The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-05-14

propriateness of speaking about the
wheel of time, the wheel of fortune,
the wheel of commerce. The circle
upon which the wheel is founded is
the most perfect thing in mechanics
and has always been the emblem Of
perfection. Like it, eternity has no
beginning and no ending. It was
great and happy thought that sug-
gested the wheel as the Rotarian en-
blem. ..- ..... .....
The spirit Of progress and advance
ment is in the wheel. Any wheel
that does not rotate is a sham. It
might as well be a clod Of earth
or block of wood. If it is not real.
1t is worthless. Rotarianism spells
progress, change, growth, develop
ment in the highest and best things.
| Any Rotarian who has not caught
that spirit should step out Of the or
| ganization, for a wheel that will not
move is hindrance and incuanbrance.
We must advance or retrograde; we
must grow or die. He is not a true
Rotarian who does business today as
he did it twenty-five years ago or as
his father did it before him. Any
thing that stands still long enough
to gather moss or mold does not be-
long to this organization. The man
today in whose soul the wheels of
great ambition and mighty purpose
does not move with power needs to
be rebuilt. He is a drug upon the
market, leech upon the body polite
or a plaything for soft cushions or
cozy parlors. He is not a Rotarian.
We are living in the day of the NOV
ing wheel-the day of new mechanics,
new education, new business, new the
ology, and new thought. "Old things
are passed away, behold all things are
become new" The spirit of change
and progress is in the wheel every
where and Rotary gives it a special
push. The Rotarian merchant is a
progressive merchant whose place of
business sparkles with new goods, is
conducted upon progressive methods
and render the best service. The
newspaper manager issues a sheet
printed in clear type, written with a
clean pen, filled with the best news,
and sparkling with great editeSsAls
and bright advertisements. The Of
fice-holder is not a pothouse politi-
clan who corrupts men to get votes;
who sells himself and his constituents
for gain, but one who has the quail
ties Of the statesman and see not
only the needs of the people but
knows that integrity of character and
fidelity in service are abundantly re-
warded. The physician is an expert
in diagnosing disease and promoting
health. He understands what affects
brain and body and can apply the
latest and best remedies with the
skill of magician. The Rotarian
preacher, let me humble say, is not
a narrow sectarian but is big enough
of brain and heart to be brother
to every 1San. He thinks and speaks
his own thoughts in terms of today
holds communion with his God and
brings to his generation a message
so fresh and strong and simple that
T. the wisest are helped and the hum
blest blessed. We Rotarians gre q
company of picked men one only of
any trade or profession being admit
ted and that one must represent the
= best to be found in his vocaticE.
Efficiency is the word writ large
upon our banners, spoken boldly in
our meetings and declared openly ia
the public. There must be no pre-
tenders among us. Life is a serious
business and only a capable hand
dare throw the shuttle that deter.
mines its character. Efficiency is now
demanded everywhere-in business, Il
commerce, in church, and in state
1t is not talk and show that count
1t is work, well directed, intelligent.
ly pursued, and successfully wrought
1t is work without waste of time anC
money and energy. It is work witt
joy singing at its heart because sue
cess attends It. Men fail not fol
want of opportunity to succeed; no
for lack of energy and zeal but be
cause they are inefficient In the place.
they occupy. These are business mel
who should be puddlers in the foun
dry, some teachers Of youth should b
cooks or seamstresses, carpenters o
butchers. There are farmers in tn
pulpit hoeing and scraping at ser
mons when they, should be in the fiel
hoeing corn. There are men Eitt1nl
at bars Of Justice with goose quill
back of their ears who ought 70 be i
the blacksmith shop, their ears ting
ling with the music Of the anvil. Thi
noted mefaciency would be amusing /
1t were not calamitous. One Of tn
saddest sights ever behold is a ma
who is misfit in the place where b
struggles and pants for a ivelihoO
and finds it too late TO retraca hi
steps where he could be happy, eff
Client and successful Rotary mean
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