Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-08-05

pleu tne centre OF attention, now
ever. Supper came regularly at
o'clock. Just after supper, upon the
lake shore, was held the life work
meetings. Here we listened and
sometimes took part in talks on vo-
cational guidance, discussed per-
sonal problems and spent many pleas
ant hours in heart-to-heart talks with
those good men, of whom | have
mentioned only a few. Here, too,
many votaries were made and decis-
ions given that meant the turning of
life diametrically from where it had
been perfunctorily drifting. With all
of the eXhortations and good admo-
nitions brought to bear upon man
it was almost impossible to go away
from Lake Geneva in any way con-
iectural about what ones duty is.
| have had many letters from young
men from all parts of the Geneva
territory saying that those life-work
meetings helped them to throw off
that little touch of diftidence that
formerly was present and had helped
them to get an insight into the au-
thentic meaning Of fellowship or mu-
tual helpfulness. 1t was a meeting
where the principles that should
govern one in the choice of a life
work were represented, and where
one heard of the specific needs and
opportunities in the vicarious call
ings, such as the Christian ministry,
association secretaryship, social SER
vice, teachingA and foreign missions.
There were also many problems dis
cussed dealing directly with our
modern layman and the work in So
cial economics he should do in his
vicinity.
The last thing in the evening was
a platform meeting, where every
body assembled again. This meet
ing had a duration Of an hour and
half and was given up to special
speakers. These men were different
every day and represented some
new and crucial problem. In this
way the monotony which was expect
ed was completely broken. A differ
ent problem each day gave variety to
everything. At 10 o'clock the lights
had to be extinguished and all the
camp was required to be quiet. 1t
was surprising indeed to see so many
men adhering to rule of order with
out one hitch. AS a rule when bed
time came everybody was glad to
rest. This program was continued
from day to day unless there was
special" to be had on something,
which sometimes occurred.
l think II proper at this place to
say something about the delegates
and their conduct during the two
weeks. There was no criterion OF
conduct whatever in the camp.
Every man set his own standard.
During the entire time / did not see
or hear of an act of conduct that was
not absolutely immaculate; / never
heard an oath Of the mildest sort;
| did not have the discontinue Of
seeing an angry man during the two
weeks. You shall perhaps be as
much surprised as | when / tell you
that to my knowledge there was not
one ounce Of tobacco in any form
used by any man there while in
camp. l have NO doubt that the pro-
clivities of some OF the young men
were violated while there, but the
prevailing precedence was so strong
ly rooted that they abstained /
think this certainly one of the most
remarkably potent sermons l heard
while at the conference. | was N.Y.
self somewhat conjectural about the
men abstaining from stimulants until
| investigated. / went all through
the camp many times to ascertain
that there was nothing occult about
the conduct. The fact that one thou
sand men can be together for such a
length Of time, where each is making
his own prerogatives, is worthy to be
spoken Of and reiterated throughout
our country. We suspect had these
one thousand men been taken sepa-
rately, this would not have happen
ed. Granting it so, still it leaves us
marveling at the changes social en-
vironments can bring about. Then
why do the most of us refrain from
going into the slums Of our own lit
tie towns and cities and doing some
thing for their environments? Most