ROTARY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 17

ROTARY.

THE MAIN PLANKS OF THE MOVEMENT. SPEECH BY DR. H. G. DENHAM. At the annual meeting of the Botary Club of Christcliurch, held this--week, the newly elected president, Dr. H. 6. Denham, in his inaugural speech, dilcussed the main planks of the Botary platform and expressed the opinion that the qualifications for membership were really of a twofold nature. In the first place the constitution laid down the criterion that the essential qualification for membership was a high ethical standard in business or profession, coupled with the ideal, of loyal and devoted service as the basis of ail worldly enterprise, and of kindly fellowship. But if Rotary was, as International President Sydney Paseall had so aptly put it, an ever-expanding tree which was eternally striving to plant its seed in fertile soil so that it might ultimately link all countries in one close bond of understanding and friendship, it must look to the ideal of service in a wider sphere than within the club walls, and for that reason service on behalf of the | community implied in object three and of mankind in general, so well expressed in the sixth object (the advancement of understanding, good-will, and international peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service) should be their most effective motto and guide. "The Common Effort." "The most that the best of us can d» is but a tiny fragment of the whole community task. And as the task grows around us, we need the capacity more and more to immerse ourselves in the life of the community," Rotarian Denham went on to say. "The cuft of individualism has been sadly overdone, probably intense individualism coupled with its counterpart, violent nationalism, is more responsible than any other factor for the present world chaos, and Botarians must see to it that they who serve their generation best are those who identify themselves most completely with the common effort.. The world of to-day is sick of many-diseases —social, economic, political—but yet morally the world is probably better today than at any other stage in its history, more aware of ita diseases, more eager to correct them, to be- set upon right lines, but it lacks guidance , aad direction. Moulding Public Opinion. ■>, "It is just here that every individual Botarian can contribute his towards. economic sanity.- Drawn,- as they are, from so many professions and callings, the members of the Botary dub should endeavour .to make their'influence felt in every-branch of civie- Efe. The .greatest joy that comes to the'ConstrnctiYe engineer is not that hia~ invention will pay, but rather is lie filled with the great glory of achievement at having made a. perfect machine, and of having left behind him a living record of his enthusiasm and creative ability. And is not man the most perfect machine yet createdf And how •3s lie working! Is he functioning at the present dayf Has the world not developed too mueh on the mechanisation 'side without s. corresponding development of the.,, spiritual - and ■ intellectual f Rota,rians can all aid in a qniat.w&y-in moulding poblie in matters whicli relate to fchegeneral functioning ofth at perfect machine, man, not only in all matters of moment to ear own people, but toe all peoples of .-the world. The co-partnership of-Ibe material andthe spiritual implied'in the ,: above remarks is yery aptly described -in?, the word* .of an Eastern- scholar; 1 That civilisation which makes the fullest use of h&man intelligence and ingenuity in search of truth in. order to control Nature and transform matter for < the aerviee of mankind,- -to liberate , the human spirit from -ignorance ; and snperstition, and to reform social an&- political institutions for the, benefit -of the ;greatest number—rsuck. a civilisation;-is highly idealistic and; spiritual/;" ' The International Bond. , "In advocating the, world aspect v of JBotary the president stressed -the view that servicti in one's profession,- - service to the - clnb- and -to the community .must really be looked upon ?iaapreparation for the strengthening of--the International bond so sorely .-needed at the present day. No elub which failed to. give loyal service when the- call eStne would- form a strong• link in- that-inter-national chain of friendship*and'tmdorstanding which many hoped :.would'-ptay ni> small; part in ; 4he developowntof world sanity; It was the spirit <>£• world friendship implied in- the sixth-'object of Botary, which was- the real'justification for Botary International, the i>ond that would hold together miamy rof diverse nationalities and interests in their endeavour" to bring about a better understanding between the nations of the world. .< • -