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“Monthly Letter

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itPSecretaries

 

 

VOL. XV

SEPTEMBER, 1939

No. 3

 

 

STRENGTH AND UNITY NEEDED

Many presidents and secretaries of Lions Clubs
are wondering what to do in the present situation,
with a war in progress in Europe.

War between one nation and another would be
much simpler for everyone; but when two such
ideologies as those of Hitler and Stalin join ranks,
both having aspirations to world power and domi-
nation based on a program of land grabbing, the
matter becomes more complicated. No wonder that
the rulers of the world, even those in neutral coun-
tries are thrown into a quandary, and that they are
calling together their ablest advisers for an answer
to that question, “What shall we do?”

As a well informed writer recently expressed it,
“The world is confronted by the probability of a
merger of these two gigantic revolutions against the
political constitution, the social order, and the
moral, cultural and religious tradition of Europe.”

These two forces have repeatedly shown, by
declaration and by action, that they will not recog-
nize any individual rights of religion or educa-
tion, nor will they permit within their boundaries
such units as the service club or fraternal
organizations.

The board of directors of a Lions Club is faced
with much the same problem, in respect to its posi-
tion that the rulers of the world are. Lions have
a slogan. It is Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s
Safety. Lions believe and practice freedom of
speech, freedom of religious views, the rights of
the individual in education and government, and
his right to organize into groups for civic purposes.
Lions further believe in the merits of a system of
private ownership.

Lions still stand for such rights as these, summed
splendidly in the phrase, “Life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness.”

The struggle in Europe has the aspect of a fight
to eliminate the rights of the individual, and to
eliminate capitalism, or private ownership.

This is the condition whose repercussions in all
countries of Lionism have caused club officers to
wonder “What to do?” Let us remember that Lions
Clubs are formed to unite the members in the bonds
of friendship, goodfeliowship and mutual under-
standing, and this aim applies not only to indi-
vidual Lions, but to the relationships between clubs,
communities and nations as well. It is on this basis
that Lions Clubs have prospered in the past. It is
on this basis that they must prosper in the future.

Considering their prominence, it is understand-
able that Lions Clubs these days are being pressed,
both by outside groups and even sometimes by over-
zealous members, to endorse an action or to advo-
cate an action in regard to present world conditions.

What must be the answer to these groups and
these individuals?

In Canada the duly elected representatives of the’
people have set a definite course. It is the duty of
Lions and Lions Clubs in Canada to uphold their
government.

In the United States and other countries, where
the present situation has caused repercussions, it is
similarly the duty of Lions and Lions Clubs to
uphold the decisions of their governments.

This is a time of grave national decisions. It is
a time for cool thinking by the officers of Lions
Clubs. Individual Lions will have varying opinions
on the manner in which the affairs of the world
should be conducted; but let us preserve the unity
of our Lions Club and not expose it, by hasty action,
to internal dissension or to a clouded future.

Now, more than ever, does a Lions Club need
strength and unity. Let that be our first considera-
tion. Let us strengthen the membership of our Lions
Club and its spirit of unity.

ARY GENERAL

(This page copyrighted by the International Association of Lions Clubs, September, 1939. Lions Clubs
are permitted to use this material without securing permission provided copyright notice is shown.)