Lions Clubs Mark Anniversary

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31382, 30 May 1967, Page 2

Lions Clubs Mark Anniversary

Lions clubs from throughout the South Island, are holding a golden anniversary ball at the Winter Garden on Saturday evening, in recognition of 50 years of service by the Lion’s International.

It is half a century since the international organisation of Lion was founded in Chicago, U.S.A., giving it the distinction of being the oldest service club organisation in the world.

In every country where Lions clubs exist the golden anniversary is being celebrated by members, who total almost one million.

International voluntary service has a long history, dating in the Christian world from the days of St. Francis of Assisi and earlier, and volun-

tary, humanitarian service has been practised through the centuries until now voluntary service and public action are complementary.

A remarkable development in the spread of Lions clubs took place following the Second World War, when the movement spread to countries throughout Europe and Asia, and in particular to the former Axis countries, notably Japan which formed clubs at a rate of three per day for several years.

Non-political and non-sec-tarian in its outlook, “Lionism” has transcended all barriers of language and creed to the extent that its publications are printed in 12 languages.