The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., February 01, 1927, Page 9, Image 9

February 1927
THE UNITED AMERICAN
promise to be loyal, faithful and true, in the dis­
charge of his obligations in citizenship. Referring to
those of foreign birth who violate their oaths of
allegiance by organizing their nationalities into
political voting units, he classed them as “renegades
to the highest American ideals.” The speaker stressed
the importance of conformity in citizenship, the
necessity of a common civic faith in which all citi­
zens are united, whether foreign born or native
born, a civic faith that harbors no religious difference
between the citizens of this nation, a civic faith that
can kindle toleration and promote the spirit of a
common brotherhood.
No audience ever sang the national anthem of
America with greater joy and fervency than that
audience of new citizens and citizens in the making,
their wives and children. Maybe the words were
not all pronounced just right—no matter, they all
understood the meaning in that “sweet freedom’s
song,” and did their best that the music should “swell
the breeze.” The singing took on an aspect of
enthusiasm that was literal when the audience
reached the last line in the third stanza “the sound
prolong.” As quickly as the organist struck the key to
the first note in the fourth stanza the enthusiasm
turned into reverence and the audience became wor­
shipful in its tonal expression, as the voice swelled
out in one accord in the offering of that mighty
national prayer: “Our father’s God to Thee, Author
of Liberty... Long may our land be bright with
Freedom’s holy light... Protect us... God our King.”
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Those who more specifically planned and carried
out the details of this public reception to new citizens
deserve credit and honor for their work and they
should know that those who were the guests of honor
will long remember that occasion of their first public
appearance as citizens of America, the cordial recep­
tion they received and the enjoyable and exceptional
program which had been arranged for the entertain­
ment of themselves and their families.
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What a wonderful contribution that meeting and
public reception was to the spirit of American unity
and good will. It shed a new light upon the mean­
ing of citizenship for those who, during the last year,
had gone through the legal formalities to obtain
it. After all, naturalization and citizenship meant
something more—something that could stir the emo­
tions and dig down deep into the hearts of men and
women and play on the sacred strings of love and
devotion.
In that meeting of welcome it is safe to say that
many of the citizens who had given their oath of
allegiance much as a matter of form, as a part of
routine formalities, and amid the stern settings of
the court room, made a new resolve—a resolve to
live true to the obligations given, and do nothing
that might bring discredit and dishonor, not because
of a fear of the law, but because of that magic touch
of that greater force in human life—love.'
There was a song in the hearts of the people who
left the Auditorium on that memorable occasion—
it was the song of joy only he can sing who has
found his true love.
Page Nine
THE CONQUEST OF IGNORANCE
By John Blake
What is responsible for crime?
Ignorance.
What is responsible for disease?
Ignorance.
What stands between man and opportunity?
Ignorance.
What is man’s worst enemy?
Ignorance.
We could carry out this catechism indefinitely.
The history of progress is the history of the conquest of
ignorance.
It has gone on for many thousands of years.
And it will continue for many thousands of years longer.
We, as individuals, can do little to help.
The most that we can do is to battle with ignorance in
ourselves.
Every one of us who wins this battle will be able to help
others to win it.
One wise man in a company of fools raises the average
intelligence, without lowering his own.
One great man raises the average of intelligence of a
whole nation — of all reading and thinking people of the whole
world.
For even the well-read and thoughtful are partly ignorant.
In fact there is no one who is fully educated — and no
life so long that something new cannot be learned every day.
The scientist, working in laboratory to isolate a disease
germ, is only battling against ignorance, as is his brother
scientist who is seeking to make flight safe and certain.
The preacher, striving to raise the moral standards of the
world, is a leader in the war on ignorance — provided he is
broad enough to recognize the fact that other preachers of
different sects are as devoted and as useful as he is.
When man first learned to use fire, he had conquered a
little ignorance.
When he had found the principle of the wheel, and used it,
he had made a further conquest.
ESSENTIALS
The things we actually require are not nearly so many
as the things we can do without. We must have sleep and
food and air, but beyond these elemental needs, most of
the other things we think we must have are superfluities.
The millionaire can never make entirely his own the multi­
tude of material possessions by which, on every hand, he
is surrounded and often encumbered.
His paintings, his books, his pleasure-gardens, and his
palaces, are the property of any who behold them, for we
grasp with our eyes as well as with our hands, and we
own just as far as we Can see. “The best things any mortal
hath are those that every mortal shares,” and we all possess
in fee simple what Heaven has given mankind; the morning
sunlight and the evening star, the love of friends and family,
the duty and the dignity of labor. Such things as these
are the few simplicities we need; the rest are not among
the essential ingredients of content.
WORK
By Henry Van Dyke
Let me but do my work from day to day,
In field or forest, at the desk or loom,
In roaring market place or tranquil room,
Let me but find it in my heart to say,
When vagrant wishes beckon me astray,
“This is my work; my blessing, not my doom;
Of all who live, I am the one by whom
This work can best be done in the right way.”
Then shall I see it too great, nor small,
To suit my spirit and to prove my powers;
Then shall I cheerful greet the laboring hours,
And cheerful turn, when the long shadows fall
At eventide, to play and love and rest,
Because I know for me my work is best.
“The reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another?’
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