"T2ie Campus Echo"
HOW WILL LEAD?
oj
r. L. Meckins
I trust the time will coine whan our stud3nts will no longer be
compelled to attend exercises held for their own iDenefit. vVhether
these exercises are sponsored ly a laculty member or student the
response or sesult seems the sane. Even in the maKing it seems that
we neglect the be sc,. But one day when the State or Fat ion looks
for men to be leaders, I am wondering how will we lead?
These little thin.^s that re so willfully neglect are the things
that bring mastery. Tui'.y are the '.■ittle efforts that prepare one
for leadership, i’he difiereiioe betvjeen the purple robe bordered with
ermine and a cotton tunic represents the difference in efforts
fifty, a hundred oi- a thousand years ago. The forefathers of the
king le«;.rned how to command. The forefdhers of the peasants made
no effort, they were content to obf,y, and as long as we are content
to let th^ b^st in life pass because they seem to be little things,
we are sure to miss the 3-i^T)ping cton-& to success.
It was but a few Bunlc.ys ago ttat e wonderful address was de
livered to the Y.M.C.i., ’'Beyond the line of. Duty” by a member of the
faculty whose wisdom and expf-rienca mi y be portrayed by his snowy
locks„ ^3 he spole it could be cletrl;* ?er;n that the words which fel
from his lips wore noh merely the coinage of intollect but the min
tage of his heart. It ko deeply to^.objd the keyboard of my nature
that jt seemed to me that v^vory pip.^ Ci.d reed in his greet organ of
thought responded to the si-rsin of v.io poets and philosophers with
emotion. [ sorely lamented the f&.ct that there were so few there to
parta.ire of so rc re a ■rs'^t. Then to my mind came these lines from
the "kubaiyat of 0m:;rK>?ayar2’':
''The Ivlcvirxg wiite; end, having writ. Moves on:' nor all
your liety nor \,iL
She’ll lure it to c^?ncel :ir]f a line,
A'or all your up;oh out a rd oi it.
Then it seem? t' m,o he hs s acli.lcvcd success who has loved well,
lau^:h.?d olten, ara lovjd much-, t'ho lie s gained the respect of
intelligent men c vid the love of little chiidren; who has filled
his niche and rccomplishod hin tss;-:; who has left the world
be,^rter than he fou'd it^ yhetiicr %■ a.' improved poppy, a perfect
poem, or a roccieJ. co;..l; viho hi s n'r-.'cr ilia.Tked appreciation of
earth's beaucy or failed to expresfi^.it; who has looked for the
besc, in others and given t:ie oest he h'.';d; whose life was an inspira
tion; whose memory a b:neiio tion.
That is Ivlastery. It explains to me v;hy Socrates so calmly
drank tlie cup of hemlock and met the night of death tranquil as the
stars meet morning. It explains to me why the Lord Christ became
the lowly Nazarine. It explains to one the lesson of service
through consecration.
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