What do we want? What precisely do we mean by the Millennium, or the
Golden Age, or Utopia? What sort of “Kingdom Come” is it we pray for?
Sit down sometime and think it over; try to get rid of the vagueness of
the idea, and to determine exactly what conditions would satisfy you and
all of us. The effort may not be without good results upon your present
notions.
Just as a suggestion let me give one statement of the kind of Millennium
that appeals to me.
It is that state of society and that perfection of government in which
there shall be secured for every human being Intellectual Liberty,
Equality of Opportunity, Justice in all Human Relations, and free
Spiritual Fraternity.
This is somewhat like the French motto, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,
only the terms are defined a bit, and Justice is added.
First, Intellectual Liberty. The last element of coercion, direct or
indirect, must be removed from the processes of the mind. The Ethics of
the Intellect must be acknowledged. The mind must work absolutely
unbribed by expediency, the opinions of others, fear, or authority.
There can be no perfect unity of love and service that does not rest on
perfect freedom of thought.
There must be entire Equality of Opportunity. The state ought to see to
it that every baby coming into the world has an equal start with every
other baby. All inheritance of wealth that interferes with this should
be abated. Every child should receive adequate training for the world’s
work. There will never be equality of intelligence, of physical force,
of genius, nor of any other kind of ability; inequality in these
respects adds zest to life. And the advantages of personal ability do
not cause injustice; it is custom-buttressed and law-intrenched
privilege, unearned and undeserved yet perpetuated, that oppresses the
world.
Justice is essential. When that comes, there shall be no more
benevolence and charity as we now practise them. The great hunger of
mankind is not for kindness and mercy and pity—it is for justice. When
we have justice we shall have peace, as it is written: “Righteousness
and peace kiss each other.”
Lastly, we shall have free Spiritual Fraternity. The problem of the race
is one of fraternizing. We now get together in sects and nations.
Religiously and politically we as yet feel but faintly the universal
breeze. We do not realize humanity. The human nerve is feeble. Some day
the idea of universal brotherhood shall burn in the race with a heat and
shine far stronger than the present sectarian, partisan, and patriotic
enthusiasms.
I do not think human nature will have to be transformed to get these
things. It is a question of vision. We need to see. When once we
understand what we want we will organize and get it.