No two souls are endowed in an exactly similar way. And for the
difference of endowment there is a reason in the Divine mind, for each
soul in its generation has its appointed work to do, and is endowed
with suitable grace for its performance.

We are not Odd-Fellows in the true sense unless we put away all
bitterness, malice and selfishness. Common sense of mankind is quite
right when it says a man's religion is not worth much if it does not
make him good. Have goodness first--out of goodness good works will
come.

Every good work requires every good principle. A man with very
prominent and striking characteristics will always be a perfect man. A
perfect man has such harmonies that he scarcely has a characteristic.
To be fruitful in every good work you must have in your heart the germs
and seeds, the springs and sources of all Christian virtue.

We are all greater dupes to our weakness than to the skill of others;
and the successes gained over us by the designing are usually nothing
more than the prey taken from those very snares we have laid ourselves.
One man falls by his ambition, another by his perfidy, a third by his
avarice, and a fourth by his lust; what are these but so many nets,
watched indeed by the fowler, but woven by the victim?

Sorrow is not an accident--occurring now and then--it is the very woof
which is woven into the warp of life, and he who has not discerned the
divine sacredness of sorrow, and the profound meaning which is
concealed in pain, has yet to learn what life is. The cross manifested
as the necessity of the highest life alone interprets it.