LOYALTY 549 



LOYALTY 1 



By Professor JOHN C. BRANNER 



STANFORD UNIVERSITY 



WHAT little I shall say is about personal loyalty. It is due 

 myself that I should exjflain that the greater part of this 

 address was written more than two years ago, and especially for my 

 own students, who frequently have to meet certain ethical problems in 

 connection with their professional work. Within a few months there 

 has appeared a book upon loyalty by a distinguished philosopher 2 who 

 deals with the subject in its broadest and best sense. I make haste, 

 therefore, to say that I do not attempt to discuss the subject in any 

 large sense. What I have to suggest is not spoken with the authority 

 of the philosopher or with the philosopher's subtle reasoning. I can 

 only give my personal impressions and views of the subject without 

 regard to its philosophic bearings. I should add, however, that in 

 Professor Boyce's lectures you will find ably dealt with the many 

 problems that naturally arise in connection with this subject. And 

 whether you agree with all he says or not, you will find his book one 

 of the most helpful and inspiring that has ever been jDublished in our 

 country. 



I must premise also that what I say is said in a spirit of perfect 

 frankness and on general principles, and has no reference to any par- 

 ticular occasions, circumstance or persons. The subject seems to be 

 especially worthy of your attention just now because the habit of 

 loyalty is one that may be cultivated during your student life; it cer- 

 tainly will not spring into full-fledged development at some future 

 time when it happens to be wanted. 



I am often asked about points of practical professional ethics, and 

 it is chiefly in connection with this phase of the subject that I have 

 thought that it would probably interest you. Loyalty is going to be 

 an important factor in the making of your character, and even, if you 

 care to look at it in that light, an asset in your profession, or in your 

 business. 



Perhaps I lay a little more stress upon this point because I come 

 of a people who habitually place a high estimate upon every phase of 

 loyalty. We seem indeed to have exaggerated or distorted ideas of 



1 An address to the student body of Stanford University, September 9, 1908. 

 2 " The Philosophy of Loyalty," by Josiah Royce, New York, 1908. 



