Notes and Correspondence 



305 



Address by Alexander McAdie* 



Members of the Appalachian Club and Guests: — 



We stand here, looking down on the Atlantic, facing the East from 

 whence cometh the Light. A thousand leagues west, another mountain 

 club, climbing the hills of Contra Costa — the opposite coast — looks down 

 on the Pacific, facing west, yet facing the East, the old East, from 

 whence came the Light, from whence again we hope will come the 

 kindling rays of truth, liberty and progress. 



Between this near coast and that opposite coast, lies our country, a 

 happy, prosperous people, sure of their destiny, confident of their mis- 

 sion and proud of their high calling among the nations of earth. And 

 may it long be so, and neither conflict nor resort to arms again disturb 

 this peace. Still, there are some who profess to see on the Pacific a 

 stage with scenes being rapidly set for some of the most stirring acts 

 in the drama of civilization. Be that as it may, there will undoubtedly 

 be trade rivalries, business jealousies, racial antagonisms and anti- 

 pathies ; and so it becomes every nation, particularly the one that 

 vaunteth itself superior, to study the problem well, to examine it from 

 many viewpoints and especially from the vantage ground of exalted 

 enlightenment, so that there be no mistakes, and no aftermath of regret- 

 table consequences. 



But some one may ask: "What has this to do with mountain climb- 

 ing?" Simply this, that the mountaineer, by virtue of his high calling, 

 by virtue of the effort made to rise above the commonplace and set 

 things of life, is the very one who may best lead his fellows to greater 

 heights of national morality. His, the far view, the wider horizon ; his, 

 the truer estimate of the motives and acts of men and nations. Stand- 

 ing on the high peaks of benevolence, tolerance and tranquility, he may 

 point the road and indicate the way to those who dwell below ; but 

 who fain would breathe the purer air of heights serene. Having per- 

 chance trodden the trail of unselfishness, steep tho it be at times, he may 

 beckon on some halting, hesitating climber. So much has been given 

 to the mountaineer, surely much may be asked from him. The love of 

 liberty has been always his ; he must see that others have the same 

 freedom to climb, freedom to think, freedom to rest. Remember, it 

 was from the mountains that the Laws and Blessings came. From the 

 rough range of Sinai, the Commandments ; from the lower mount, the 

 Sermon with the Beatitudes. 



And this is the message from the leader of that Western mountain 

 club : "CHmb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace 

 will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow 

 their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares 

 will drop off like autumn leaves." 



*Delivered at meeting of the Appalachian Club at Blue Hill, March 14, 1914. 

 under the leadership of Mr. T. H. Emerton. 



