SECRETS OF LIFE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17175, 4 February 1930, Page 9

SECRETS OF LIFE

HOW TO LIVE DISCUSSION BY ROTARIANS At yesterday's luncheon of the Rotary Club Rotarian Toneycliffe opened a discussion upon a philosophical subject, "How to Live," declaring that the secrets of life are very often contained in the small things of the daily routine. He placed contentment first. "There is not much that is new to be said on th 0 subject," he stated. "One thing, however, has been made very apparent to me in these latter years, and that is how difficult it is for any person to jceepi oven with the world's progress and keep calm and contented amidst the hustle and bustle in this ,a,ge di strenuous 1 business-. Carly.le truly says 'tliat the race of life has become intense. The runners arb treading upon each others' heels.' "Apropos of this question: Solomon truly said, 'A good name is rather to bo chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.' The old philosopher had a fine insight into things that teach men how to live, and the old spirit, thank God, is not yet extinct.

"If I were asked to define contentment I would say it is that which makes men rich in humble circumstances. It is a jewel no millionaire can buy. There are some who carry their wealth with them; who arc rich without money. They have that which money cannot buy—a genial, helpful, cheerful, contented disposition. "Faith is an essential to the daily life. First in God, which someone has said 'must bo a glowing torch, not a glimmering taper.' Then faith, in your fellow man. You may be occasionally deceived, but don't look sourly on the world. Be not in haste to think the worst; the good and just) often are unseen. Have faith in self, and the ability to overcome obstacles, a steady persistence in an honest endeavor to reach some desired end or object.

"Then will follow duty. A man's first care is to provide for his family. He should work to the limit to see that this is done in case of incapacity or if he passes away. The real object is not. gained when tin's is attained, but should be the road that leads to the fuller life; tho road that leads to service; that, recognises a man is his brother's keeper: that he has obligations to bis friends, his community, and bis countrv. 'Now ahideth faith, hope,-love, but the greatest of these is love,' and in man's workin the world love translated itself in service.

"Another secret of life is to keep vouug in mind and thought. I think it is a great mistake when those who are •ixtv-five or even seventy-five allow the dead hand of the past to take too great a grip of them. T might say the only wnv of keeping young is to mix freely with younger minds than your own. There is a, buoyancy in youth, an ambition which when tacked on. as it were to old age, as it surely can be, gives nlimpses of tho summer sun of youth, and detracts nothing from the sacreduess of the wrinkled brow and the silvered hair. "The hopefulness of youth ! What a valuable asset to have 'when tho prrasshopper becomes a burden ami the grinders are few.'

"Hope! Ay, it is the elixir of youth■ ■ind the solace of ace. Lose it. and thn first is a failure and the last a, burden."

The discussion was taken up hv Rotarians Smith, Stephenson and Maude. At, its close a heart v vote of thanks was passed to the various speakers.

will bring a considerable increase in the numbers of these men who, as a result of war service, now suffer impaired vitality and - are unable to compete in the labor nuirket with young fit men. As no provision is made for pensions for these men your board anticipates that these men will be a heavy drain upon the committee's funds accordingly, particularly in view of tho fact that they cannot qualify for the old ago pension until they reach the age of 65 years. In addition to grants of cash, relief in kind has been afforded by tho issue of bedding, clothing, firing, groceries, and vegetables donated to the committee by sympathisers during the year, "Apart from the £IOO donated **y the national war funds council, no relief was granted in cases of distress due. to unemployment alone, "fad it not been for the assistance afforded !>y the Gisborne Returned Soldiers' Association in the relief of unemployment it would have been impossible to decline all applications for relief duo to this cause, and our fund would certainly hapc suffered depletion accordingly. Tho committee is earnestly vceommended in view of the situation now apparent to assist the Returned Soldiers' Association in its nnnual appeal for funds on Poppy Day, as a successful appeal will decidedly prolong tho l.ife of our fund. "The outlook for the coming year is not a bright one, and your board anticipates that the calls upon the fund will be greatly in excess of last year's calls." Tho annual report and that of the claims board were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows: Committee, Messrs. W. G. Sherratt, chairman, H. Kenway, R. F. Gambrill, D. W. Coleman, A. H. Wallis, G. Darton, H. H. DeCosta, C. Bridge, C. Biekford, C. Matthews, E. Humphreys, and J. B. Broadhurst; claims board, Messrs. H. H. DeCosta, chairman, D. W. Coleman, and R. F. Gambrill; secretary and treasurer, Mrs Ada M. Beer; hon. lady visitor, Mrs Ada M. Beer.

A notice of motion was moved by .Mr. D. W. Coleman that the position of secretary ami treasurer be combined, the speaker pointing out that in the past the position of treasurer had been a very important one, but during the last few years the treasurer's duties had been comparatively small. Mr. 11. H. DeCosta seconded the motion, and it was agreed to bracket tho positions of treasurer and secretary in future.

The sum of £I2OO was voted as the quota of the claims board for the ensuing year, and authority' was given that body .to expend on unemployment relief, through suitable- channels, £2OO, in addition to the year's allocation for ordinary claims. The financial statement showed a deficit of £llß 19s 6d, tho income beinc G 1477 0s Bd, ami the expenditure £1596 Os 2d. Loans written off during the vear totalled £268 10s. Assets include Hie following items: Mortgages, £ll-890 10s: loans to soldiers. £3OB 8s lOd: freehold properties, £5Ol 4s- Id ; cash tt bank. Snvings Rank. £1340 8s 2d; furniture, C2O: total, £14,304 5s .6(1, Tile statement was adopted.