marked powers of thought and expression. The prize was award
ed to Mr. Elder, whose oration was “Who Is Great Among You?”
Mr. Elder permits us to give a few thoughts from his oration:
“Every man wishes to do something to make his name memor
able. Early in life he fixes his standard of excellence. Very much
depends upon what he conceives to be true greatness. A worthy
ideal of true greatness is service for the world, regardless of
wealth or fame.
“In every age man has admired the military hero. It is the
blood-stained warrior who stalks across the stage and becomes
the hero in poetry and romance. Alexanders, Ceesars and Napo
leons attract the admiration of the aged. With splendid triumph
America hails the “Hero of Manila” and England pours out lav
ish appreciation on her victorious Kitchener.
“Observe yonder the genius of the stock exchange. There mill
ions are being combined in corporations, the humble masses are
being crushed and the minds of our greatest statesmen are taxed
to solve the arising social questions.
“Have our ideals changed ? Instead of the hero with his 'gar
ments rolled in blood’ have we come to worship the giants of
finance and commerce ? All honor to men of wealth who are min
istering to the good of others; but the man of wealth who shows
no charity to the lowly shall never find a niche for his gilded
statue in our Temple of Fame.
“We do well to study the characters of Washington and Lin
coln. Goodness, self-sacrifice and deep devotion to humanity were
elements of greatness in their lives. They could not help but live
lives of 'charity for all and of malice towards none.’
It is not neccessary to wage a carnal warfare to be truly great.
In every contest between truth and error we can find ample scope
for that which is manly and brave in our natures. Moral cour
age is the highest type of the heroic.
The populace admires the workman who puts the headstone
on the corner; but the Master sees the conscientious workman
who lays well the foundation. That man is truly great who faith
,Jy anc \ cheerfully toils in the field of divine appointment.
He who with kind words and good deeds fills his life fullest
of the benign servitude of love makes the nearest approach to
the great pattern life of Him who came not to be ‘ministered un
to, minister, and such a man most closely conform to his
Master s saying, Is there any great among you, let him be your
servant. ° J J