THE STRENUOUS LIFE SPIRITUAL CHAPTER I THE STRENUOUS LIFE MATERIAL THE twentieth century is destined to be a century of strenuous work and accomplishment. The centuries past have been centuries of preparation, of development, and of the formation of elements. The present century has for its special task to gather those elements, many seemingly heterogeneous, to assort them and to assign them to functions in the social, civic and spiritual fabric, where they can work in harmony with their neighbor elements, and be of greatest service for the betterment of man's material welfare and spiritual development. Theodore Roosevelt, the first citizen of our land,* *This was first written when Mr. Roosevelt was President of the United States. Our work was interrupted by the great holocaust which turned San Francisco into a heap of ruins. has inaugurated this forward movement of earnest work. In his grand book, entitled "The Strenuous Life," he has detailed with a masterly hand, the duties of the citizen. No man could indicate in a more forcible way, or I should say in a more strenuous manner, the duties good citizenship demands and should obtain. The book is a compendium of good practical common sense throughout-of duties plainly but eloquently set forth-and so convincing are his arguments that no honest reader can peruse this book without feeling in his heart a warmth akin to that which the patriot feels when his country is in danger and calls upon him for help. In this case the warmth goes toward good citizenship, the very basis of patriotism. The reader easily realizes that on the quality of citizenship depends absolutely the good or bad status of the country itself, its real worth through good government, or its degradation through corruption. Mr. Roosevelt has placed this alternative before his readers in a masterly manner, with a zeal derived from a deep-rooted conviction, and an enthusiasm which only the highest aim a noble soul and a deep love of country can inspire. No other book need be read-no treatise on moral and mental philosophy be consulted-all is here a grand, complete, but yet simple and plain catechism of good and noble citizenship. This is then the first work the twentieth century must undertake, the grand task which confronts us, a supreme duty toward our country, an incessant striving toward the accomplishment of good citizenship. Mr. Roosevelt has laid the foundation and planned the structure in all its details. Let us, one and all, lend him a vigorous helping hand, and set to work with an unswerving strenuous will. May God be with us all in our task, bless our efforts and bless him, Theodore Roosevelt! The second line of work now outstretching before the American citizen, yes of all lands-facing every man and woman-is the strenuous life spiritual. Innumerable materials have been gathered for centuries past, in all countries, for the accomplishment of this strenuous spiritual life. Many of these materials, however, are desperately heterogeneous, their classification difficult, and to assign them to a place where they may prove of greatest service will require faithful and unremitting efforts. This "strenuous spiritual life" the twentieth century must inaugurate in all earnestness, and as we have determined upon citizen Roosevelt's suggestion, to make strenuous efforts to become good citizens in the life material by truthfully fulfilling all our civil obligations and moral duties toward the country and toward one another so must we make strenuous efforts to attain to high citizenship in the life spiritual. The two lives or worlds are, however, 'so closely interwoven, that good citizenship in the one, |