1930–31 Volume 55 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLLVol. LV, No. 1 PHI DELTA THETAAwaiting the call that is to give it placeIn the normal life of dynamic soul,As God intended a true man's role.THE CARRY] XG ONFor there never was given to the greatest of men.To Plato or Angelo or Beethoven,To Shakespeare or Goethe or Dante Divine,Any gift to mortal however fineNot implanted in embryo in every soul;It's a matter of claiming and paying the toll;For man is greater than he really thinksIf he would salvage that which too often sinks.Every one contents within him the race:Divinity is here awaiting its place.Then whatever the power or deep hidden artThat awaits discovery as the individual's part.It is the obligation of man himself to unfold.To place on the altar his finest gold.For what is the value of human living.If it has no purpose, no end, no worth.Nothing appearing beyond its birth.Nothing for helpful, fruitful giving.When the function of life, wherever earth trod,Is to rise to greatness and be like a god.But dream we of greatness or rise to vast power.Life is a mystery, short-measured its hour.In morning we're young, in evening we're old;The tale of our passing is rapidly told.Not for us is to judge who happiest appears.Or who bravest is in events of the years;For the clown who sings with a breaking heartMay be greater than preacher who plays the grave part.But this much is sure, in every mission.To each one living is some commission;Some torch of life to be carried on;Some work fostered when others are gone.Institutions stand, institutions fall.As fail we in fealty or unite we all.O the dignity, the rich benignity,Of standing with others in continuous part,Hand in hand, heart to heart;For whatever the measure of greatest bliss.Creation finds its height and fullness in this:—The Dream of God is the Perfect .\iaii.This then the meaning of The Call to Men;The call of the centuries, repeated again.Though upward we climb, or lowly we plod,Man needs no new religion but a realised God;[21]