A NEW DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE By "AHSAHDT" "Resolved, that these United Colonies are, and of a right ought to be, Free and Independent States."-Congress, June 7, 1776. Amidst storms and discontent, in times of abuses and oppression of an arbitrary government, arose and matured The Republic; as the mighty oak grows amidst storm and weather-beating and builds up a wood of hard fibre. And amidst storm and struggle, war and strife, oppression and rebellion the world perceives today the building up and maturing of a real Human Society, of the Brotherhood of All Men. The oak would grow soft as the reed in the mucky swamp-land, were it not for its fashioner, the storm. Humanity would succumb to the wiles of foxes and the lure of snakes, and become a horde of sluggish Helots were it not for its Czars and Kaisers, Junkers and oppressors-those remnants of the yesterday-the self-seekers of a blind profit system, the instigators of progrom and raids. Yea, the "Masters" do not know that they are but the mere puppets of the Master's Creation. They have studied the law and its application-and yet they do not know that any and all punitive law is in effective for its purpose; that only such law will succeed in bettering men and conditions as conforms to common sense. They have studied history until they know the dates of all great killings by heart-and yet they have not acquired the least of history's teachings. As the storm puts all its strength to the task of overthrowing what comes into its path, so the stupid conservatism of Yesterday assembles the powers of darkness to cast their weight against the wheel of progress. The oak is strengthened by adverse powers; and the rage of blind stupidity is the storm that blows and enlivens the spark of rebellion which is imbedded in every Human Soul. But for the storm the smouldering coals would burn themselves out and leave nothing but ashes-contented servers and idiots, where God's intention was to put Men created in His image to replenish the earth, and to subdue it. "To subdue the earth"-but since Cain slew his brother, Abel, the voice of slain and down-trodden humanity has cried to the heavens for redemption; and the curse from the earth, which had opened her mouth to receive a brother's blood, has come true ever since. Yes, ever since men have subdued their brothers the curse of the earth has been upon humanity, war and bloody strife rendered brotherly love a misnomer, poverty and pestilence and sin held unhindered sway wherever "civilization" set its foot. And this is the curse: that men had grown in the mucky swamp-land, and have bent down like the reed before the windthe wind of words spoken by wily foxesand have laid down their God-given heritage and the fruits of their labors before the Kaisers and the Junkers of the earthcharmed and stricken as the timid bird in the lure of the snake. I quote the conclusion of President Wilson's Mount Vernon address, July 4, 1918: "The blind rulers of Prussia have roused forces they know little of-forces which, once aroused, can never be crushed to earth again; for they have at their heart an inspiration and a purpose which are deathless and of the very stuff of triumph!" And these forces will blow over the rotten and decayed forms of the Yesterday as the storm blows over rotten and dying wood-but the oak will be strengthened and enlivened. And the awakening masses will stand guard and watch out that the forces of life shall "never be crushed to earth again." And through storm and holocaust will come the light of the morrow to those who can see its golden glory in the East-and those who can hear will conceive the words of the new Declaration of Independence: "Resolved, that All Men are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent Brothers; that they be absolved from all allegiance with sin and shortcoming by universal and unstinted education; that all their hate and strife ought to be, and is totally abolished and forgotten; and that, as true and independent brothers, they love each other and support each other. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of common sense, we pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." "Every day brings a ship, FINANCIAL STATEMENT, MAY, 1919 RECEIPTS The financial statement is closed regularly on the last day of each month. Financial Secretaries will please have their reports at headquarters on or before the 30th day of each month. Each member All remittances received The following shows all moneys received from April 30, 1919 to May 31, 1919. should check this statement and note if remittances are properly credited. from May 31, 1919, to June 30, 1919, will appear in next report. NOTE-The total receipts, with the exception of receipts from special funds which are applied direct, or from sale of supplies, which are applied to the Supply Fund, or making good protested checks, which are credited to the General Fund, are divided among the remaining funds as follows: General Fund, 12% per cent.; Journal Fund, 12% per cent.; Organizing Fund, 10 per cent.; Defense Fund, 15 per cent.; Death and Disability Fund, 50 per cent. |