--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Richards, Stephen L. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 30 number: 8 published: 1927-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Richards, Stephen L., “Avocation,” *Improvement Era* 30, no. 8 (June 1927): 678–686." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3008unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3008unse start_page: 678 end_page: 686 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3008unse publication_year: 1927 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1927, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Avocation AVOCATION By- Stephen L. Richards [This important and valuable address for the youth of colleges and high schools was delivered to the students of the Utah Agricultural College some weeks ago. It touches on the great opportunities of our free Democracy, and cautions youth against se fishness and class distinction, so characteristic of fraternities and sororities. It encourages altruism and the free enjoyment of nature's glorious gifts at our doors. — Editors.] My inspiration, if any I may claim, for the choice of this subject, comes largely from my reading of a book written by Mr. Edward W. Bok, and entitled Dollars Only. For several years I have been much interested in subjects pertaining to vocation selection and guidance, as well as in thos> matters that pertain to leisure-time ac- tivity and recreation. I find in Mr. Bok's book a treatment that serves to clarify the view I have held with reference to full and abundant living, and prompts me to attempt an expression of them, which I hope you can endure. "Dollars Only" Edward Bok was>, for thirty years, editor of the Ladies' Home Journal. He was eminently successful and accumulated . a large fortune. At the age of fifty-six he retired from business to engage in altrustic pursuits for the welfare of his fellow-man. His book that I mentioned is one or his latest contributions since his retirement. In it he tells with ringing enthusiasm of the supreme joy he has ex- perienced in his endeavor to serve humanity without pay. He tells, too, of many other great American business men, men often of large wealth, who have corns to regard their accumulations largely as trust funds to be wisely administered and ultimately returned to the public whence they came. He eulogizes the great philanthropists and other benefactors and submits an inpassionate plea for the diversion of the great floods of human energy, brain power, and talents from the everlasting, nerve-wrecking, mad race for "dollars only," into channels of unselfish service for the common welfare of the race. Meaning and Choice of an Avocation Now I have no such exaggerated notion of the wealth of these students, or even of the members of this faculty, as- to imagine that Mr. Bok's appeal for the equitable distribution of accumulated riches has any very direct application here. I take it that it is one of your chief concerns at this stage of your life to learn how to get money rather than how to give it away. It is of moment, however, that as you learn to acquire, you learn how to spend, and this, too, with reference to the expenditure of time, energy and knowledge, as with money. It is in this connection that I regard the avocation of life as of great importance. I am not sure that "avocation" is the AVOCATION 6 79 proper term to designate the activities and phases' of life that I have in mind, but it is the best term I know. I understand a man's vocation to be his business, trade, profession or calling, in which he makes his living, his major enterprise, and that leisure-time pursuits usually comprehend pleasurable diversions in the interest of relaxation, play and personal enjoyment. I am concerned about our play, and how leisure hours are spent, but I wish to speak now in advocacy of the choice in the early stages of our life of an avocation, a calling apart from our business, a serious line of endeavor which will yield a con- tribution perhaps not less important than our vocation; such an avoca- tion to afford rest, relaxation and genuine recreation, not because it contemplates activities of a light or frivolous nature, but because it brings a change of thought, plays on different nerve centers, and produces new experiences and results. I cannot think of an avocation as money-yielding to the indi- vidual who engages in it. Any enterprise with the personal ac- cumulation of property or even self-aggrandizement as the objective may properly be characterized as business. Unselfishness is of the very essence of an avocation, at least of the kind I urge for adoption. May we discuss some of the avocations and their status in the program of our living? The vocation of most of you at this time is that of student. Your present chief enterprise is to secure educa- tional training as equipment for your life's work. . What arc some of the avocations open to your choice as you pursue your work in college? I shall venture a few for your consideration, although you may think some of them are scarcely eligible for adoption to your school days. Home Work and Home First, there is home work. I named this item first, because it is second to nothing in production of happiness in life. It contemplates all of the arts and activities which lend to the beauty, the convenience, the economy and general attractiveness of home. I know a girl who in college studies to be a teacher and who at home has the avocation of dressmaking and millinery, not for her own advantage only, but for that of the entire family. She is also an expert lamp- shade designer. She derives much pleasure from these pursuits, and her family no inconsiderable profit. You probably know many instances of similar character. The whole field of art and decoration in the home is open as an avocation to young women, both during school life and in other days. In city life, gardening, flowers, trees and landscaping furnish not only delightful diversion for business men and for boys, but all conduce inestimably to the beauty of a munic- ipality. I know a number of eminent professional men. bankers, doctors and lawyers, who have made rather exhaustive study of trees and flowers and take great pride in the cultivation of exceptional varieties. Bird fanciers there are by the scores, many of whom have accumulated a vast store of knowledge on the species and lines that 680 IMPROVEMENT ERA particularly interest them. A few of our citizens whom many of you know have distinguished themselves in their study of bird life and in their enthusiastic efforLto secure bird and game preserves and sanctu- aries for the general benefit of the state. While these efforts go beyond home work, they are usually initiated in connection therewith. Of course, there comes a time when activities about the home become more than avocation. I remember a number of years ago hearing a prominent speaker address a large group of business men in the city where I lived. He told them that he had been looking through the City t Directory and found listed opposite their names the various vocations and busi- nesses in which they were engaged — merchants, bankers and pro- fessional men he found in large numbers. "But,," said he, "gentlemen, these various businesses and professions are not your chief vocation, they are but your side line. Your chief business is to make and maintain good American homes." I agreed with him, and I hold that home- making in all its various aspects constitutes one of the most im- portant avocations and vocations as well. Club Work as an Avocation I name next club work as a possible avocation for students. I name it, however, rather more for discussion than for advocacy, by which I do not want to be understood to mean that there are not worthy forms of club life and club work. I believe there are, but I caution against indiscriminate entrance into existing organizations. I am aware that I here touch a rather delicate subject. I hope, how- ever, I can express my views frankly without giving offense, for I assure you I intend none. What ought to be the test of the worthi- ness of a club, a fraternity, a sorority, or other social institution, bidding for the patronage and support of students? I may be too idealistic in my conclusion, but I lay it down as fundamental that no club is worthy of place in our college or educational life that does not make for the mental, physical, moral and spiritual improve- ment and development of its members in such manner, — and I ask you especially to mark this provision — that the operation of such a club so maintained for the purposes mentioned shall be entirely compatible with like opportunities for such development on the part of all other students of the college or members of the social group. I firmly believe that the maintenance of any organization in college which does not comply substantially with these requirements tends to promote class distinction, undesirable competition, and is in a measure at least undemocratic and unAmerican. Fraternities and Sororities Now I am not preferring a general indictment against college fraternities and sororities. If I were minded so to do it would be ungracious of me to do so in this presence, and in response to the invitation which has been extended to me to speak on this occasion AVOCATION 681 My purpose is to point out some hazards and tendencies which I believe I see, and to emphasize the necessity for discrimination and wise choice. I am sure that in many of our college clubs are to be found most excellent people, young men and young women with the best of ideals, whose living is above reproach. In their club life they often devote themselves to what they regard as useful and altruistic pursuits. They believe they are doing good to themselves and to others. I hope they are, but I am constrained to question some of the results. I wonder if it is not true that for every one who is made happy by inclusion in one of these select college clubs, there are at least two who are unhappy and embarrassed because they were not bidden and in their opinion discriminated against. While some rich man's daughter — and remember that it is neither of her making nor her fault that she is his daughter — is reveling in the ecstacies of her initiation ceremonies, may it not be that somewhere in that same college town in humble and lowly surroundings, a secret pillow is wet with the sobs of some poor man's girl who, neglected and alone, mourns her doleful fate? I am not shedding tears, however, for this poor girl of the doleful fate. My observation has convinced me that in the end she often comes out just as well as, and sometimes better than, her sister with the frills and the clubs and the many dates. Speaking of date9 reminds me how words evolve and change their meaning. I used to think that a date indicated a definite period of time. Now I find that it denotes a boy and a girl and an indefinite period of time. I am not so worried about the ultimate welfare of those who are left out as I am concerned for those who go in. No person ever takes a selfish course or one that brings unhappines to others with out having unfavorable reaction; and I am often more sorry for those who leave a man out in the cold than for the man who is left out, because the man in the cold often has a warm heart, and a great soul, which would expand and unfold itself under the genial rays of good fellowship, but one who consciously, either directly or indirectly, deprives another of opportunity, retards his own development and is in great danger of a permanent contraction of heart and spirit. But, I hear you state in reply, not everyone can be rich and b? accorded equal social opportunity. We, the students, cannot remake our social and economic order, we merely take life as it is, we choose our own companions, as we have a right to do, and we group our- selves in our clubs and fraternal organizations for our personal en joyment, and for our own advancement. Think what an advantage it is to belong to an organization wherein all are bound together by pledges and obligations to advance one another's interests, and to protect one another in the strenuous strife and competition of life's work. All very true, and it sounds fine, but my young friends. I believe that I give to you a very sober piece of advice when I caution you to be somewhat careful about allying yourselves with this group or that group for mutual advancement and protection in the world of strife and competition, at least until you have seen something of that world 682 IMPROVEMENT ERA and are in a position to know better where your alliances should be made, if made at all. Undoubtedly you have a right to choose your friends and you should choose them well, but a real friend, the kind that Emerson says may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature, is seldom acquired wholesale by the purchase of the whole lot, however high class- the particular brand may be. I have always felt that one is likely to circumscribe his opportunities when he limits the choice of his intimate friends to those of a small group where a larger group is available for that choice. No, not all can be rich and good looking and wear smartly tailored clothes, but, thank the Lord, nearly every boy and girl in America who has ambition and industry can go to the public schools of America, and although born of humble parents, in lowly surroundings, can rub shoulders with the rich man's son and daughter, and in this great Republican institution, in this* mortar box of Democracy, the children of the rich are mixed with the children of the poor, their childish hearts forget class or creed, and the hard and rough surfaces of the poor are refined and polished in the contact, the soft and too pliable tissues of the gently nourished are toughened and strengthened, fundamental virtues are inculcated and sympathies are broadened, and finally the whole mixture, the product of the public schools, is the cohesive cement that binds together and holds firm our entire governmental structure, with its lofty ideals of equality, equity and justice. Now may I ask, would you, if you could, project the modern fraternity and sorority into the public schools? I believe you would not. Certainly no thoughtful student of our institution would care to incur the hazards that might follow. I am wondering just how much more justification the school frats can find for themselves in the higher schools of the country, those above the grammar grades. These secondary schoob and colleges are also largely supported by public funds, they are public creations of the state, they hold equal opportunities to all the people, they are not in any sense charged with the function of separating the mixture brought about by the grammar grades of the public schools into its component parts. These higher institutions of learning belong to all the people, and it seems at least not unreasonable to inquire whether or not it is within the proprieties for them to foster any organization or movement which may tend even in the slightest degree to divide the people and promote class distinction. Again I believe some of you think, and in your thoughts you are saying to me: "But you are mistaken in your premise. You are as- suming that a choice of members for our societies is made on the basis of wealth and social position and prestige. It is not so, our selections are made with reference to merit and achievement." Let us see. Will you take a fellow in who hasn't the money to pay his initiation fee and regular dues, and whose wardrobe consists of a well-worn suit of clothes, an old sweater and a cap? You may perhaps say, 'Yes, AVOCATION 683 under certain conditions.'' I think I know wrvt (hose conditions are: Chief among them is that the candidate shail be a man of so phenomenal and unusual at! letic power as to bring wnb h'm to your organization a large measure of distinction. Wh:ncver a college, fraternity or sorority opens its door to all those who have attained to meritorious achievements, without reference to money, doth.s or "pre- vious cond tion of serv:fude," it will have gone a long way to convince the public of its real democracy. A Frank Question We live in a Christ' .n nation. I have heretofore from this platform endeavored to en phasize that fact. I take the liberty now of submitting frankly the question: Can we who profess Christianity and who give allegiance to the Master and the principles he taught, com- pletely harmonize our conception of the brotherhood of man, equality of right and opportunity, and service for all, with the objective and practices of some of our college organizations? Were there any restric- tions imposed on candidates for entrance into the society which He organized among men? Yes, there was one, and only one. It had no reference to riches, class, caste, color or creed. He bade the Jew, the Gentile and the heathen to come, from all lands and from all climes, and all conditions of life. He said to them: Live right- eously and conform to th1 ordinances of the gospel, and you may enter my kingdom and be with me always. He was the great Democrat, and his life and words are the inspiration underlying our sacred institutions. Another Important Question Now I fear, if I am not careful, that some will think I am making an argument against fraternities and sororities. That would be most unfortunate for me in particular. I might be nrsundcrstood, and I might lose a good many friendships that I prize most highly. I am not making an argument. Years ago I went out of that busi- ness. I am only talking about avocations and those th^t are desirable for college students. I must speedily return to the subject. To do so. I ask you this question. I hope you will all answer it deliberately for yourselves. Are there not innumerable opportunities in the school and on the campus for you to identify yourselves with clubs, social groups and organizations and movements, which will afford abundant opportunity for the expression of your talents, the grati- fication of social proclivities, the making of friendships, and. what is most important, the development within yourselves of a great d;sire and some ability to serve? Then can you not embrace these op- portunities as legitimate avocations, without in any sense violating your consciousness of fair play and equality of right and privilege to all? When I attended college in this state there were no fraternities or sororities. Our debating societies', dramatic and literary clubs, and scientific associations seemed then to be sufficient. The whole 6 84 IMPROVEMENT ERA school, of course much smaller than now, was as a large family with general acquaintance and opportunities restricted only by the limita- tions of merit or scholastic gradation. It may be a reactionary spirit that prompts one to wish for a return of the conditions of the past. For my own part, I would not want many of them to come back. I freely admit that' in the main new methods are much better than the old, but I believe that if I could I would keep in vogue today some- thing more of the old democratic spirit which forbade, to any appreciable extent, the organization and maintenance of privately selected social groups within the student body. Church and Religious Work as an Avocation I name as my third classification of avocations open 'to th: stu- dent, and probably the last one I shall have opportunity to discuss today, religious and church work. I hesitate to speak of religion as an avocation. In a broad and fundamental sense, it is not and never should be, for if religion means anything in a man's life, it should mean everything. If he has adopted it for his philosophy of life, it should dictate the program of his living. In that sense it furnishes the criteria by which he makes his interpretation and adapta- tion. It comforts, encourages, and inspires. I cannot consistently call such religion an avocation. I here have reference only to ac- tivities in church work, which, in point of time and effort expended, cannot well occupy a predominate place in the life of a student. They should always, however, in my opinion, have some place in his life. Church work, to the layman at least, is always without ma- terial compensation. It is altruistic in high degree. When per- formed with proper spirit and attitude, it develops unselfishness more abundantly than any other kind of service. Its results are often far reaching and vital, both to the giver and to him who receives. Many students feel that by reason of the time and energy which it demands, that they should forego it, particularly when they are under financial strain, as many of them are, to sustain themselves at school and secure their training. It is a great mistake to lay it entirely aside. There are a few places where religious contact 2nd conception are more necessary to regulate and stabilize conduct and thinking than in college. Old faith, tried and tested conviction, con- stantly kept before the student, constitute no mean insurance against the adoption of immature theories and philosophies and b:havior. too, that often militate against ultimate jhappiness and success. Participation in church work is the surest way to keep around us the safeguard. Occasionally I hear of students who abandon their church activities while in college, resulting in serious consequences to themselves. I know of boys who, while living in their home town, were active participants in the organization of their church and derived great satisfaction and profit therefrom. On coming to college they failed to ally themselves with the organizations of their church, assumed no part in its work and gradually lost interest. AVOCATiON 685 Their Sundays were spent lounging about the houses where they lived, often in company with other fellows, some of whom may have had no church affiliations. They began th.- practice of smoking for the hr 686 IMPROVEMENT ERA two dear friends, lovers of art and nature, whom, were I to mention their names', you all would know. I could scarcely await the oppor- tunity of seeing them enjoy their first vision of the canyon. They approached the rim expectantly, but of course not knowing, as no one who has not seen it can ever know what awaited them. I thought there would be exclamations of delight and wonder. There were not. They just looked, and as they looked the tears flowed down their cheeks like drops of rain. I am not ashamed to say my eyes filled, too. There were no words, only feeling; feeling too deep for ex- pression. We always camp under the pines on the rim of Bryce, There better can one observe its changing moods. From sunrise to sunset, in the dark of night and in the moonlight the scenes vary and shift like multicolored lights playing on fantastic creations of the stage. We sometimes stay for days' to watch its wondrous, mystic beauty. There is mystery in it but to discover and feel it one must explore the labyrinth of its cool recesses at the base of precipitate ledges. When we leave we are chastened and refreshed. The Temples and Majestic Peaks of Zion And then Zion, the wonderland of patriarchal temples and majestic peaks. I think perhaps sfae is claimed more by our friends from the southwest of the mountains, but we all claim her and some day the whole world will know her entrancing, inspiring beauty. When I can, I go to see her in the early Spring before the little fresh- ets that gush from crevices in the lofty towers and walls of rock have drained the meager reservoirs of snow stored in the dizzy heights. I like to see the new green of the foliage against its background of brilliant hues. Her lacy waterfalls, her riot of color and the glory of her stupendous piles exalt the very soul of man. In their pres- ence he cannot be small or mean. Hio vision is enlarged, his sym- pathies are broadened, his love of his fellow-men is deepened and his trust in God and the universe is supreme. He is made a better man. Are not all these, my friends, gifts to us? Are we not in very deed debtors for them? Our Personal Relationships and Associations And then there are those personal associations and relationships of ours — these priceless friends and hand-clasps, home, love, and all the dear ones who mean more to us than even life itself; the country, its glorious institutions, sacred religion, and God. Will you say that we are not debtors; that we have no obliga- tion to pay, to pay unceasingly, in small installments in proportion to our respective abilities, by giving generously, gratefully of our- selves, that the whole world may have joy and peace? Young men, young women, may your vocation and your avocation bring blessings to yourselves, service to your fellow-men, and glory to God.