Keeping pace with the times;

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VOL. XII NEW YORK, OCTOBER, 1929 No. 7
Keeping Pace With the Times
T H E month of September this year
has been a month of meetings. What
with the meetings of the two national
societies, the additional touch of im­portance
given by the International Con­gress,
with the firm meeting coming in the
fourth week, September has been a month
long to be remembered.
Whether or not meetings are of value,
they are a part of the modern system of
Babbittry. They are a part of the game;
somewhat typically American, perhaps, at
least in the way they have been developed
of late years.
As an excuse for golf, meetings are per­fect
institutions. One well-known organi­zation
holds its annual gatherings at a
resort where the only attraction is a golf
course. The members play golf during the
day and slumber during the reading of
papers in the evening.
But what medium offers greater oppor­tunity
for close communion than golf?
Where can one get a better insight into the
unalloyed character of a friend, or, of an
adversary, than on a golf course? Where
is there a better test of patience, poise,
and perspicacity?
Perhaps the meetings which have just
been held, did not contribute an iota to
the sum total of knowledge related to
accountancy and the dependent subject.
Perhaps all the essays that were read were
not worth the time consumed in their
preparation, and the paper on which they
were written. Perhaps the money cost
involved in the getting together of such
large numbers of persons was wasted.
Perhaps the spending of huge sums for en­tertaining
was gross extravagance, and the
meetings served but an excuse for a good
time.
But granting all of the foregoing, which
is far from fact, meetings of the kind, such
as have just taken place, would still be
justified. Kindred souls have been
brought together. Persons interested in
the same cause and subjects have had an
opportunity to exchange views, face to
face. Friendships have been formed;
many have been renewed. Outlooks have
been broadened. Enthusiasm for the job
back home has been quickened. Energy
has been stimulated, and "a good time
was had by all."
The habit of annual meetings is a good
habit. Various associations find them in­spiring
and beneficial in the respective
strivings. The annual meetings of ac­countants
are a great cohesive factor in
knitting the profession into a firmer body,
with greater power for good in making the
work of the professional accountant an
effective instrument in business service.