The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-06-01
GOOD CITIZENSHIP
By Joseph J. Skinner

Citizenship involves not only the
relation Of one individual 20 an
other socially but II goes even far
ther and includes his whole mental
attitude toward the future as well
as the present. Those who think
and act only for the present con-
stitute that part OF society which
accepts circumstances and sur
roundings as matters OF fact: con-
ditions which they do not stop TO
think they have in their power TO
change. They seem 10 think that
laws and customs are institutions
coming from a source over which
they have no power Of control or
ability To modify.
Then. there are those who be-
lieve that civilizations are more
plastic; more responsive TO thought
activity and that each individual
has within himself the power TO in
some measure modify the aggregate.
The latter, IL seems 10 me are
the ones with whom we are con-
cerned.
Good citizenship evidently does
not come from the passive, submits
sive individual who 10 some extent
believes in ore-ordination and &C
cepts life as a routine; as a brief
period spent here where he shall
endure and sacrifice that such sac
riflce and endurance might be CON-
pensated after death by some re-
ward. For in such case has he not
always merely the seeking Of the
reward in mind no matter how
pious or holy a form his efforts
may take9
Rather. I believe that good citi-
zenship Is that manifested by him
who sees in life. progression, an
infinite progression OF ideas with
human actions and institutions as
the mirrors OF mems thoughts: the
citizenship OF the man who can get
away from the belief that life Is
merely daily contact, one with an
other, but instead believes that life
in its fundamentals Is the association
Of thoughts and their Intersections.
II is he who knows no monotony but
sees in the ever recurring seasons
not repetitions and the piling up Of
years. but a greater and fuller ma
ture. greater and fuller because Of
mind more prepared for recep-
ton. His ideas OF sacrifice are lost
in following the star which beckons
him on and over a path whose rocks
and ruts are made smooth by the
thought that the condition Of man
is the reflection OF his soul: feel
ing that in his own action, there IL
an effort toward a condition where
mans minds shall act free and I'M
trammelled by the restrictions OF
local Observation-Disclosures. For "the
mind is the motor-power Of prog
ress": a progress which knows no
direction but onward and upward;
a progress toward an ideal which Is
beyond mans comprehension but
which he calls his God.
II then, mans mental power de-
termine his cOndition-for surely
the social circumstances OF nation
are the sum and substance OF its
thoughts, is not the man who strives
for meptal upliftment the, one who
contributes good citizenship
Greater love hath no man than that
he lay down his life for his neigh
bor." Again. greater love hath no
man than that he lay down his life,
one day at a time, for the principle
OF truth which he sees and which
he strives for others TO see, others
who in their blindness cruelty not q
body, but a truth.
But there Is the objection, "Is not
the quiet. unassuming man VIII o
neither apparently adds TO or de-
tracts from society good citizenY'
He is good compared 10 one worse
than himself He is good for the
reason that he does not apparently
detract from society. But here en-
ters the idea OF duty. All life be-
speaks onward motion. Birth marks
the beginning Of progression which
battles mans understanding. A COM
bmation OF physical and mental
powers which bear no comparison
lin the realm OF human thought, for
can the thought be greater than that
from which IL comesf Yet who will
say that IL is not mans duty, OF