The herald., 1897-05-15
FRIDAY MORNING CLUB
THE REV. ELI FAY's ADDRESS
xEsTERDAY
On Obstacles in the Way Of Personal,
Social and Political Reform-A
Torcible Discourse


their friends on the "Obstacles in the
way of personal. social and political re-
FORM" The address was given in the
club rooms on South Broadway. With
rugged, incisive force and rational argu-
ment DR.. Fay placed before the mental
vision Of his hearers his convictions on
the subject, and he closed with strong
appeal to the club as body that 1t con-
stitute Of itself power to counteract the
obstacles he had enumerated.
In dealing with the personal aspect
of his subject, DR.. Fay advanced the
thought that every fineet human quality
Is germinal in every child and 1t awaits
only inspiration, quickening, the neces-
sary environment and aid Of circum-
stances to spring into grander proper
ton, and our chief concern is, what can
be made of It? AS the child Is in its
mothers arms, so IL the older and larger
child in the arms of its environment.
What can be made of 1t is the sole busi-
ness Of the government, the school, the
home, society, and the Individual to
unite in grandly solving thie problem.
Instinctively the world gives glad rec
ognition to this quality, and it is such a
spirit of acknowledgment that is the
foster mother of all reforms a profound
conviction that in every human being
there is something that Is pre- eminent
the human germ, the image of God. We
should all resolutely undertake to obey
the laws of God. correct existing evils,
felevate the individual life, and so work
out reform--that is, so promote individ-
ual growth, as in large way to improve
the condition of the world, for the saliva
ton Of the world Is conditional upon no
creed, political or religious, but upon
ripe; rotund, rich personality that can
everywhere stand on its own feet.
OF the social aspect of the subject, the
speaker was frankly emphatic and did
not spare his words. His theory is, that
transient amusement, superficial excite
ment. the mere utilization of the bodily
senses are popularity held to be the great
end of life, and among vast numbers
there is not the faintest conception Of
the value of time, the grand meanings of
opportunity, the high awards of intel
lectual and moral discipline, the pro-
found self-respect to be found on the
upper levels of aspiration and expert
ence. If we, the masses of the people,
iuuSl ucSCcHu lOT OuT 81 Cdlltu dUuuSC-
ment" or fun" from the sun-bathed
tablelande Of communion with truth, of
blessed realities, of communion with the
great and the good of all ages, of the
quiet, self-respecting realization of we'll
developed personality and wade in the
froth and foam of trivialities and parade
in the badges of immature minds, We are
laying stumbling blocks in the way of
ourselves to be children, when we ought
to be men and women.
DR.. Fay referred to the recent prize
fight in Nevada, horse racing, shooting
and fishing, to our Fiesta and it's "All
Fools night" and to many other forms
of entertainment, all of which tickle the
surface of our being, but indicate want
of ethical sense and betray little of COM
mon sense.
Turning to the political side of his
theme, Dr. Fay made reference to the
questions of capital and labor tariff and
currency, foreign policy, the unaesim-
liable elements in the population, the
national and municipal government, all
tremendous questions which are receiv-
ing no attention at all cOmmenSu Surate
with their Importance, and asked If it
was not about time to call halt, take
account of stock and see how we stood
A republic or a local community rests pri-
marily on the intelligence, the nobility
the sterling character of its people
Whatever contributes to downright man.
liness and womanliness, to the personal
qualities which constitute civilization,
puts a granite block under the noble
structure; and whatever initiates
against that high end is subversive of
the whole general framework of society