The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-10-05
H PEIC1. OF LEADERSHIP.

tian iIndeayor. etc.-for Octohe 10:
BE a Leader! Be IA Follower"
L Sam. 14:I-6; 1S:I-4.
(By WILLIAM T. ELIIS.)
Consider the drum-major, as a
symbol of one sort of leadership. He
walks in front of the band. He wears
the most impressive uniform. He
takes himself very seriously. And his
Skill is the purely mechanical one Of
tWlrllng his baton as ten thousand
other drum-maJorS have done before
him. He does not need brains or
character; his position in the band is
about the easiest of all to fill. Well
there is a great deal of hat sort of
leadership in the world and in the
church. 1t is purely a matter of off
cial station in the front of the crowd.
Certain easily-learned poses and mo-
| tons &c with il. But it blaZes no new
paths, pioneers nc progress. and is.
in the truest sense, no real leadership
So the first of all point to be consid-
cred in any study of this topic is the
danger of assuming that mere official
position is real leadership. It NAV af-
ford opportunity for the real thing.
but the power to lead is not depend
ent upon place: else the p~ickaninnieS
who run ahead of the drum-maior
would be the real leaders of the pro
CesSiOn.
Recently | had a peep into the inner
politics OF a certain American com
monwealth. / learned that the gov
ernor has a regular daily engagement
to spend ar hour or two with an edi-
torial writer on q daily
This man shapes the governors poll
cies for him. He is the mentor of hi.
career. Utterly unknown himself Il
the public. he is the real leade,
through the force of his ideas. Which
5 is the point I want to stress. Leader
ship that counts and endures is tn
/ leadership Of ideas They who hin
: for themselves also think for thei
fellows. In the long run. it is tn
/ thinkerS who shape the worlds course
Positions pass and personalities per
t ish. but purposes and plans and prin
ciples prevail.
The greatest leaders Of men hav
been men who were led Of God.
r Sometimes a leaders following i
: so far behind that he never see
a them: but if he is a true leader, the
r follow him. 1t is not usually tn
mar closest to the front, and eve
S looking over his shoulder to see
the crowd is following him, who
the greatest leader.
X X X
Great goals make great leader:
Passionate devotion TO a high purpOS
sets a man ahead Of his fellows. VIVA
he dares to do first, they fear not t
- do after him. Looking at the crowt
: and coveting leadership, never mad
d a. man a leader. Rather. it is by for
d getting the crowd, and caring M
whether others follow or not, that tn
c~onsecrated servant of a high caus
finds a following.
George Bernard Shaw once wrot
a pregnant paragraph, pertinent I
k this to pic, which is worth memorizlr
% by every young person: Il am
ir the opinion that my life belongs
a the whole community, and as long
I live it is my privilege to do for
whatsoever I can. wan to !
Re thoroughly used up when 1 die, II
the harder / work. the more l lv
Id I rejoice in life for it's own sake. Ii
is no brief candle for me. 1t is
RS sort of splendid torch, which / ha'
ID got hold Of for a moment; and L wa
s. to make it burn as brightly as pc
is sible before handing it on TO futu
10 generations"
I'd People follow after those who fe
low Christ closely.
X
Whoever dares to be and do +
best will at least become a great re
nj lower. which is the next best thu
III to being a great leader.
-
he have worked hard, very mar
tn that is all: and I have never refus
s Cod anything-Florence Night1nga
EN-
n God takes mems hearty desires a.
will instead of the deed. where tn
de have not the power to fulfill it: b
He never took the bare deed lnste.
of the uill.-Piohard Baxter.
re
In all your dealings reiheiiipei =
IL today is your opportunity, tomorrt