Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1924-08-07
ARE YOU WILLING
TO LEARN?

1t has been said that one OF the
lcardinal obstacles to individual intel
lectual growth is our unwillingness
to learn. This does not include an
intellectual inability. but our plain
stubbornness to readjust our mental
activities after we are legitimately
convinced of the facts of the matter.
This tendency has been made mani
fest to a degree within the last Few
months and it has become apparent
that there are some who really do
not know the real purposes OF the
American Legion.
| SO to those who are unconscious
ly ignorant and to those who are
consciously and stubbornly ignorant,
and to those who are unfortunately
the erstwhile listeners of either, wei
desire here to set forth the real and
principal motives Of the world VIDE
organization, the American Legion.
We have two principal shrines at
which we worship. First comes our
God who led and protected US thru
the most grewsome war Of history.
The same God who created US
mighty nation and preserves US asI
such and makes 1t possible for US to
seek and find here on earth a life
worth the living, an unrestricted and
unconditional liberty. and q pure,
wholesome and outstanding happi-
ness and in the world beyond, life or
death eternal, as we may choose.
And, secondly. comes country. Our
country. The country for which we
fought. The same country for which
our forefathers died. The land OF the
Pilgrims pride. We love Its rocks
and rills, its woods and tempted
hills. Our prayer is and always shall
be:
"Our Fathers God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedoms holy light:
Protect US by Thy might.
Great God, our King"
With the foregoing as the solid
foundation upon which to huild our
progress, We subdivide our motives
into various component parts, We
stand chiefly fer patriotism. love OF
country. respect for the flag. undie-
ing and .unrelenting support, both
mental and physical, for the United
States constitution, that great legal
masterpiece, for the enforcement of
every law upon the nations books.
for clean living, clean thinking. CLEAN
ACTING. education, gentlemaniiness,
profound respect and protection for
wemanheed, guarding and protect
ing the nations priceless heritage In
its children and teaching and urg-
ing them to become clean, intelligent
and outstanding men and women. The
personnel of the American Legion
were the nations defenders during
times of war when innumerable
grave dangers threatened US as a ma
tion-now, in times OF peace, well
realizing that many phmilitary dan
gers still threaten. We still champion
the cause Of the weak. the defense
less, the dewntrodden. the helpless
and the ignorant. and crave only an
opportunity to set such an one
strongly upon his own legs and point
him to the plains OF happiness and
peace.
or this great work we do not claim
to be the author, nor are We SO ego
tistical as to think' we alone can ac-
eomplish its ultimate realization: Nor
are we so falsely b8astfpl as to hepe
't9 ever CLAIM the distinction Of haF=
ing perfected such plan unaided.
We realize proudly tina there are
hundreds of organizations in this
country and in the world at large
which have as their motives some, II
not all, of the principal objects Of
INC American AC6ioh.r anu W NhooS
organizations, whoever or whatever
you are, il you are willing to CO.
operate with us In this GREAT pfo-
gram, our hats sare DIR to You. our
arms are 9p}fstffetchea' 10 YOU, and we
win gladly Join hands with you and
work and strive side BY side until
war and strife are at an snd and un-
til all mankind shall REJOICE and be
glad in the sunshine and purity Of
universal happiness and eontentment.