment and power. In the day's business may we be brave, cheerful and considerate. Grant us a clear vision of the path of honor and the will to choose it at whatever cost. We wait upon Thee for renewal of our strength; for uplift as on eagle's wings; for unwearied running upon Thy larger errands, if Thou shalt ordain us to such high employ; but most of all, for grace to walk life's common ways without fainting. So at evening wilt Thou send Thy peace. Amen.

EDWARD M. CHAPMAN.

January 29

_Don't you touch the edge of the great gladness that is in the world, now and then, in spite of your own little single worries?

Well, that's what G.o.d means; and the worry is the interruption. He never means that.... If you are glad for one minute in the day, that is His minute; the minute He means, and works for._

MRS. A. D. T. WHITNEY.