Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-01-08

and so are powerless to help him.
But more numerous than these
well-meaning but misguided work.
crs are those who lack the second
qualification; those who cannot be
depended on to seek the ir neighbors
welfare no, nor their own true
good either-whether they under.
stand it rightly or not. The cry
today is for men of loyalty, meT
who can be depended on; not fol
brains, talent, ingenuity, wit, these
can be found everywhere, but fol
that soNality of character which is
founded on true wisdom. Far and
from the uttermost coasts is the
price of it. We do not look foI
record breakers to run our trains,
but for men Who will realize that
on the precaution of an instant de-
ponds the lives of aadreds. 1t is
the incaDacity of our " a.servants
that wrinkles the HOUSEWIFE hrow
with care; it is their lack of 81 n
ness, the fact that so few can be de-
pended on even for the smallest SER
vice. We look for food that is not
adulterated, for banks that will not
fail, for police that are incorrupt.
And this cry becomes more in
sistent rs the interests at stake are
more vital and more in jeopardy. !
will lend any boy my pocket knife,
but ! will entrust my typewriter or
violin only to the man who knows
the value Of those articles, and will
not abuse them; and my business
will put only in the hands of a man
of incorruptible integrity. Not
brains but character, is the crying
need of the business world of today.
There are plenty of clever boys
hanging around Wall street, said an
experienced New York broker to me
a few years ago, plenty who are
shrcwd and apt; but you must search
far to find one who is reliable in
other words bow of character. You
remember the striking answer which
the late Mr.. j. Pierpont Morgan
gave when his examiners questioned
him rs to the true basis of credit.
He did not look for wealth he said,
in the person to whom he would adj
vance large sums of money, but in
tegrity OF character; and he would
give credit TO man of character
who was penniless, if | interpret his
words rightly, where he would re-
fuse it to an unreliable millionaire.
| will not put my life itself, nor the
life of one of my family in charge of
physician who is theorist or a
dreamer; nor will ! entrust that SUI
preme temporal good to man whose
| integrity has even for n moment
been questioned. The interests
guarded by the doctor or lawyer
are too vital, too easily endangered
to be entrusted to any but
men of soundest Judgment
and unquestioned loyalty to their
clients need. If the witness on
whose testimony depends my reputa-
ton, dearer to me than life itself,
is true Holy Name man, | know
that he is guided by n principle
which brands false oath ms the
vilest of sins, and bids him shed his
life blood rather than wreck his soul
and his neighbors fair name by the
unspeakable malice of perjury. And
if the Judge on whose decision the
interests Of thousands of Christ 5
poor may depend, is a Knight of
Columbus, we know that his noble
order has taught him the inhexible
principles Of Justice, and looks to
him to fulfill it.
What must be the clearness of
vision and the steadfastness OF 10y
atty demanded, when not the COM
fort, or the temporal welfare, or the
lives, or the reputation Of an indi-
yidual are at stake; no, not alone
the welfare of single city or state.
but Of a whole country? When the
welfare is endangered by powerful
and worldwide enemies-when the
means of defense are inadequate,
when all depends on the foresight,
the ability, and the character of one
man, one among millions? Genius
and talent alone will never avail in
the situation. There is need of the
invincible strength of the spirit
that strength which must be yours,
honored Sir Knights and men Of
the Holy Name Society, because on
you depends the welfare of your
country; and by the manhood Of
our Catholic men will she stand or
fall.
DO you feel unequal to the task?
DO you think that ] exaggerate the
need Of character? Remember that
centennial which you recently so