Human and Spiritual Values + The Golden Rule – What were they thinking?

This is probably too long for a blog post but here goes -

It’s interesting to note that the first Object of Kiwanis caused the most debate among the Committee tasked with rewriting them in 1923.

One committee member who had first used the word “spiritual” defended his position but others were skeptical thinking such a word would breed misinterpretation.  Still others defended “spiritual” but were willing to consider other, better words.  “Ethical” was bounced around as was “human” and “idealistic”.  Finally, one committee member stated, “I am sold on spiritual, my thought of spiritual has nothing to do with theology.  My ideas of spiritual is that it refers to the qualities of character, imagination, integrity, vision, faith and hope.  This is the only rational definition we can deal with.”

After another round of arguments and a suggestion by the committee chair that , “we gear up our machinery to place upon this word spiritual the interpretation which will absolutely fit every man at his chair at every Kiwanis table in the land,” objections were withdrawn and the phrase, “To emphasize the spiritual rather than the material values in human relations.” Became the first agreed upon draft in what would become the first Object of Kiwanis.

At the International Convention in 1924, Kiwanis President, Edmund Arras, departed from the usual custom of reporting on the events of the past year.  Instead, his keynote was adapted to the purposes of the convention itself and based on the Objects of the new International constitution as drafted by the Constitutional Convention.

Inasmuch as this is the first time a Kiwanis leader directly expounded on these principles, I thought that some of you may find excerpts from his speech interesting.

The Objects as they exist today were adopted at this same convention.

 “Human and Spiritual Values & The Golden Rule –

The inventive genius of the age has emphasized the comforts and luxury of the material side of life until man has been lured from the primary human and spiritual values of life to the material values, and each day he searches for new amusements and thrills only to find true happiness unattained.

Life’s greatest victory belongs to those who have stood for great truths in the ordinary walks of life, those who have faced the strife of daily affairs with hopes born form high ideals, and who by example have visualized great principles in their relationships with their fellow men.

The vast and wonderful world without is more than equaled by man’s rich and marvelous mind.  Emerson has well said, “Man, thou palace of sight and sound, carrying in thy senses the nights and mornings, the summers and winters; carrying in thy brain the geometry of the City of God, in thy heart all the bowers of love and all the realms of right and wrong.”

In these days men are seeing that human life is of infinitely greater value than material wealth, and that the fullness of life is dependent upon the human and spiritual.  Man builds by his inner aspirations, and the visions of the heart and conscience reveal a greater life.

Humanity is in its glory, as it standsout above the material.  He who would live for bodily comforts aloneis like him who, dwelling in a mansion, closes the music room, library and art gallery and uses only the dining room.  Fortunate indeed is a man who is a good merchant or mechanic, but how sad if only that, for if one gains a fortune and is without spiritual development, one lacks in the basic influence of contentment.

John Milton has well said, “There is nothing that makes men rich and strong but that which they carry inside of them.  Wealth is of the heart, not of the hand.”

Spirituality in its broadest sense is man’s compass, assuring a safe journey in life even though all else be swept overboard.

Old fashioned fidelity will again be popular, for civilization cannot “survive materially unless it be redeemed spiritually.”

Man may win the trophies of the Olympics or the success of industrial leadership, yet his real manhood consists of reason and human and spiritual values, which prompt him to say, “Our Father.”

Kiwanis realizes that the man or organization which does not hate wrong and love the right is hastening towards destruction.

The wonders of the aeroplane and radio are secondary in their importance to the men who have invented them.  Important as inventions are we must not forget that the inventor has been far greater value to the world then his invention, for the invention is but a portion of his service to humanity.  In like ratio are human values greater than commercial, and spiritual greater than material values.

The application of the Golden Rule takes envy’s poison out of the tongue and sheathes the sward of hatred.  It is the control of passions and the refinement of intelligence.

Through this spirit Kiwanis has brought its benediction to the underprivileged child of our continent.

There are thousands in our land who have rendered physical, mental, and moral paupers through no fault of theirs, and to these the Golden Rule is the Kiwanis reserve account from which they receive the blessings of gracious hearts.

“Spirituality is seeing God in common things and showing God in common tasks.”

It is the brotherhood spirit, expressed in deeds of service, which has given the Golden Rule its most brilliant hue.  Try as we will we cannot get the true application of this beacon of conduct without the heart being attuned to spiritual ideals.  A Golden purpose will not come from a leaden heart.  Man listens eagerly to the narratives of  success and adventure, but he longs most for the stories of the heart.

Harmony is not more truly the essence of music than love is the soul of great and strong manhood.”

-Edmund F. Arras