If Association has been elated by the thought of its miraculous power,
or meditated to use it for selfish ends, it deserves the taunt of the
yet more selfish world. And it is reason for great rejoicing, that the
difficulties of transition from the isolated to the harmonic mode of
life are so great. God thus _sifts_ his people. None are worthy to
enter upon this work who are not _dusted_. We need to hunger. We
need to feel dependence, in order that we may judge competition in
contrast. We need to know actually how pinching is necessity; how deep
it ploughs its furrows into brow and brain; how tight it knots up the
muscles and cramps back and limbs, by exhausting toil.
Association must be in its very essence disinterested; holding power as
something given from above, to be used not for self alone, or chiefly,
but for universal good; consecrating itself as a servant. And its
answer to the boasting world is, "Man liveth not by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." We are learning,
in these trial times, the beauty of reciprocation, the wealth of
sharing all; we are studying experimentally the law of cooperation; we
are estimating the value of justice by its practical application; above
all, are we opening our hearts to the glad conviction that it is
possible, ay, easy, for men to grow more kindly by adversity, and to
love each other better for each other's wants.
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