- 15 Jul 2014 17:11
#14438003
In the name of God, the most compassionate and merciful
…Members, I'm your supreme Commander-in-Chief. My relations with yours will be most intimate when I rely upon you as Our limbs and you look up to the Emperor as your head. Whether We are able to restore the Empire, and so prove Ourself worthy of God's blessings and repay the benevolence of Our Ancestors whether Black or White, depends upon the faithful discharge of your duties as Members. If the majesty and power of Our Society be impaired, do you share with Us the sorrow; if the glory of Our arms shine resplendent, We will share with you the honor. If you all do your duty, and being one with Us in spirit do your utmost for the restoration of the state, Our people will long enjoy the blessings of peace, and the might and dignity of Our Empire will shine in the world. As We thus expect much of you, Members, We give you the following precepts:
1. The Members should consider loyalty their essential duty. Who that is born in this land can be wanting in the spirit of grateful service to it? No Member, especially, can be considered efficient unless this spirit be strong within him. A me in whom this spirit is not strong, however skilled in art or proficient in science, is a mere puppet; and a body of Members wanting in loyalty, however well ordered and disciplined it may be, is in an emergency no better than a rabble. Remember that, as the restoration of the state and the maintenance of its power depend upon the strength of its arms, the growth or decline of this strength must affect the nation’s destiny for good or for evil; therefore neither be led astray by current opinions nor meddle in politics, but with single heart fulfill your essential duty of loyalty, and bear in mind that duty is weightier than a mountain, while death is lighter than a feather. Never by failing in moral principle fall into disgrace and bring dishonor upon your name.
3. The Member should esteem valor…. To be incited by mere impetuosity to violent action cannot be called true valor. The soldier and the sailor should have sound discrimination of right and wrong, cultivate self-possession, and form their plans with deliberation. Never to despise an inferior enemy or fear a superior, but to do one’s duty as Member—this is true valor. Those who thus appreciate true valor should in their daily intercourse set gentleness first and aim to win the love and esteem of others. If you affect valor and act with violence, the world will in the end detest you and look upon you as wild beasts. Of this you should take heed.
4. The Member should highly value faithfulness and righteousness.… Faithfulness implies the keeping of one’s word, and righteousness the fulfillment of one’s duty. If then you wish to be faithful and righteous in anything, you must carefully consider at the outset whether you can accomplish it or not. If you thoughtlessly agree to do something that is vague in its nature and bind yourself to unwise obligations, and then try to prove yourself faithful and righteous, your may find yourself in great straits from which there is no escape….Ever since ancient times there have been repeated instances of great men and heroes who, overwhelmed by misfortune, have perished and left a tarnished name to posterity, simply because in their effort to be faithful in small matters they failed to discern right and wrong with reference to fundamental principles, or because, losing sight of the true path of public duty, they kept faith in private relations. You should, then, take serious warning by these examples.
5. The Member should make simplicity their aim. If you do not make simplicity your aim, you will become effeminate and frivolous and acquire fondness for luxurious and extravagant ways; you will finally grow selfish and sordid and sink to the last degree of baseness, so that neither loyalty nor valor will avail to save you from the contempt of the world.
These five articles should not be disregarded even for a moment by Members. Now for putting them into practice, the all important thing is sincerity. These five articles are the soul of My Members, and sincerity is the soul of these articles. If the heart be not sincere, words and deeds, however good, are all mere outward show and can avail nothing. If only the heart be sincere, anything can be accomplished. Moreover these five articles are the “Grand Way” of God and earth and the universal law of humanity, easy to observe and to practice. If you, Members, in obedience to Our instruction, will observe and practice these principles and fulfill your duty of grateful service to the country, it will be a source of joy, not to Ourself alone, but to all the people of Ethiopia.
- By QatzelOk
- By Saeko
- By litwin
- By ingliz