The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-29

The following is a copy of an
article on "Vocations," prepared
by Cbas. E. Smith, and which was
read by DR.. William r. Warren at
the Rotary luncheon on Thurs
day:
"The best investment in the
world is character. 1t is a gilt
edged security. There are no dis
counts, no taxes, and it descends
in perpetuity to those who deserve
it without proof or heirship. A
good name is rather to be chosen
than great riches. Back of good
name must be character. 1t can
not be purchased for a price. 1t
can be builded in a few decades
and thrown away in a day. 1t is
more valuable than rubies and
they who seek it will find it.
"If Rotary has accomplished
anything it is because the DOM
inant note has been character.
The genius of Rotary has been
the formation of clubs made up
of classifications filled by men of
character. 1t was new idea, this
singleness of classifications. 1t
was a unique idea to assemble
classifications. There was nothing
new in the idea of organizing men
of character into a group. But
the combination of the new, the
unique, and the old was the basis
for the foundation of this cathe-
draI of service that will cause it
to stand till the need for it shall
cease to exist.
"The divine plan of the uni
verse contemplates obedience to
law. The laws of nature are in
exorable. None can be broken
without its effect being felt. We
are told that civilization is the
act of learning to live in crowd.
To live in a crowd as presented
by modern civilization demands
the acceptance of the golden rule
as basis of human conduct.
Without this principle as a prac-
teal rule of conduct, Rotary would
not have been born, nor would it
have had this amazing growth in
the past twenty-eight years.
''Men live as they work, only
men who work are useful to So
ciety.
True Meaning
eve use the term vocation
By this term we mean regular en-
ployment, calling, business, profess
sion or occupation. Too often
these days the world considers
man a success who builds a for
tune. Rotary today considers
man success who builds a life.
1t is better expressed by another
who says: He has achieved sue
cess who has lived well, laughed
often and loved much; who has
gained the respect of intelligent
men and the love of little children
who has filled his niche and ac
complished his task-who has left
the world better than he found it
by an improved poppy.
a perfect poem or a rescued SOUL
"But we say, we are not rails
ing poppies. writing poems or
doing the work of the clergy; we
are business men, we have real
life vocations, we make steel, build
automobiles. operate banks The
answer is that only he succeeds
in the true sense of the word who
builds into his vocation whatever
it may be, those principles of hon
esty, integrity, and fair dealing
that are vitalizing the golden rule
IN business To-Day.
"Why did Rotary become inter-
ested in vocational service? For
the same reason that it fosters
boys work. work for crippled chil-
dren, community serIice, and IN
tsrnational service. It was in
evitable. Such an organization as
Rotary could not live on fellow
ship alone. Idealism is active, not
passive. The search for the Holy
Grail, the pilgrimage to the Holy
Land, even the persecution of the
martyrs appealed to the active.
vigorous zeal of virile men to
translate their beliefs into action.
Men of Rotary are active men
and they compelled Rotary to
those ideals that have
meant so much to US.
Rotary Principles
What are Rotary's principles
that grew out of this demand to
serve vacations? They are found
in three of the six objects. The
encouragement and fostering, in
the first, of the ideal of service
as the basis of all worthy enter
prise in the second. of high eth
Icai standards in business and pro-
fessions;' in the fifth. of the rec
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