The Educational Missionary Movement
By C. C. NICOLA
I ONCE stood before the Washington Monument, that colossal finger of stone pointing up into the very sky; but of more absorbing interest to me than the immensity of this monument to the greatness of the past, was the study of the people who crowded its base. The whole throng was moved with a single desire, and that was to enjoy the great expanse of vision which could be had only by reaching the top of this monument. This end could be achieved in two ways. One was to patiently and laboriously plod up the hundreds of steps that led to the top. The other was to take the elevator, which would rapidly and easily lift the visitor to the very pinnacle. Naturally everybody chose the elevator route. But this was not so easy as it sounds; because of the hundreds of people already in waiting, who had formed a line reaching around the entire side of the monument and far beyond. The forty people nearest the elevator door would be taken. The rest must wait and slowly move up in turn to the place nearest the door. The spirit with which the different visitors met this obstacle was a good index to their character. As I waited, I watched. One young man rushed up, and regardless of the line, marched straight to the entrance. “You will have to take your place in the line,” said the guard. The visitor looked down the long line, which did not appear to be moving. “How long will it take?” said he. “Perhaps an hour, maybe two,” said the guard, carelessly. “But I am in a hurry and can not possibly spend so much time,” said the visitor, edging up toward the line nearest the door. But the guard was relentless. “Go to the end of the line,” said he, and he meant it. Slowly the visitor started for the rear. In the meantime twenty or thirty more had arrived, and, taking in the situation, had gone directly into line; so that he was now just so much farther away. He finally got into line, and after what seemed an intolerable waiting, the line had moved by almost imperceptible advances until he could see the door. But there is still waiting ahead, and nervously looking at his watch, he sees the afternoon is going. His impatience gets the better of him. He decides that if he ever reaches the top of that monument, he must do it in some other way. He leaves the line and tries the guard at the door once more. This time with the purpose of persuading the guard by his importunity, or by money considerations if necessary, to allow him to enter the next car-load. But the guard is no respecter of persons, and apparently money is no temptation. When the young man, frustrated in his attempts at last thinks to return to his place in the line, he finds the gap has closed in and refuses to open to him. His attempts to enter only call the guard, who coolly explains that, having lost his place, his only chance now is to again go to the farthest end of the line. The young man grows angry. He storms and fumes at the guard, at the unjust arrangement, at the very government that is responsible. But all this does not disturb the guard, and only makes the crowd smile as they move up another step. The young man is certainly to be pitied in his confusion and distress. He can not go back to the end and start all over again, and he can not go away without visiting the top of the monument. At last, in sullen despair, he starts to climb the steps. Half an hour later as we are returning from the top, we see our unfortunate friend slowly descending after having climbed about one third of the way. He had given up the attempt. This incident has an application to the life of every young man and woman. They all wish to rise in life,—to reach the pinnacle of success,—and it is a worthy ambition. Education and training is the elevator which is to lift them up. But to obtain an education of either the head or the hand, means long years of waiting and work. There is no short cut. The guard is unmoved by pleadings. He is indifferent to wealth or rank. There is but one way; that is to get into the line that is advancing toward an education. How many view the length of the line and declare they can not spend so much time in waiting! How many spend enough time waiting, waiting about the gate for an easier way, or in complaining at fate for making23it so hard, to have started at the very end and have worked up. How many who are well started drop out of the line and lose their place because the line does not seem to move fast enough! Many turn away in despair, while others endeavor to retrieve their mistakes by trying to climb to the top without the needed education and training. Young man, young woman, are you in the elevator line? Are you working toward an education? I see a young man doing some menial labor which may be well enough in itself, but there is nothing beyond it. It leads nowhere. The young man gains nothing in skill or education from it or by means of it. Another is doing something no less menial, but is in the line of events that is moving. By study or by manual training he keeps his place in the line, and is prepared to move up when the time comes. Young friend, it matters not how long the line may be; how many years of pushing and waiting there are ahead, there is but one thing to do. Get into line as soon as possible. It matters not how handicapped you may be by poverty or circumstances, how slowly you appear to be moving. You are better off so long as you are in the line of education than the man on the outside of the line who appears to enjoy more freedom at present, but who can never hope to rise, because he is not in the line that leads to the elevator. My appeal to every young person is to determine to advance by getting an education or a training of some kind. Study the work you are doing to-day. What does it offer for to-morrow and future years? If it does not give a training or provide a means for a training that will prepare you to advance, you can not afford to continue it at any price. Best of all, try to enter a school or college regularly. If you do not have the means, then find a place where you can attend school in connection with your work. Your progress may be slow, but you are in line. The young person at work in a shop or in a kitchen may master one or two studies at a time, which in time will fit him to enter college or a training-school. A young lady unable to complete a college course may become a trained nurse or a secretary or may enter one of the many other places which afford opportunity for continuous advancement. A young man who can not take a degree in college, may still work his way into one of the mechanical arts where increased experience with diligent study will be a continuous promise of advancement. The demand in the Lord’s work, as in the work of the world, is for trained workers. There is always a call and an opportunity for a mind and a hand that is trained to think and to do. The youth who improves every opportunity of the present, no matter how small it may be, will in a few years from now find himself far up the line toward the gateway of success. Begin now. Get into line. When once there, let nothing tempt you to step out. C. C. NICOLA.