Page 10
THE NEW BERN MIRROR, NEW BERN, N. C.
Friday, May 13, 1960
MIRROR
MEDITATION
During World War n the last
few years of my military duty was
spent on the General Staff. There
was an under-current of discontent
on the part of the Civil Service
employees and that of the sur
rounding public. They claimed
there were too many of the per
sonnel that were of certain sec
tarian as well as those of the min
ority races monopolizing the key
positions in the War Department
at Washington.
Of course, this was not true. But
it was a matter of deep concern
on the part of the Chief of Staff—
simply because on a pro rata or av
erage basis the truth did not co
incide with figures.
My primary duties were that of
Procurement and Supply. However,
the General called a conference,
and the finger finally pointed at
me to draft a lecture on tolerance
and the art of getting along with
your fellow man.
I was a young officer lacking ex
perience and knowledge about a
lot of subjects, however, officers
are constantly assigned to posi
tions where a lot of midnight oil
is needed to bring them up to par
in order to properly carry out
their responsibilities.
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Once an assignment or order is
rendered by a General Officer it is
carried out. There is no such ex
cuse as inadequacy. A lot of hours
were spent in research and in the
final analysis—I had to face God
on what I was to say. After weigh
ing carefully each sentence, I test
ed it by reading it to my own im
mediate staff.
Assigned to my office was a Brit
ish subject. Sir Samuel Prescott
Hall. He was a liaison between my
department and his government.
He was a character reminding one
of Churchill and constantly carried
a Chamberlain umbrella as a cane.
/
He wore a three-quarter cloak,
derby and a handlebar mustache.
He was in his late seventies, was
a graduate of Oxford, and a writer.
A man of wide Jcnowledge' and
sound wisdom, that only his years
could yield. At this meeting, he
made no comment.
However, during my first lecture
given at the Rotunda of the Penta
gon, I could feel his cqnstaht'glare
and an expression of approval. I
coulT also notice he was studying
the audience and their reaction. I
drifted ^rom my notes because of
some guided inspiration, as though
quoting several lines. They sound
ed like poetry.
When we had returned to my of
fice Sir, Sam, as I affectionately
called him, came in unannounced
and stared at me for a moment. In
what seemed a twitch of admira
tion he handed me an autographed
book on the collected works of
James Russell Lowell.
“Since you are such an excellent
student of Lowell,” he said, “I want
you to have his book from my col
lection. His works on “Amrbrose”
are contained herein. You were
quoting this today and must say it
fitted your subject perfectly.” I
could not convince him that I had
never read “Ambrose” but several
of the expressions I used were al
most verbatim. Here are the ex
cerpts from the poem:
“As each beholds in cloud and fire,
The shape that answers his own de
sire.
So each said the youth, in the Law
shall find.
The figure and fashion of his
mind;
And to each in his mercy God hath
allowed
His several pillar of fire and
cloud.”
The youth to the streamlet’s brink
drew near
Saying—^Ambrose! thou Creator of
Creeds look here!
Six vases of Crystal then he took.
And set them along the edge of
CHOW HOUND—Stephen
John Walters, 4 months, of
Elastchester, N.Y., seems sur
prised at his mealtime visitor..
the brook.
As into these vessels the water I
pour,' ' '
There shall some hold less, anoth
er more.
And the water unchanged, in ev
ery case
Shall put on the figure of the vase.
Oh thou, who wouldst through Un
ity make strife:
Canst thou fit this to the water of
life?”
(The poem Aihbrose, while leng
thy, cqntains a great message in
tolerance. Every living soul should
read it.)
Sir Sam warned me: “It will take
courage, but stick to your guns.
Providence is at work,” and after
a few weeks, the tension died away
and was forgotten. How wonderful
it would be if every man today
could have respect for the honest
beliefs and convictions of his fel
low man. There walked on this
earth nearly two thousands years
ago one who stated, “In my Fath
er’s house there are many man
sions, If it were not so I would
have told you.”
—^Emmitt L. Brinson.
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