The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 37

The Religion of Humanity

Service for the Festival of Humanity

Invocation.

Love the Principle.

Order the Basis.

Progress the End.

Live for Others.

Live Openly.

Reading

Great Power, whom we here acknowledge as the Highest, Humanity, whose children and servants we are, from whom we derive everything, and to whom we are bound to render everything, may we all seek to know thee better, that we may love and serve thee better; and to this end may our affections become more pure, true, and deep, our thought larger and more vigorous, our action firmer and more energetic, that so, according to our measure, in our generation, we may hasten the time when thou shalt, visibly to all, take to thee thy great power and reign; when all kindreds and nations, all the members of the human family now so torn by discord, shall, by the power of the unity of thy Past, place themselves under thy guidance, the living under the government of the dead, and bound together by mutual understanding and affection, each take their due part in the work of human advancement, in peaceful union moving forwards through the coming ages to a more and more perfect state, to thy glory and the common welfare of the countless generations of men and man's dependents, who shall in succession possess this thy beautiful Planet, the Earth, which is thy home.

In communion with thee, in communion with thy Past and with thy Future, may we keep this great aim ever in our sight, to strengthen and ennoble our whole life and work. Amen.

Benediction.

The Faith of Humanity,

The Hope of Humanity,

The Love of Humanity,

Bring you comfort, and teach you sympathy, give you peace in yourselves and peace with others, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for St. Francis of Assisi.

In another time and with another belief, we, who on this day reverently honour the memory of this eminent Saint of the older dispensation, St Francis of Assisi, pray that his example may not be lost upon us, but that his seraphic love for the object of his devotion may teach us a like love for the suffering and wounded Humanity, whom we preach and serve; that in the force of that love we may catch some portion of this Saint's great humility, of the richness of his spirit of renunciation, of his unfunded simple affection for all his fellow-men, for all living beings, for all outward objects; lastly, of his patient and loving resignation—so by our lives glorifying our service, as he glorified his—so spreading, as he spread his faith, the nobler and more enduring faith into which that of mediaeval Europe has in our times been transfigured. Amen.

Concluding Prayer.

May the thoughts and feelings awakened by this day's celebration remain with us all after it is over, passing into our hearts and minds with a lasting influence, and bringing forth a harvest of good fruit, to the praise and glory of Humanity. May our faith in her be the stronger for it, our hope more confident, our love more fervent, our devotion and our service more complete and unreserved, our union felt to rest on more assured foundations.

The peace of her slowly dawning kingdom be' upon you, the blessing of Humanity abide with you, now and for ever. Amen.

Note.— Upon the Reading from the "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas a Kempis.

We read the "Imitation of Christ," by Thomas à Kempis, so strongly recommended by our Founder, as the most universally received manual of devotion and of a holy life; but it may be wise here, in order to avoid ambiguity or any doubt as to our use of it, to say that, in using it, we substitute Humanity for God; the social type for the personal type of Jesus; our own inward growth in goodness for outward reward; the innate benevolent instincts for grace; our selfish instincts for nature. So used, its lessons of devotion and humility, of intimate communion with the type we adore, of unceasing moral culture, of self-denying service, of the service not of ourselves but of others, are not the less available because they are clothed in the language of an older faith, and sanctioned by the experience of many generations of faithful and devout men.