THE HIGHEST CITIZENSHIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16602, 14 July 1914, Page 6

THE HIGHEST CITIZENSHIP.

Barn as tho English language is in synonyms, it seems to lack a word that would adequately describe a type of citizen nowadays prominent in most civilised countries. Patriotism is a great and noble sentiment, but the dictionary sanctions no extension of tho word to include the element of what, for want of a better term, is loosely called humniiitnrianisni. The word we are seeking includes, also, an dement of true humamtarianism, in that it must imply not only love of one’s country, not only love of humanity, hut also a firm belief in tho perfectibility of mankind and an earnest adherence to high ethical standards. Moreover, it must vonvov the idea of these principles in active work. But, so far as we know, the dictionary does not contain the precise term required, and in commending the ideals of tho higher conception of citizenship to the younger generation, a teacher would be compelled to fall back on examples drawn from history of men who have devoted their lives to tho service of their fellows, coupling an ardent love of mankind with an ardent devotion to their country. There is a noble and oftenquoted passago in Ecclcsiasticus commencing, “ Lot us now praise famous men.” and the famous men who are praised are commonly the great soldiers and statesmen of the past. But it is as well to remember that brave men, to adapt the old Latin tag, have lived since tho days of Agamemnon as well as before those days, without having their names inscribed on tho nation’s roll of honour, and it is as well that when a man of outstanding zeal and conspicuous devotion to his country and to the interests of his fellow-men has died, the generation that knew of his good works should take steps to commemorate his life and perpetuate his memory. It wqs in a modest effort in this direction that Sir Joseph Ward assisted last evening, when he unveiled at Lyttelton a portrait of the late Mr George Laurenson. Mr Laurenson was precisely typical of tho class of citizen to which we have just referred. He was an ardent lover of the human race. His heart was stirred by any story of suffering or wrong. He stood for justice in public affairs. He saw his duty clearly beforo him and followecj it as a light to tho end of his days, shrank from no task that the pursuit of it involved, and laboured zealously to the limits of his strength for tho moral and material uplifting of the nation. It is good that such a man should bo praised, good that he should be publicly appreciated as an exemplar of the highest citizenship.