Declaration Of Faith
I trust in the living God, Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth and of all things and creatures visible and invisible. I trust in the kindness of His law and the goodness of His work. I will strive to love Him and keep His law and see His work while I live. I trust in the nobleness of human nature, in the majesty of its faculties, the fullness of its mercy, and the joy of its love. And I will strive to love my neighbor as myself, and even when I cannot, I will act as if I did. I will not kill or hurt any living creature needlessly, nor destroy any beautiful thing, but will strive to save and comfort all gentle life and guard and perfect all natural beauty on earth. I will strive to raise my own body and soul daily into all the higher powers of duty and happiness, not in rivalship and contention with others, but for the help, delight, and honor of others and for the joy and peace of my own life.
—John Ruskin.
Humanity As It Is
Once in a while, in order that I may be informed in this matter of marital advantage—or disadvantage—I climb as high as I can in the ether of disinterestedness and train my eyes on the domesticity below. And this I see: many houses and few homes; many men and women living together and few real husbands and wives; crowds of accidental offspring and only now and then a child who is the result of spiritual conspiracy planned in the star chamber of intelligence and love— love so sure of its own worth and divinity that it longs for perpetuation in the ampler life of another and later soul.
—Richard Wightman.
Alternate Reading: Matthew 18:1-9.