The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-10

tion of delegates is not usually
deemed very important duty, but
the local union decides no more
pregnant question during the year
than this one of "who will represent
us at the National Convention?" It
is not slight and irresponsible task
to help to make laws and formulate
policies for an organization of sixteen
thousand people.
Particularly is there danger in the
selection of officers. l can speak of
this phase of the subject with per-
feet freedom, though am an officer,
inasmuch as my term expires this year
and you are safe from further infsc-
tion, the constitution forbidding an
attempt at a reelection, even if there
were the remotest possibility that
someone, ia 6t of mental akerra-
| tion, should desire to have me re.
elected. Indeed, ID is particularly
Stting for nee to warn you to avoid
electing the wrong maR, for Foehold,
is there not before horrible ex-
ample of such an error! Seriously,
this is very important matter. The
National UnioR is placed in the
hands of seven young men sand wo1n-
en-, who direct its missionary opera
tions (though the missionary policy
is formulated at the ,cenventions),
handle thefunds, have charge of the
paper, and as whole, manage the
affairs of the'organizatiou. One who
knows little of the interior workings
of the Executive Board has but
very vague idea eff the work demand
ed of "a conscientious member of that
body, who desires to do his whole
duty. Rroblems arecentinually pre-
sentiag themselves which cannot ibe
decided ,effhand, but require study,
work and worry. and not seldom in
duce a very acute attack of that pe-
culiar and 'disagreeable malady con-
monly known as ''the blues"
So you will readily see that the
fitness of "a candidate for Office
should be beyond question. Fke
fact that someone's "good fellow"
or that Young weman is young
woman, does not give sufficient
ground for voting for him or her.
He(or she) should possess good busi-
ness s5ility, capacity for nnder-
standing and dealing with difficult
problems of executive management,
tact, patience, and popularity. Csu-
ally the last named quality out
weighs all others; but while exceed
ingly desirable and necessary, it
alone does not fit person for hold
ing such position. An incompe-
tent added to the force throws more
work on the other members, and is
hindrance instead of a help. OF
course, it goes without saying that
an officer in such society as this
must, like Caesars wife, be above
suspicion; stain upon his character
reflects discredit upon the cause.
(2). Another danger is that, now
that the Union is becoming large
and powerful body, comparatively
speaking, it may offer an inviting
field to self-seekers after notoriety
and power.
Now | honor the ambitious young
man or young woman. l hope lam
myself ambitious. But the person
who seeks Office or leadership in an or
ganization-and especially religious
organization-simply to crafty his
ambition, or to minister in any way
to his own selfishness, is despicable,
dishonest, and treacherous to his
| trust.
If there is one great peril for us to
avoid in the years to come, it is this
of which l am speaking. When the
leaders of a movement become sell
fish, envious, or in any other way un-
worthy, the fate of that movement is
sealed unless it speedily rids itself of
the incubus.
Yet such is the fate which has over
taken many an organization after it
has become established and prosper
GUS, and it becomes prey to the
vampires, men who care nothing for
the cause, nothing for the success OF
the society, nothing for anything ex-
cept themselves.
May the day be long, yea, forever
delayed, when the Young Peoples
Christian Union shall become field
for political wire-pulling, ignoble riv-
alries, and selfish aggrandizement,
with all their accompaniments of
jealousy, malice and strife. A Union
er's first and last thought should al
ways be, what is for the good of the
Unioni and to the good of the Union
he should be willing to sacrifice pre-
judices, personal ambition, himself.
| A TTnionar who ia unwillino tn mako