ENTIRE TEXT OF READING 3976-27

Given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Virginia, this 19th day of June, 1942, before the Eleventh Annual Congress of the Association, in accordance with request made by those present.

P R E S E N T :
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce (Conductor), Gladys Davis (Steno), Marion Wolfe, Helen Godfrey, Beverly and Riley Simmons, Eleanor and Frances Y. Morrow, Julia Lawrence, Ruth Holland, Ruth LeNoir, Ruth Denney, Mildred White, Evelyn Cruser, Helen Ellington, Beulah H. Emmet, Gladys Dillman, Beatrice and Richmond Seay, Sophia and Malcolm Allen, Eula Allen, Mildred Tansey, Mae Verhoeven, Evelyn R. Gimbert, Ruth Skelton, Mignon Helms, Minnie Barrett, Florence Edmonds, Lucy A. Cooney, Hannah Miller, Hugh Lynn Cayce, and others.

Time of Reading: 3:10 to 4:00 P. M. Eastern War Time.

R E A D I N G

GC: You will give a discourse on a spiritual and practical concept for World Peace, giving suggestions for individuals and group operations to make it effective. Then you will answer the questions that may be submitted, as I ask them:

EC: Yes, we have those interpretations that have been made by various individuals throughout time, as to what would or does constitute world peace.

In the study of the history of various groups, in their varied activities through the earth, these in the most part have sought that which would satisfy or gratify the ideas and ideals of the few, - or those that were set in power from various sources, or by circumstance as had arisen in the affairs of men in varied portions of the earth.

Today we find a world at war. There is no individual but what is and will be affected by the outcome of the conflicting emotions that are prompting the activities in all the spheres of man's experience in the earth.

Then, through whom, from whence may man gather an idea, an ideal to which he - as an individual or as a group, or as a nation - may adhere with impunity; to which purpose, to which ideal, to which surety he may put his faith, his confidence?

As has been indicated, it is not in individuals or in personalities. For, these have failed - and are in the present causing those conflicts which have set the world on fire; causing death, destruction. And fear has crept into the heart even of the elect.

Unless these days be shortened, - as has been given, - the very elect may be shaken, may tremble at the destruction, the littleness to which human life is held in the ideas of groups or nations, or those purposes that have been set.

Then, there must be the looking to HIM who has overcome the world; who hath known death, who hath known wars, who hath known trials, who hath known tribulations; who hath met man on his OWN consciousness of physical, mental and spiritual emotions; Him who hath given, "I come not to bring peace alone but a sword - to those who have forsaken the way of life"; Him - who came that man might have life more abundantly; He who, though capable of defying man, said in the hour of trial, "My hour is come - the prince of this world cometh, but he hath no part in me - My peace I give unto you; not as the world knoweth peace, but my peace."

Then, we find, peace in the world must begin first within the heart and purpose and mind of the individual, prompted by that something which answers within, - even as has been given, "My spirit beareth witness with thy spirit, as to whether ye be the children of God or not."

As man looks upon the world today, there comes that understanding, that manner in which choice and judgments may be drawn; even as He gave to that one who had announced by the authority of the prophets, "Behold the lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world," who comes to bring peace into the hearts of those who seek to do righteousness in the earth. And yet because he had fallen into that answering as of self to fears within, he began to doubt - as apparently no measure was being attempted, outwardly at least, to relieve him of his bonds; and he asked, "Art thou He that was to come, or shall we look for another?" The Master's answer is the judgment of today, even as then. There was not the Yes or the No answer, but "Go tell John that the sick are healed, the poor have the gospel preached, the lame walk, the blind see."

Not merely the physically lame, not merely the physically blind, not merely the physically sick, - but it was that which answered to the whole purpose of man's experience in the earth, which was completed in Him; that makes it possible for as many as believe to become the children of the living God.

Then, thinkest thou that ye can treat thy neighbor, thy brother, with aught but the spirit of truth, the fruits of the spirit that He gave, and find other than that ye measure out? For, with what measure ye mete it is measured to thee again. As ye do it unto the least ye do it unto thy Maker.

Whose spirit, what manner of peace, then, seek ye as individuals? That ye may gratify the appetites of thy body? That ye may satisfy the lust of the eye? That ye may know fame or fortune? These fade, these pass away.

Only that which enables the individual also to bear the cross, even as He, will enable that individual to know that peace which encompassed Him in such a measure that He broke the bonds of death, overcame hell and the grave, and rose in a newness of life; that ye - here - and now - might know that peace in these troubled periods.

What CAN you do, then, as individuals, that this plague of war, this injustice to man be taken away, - this plague of death and fear of destruction?

YE MAY STAND - EVEN AS HE - BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD!

Let those that die have that purpose even as He, "It shall NOT BE IN VAIN!"

Let those that live LIVE unto God; magnifying, spreading the fruits of brotherly love, kindness, patience; that this plague of war may be stayed.

Ye cannot pray "Peace - Peace" when there is no peace in thine own heart and soul! but by knowing (for His spirit answers with thy spirit) that each day, each person ye meet is GLAD that you are alive! GLAD that YOU have come in touch with them; for you have brought - and bring - hope to their lives, just in the passing!

This means, then, that you may so live the life as He emulated in the earth, that ye radiate life, joy, peace! that which casteth out fear, - by living, by being, by doing unto others, for others, that ye would like others to do unto you.

O, ye say, this is not new! Neither is thy present disturbance, nor thy present hope, nor ANYTHING! For, even as he said, "There is nothing new under the sun." What is has been, and will be again. Only as ye USE that birthright, that purpose, that WILL within thine own consciousness to do justice, to do right, to LOVE good, to eschew evil, may ye as individuals, as a group, as a nation, stand between the living and the dead - and STAY the sin that maketh man make war - of any nature - against his brother.

Thou ART thy brother's keeper! Act that in thine own heart. Who IS thy brother? "Who is my mother? They that do the will of the Father, the same is my mother, my sister, my brother."

If ye do the things of the devil, are ye not his? If ye do the things of the Lord (He is God), are ye not His?

Then study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman not ashamed, rightly dividing the words of truth, keeping SELF unspotted from the world.

In this ye may build, here a little, there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept.

Fear and doubt cast away, trusting in the Lord. He alone can save.

(Question) What should be the specific form of collaboration of the members of the Association to insure fulfillment of its purpose in the establishment of the new World Order?

(EC) Study - each individual member - to show thyselves approved unto God. KNOW, as has so oft been indicated, oft what may be good for one may be questionable for another. But know that the Lord knoweth His own and calleth them by name.

Then let each one, as a son, as a daughter of the living God, feed His lambs, feed His sheep.

With what? The spirit of truth, the spirit of peace! APPLY that NEW commandment as He gave, "Love one another."

In all groups, all organizations, it is not what this or that name or group may do, but as ONE. For, the Lord thy God is ONE! And the Christ, the Savior, died for all - NOT for one! no sect, no schism, no ism, no cult. For, the first to meet the Lord in peace was he that was also crucified. That should, in each heart, make those who have named the Name, and who claim God as the Father, Jesus Christ as the elder brother, know that no sacrifice is too great in order that the glory, the honor of the Lord may be demonstrated, manifested among men.

What is the test? The spirit, the fruits of the spirit, - that brings hope, kindness, longsuffering, patience into the experience; not merely the offering of self as one who would make of self a martyr, no. For, remember, the Lord COULD, the Lord might have kept away from the Cross. But for thy sake He bore the shame, though without sin. Remember ye what the thief said? "Rail not, for we but meet our own sin (or self), and He is without sin."

Then, make not of thyself a martyr, but as one that stands between the living and the dead, to glorify the Lord!

(Question) In praying, speaking, writing, members of our Association may in a small way aid in promulgating sound spiritual concepts regarding obstructions to World Peace. As some of these obstructions are mentioned, please give the basic principles upon which constructive attitudes may be based: First, Economic inequalities of nations.

(EC) These are all answered in that question asked, "Art thou the Christ, or must we look for another?" What was the answer? Not "Yes, I am he that ye announced some three and a half years ago at Jordan," no. "Tell him the sick are healed, the blind see - " This is the answer for meeting EVERY problem, every question as to the economic condition of the nations. For He gave, "Let him that hath two coats give one to another. Let him that is forced to do this or that go the whole length." These are the basic principles upon which world order, world economic and social relations may be established, manifested among men.

For, while all have fallen short of the glory as manifested in Him, know that God - even as the Christ on the day of His crucifixion - is not a respecter of persons, nor of their employment. For, what good thing did the thief on the cross but to warn his brother thief, "We are meeting our just dues"? recognizing his shortcomings, - hoping, - doing something ABOUT same!

Let ye as individuals, as a group, as an Association, do something ABOUT the problems. Not as to direct, not as to sit in high places; for no individual is in ANY place or position save by the grace of God.

Who then CAN stand before the Lord? Only those who have the pure heart, the pure purpose. To them there is peace, even in the midst of strife, even in the midst of bloodshed.

(Question) Racial hatreds?

(EC) This also is answered only in that the Lord is not a respecter of persons. "He that doeth the will of the Father, the same is my brother, my sister, my mother." Those, to man, represented the closest relationship, - blood of his own blood, materially.

Then, mentally, spiritually, DO SOMETHING ABOUT those of the races that are misunderstood, or who have been neglected here or there!

(Question) Nationalism?

(EC) There should be the feeling for the own self, but not unto the detriment of others. For, though He were the Son, He took upon Himself the form of man, became as naught, subject to all the trials, all the sorrows of thine own self.

Then, what right has any man to set state or nation above that principle of brotherly love?

But always "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's."

(Question) Religious differences?

(EC) These are the swords He brought into man's material understanding. And more wars, more bloodshed have been shed over the racial and religious differences than over any other problem! These, too, must go the way of all others; and man must learn - if he will know the peace as promised by Him - that God loveth those who love Him, whether they be called of this or that sect or schism or ism or cult! The Lord is ONE!

We are through for the present.