The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-27
Most everybody has something to
be thankful for II they will only think
Peoples Forum
The Need Of Leaders.
Editor Vest vi

Richard Ills offer OF a kingdom for
a horse was none too much. for that
animal was the thing needful to save
him and his kingdom. This idea has
occurred to me often in connection
with the need OF leaders In every de.
partment OF our civil and religious
life. go to a Sunday school and
find 1t doing poor service in every
way. The singing Is bad. not because
there are not enough children to sing
well. but because there Is no one to
organize them or teach them or give
them the proper enthusiasm. The
lessons are poorly taught chiefly be.
cause there Is no one who hns force
or character to get the teachers to.
gether, for the purpose of studying
the lessons, planning the work, etc.
Sometimes 1t Is due to a lack Of intel.
llgence, but more often It is 4 lack
OF will. failure TO be on The appointed
time. absence OF public spirit. etc. A
man now prominent rs u lawyer told
me n LAY or so ago that he had visited
his Old home In the country and on
Sunday had game to The Sunday school.
asked him II It was rs Furnishing
at 1t was when We were boys in it.
He said 1t was pftiable the way It
was going-no management, tho
tenclrers were not yearly al! present,
the superintendent came in late, the
lesson thnt was taught was suitable
for only the old mems class. the whole
thing Just running ut loose ends be-
cause a lender was not present. We
often discuss. or used to In the old
time debating society, whether heredi.
~ or environment was the more now.
crful In making II man. Well. what.
ever environment may have to do
with 4 mans start. and II has probably
. great deal to do with It, when a man
is started. be may turn his environ.
ment upside down. He becomes Il
creator. he makes history. Indeed
amy history that Is worth while is
simply the reflection Of some 'iominut.
ing personality. One leader with the
proper IDEAS is worth Il thousand or.
binary people. Meu us u mass Will
Just mnss around and talk, and argue
AMI talk some more. and then go no.
where or do nothing. until Il leader
DlaZes out Il way, erccts Il standard
and strikes out in some direction.
Then We, like sheep, will follow.
| was impressed with the ever-uew.
ness Of this position n few days ago in
Il visit to d rural town. A profcs.
sional man, 4 physician, had gone
ahead and organized Il literary club.
AS 4 leader to be sure he had gotten
SOME others to aid him, and he has so
worked 1t up with the help Of these
assistants that he gets out over two
hundred people TO the Friday evening
meetings. The people come for mlles
into these exercises. People who in
most towns or country settlements
would have nc intellectual diversion,
or come together only to see Il show
or n~ickclodeon, Will In this town find
an entertainment that Is creditable to
intelligent white folks, and this be.
cause the community has some lead.
ers, This society now has plans for
buying = ne@ plano, AMI has made ar
rangomeuts for n lecture course Then
they carry on debates, and expect to
take up matters thnt arc closely re.
lated to tie present welfare Of the
community, such as Good Roads, A.
School Library, More Money for the
Te&chcrs, a Longer Term Of School
For our Children, A HIgh School For
Oar Town, what Can the Town and
People DO to Prevent Our Most PREY;
alent Diseases, Should we Not Have
Te0chers In Our Schools Who Have
Had Some Training For Their Work,
What Can We as a Boay Of Parents
DO to Stimulate an Ambition in Our
Eays and Girls for an Education as
Good as that Obtained by the Boys
and Girls OF the Most Favored States,
What Can an Agricultural Education
DO For Our Community, etc. This
method OF taking III burning Issues Of
to-day rather than a lot OF time.worn
ones Is certainly to be commended.
The teacher OF the old day felt It his
duty to have 4 literary society in his
school md many of Our best me to.
dry got their training IN thinking In.
d~ependently and on great issues. also
In public expression In these societies.
And this winter every teacher should
organize one in his school, anu 1t
would be a blessing to every village IL
that leader would appear who would
do the same for his town. AS long
as our roads are SO bad, us long as
our children are deprived OF as many
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