Page:(Commercial character) The Joseph Fisher lecture in commerce, delivered at the University of Adelaide (IA commercialcharac00jessrich).pdf/9

5 " Honour done to those who are grander and better than you, without fear; distinct from fear, Ehrfurcht—the soul of all religion that ever has been among men or ever will be."

Yes, reverence is no spontaneous growth. Do we, the unthinking, remember that when we accuse our boys of being wanting in it? Do we recognise that reverence is a result of education, of environment, and, above all, do we recognise the immensity of the power as models for good and evil of those in high places? I am not one of those who contend that the world is going to the devil because I have experienced more of its kicks and gathered fewer of its halfpence than fall to the lot of some other men, and while admitting that the keen competition of to-day does not make for commercial morality; while recognising that there exists a somewhat cynical tolerance, not untinged with envy, of successful rogues, I confidently anticipate acquiescence when I ask those of the British race if much comfort is not to be derived from the fact—and I sincerely entertain the conviction that it is a fact—that the methods of the majority of English firms are founded on honesty and fair dealing, and that good faith plays a marvellous part in the conduct of the Empire's stupendous commerce. When I speak of English firms I of course include Australian firms, albeit our commercial reputation is somewhat besmirched by some latter-day revelations. While posing as a commercial apologist, I do not pretend that Commerce is carried on on altruistic or philanthropic principles. It may be regarded as a reflection on some 2,000 years of Christianity, but the fact remains that to those engaged in trade life is a battlefield, and the prizes go to