THE TORCH BEARERS 333 



Boys and girls are still torch bearers for the world. 

 The sacred torch each carries is the light of truth and 

 knowledge which the mind receives from those who 

 know. You who have studied this book have lighted 

 your torches from the burning thoughts of past ages. 

 What people worked hard to discover you may now 

 learn easily. And when you have learned and are 

 eager to know more, your torch is ablaze. 



Then you want both to keep your torch alight, and 

 to give of its flame to others; for in this way the light 

 of truth and wisdom is carried on through the ages. 

 If the first man who learned how to make fire had 

 kept the knowledge to himself and had not shown 

 others how to make it too, the world would have been 

 much longer in becoming civilized. 



If the Phoenician merchants had not shown the 

 Greeks and the Hebrews how to make an alphabet, 

 we might not yet know how to read or write, nor how 

 to record our thoughts in books. If the followers of 

 Jesus had not gone out into the world, carrying the 

 gospel of the truth he taught, we might never have 

 heard his message nor wanted to live as he showed 

 men how to live. 



So throughout the ages, men, women, yes, and 

 children too, have carried the torches on and on, 

 each mind lighted by the thoughts of all who have 

 gone before; and we, if we are faithful, must carry 

 on the flame undimmed to light the torches of 

 future generations. 



Now this power of the mind and of the spirit with 

 which God has endowed His children is the most mar- 

 velous thing in the whole world, — much more mar- 



