COLOMBE always watched for the mailman with great eagerness, because there were so often letters telling about her dear little LAND OF LIGHT friends. After hearing all about the Golden Rule Club to which little Nancy belonged, Colombe asked Mother if she couldn’t have one, too.

“That’s a good idea, Colombe,” approved Mother. “We can start it with just us two, and then later, when you begin school, perhaps some of your playmates might also join.”

They decided to meet each Wednesday afternoon; and when the anticipated time came Colombe, carefully garbed in her prettiest dress, waited in the upstairs blue-room, eyes bright with excitement.

“Before starting this meeting,” began Mother, “we must do with our thoughts just what you have done with your clothes. So let’s put away all old, dusty, playtime thoughts and clothe our minds in beautiful God-Thoughts. Are your thoughts now as pretty, as clean, and as becoming as your dress? Yes, I can see they are from the way your eyes shine. Therefore let’s begin our meeting by singing together your favorite Sunday School song, ‘I Would Be a Little Sunbeam,’—for that is what Golden Rule people are trying to be.”

After their song Mother asked, “What is a rule?”

“It’s something to measure with,” responded Colombe.

“Yes,” agreed Mother. “A rule or a measure is necessary for everything. We couldn’t build a house, make a dress, cook a meal without some way of measuring. Daddy measures and marks every board before sawing, otherwise they wouldn’t fit right. And we carefully measure just how much cloth we need for a dress, otherwise we might not buy enough to finish it. Even the land we live on had at one time to be measured. Can you tell me of other uses for a measure?”

Of course Colombe thought up several such uses and began to realize how important a part was played by a humble little rule.

“But even more important is a measure for our thoughts, our words, and our acts,” added Mother, “otherwise how could we know whether they were right or wrong?”

“I’ve often wondered, Mother,” Colombe answered. “Many times I thought that what I was doing was all right, but you and Daddy said it wasn’t. How can we tell?”

“We can tell by measuring every thought, word or act by the Golden Rule which Jesus gave us,” replied her mother. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” A Golden Rule member never lets any thought into her mind until she first asks herself, “Would I like this thought to really happen to me? Would I like someone to think about me?” Before she says a word she thinks, “Would I like this thing said to me, or about me?” Before she does a thing she asks herself, “Would I like this thing I am going to do, done to me?” If the answer is “Yes,” then the thought, word, or act is good. If the answer should be “No,” then a real Golden Ruler would immediately decide not to think, speak or act in such a manner. Do you want to be a Golden Rule girl, and are you willing to try to measure everything you think, say, or do with this Rule?”

“Oh, yes!” cried Colombe. “I want to do that!”

“Very well,” answered Mother, “we will now make you a member. Here is a Golden Rule Button to wear to help you to remember. Now let’s repeat our Club affirmation together:

“We are Golden Rule-ers.

“We think only the thoughts God wants us to think and bring forth in our lives.

“We let into our hearts only the feelings God wants us to have and to bring forth in our lives.

“We say only the kind, loving, helpful words which we would like to have said to us.

“We do only the kind, loving, helpful acts which we would like to have done to us.

“We measure every thought, feeling, word, and act by the Golden Rule of Jesus: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

“Our motto is ‘Love One Another’.”

“We will now read a story and measure the thoughts, feelings, and acts of the story people by our Golden Rule.”

For this meeting Colombe and Mother chose the story of the Good Samaritan, one of Colombe’s favorite Fairy Stories. Then Colombe mentioned other stories which occurred to her as illustrations of the use of the Golden Rule as a measure of conduct.

In closing the meeting Colombe and Mother repeated together:

“We love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind.”

“We love our neighbor as ourself.”

And, at Colombe’s wish they ended their meeting by again singing their “Sunbeam” song.

“Oh, Mother,” cried Colombe as they left the room, “I just love our Golden Rule Club, and I’m going to be a real Golden Rule Girl!”

Suggested Questions.

1. Would you like a Golden Rule Club?

2. What is a rule?

3. Is measuring things important? Why?

4. Can thoughts, feelings, words, and acts be measured? How?

5. Repeat the Golden Rule which Jesus gave us.

6. Can we apply this Rule to everything in our life?

7. Give some examples.

8. Why must Golden Rule-ers love one another?

9. How should we love God? Why?

10. Why should loving God be so important to a Golden Rule-er?

NOTICE:

All earnest Sun Center Mothers who have the best interests of their children at heart are invited to organize a Golden Rule Club right in their own homes, having as members their own child or children and, as they become interested, any of their neighbors or playmates. The above ritual, that mentioned in the September ’37 issue of the Magazine, or any of a similar nature can be used, changes, additions, or elaborations being made to adapt it to the individual requirements of its members. If the Golden Rule buttons are desired they may be had for 2c each, less when ordered in large quantities. (Please enclose postage.)

The benefits to be obtained from such a club in the child’s whole character will more than offset the time and effort required. The Sun Center will gladly help with any problems arising in connection with organizing or holding the interest of members of such a club.