Now don't you know you have no enemies excepting as you make them by considering them as such?

Self reliance, or lack of it, is the difference between an employer and an employee.

Prosperity Through Thought-Force
by Bruce MacLelland
[1907]




Later in life it became possible for me to closely observe some of the master minds in the world of business, and to the qualities peculiar to each there seemed to be added an inherent force, a something one could feel distinctly upon coming into contact with them. They were able to think of thousands as others thought of hundreds, and obtained them as easily. They were broad, strong, hopeful individuals, who bent their energies to accomplish vast undertakings, the very thought of which would frighten an ordinary man. It was also noted that the wisest men, wisdom is induced by peace or calmness and that wisdom without force is of small value.

John G. Saxe wrote : " Fools will be fools as certain as fate, Men of wisdom, make them your tools; That, only that, is the use of fools."

If you master yourself first, hold yourself absolutely obedient to your desire for peace, you can control anyone, savage or civilized. The passengers on a through train from Chicago to New York were disturbed by the constant crying of a little babe in its mother's arms. She walked along the aisle of the car, tossed the babe up and down, laid it face downward on her lap, and her nerves were evidently at a tension. At last a gentleman asked her to permit him to try to quiet the child, and, in a few minutes, it was peacefully sleeping, and he did nothing but hold it in his arms. Evidently knowing the effects of the mental condition of the mother upon the baby, he would not allow her to take the child until both obtained a restful sleep. Poor baby! Poor mother! What a difference inherited or cultivated calmness in the mother would have made in the lives of both. Had, she been quiet in mind, which means that thoughts pass through one at a time, deliberately and not in droves (each crowding and jostling the other and more pushing from behind), the child would have been stronger, more courageous and healthful, and bright smiles of happy contentment would have shown in the baby face instead of the constant nervous crying.

Now, briefly, to summarize: Build yourself into a calm, determined, courageous, forceful man by the aid of autosuggestion, and the attractive force of your mentality will bring success to you. You need not seek it. It will seek you. Use the methods given for any quality desired, eloquence, wisdom, health, anything you will get results. Faith is a dead letter unless accompanied with active, progressive thoughts and actions.

Love others and others will love you, and your ability to love will grow, constantly adding strength to your mind. Anyone can bring the hate or love of the entire world on himself, as he chooses, by building up the quality in his own mind. As now constituted, the minds of most people desire to love their friends and hate their enemies. Now don't you know you have no enemies excepting as you make them by considering them as such? You send them hating thought, they return it; this establishes a connection between you, constantly taking your strength to keep up the war. You cannot afford to do this; it is destroying your money making power. Just reverse your plan and imagine him in mind as a friend; think of him as such; feel friendly towards him. That is strength.

"The truth, once announced,
has the power not only to renew but to extend itself.
New Thought is universal in its ideals
and therefore should be universal in its appeal
Under the guidance of the spirit,
it should grow in good works
until it embraces many lands
and eventually the whole world."
--Mr. James A. Edgerton on New Thought Day, August 23, 1915 

A lay person and former  U.S. Post Office employee, Edgerton was the first president of the INTA, holding office from 1915 to 1923 and again from 1934 to 1937. Excelling at both diplomacy and organizarional management the INTA still follows the basic organized structure he established. By 1920 Divine Science, Homes of Truth, Unity and Church of Truth were among the members.