The golden strand : (Record no. 5154)
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| fixed length control field | 17039nam a22001697a 4500 |
| 003 - CONTROL NUMBER IDENTIFIER | |
| control field | Ost |
| 005 - DATE AND TIME OF LATEST TRANSACTION | |
| control field | 20230607141009.0 |
| 008 - FIXED-LENGTH DATA ELEMENTS--GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| fixed length control field | 230607b |||||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d |
| 040 ## - CATALOGING SOURCE | |
| Original cataloging agency | RCM Library |
| Transcribing agency | Rotary Club Manila |
| 100 ## - MAIN ENTRY--PERSONAL NAME | |
| Personal name | Oberg, O. D. A. Ollie |
| 245 ## - TITLE STATEMENT | |
| Title | The golden strand : |
| Remainder of title | an addressed delivered / |
| Statement of responsibility, etc. | O. D. A. Ollie Oberg. |
| 300 ## - PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION | |
| Extent | page 24-28, 32-33. |
| 500 ## - GENERAL NOTE | |
| General note | The Rotary Balita no. 748 (June 24, 1954) |
| 520 ## - SUMMARY, ETC. | |
| Summary, etc. | The theme of my address is "The Golden Strand." I propose to develop that theme with respect to the Fourth Avenue of our Rotary Object, to my mind the most important today, and challenging Rotarians all over the world.<br/><br/>Years ago, Carlisle advanced the theory — "History is the lengthened shadow of great men." Such theory has been often disputed. It does seem beyond dispute however, that a dynamic spirit is essential to the survival of nations, cultures, causes — indeed of the human species. Lacking it, they all must flag and fall.<br/><br/>This dynamic spirit, running throughout the course of history, might well be called "The Golden Strand."<br/><br/>In today's world conditions, so challenging and ever rapidly changing, I do believe that no greater duty faces Rotary than to encourage and foster such dynamic spirit. Rotary's responsibility in the face of this challenge, is implicit in the wording of our Fourth Avenue of Service, when we refer to the friendship between business and professional men, united in the ideal of service.<br/><br/>This objective, advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace, must be at all times our ultimate and highest goal in Rotary.<br/>In the definition of our Fourth Avenue of Service, as with the other three, I believe that words were never more appropriately used, in better sequence. Understanding, goodwill and peace — add to these, world fellowship and the ideal of service, and we have the perfect conception, expressed in simple and direct terms.<br/><br/>Understanding. Without knowledge, trust and mutual respect amongst peoples within communities. the initial attainment of understanding is not easy. Lacking foundation however, the ultimate objective of international understanding is at least difficult. if not impossible to achieve.<br/><br/>Goodwill. At a Rotary Conference, you do not need me to elaborate on this, nor on all its implications, so well realised in your own individual, professional or business life. How vital it is in the wider and more important spheres of international relationships, we all readily recognise.<br/><br/>Peace. Without understanding and goodwill, you obviously can never have a basis for lasting peace. World Fellowship. In Rotary, the objective of world fellowship is stressed in all our contacts. Our achievements are already confirmed by Rotary's 47 years' growth in 83 countries and geographical areas in the world and expressed by the living, constant contribution of 360,000 serving Rotarians. Relate to these, the Rotary ideal of "Service above Self", the dedication in personal expression — and then indeed we have some real prospect of achieving our goal.<br/><br/>To that end, there has never been, there never can be, any substitute for personal service. Such. is not only the very basis of Rotary, but also the blending ingredient so necessary for an understanding approach, with probability of real and effective. contribution to the solution of today's pressing world. problems.<br/><br/>It is no use any individual declaiming — "This problem is too much for any one person, anyhow what can one alone do?". In challenging rebuttal of this idea, I remind everybody at this Conference that Emerson wrote "Every great reform was once a private opinion."<br/><br/>So it is with the origin of every great movement, whether of spiritual, social, religious, technical, or any other character, Destroy individual impulse, the urge for individual effort, and then indeed. is everything lost, including those very things, so basic to our concept of life, which we rightly hold so dear.<br/><br/>Tragic will be the day when individual idealism no longer strives for expression; because then indeed, will the death knell have sounded for the world as we know it.<br/><br/>John Ruskin wrote in "The Eagle's Nest" — "People are always expecting to get peace in heaven. but you know whatever they get there will be readymade. Whatever making of peace they can be blest for, must be on the earth here."<br/><br/>It is this individual realism, which every Rotarian stands obligated to express, that surely provides "The Golden Strand" in international relationships. As I stand here, as doubtless within the recollection of your District Governor — and more recently in the memory of your District Governor Elect my mind goes back to a meeting of the International Assembly at Lake Placid. There, men from almost every corner of the earth, men differing widely in race, color, ideology and hackground — yet with the warm human blood and emotions common to all mankind met on a common level, motivated by or basie impulse — serve their fellowmen through Rotary.<br/><br/>Then indeed did one recognise — if one ever really doubted before! That the difficulties named are more imaginary than real. So must the peoples of all races realise, if we are ever to have international understanding and world peace. To develop this understanding, every Rotarian stands personally charged. In this avenue, he can with personal effort, serve so realistically and fruitfully.<br/><br/>The great Australian statesman, Sir Henry Parkes, once said with respect to our relationships within the great British Commonwealth of Nations, "The crimson thread of kinship runs through us all." How true this is! How equally true is t that the one great cementing influence in this troubled world today is "The Golden Strand" of human understanding. Where better, than through Rotary fellowship, can we develop that mutual understanding, on which alone we can build lasting peace?<br/><br/>To every generation comes the challenge and the never-ending for freedom. In our democracies, no less than in other forms of government, we can easily lose that freedom unless we protect it by our personal concept and service.<br/><br/>Freedom is only safe, when men, in their own lives, are free. Freedom cannot endure for long in any society where masses of people remain in bondage of their own appetites and instincts. own life, every Rotarian must make his particular In his contribution. Surely everyone recognizes that his own country, our Australia, will ultimately repre sent the expression of his own ideals.<br/><br/>Look at the position today in this troubled world. I suggest its problems lie primarily in those human frailties, lack of faith, lack of understanding, envy. racial hatred all those negative things which, unchecked, can only spell ultimate disaster. In the wider international field, we still find foolish adherence to the principles of economic nationalism and isolationism. It is high time that we all recognized that in both these, lies today the certain road to catastrophe. It is the obligation of every Rotarian to get his thinking clear on these issues and exercise his personal corrective influence at every opportunity. Disturbing as are the influence affecting the world situation, the implication which Emerson so challengingly stated still faces the individual. You know, Ladies and fellows, it is most significant that this defeatist outlook, this negative approach, has at times strongly swayed even some of our greatest leaders. Thank God it has never caused them to deviate from the path of personal effort for their country and mankind! James Wilberforce said in 1801 — I dare not marry, the future is so uncertain".<br/><br/>William Pitt said in 1806 — "There is scarcely anything around us but ruin and despair." The dying Duke of Wellington said in 1852 — 1<br/>thank God I shall be spared from seeing the ruin that is gathering about us". Great as were the men who uttered these dismal prophesies, subsequent events proved them unfounded. So I say does the prospect of the future today apply in equal relativity, and to those especially. who profess to despair of improving conditions in the world.<br/><br/>Above all else stand out some things. If we have no faith, if through faith we make no effort, if such personal effort be not sustained, well then our objective, if not irretrievably lost, is made the more difficult to attain.<br/>I refuse to believe, in the face of world history. in the knowledge of what has happened during my lifetime, that the present situation is without hope or in any way basically different from what has happened in the world before. It is an indisputable saying that "history has a strange habit of repeating itself."<br/><br/>Today we must face the realities, Rotary International made fine contribution during the period of two world wars. Great as have been those contributions, worthwhile as has been the leadership given to its constituent club units, the fact still remains that in the ultimate, action resides, not with the individual club, but with the individual Rotarian.<br/><br/>I say to every Rotarian that he is false to the principles he espoused when he accepted membership in Rotary, if he does not, through personal effort, make his own contribution.<br/><br/>Were each of the 360,000 Rotarians throughout the world to apply himself individually, were each to avail himself unceasingly of the opportunities. that present themselves daily in his own vocation to correct much of the current ill-informed thinking, were each to make his contribution as a citizen, to the development of international understanding then indeed the ultimate results might quickly surprise even the most optimistic.<br/><br/>Until end June last, Rotary International, by its own publications, did a great job in educating Rotarians along these lines. Because today the instrumentalities of the United Nations Organization. itself, are doing those things, our Board has dis continued such publications, but has strongly urged every Rotarian to become a serving member of the appropriate United Nations Organization in his area.<br/><br/>This is a practical, simple, direct suggestion. How many have followed it? Do we believe that individual human effort has no value that an individual has no contribution to make? Shame on us if we do so think, because then indeed does the situation become hopeless.<br/><br/>Chosen as a proven leader in his vocation, who is better qualified than a Rotarian to give leadership to the development of knowledge and understanding amongst his fellow citizens? The personal service was never greater than today. Who can be better qualified to meet and answer that challenge than a Rotarian? Who should be better able to engender in his fellow citizens those qualities of enthusiasm and application, typical of personal service in Rotary?<br/><br/>If any Rotarian is not prepared to make the effort in this and other avenue of Rotary service, then he has no right to remain a member of his club.. As recognized leaders in our community, let us preach and practise understanding of the other fellow, his way of life and his ideals, both in our own community and within other nations.<br/><br/>We all know that personal service means a conscious and continuous effort. Of course it does! Such effort, to be effective, must be made by the individual and in so many ways, some of which R. I. has suggested.<br/><br/>I make no apology for my constant reference to "The Attributes of a World-Minded Rotarian." I do not intend to quote them in detail today. They can be found on page 85 of the Manual of Procedure, fully stated under Clause 6. In recognition of the plea I am making, will every Rotarian here pledge himself to read them? I repeat they ca be found on page 85. You can get a copy of the Manual from your Club Secretary.<br/><br/>In practical, easy contribution to the personal challenge inherent in our Fourth Avenue of Service, there are many ways in which every Rotarian can, in every day and every way, help to formulate an informed public opinion on today's world problems.<br/><br/>Above all else, that is what we need most. So many people presume to speak authoritatively, but actually without any real knowledge. They remind me of the story of a person of this type who, seeing his neighbor pruning, said "I don't want to interfere, old chap, but you know from the way you are pruning that apple tree, you won't get ten pounds of apples next year." The neighbor replied "That I know full well, my friend, this happens to be a pear tree!"<br/><br/>Many of the opinions 1 hear so forcefully expressed today, flavor of that pruning comment. I do not believe that applies to most Rotarians. Really, it should not apply to any!<br/><br/>However, I think that in the following way each fellow can make his personal contribution.<br/><br/>To that end, every Rotarian will — <br/>1. Whether at home, or more especially abroad,<br/>conduct himself as a responsible citizen of his own country. <br/>2. Keep himself well informed on current national and international affairs, so that he can with authority, correct much of the loose and often times unthinking opinion and comment current today.<br/>3. Assist in the assimilation of new people, who have come to these shores from a war-torn world. It us, each and every one, strive to correct ill-founded criticism reminding our people that the newcomers will help us to develop and defend, as well as share, this fair land. Let us remember moreover, that these new people have a civilization older than Australia's and that they have their own cultural, economic and particular contribution to make.<br/>4. Believing in the necessity to work for world peace, help develop the influence of the United Nations Organization, recognizing that today it is the only basis for world peace — and to that end, become a member of the appropriate organization within his own community.<br/>5. Pledge himself to better understanding of his fellowman, no matter what his color, race or creed.<br/>6. Use every personal endeavour to increase contacts between the young people of different nations to that end, generously supporting the great work of the Rotary Foundation, and helping to entertain oversea students and similar young people, residing in this community.<br/>7. Stress recognition of the fact that the economic security and national preservation of every country are inextricably entwined and dependent upon the solution of present world problems.<br/>8. Exercise restraint and understanding in his contacts with the peoples of other nations.<br/>Impress upon his fellow citizens the fact that for us there can be no peace, no security, except in a world at peace.<br/>10, Use his personal influence to develop a relative informed opinion in his own country. and thus help to resolve, rather than aggravate, international problems.<br/><br/>Fellow, your own proven leadership, basic to your election to Rotary membership, will add many other obvious responsibilities to those I have outlined. I have merely quoted the above as an indication of some practical avenues for personal service.<br/><br/>You know, fellows, in many respects, solution of the problems affecting Australia internally today. follow much the same pattern. Were we only to take the trouble to inform ourselves, and then adjust our own personal opinions and actions accordingly, we should (perhaps most rapidly and unexpectedly for some!) help to create a much happier state of affairs in our own country. We shall never know happiness until we get down to thinking and understanding and, incidentally, honest-to-God hard work. To that objective, each individual Rotarian has a great part to play. It is a very real challenge.<br/><br/>May every fellow at this Conference regard himself as dedicated to take it up, to carry the torch and enlist supporters right throughout his daily contacts. Nothing can be greater or more urgent more vital to Australia's future!<br/><br/>So, Ladies and fellows, in all spheres of our daily lives, let us spin this "Golden Strand." Let us weave into it the threads of personal service and threads of understanding and goodwill, strengthened through Rotary fellowship. So in the end may we make a great rope of understanding all around the world, binding the peoples of all nations in brotherly love and dedication to peace.<br/><br/>Then shall indeed come to pass that happy state, of which Edmund Hamilton Sears once wrote —<br/>"For lo! the days are hastening on,<br/>By prophet-bards foretold,<br/>Comes round the age of gold! <br/>When peace shall over all the earth<br/>When with the ever-circling years. Its ancient splendors fling. <br/>And the whole world send back the song,<br/>Which now the angels sing."<br/><br/>If those words express the thing we really want, if they find response in your heart and mine, let us at this Conference pledge ourselves to the relative efforts in personal service. It is a great challenge. Let us accept it fearlessly the goal is so worthwhile the rewards so boundless. |
| 773 0# - HOST ITEM ENTRY | |
| Host Biblionumber | 370 |
| Host Itemnumber | 369 |
| Main entry heading | Rotary Club of Manila. |
| Other item identifier | RCM-000018 |
| Title | The Rotary Balita No. 724 to 748 / |
| 942 ## - ADDED ENTRY ELEMENTS (KOHA) | |
| Source of classification or shelving scheme | Library of Congress Classification |
| Koha item type | Article |
| Suppress in OPAC | No |
No items available.