Methodism so firmly upon our shores. As individuals and as a nation,
I am convinced that we would benefit immeasurably by a revival of the
zeal and strong will with which these forefathers of ours pursued their
purpose. We are living in an era of uncertainty and instability. A great
American poet, W. H. Auden, has called it "The Age of Anxiety. "
And in the turmoil, I fear we have forgotten the faith of our fathers—
the paths they trod in search of a life of spiritual abundance. This we
see in the things we value, in the way we think, the purpose or lack of
purpose in our lives, the kinds of gods we serve, the way we look upon
one another, the manner in which we view the world. Through ma-
terialistic eyes, our era may be regarded as an age of plenty. We do not
lack food, nor shelter, nor comforts. Our level of living is the highest in
the world. And despite such accidents as temporary unemployment and
business recessions, our problems are not economic.

Once at a meeting to raise subscriptions for a new church on Deal's
Island, Joshua Thomas, then an old man, rose in great solemnity and
said: "Silver and gold have I none. But my wife has an excellent cow,
worth at least twenty dollars, and we will give the cow to help pay for
the church. Please put down the cow!"

Silver and gold have we in plenteous portions, but these external
symbols cannot conceal all the deficiencies in our mode of living today.
We grow richer, and as we do we become more tense, feel more in-
secure. Our national income soars, and our stores and warehouses are
filled with goods for us to consume. All about us is material abundance—
houses, automobiles, television sets, frozen food cabinets. And yet, we go
about groping desperately for peace—peace of mind, peace of heart,
peace of soul. In all this abundance, we marvel at the rise in crime rates
and juvenile delinquency. We ask ourselves why so many people are
dying as a result of the negligent operation of automobiles and why our
mental hospitals are being filled beyond their capacity. Are these the
fruits of our great civilization? Is this the product of a nation laid out
with such earnestness and sincerity by our forefathers? What false
lights have we followed and where can we regain our steps ?

These, I believe, are questions to which we must find the answers
if we expect to fulfill our destiny as a nation. I am sure that in such
a distinguished gathering there are many who could supply the answers
better than I. Nevertheless, I have some opinions which I should like
to offer. I think, for example, that we ought to better the quality of
our lives to match all the material blessings with which we are sur-
rounded. I think we should rise above the mere necessities of living_
our preoccupation with such things as jobs, homes, automobiles,