Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1926-10-07
THE THINGS THAT
ARE WORTH WHILE
Interesting Talk by Prof. Downum
Before Royal Arch Masons at
Recent Meeting

Prof. J. M. Downum, member of
the faculty of the Appalachian State
Normal, delivered the following ad-
dress at a meeting of the local
chapter Of the Royal Arch Masons on
September %:
"What are the things that are real
ly worth while? This is a question
that might be answered variously ac-
cording to who should answer it. It
is well for us each to think seriously
for while before attempting to
answer it. The deeper problems of
life are here.
"Some would claim that as a ma
ton, state or individuals it is our
great wealth and abundant resources,
surprising as they do that of the
rest of the world. Others would say
our fine highways leading from town
and city over, our great state and
nation. Still others, our 20,000,-
900 automobiles, whereby we go in a
short time for work or pleasure or
worship or service, to various desir-
able places. Others would say our
splendid schools where every child
may have a chance to prepare for
the best in life Others, our great
progress as a state and nation by
which the eyes of the world are
turned upon US, some in wonder and
some in envy Others might say it
is our wonderful scenery spreading
out before US on towering mountain,
rolling hill, and beautiful dale, all so
pleasing and inspiring and uplifting
to the souls that look upon it.
"But what do these really mean to
US as nation, state, individuals or
a lodge? They are wonderful in
their influence and powerful in their
appeal for nobler- things if rightly
used. They are worth while in many
ways, but it depends upon how they
are used if they are really beneficial.
Do they really build up the nobler
principles of life so strongly and i'm
pressively emphasized by our noble
order? Those principles by which
God is honored and our fellowmen,
from the poorest to the richest, and
from the lowest to the highest, are
lifted to a truer plane of life? This
is question that well might sink to
our deepest heart.
1t is not so much what we have
that makes of US a great people, but
it is what we are. The wrold his
tory has taught us this lesson. How
few men of wealth and power have
really blessed the world. 1t is often
er those without means-the toilers,
the self-sacrificing that are the up
lifters.
"The problem before US is not so
much making living in the world or
getting the most physical enjoyment
out of the worldly interests-any
one may do this-but the real prob
lem is to so use all our means, our
abundant wealth, our fine schools,
our splendid roads, our wondrous and
beauteous scenery, even our troubles
and disappointments, and whatever
else may come in our way, to make
a life Of the truest mold-getting the
highest soul life.
''This lesson the principles of our
great order would impress upon US,
and well will it be for us and for
those whom we may serve if we but
carry out these noble tenets in our
daily lives. These are the things
for which the noblest men and women
of the world have stood. These are
the things for which such men and
women of our own day are standing.
These are the things that count.
These are the things that are really
worth while. These are the things
that God approves, and we might say,
nothing less than these"