Pillars of Kind's Character

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22725, 11 May 1937, Page 17 (Supplement)

Pillars of Kind's Character

EEADERS of the King's speeches continually find in them a line, a phrase, sometimes a word that is almost a self-revelation. In this regard the following quotations from a speech made by him come very appositely. He was addressing a Welfare of Youth conference at Croydon, and he chose as his text from the summary of the programme the heading " Recruiting and Preparation of Voluntary Leaders." After expressing his opinion that there was never a time in the world's history when real leaders were more urgently needed to grapple with the new questions and new problems that are continually arising, he went on to offer to his hearers his ideas as to the qualities required in a leader. "To my mind he must possess three great qualities: personality, sympathy, and above all idealism. The man who wins the trust and confidence of his fellow-men so that they will follow him anywhere is the man who can combine in himself these three virtues. I do not think I need speak to you about personality; you all know -what I mean by that. Of sympathy I will just say this: its keynote is personal contact and understanding. If you want to lead you must be able to understand and share the joys and troubles of those whom you are trying to help. You must look at things from their point of view as well as your own. . . . "The third quality of the leader I have mentioned is idealism. Nobody can lead unless he has the gift of vision and the desire in his soul to leave things in the world a little better than he found them. He will strive for something which may appear unattainable but which he believes in his heart can one day be reached, if not by him, by his successors if he can help to pave the way. ... "If the youth of the Empire is to grow up healthy and happy, 'Service' must be our watchword." Personality, Sympathy, Idealism, Service —in those four words are epitomised the pillars, of the King's character.