and trouble, and in spiritual sympathy, a true family practices solidarity
of interests, and furnishes the chief education in cooperation.

Political unity was at first an expansion of family unity. The passionate
loyalty with which a nation defends its country and its freedom, is not
simply a defence of real estate and livestock, but of its national
brotherhood and solidarity. The devotion with which people suffer and die
for their State is all the more remarkable because all States hitherto
have been largely organizations for coercion and exploitation, and only in
part real fraternal communities. Patriotism hitherto has been largely a
prophetic outreaching toward a great fellowship nowhere realized. The
peoples walk by faith.

What evidence does college life furnish us of the fact that social unity
is realized with some sense of sacredness? Why do the years in college
stand out in the later memories of graduates with such a glamour? Why do
students devote so much unpaid service to their teams and fraternities? Is
it for the selfish advantages they hope to get, or because they feel they
are realizing the best of life in being part of a solidaristic group? Do
the dangers of college organizations prove or disprove the principle that
fellowship is felt to be something sacred?

Any historical event in which men stood by their group through suffering
or to death is remembered with pride. Any case of desertion or betrayal is
remembered with shame. No group forgives those who sell out its solidarity
for private safety or profit.

Insurance and cooperation are two great demonstrations of the power of
solidarity. In insurance we bear one another's burdens, "and so fulfil the
law of Christ." The cooperative associations, which have had such enormous
success in Europe, succeed only where neighborhood or common idealistic
conviction has previously established a consciousness of social unity.
They have to overcome the most adverse conditions in achieving success.
When they do, the effect on the economic prosperity of the people and on
their moral stability and progressiveness is remarkable.

II

Thus the instincts of the race assent to the social principle of Jesus,
that fellowship is sacred. The chief law of Christianity does not
contradict the social nature of man but expresses and reenforces it. It is
the special function of Christians to promote social unity and expand its
blessings. To do this intelligently we should