The social gospel needs the Holy Spirit element in it just as much as the individualistic gospel ever did. As we once tried to have the Holy Spirit transform hearts, and still must, so too we must now endeavor to have the Holy Spirit cleanse and exalt social relationships. What it once did for the man, and still does, we must also seek that it shall do for the mass. Civilization (1929) A visitor from Mars found his way to the planet Earth. Needless to say, he found plenty of things here to interest him. Many questions occurred to him. Some of them he asked. Others, being a gentleman, he kept in the silence of his own thoughts. He noticed that the earth people had a haggard and hunted look. On the street he looked in vain for happy faces. Eyes were dull and tired. Features were drawn and hard. Steps were either quick with nervous ambition or slow with lagging weariness. He asked about it, and was told that these people were working very long hours. Many of them had very exacting positions to fill during the regular working hours of the day, performing the duties incident to some other line of work evenings, odd hours, and holidays. Those who did not do this had to work hard all day, then help themselves along in business by seeking profitable and advantageous social contacts in the evening. They were often too tired, yet they and their families had to force themselves to it. The visitor from Mars asked why people punished themselves in such a way, struggling to get in another hour, earn another dollar, see another prospect, or sell another customer, before quitting for the day; denying themselves and their families the joy of companionship; driving on when they longed for blue skies, green fields, laughing waters, and roses. “They must make money,” was the answer. “There is a standard of living to be kept up, family position to maintain, children to push along. The country is developing. Skyscrapers are going up. Science, invention, and discovery are putting all kinds of new and wonderful things at our disposal. Its weight is upon us. It increases, for each year we think we must do better and have more. The competition is keen and fierce. It drives us hard.” “I see,” said the visitor from Mars. “And what do you call this giant thing you have built up with which to crush yourselves?” “Civilization,” was the reply. The Road Uphill (1929) One day in the year 520 B. C., Zechariah was preaching in Jerusalem. He had been in Babylon during the great captivity, and had returned with some other Jews in the hope of rebuilding the ruined capital and beginning anew their broken national life. He asked the younger people to avoid the sins which in their fathers had wrought all this ruin. He meant that in successively better generations is the road uphill for the race.