“There is no man so bound up in himself, so personal of motive, so narrow of vision, that he may not be turned from a deterrent force into a force for construction, save only those already given to purposes of disintegration.
“But no man is so vigorous of body, so firm of purpose, so profound of mind, so sure of step, that he may perfect his brother’s life. ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ has been transformed from a question uttered in defense of iniquity to an assertion uttered in defense of arrogance. ‘Am I not my brother’s keeper?’
“No man is his brother’s keeper. The utmost that he may do for his brother is to arouse his brother’s purpose, whether for construction or for destruction. Call to the purpose of Progress. Call to the seven purposes of construction. Help ye each brother to find the onward way. But if he will not answer, if calling fail to move him, then bid him destroy after his own purpose, that the fight may be open and his allegiance known of all men.
“Freedom to choose is the inalienable right of every human soul. Who hinders his brother’s purpose delays the end of battle. Win him to progress, if he can be won by calling. Bid him declare himself, if he answer not the call. But he who coerces his brother, though it be toward construction, prolongs the struggle and delays the Great Purpose.
“No man is his brother’s keeper.
“This is the eleventh lesson.”
XII
April 12th.