To Live, to Work, to Worship…

“The beginning of things,” wrote an eminent American, “always causes emotions to arise.” The beginning of things: cities, countries—conveniences—we take them somewhat for granted. But think what it would mean to begin a place where there is nothing—nothing, that is, man made. Men move to new places for many reasons—sometimes from restlessness; sometimes from restlessness; sometimes from climate, for opportunity—for freedom:⎯more room to think in—more room to work in—more room to worship in. Many have moved for the right to worship. One has to admire such men—men who cherish and defend the right to live, to choose, to work, to worship. The right of choice is essential to the making of a man. It is essential to the soul’s salvation, and we owe much to the patriots and pioneers of the past who had the courage and conviction to make good beginnings. There is another kind of pioneering person to who we re deeply in debt: the thinkers, the dreamers; the inventors, the explorers; the prophets, the poets—the men who thought they could fly—and did—the men who thought they could cure diseases—and did—men who thought they could improve processes and products—and have—the people who knew that improvement is always possible. Creative gifts are where you find them—and it is worth sifting a thousand ideas to get a good one. Oh, let us not ridicule the prophets, the poets, the inventive, creative people. Men with honest ideas ought to be respected and have a chance to prove their point. Too often we have made them martyrs.