Be Kind !

Be kind - for oh! a kind word spoken
To those whose hearts are well-nigh broken
Shall never pass away.
That kind word is a secret treasure
Whose recompense, beyond all measure,
Waits the great reckoning day.

Be kind, be kind unto thy brother,
The love thou wouldst have from another
Do thou thyself impart.
The kind deed wrought shall pass oh! never,
Its blessed fruit remains for ever
Deep in the SACRED HEART.

Thy kindly word again shall greet thee,
When Jesus shall come forth to meet thee,
When thou His Face shalt see.
The HEART OF JESUS has remembered;
"The kindness", He will say, "thou'st rendered
Was rendered unto Me".

E. Aubry, Murray St., New York
From the Voice of the Sacred Heart

The Fraternity of Kindness

What a vast increase in the sum-total of human happiness it would mean if each one of us were to be always just as kind as could be. Why, earth would be almost heaven if all unkindness were eliminated from our lives... It was such thoughts as these which came to a pious nun during her meditation, and which prompted her to found the FRATERNITY OF KINDNESS. Its rules are these:

1. Not to think unkindly of others.
2. Not to speak unkindly of others, or to others.
3. Not to act unkindly towards others.

These rules imply, of course, the opposite virtues of always thinking kindly, speaking kindly, and being kind, to everyone.
There is a penalty attached to every violation of the rules, a double penalty, which consists of: (a) Saying a short prayer for the victim of our unkindness, and (b) performing some act of kindness toward that person that same day. If the latter is impracticable, a second short prayer will suffice. The prayer may be as short as "My Jesus, Mercy", or "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine", or as long as an "Our Father".
Simple enough, isn't it? And how easy. Of course, we shall all want to join. And how much happier we should all be for it -- we, and all those with whom we come in contact. What must one do to join? Simply make up one's mind to be a member, and begin immediately to keep the rules.
Should anyone be sufficiently enthusiastic to want to spread the Fraternity, by trying to persuade his friends to become members -- as we shall all want to do -- he will by that very fact become an "Apostle of Kindness".
The Patron and Model of the Fraternity of Kindness is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning with love for all mankind.
The reward for the faithful observance of the rules, is, here below to scatter sunshine broadcast wherever we go; to be beloved by our associates, and, what is more important, by the Loving Heart of our Redeemer with all that this implies; and, then one day to hear those joyous words: "Come, ye blessed of my Father; possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for ... whatsoever ye did to the least of my brethren, ye did it unto Me."

A.M.D.G. - Nihil Obstat: T. K. Gorman, Censor Deputatus; Imprimatur: John J. Cantwell, Bishop of Los Angeles and San Diego
Frederick Pohlman, Campaigners for Christ the King, 1825 First Avenue, New York City