138 THREE KINGDOMS. 



members is to have, from the first, a fixed determina- 

 tion to found and establish the chapter as a perma- 

 nent and self-supporting society ; and not at all as a 

 transient class. Let everything be done with an eye 

 to perpetuity. Let the officers be such persons as are 

 least likely to be called away ; i. e., residents in the 

 town rather than visitors, principals of schools rather 

 than assistants or pupils, persons of steady character 

 and endurance rather than those of vacillating and 

 fitful disposition. Let property be acquired by the 

 chapter as such. A library, a cabinet, a room, a 

 building, all tend to stability. Again, let there be 

 such a system of enlisting desirable members from 

 time to time, especially from the entering classes of 

 schools and colleges, as shall render the chapter con- 

 tinually able to sustain the loss of any who may be 

 obliged to withdraw. 



With regard to the third cause of loss, decreasing 

 interest, the remedy is twofold. In the first place, by 

 way of prevention, only such should be received into 

 the society as give reasonable promise of perseverance. 

 It is not usually those who are most easily roused to 

 excited enthusiasm who make the most steadfast work- 

 ers. Choose rather those who feel their need of knowl- 

 edge, and are willing to work patiently and persistently 

 to acquire it. Having, then, carefully organized, the 

 utmost care should be taken to have the offices dis- 

 tributed with absolute fairness. Those who are most 

 earnestly zealous for the prosperity of the work, com- 

 monly care least about the honors, but should be wil- 

 ling to accept them if offered. The next essential 

 thing is to keep every Member at work, not by com- 

 pulsion, but by providing an abundance of congenial 

 occupation, and by generously recognizing and ap- 

 plauding every faithful effort. It is also indispensa- 

 ble that every member be kept fully informed of the 



