On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often
happened was a makeshift lifesaving station. Its
devoted workers went out day or night, searching for
the lost and saving many lives. Soon the little
station developed quite a reputation for its unselfish
work. Many people joined the station, giving of their
time, moeny, and effort for the support of its work.
They bought new boats and trained new crews. The little
lifesaving station grew.
Then, some of the new members of the station grew
unhappy because the building was crude and poorly
equipped. So they enlarged the building, replaced the
emergency cots with comfortable beds, and put in nice
furniture.
Soon the station became a popular gathering place
for its members. Most of them lost interest in going to
sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired a professional
crew to do this work.
One day a large ship was wrecked off the coast. The
hired lifesaving crew brought in boatloads of people.
They were wounded, dirty, and sick. The beatiful new
building was soiled and damaged. So the property
committee had a shower house built outside the club where
shipwrecked victims could be cleaned up before coming
inside.
At the next meeting, club members got into a big
dispute. Most wanted to stop the lifesaving work because
it interfered with their regular activities. But some
members insisted that lifesaving was still their primary
purpose. However they were voted down. The majority
told them if they wanted to save lives, they could start
their own station down the coast. They did. As the years
passed, this new station also developed into a club, and
a third lifesaving station was founded. If you visit
that area today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs
along the coast. Shipwrecks still happen, but most of the
people drown in the stormy waters just off the shore.
- Frank G. Voight