Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-03
Unitarian Minister
Is Speaker at
Lions Meeting

Rev. Arthur 3llckner OF the First
Unitarian church was the after din
ner speaker of the Lions club Tues
day evening in the Elmwood hotel
He spoke upon the national motto of
the Lions clubs, Loyalty" He said
in part.
mo word is so replete IN meaning
No idea is SO pregnant with insplra-
ton as Loyalty 1t Is love and mora
than love. 1t is service and more
than service. 1t is aspiration and
, more than aspiration. Loyalty is
mans greatest challange, his greatest
capital, his most final standard OF
moral value. What. after all. is the
genius of love but his loyalty? 1t ia
the heart of friendship. 1t is essence
of patriotism. 1t Is the basis OF
credit. It is the foundation of the
home. 1t is the supreme test OF
character.
This evening would extend and
apply the ideal of loyalty so as TO
embrace some of the paramount
phases of human experience. The
first Of these would state as loyalty
to opportunity. We all have eyes and
see not. Let no man say in this day
of great commercial enterprise. the
multiplying colleges and the open
portunity. Each hour of every day
is filled with opportunity to acquire
richer and more specialized know
ledge, larger fields of action and
greater capacity for service. Let no
normal man pity himself by suppos-
ing that while nature has caressed
others with talents for finance, lead
ership and success that he himself Is
barren of all special capacities and
aptitudes. If anthropo.osy and soci-
ology submit anything for our en-
lightenment it is the comparative
equality of individuals. Sleeping in
the consciousness of 'ne'er do Well
families from generation to genera
ton there are capacities and posi-
bilities undreamed of. The whole
objective of vocational education is
TO knock at the door OF the chamber
of the mind where sleep the giants
and rouse them to action.
Next. would submit this evening.
loyalty to progress. Progress begins
in the human mind. Destroy all our
machines, forget all our languages.
abandon all our ethics and ideas of
government and social relations. yes,
and forsake all our religious affairs,
and. in a few thousand years man
would again find his iron and his
coal. Again he would build his ma
chimes. Again find God as his Faith
err and love as the proper law of his
life. My challenge this evening is to
be loyal to our great inherited spirit
Of progress. The long climb of crea-
ton from star dust to man, his eth
les, his home, his love and his res
ronse to beauty and truth and God
has been one long triumphant march.
Let not this rich heritage die in our
selves. We of this generation must
endeavor to think more profoundly.
love more sincerely, serve more de-
votedly and pray more intensely than
any previous generation. Do not
suppose for one moment that all in
sight died with our political, scien-
tific or religious forefathers however
very very worthy indeed they may
he. Dare to think for yourself. Eco
nomic and political freedom are bar
rem unless they give birth to freedom
Of thought
Lastly / would apply the ideal Of
loyalty to a group Of aspects of life.
our dreams, our youthful ambitions,
our eternal moments of spiritual Wis
ion and experience. and. above all
to our children and our children's
children. These are all great trusts
in our keeping. Are you ever weak,
disillusioned and defeated. Let the
ideal. Loyalty which you have p1ac-
ed highest in your heaven, guide you
as an unclouded star. Loyalty!