CIVIC RECEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 89, 15 April 1935, Page 10

CIVIC RECEPTION

DICKENS IN AMERICA

There was a large gathering of Rotarians and members of bodies animated by the same spirit at the Town Hall today, when Mr. Harris was accorded a civic reception. Seated by the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), beside the guest, were the Mayoress and Mr. J. M. A. Ilott, District Governor of Rotary. Mrs. Harris was inspecting the Karitane Home.

It was a unique privilege, said Mr. Hislop, to meet one who had started such a comparatively short time ago a movement which had spread with such amazing rabidity throughout the

world. He believed that it was in 1905 that Mr. Harris put into activity in a small way the idea that he had no doubt conceived some time previously, the idea of creating a spirit of true fellowship based on the real Christian principles as understood between man and man, and inculcating and developing that spirit in everyday life. Like everything which had the seeds of true human feeling, when supported by those who gave all their energies to developing it, the movement inevitably grew, first of all in America, and then extending throughout the Englishspeaking world. Its growth in New Zealand had been remarkable. As Mayor he could speak of the great assistance that had been given by Rotary to those needing help. "It is a very great pleasure to me to welcome you here today," said Mr. Hislop. "I do it not only to you as the founder of this great movement, but also as a distinguished American citizen who has taken an active part in the affairs of his own country, and indirectly in the affairs of this country,, and I hope that you and Mrs. Harris will have a pleasant time, taking away memories as happy as those you leavs behind." Captain M. Galloway, speaking on behalf of the Dickens Fellowship, of which Mr. Harris is a distinguished member, said that Mr. Harris's coming "was heralded by the Chicago branch of the Dickens Fellowship. Their visitor had come as a, very old and valued member of the fellowship. Mr. Harris would be pleased to know that the society was very much alive in [Wellington. Dickens, as an author, was one of the greatest social reformers in history. If the Kotary Movement had existed in his day he would have been associated with its aims. Hs welcomed the visitors wholeheartedly. Mr. J. M. A. Ilott, on behalf of Kotary welcomed its founder. It was reerettable that his visit synchronised with Easter, and that he would not be. able to meet the clubs. Mr. Harris was giving the whole of his time now to Rotary, and since January had visrted Japan, Manila, and Australia. The movement, started 30 years ago, had grown to 156,000 members. Mr Harris said that they had looked forward to visiting New Zealand foxmany years. They had had the pleasure of knowing Rotarians from New Zealand at their home, and had been told of the remarkable growth of the movement here, and its usefulness. Rotary had owed much to those_fine men associated with its earlier days. The reception particularly interested him because of the inclusion of a Dickens Fellowship president, and his welcome. The thought occurred to him- that he could have visited New Zealand apart, from his association with Rotary, and found many friends among that fellowship,, m the Boy S^out movement, and in the Salvation Army, institutions . which had grown up in the "tight little islands" across 1 "Both Mrs. Harris and I have been members of the Dickens. Fellowship for years," said Mr. Harris. "I think that in Dickens we have one of the first bonds of fellowship between America and England. It is hard to.say to how great an extent the ideals ot the American people have been moulded and shaped by the stories written by that master of fiction. I;O™» .&»* a feeling that I had married Little DHe lt spoke 6of the gradual admiration which had grown for Dickens's writings in America, and how, jealous at first of his frank criticisms, when he had become appreciated Boston took him to its heart. Mr. Hams concluded wiTh an appreciation of the fact that Jeople in this half of the world seemed to understand Americans^and Americans them, naturally. When it came to explaining Americans to English people, or vice'versa, people in the Sern hemisphere were thosato do it "We have had a similar happy experiencejn Canada," he said. "There Le 300 miles of borcter there, which have never had a fortification, and 1 St think they ever will. We work together and play together: The two nations are now -building a great naUonafpark standing in both countries where they can play together.