Page 185 - 聖母軍團員手冊（英文版，2014年5月-2022年1月更新版）

Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 180

180 EXTENSION AND RECRUITING CHAPTER 31
that fact and to account now and then for his stewardship.
The influencing of others by interview or corre spon d ence is
an obvious method of fulfilling this duty, but special ways
will suggest themselves to each one.
If many centres could be made to send forth impulses to
spread the Legion, it would soon exist in all places, and the
Lord’s harvest fields would be thronged with willing
labourers. (Lk 10:2) Therefore these important subjects of
extension and recruiting should frequent ly be brought to the
notice of the members so that each one be made acutely
conscious of his duty in those directions.

2. An efficient branch of the Legion will be the source of
immense good. As one may suppose that this good will be
doubled by the establishment of a second branch, every
member (and not merely the officers) should endeavour to
bring about this desirable thing.
As soon as it is found that the members’ reports and other
items of the agenda have regularly to be curtailed in order to
anticipate the automatic closure, a stage will have been
reached when division is not only desirable but necessary. If
not then effected, a dropsical state will supervene, in which
interest in the work will diminish and the membership will
shrink. The praesidium will not only lose the power of
transmitting life to another branch, but will find it difficult to
preserve its own existence.
To the proposal to form an additional praesidium in a
particular locality, it may be alleged that present numbers are
coping satis factorily with the existing needs. Against this, it is
to be emphasised that, as the primary purpose of the Legion is
the sanctification of its own members, and of the community
at large through the play of that holiness, it logically follows
that increase of membership must, for this reason alone, be
also a principal aim. Possibly, the provision of work for the
new members may be somewhat of a problem in small places.
Nevertheless, let new members be accepted and sought. The
Legion must never think in terms of limitation: better material
than that already within the ranks might be excluded. When
the more obvious needs have been covered, look deeper. Work
is necessary to enable the machine to function. Therefore, it
must be found and it is there.