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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
It has ever been so with mankind. It is a part of the nature of man to enlighten his surroundings by sharing his knowledge with his neighbours. He is compelled to do so instinctively, which is but another way of saying that it is his inner nature. It is this which distinguishes him from a dog on the point of temperament. Man's nature compels him to help all those who are in distress; he is made to share his happiness with the rest of his race. But the dog likes to eat up what he gets himself, and even if the food be more than he requires he will not allow any one else to take it from him. To the dog it does not matter whether his surroundings are happy or miserable, beautiful or ugly, in health or diseased ; so long as he is all right individually, he is happy, and wishes not to be bothered by, or worried about, others. But man does not find happiness in ugly, diseased or unhealthy surroundings. He cannot fly away from a bad or nauseating scene; for what may be hidden from his physical eye cannot be so easily dismissed from his mind. Since all unhealthy pictures create a feeling of repulsion in man, it becomes necessary for him to remove the causes of disgust. There was a time when there was no exception to this rule, when people were anxious to impatt knowledge to all, provided the recipients were found deserving of it, but now, since Mammon has held greater sway, over the people's hearts, we do, now and then, come across men who insist on turning everything-including knowledge--into silver and gold. Thus, the spreading of the light of knowledge has always been regarded by humanity as a divine mission. Jesus was no exception to the rule.
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