Second Noble Lecture Last Night

The second of the William Belden Noble lectures, given last night by Bishop C. B. Brent, was on "The Power of the Single Motive." The speaker based his address on the necessity for a single dominating motive in the life of one who would be a successful leader of men.

The leader must be in perfect touch with the whole universe and must look at life largely. The only way of avoiding the confusion which multiplicity of interests brings is to have a single controlling interest which will unify diverging issues. This central motive will, consciously or unconsciously, determine the color or our activities and the direction of our purposes. No man can serve two interests, and if at any time a man seems to be under the control of two opposite motives it is always the case that those motives are warring with each other and sooner or later one of them will gain the supremacy. We speak of men of duplex personality, but there is not duplex personality that is not at the same time a disintegrating personality.

The influence of environment is recognized as a powerful factor in determining some features of our life. Motive is not among the features that are subject to the determining influence of environment. Every man is responsible for his motives, good or bad. Since this is the case, and since motives are so important in coloring all our actions, how important it is that our motives should be the best!

The best motive has two or three characteristics that distinguish it from base ones: it does not fear the light and does not have to apologize for itself; it is permanent, lasting through all changes of age or condition of life; and it is elastic, allowing of expansion of interests.

One who would be a leader must impart his motives to his followers, for only so far as high motives actuate society as a whole can there be a social order. Above all, the possession of high motives must not separate the leader from the crowd; humility-not pride-must be his characteristics.

Here lies the greatest danger that exists in present social conditions-the possession of special privilege is separating the leader from the people. Not in every case is this true, for there are many instances where privilege is used for the benefit of humanity, but in the great majority of cases it is not so used. Privilege that is not used for the common good must be given up, or it will end in the alienation of the leader from his followers