ROTARY’S THIRTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY

Evening Star, Issue 22276, 29 February 1936, Page 2

ROTARY’S THIRTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY

The spread of Rotary in the three decades of its history to nearly eighty countries or regions has given inspiration to the anniversary celebration this week by Rotary clubs of almost 4,000 cities.

The nan who founded this worldwide movement on February 20, 1905, Paul P. Harris, of Chicago, still takes an active part, and is at this time visiting some of the 230 Rotary chibs in Latm-Amcrica, in conjunction with a trip to tho South American Rotary Conference at Valparaiso, Chile, March 4-7.

Rotary is constantly growing more international, clubs having been elected without the aid of paid organisers, at tho rate of three a week since 1910. In the last fiscal year there was a membership increase of more than 10,000, and the number of Rotarians is now tho largest in the history of the organisation, more than 164,000. In 1935 Iceland was added to the list of countries in which there are Rotary chibs, one having been formed, at the capital, Reykjavik. One of the significant Rotary events of tho past year was the European Rotary conference at Venice, Italy, attended by some 1,500 Rotarians and their wives from almost every coun-

try in Europe. Edward R. Johnson, of Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.A., the president of Rotary International, in speaking of this conference, said: “ I was impressed as never before by the dignity and influence which Rotary has attained, and by a sense of the important part which it is playing in the councils of the nations. “ That this great world-wide organisation has been able to develop as it lias, that its members have become close friends by understanding one another better, in a time when the general tendency has been just the opposite, is a testimony to the virility of Rotary and to its efficacy as a unifying and integrating force.” International friendship has been the anniversary theme for the meeting of many Rotary clubs this week, focusing attention upon the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace as a challenge to the business and professional men of the world. The friendships developed between Rotarians at international conventions and conferences, by the visits of individuals and groups of Rotary clubs in other countries, and in many other ways, are helping to build international understanding and thus, provide a foundation for discussion and settlement of previously difficult questions. This great world-wide movement had its inception in a meeting in Chicago, February 23, 1905, with Paul Harris, a lawyer, and three of his friends. It was the founder’s purpose to bring together some of his friends and their friends in a club designed primarily to encourage fellowship among the leading business and professional men of a community.

Inspired by the enthusiasm generated in this first club, the founder began efforts to organise Rotary clubs in other cities. It was three years before the second club was organised in San Francisco, but within live years, 16 of the largest cities in the United States had Rotary clubs. When there were 16 clubs in the United States, the founder felt that there should be some co-operation between them. With Ohesley R. Perry, he brought together in Chicago the representatives of the 16 clubs in August, 1910, and the National Association of Rotary Clubs was founded. Paul Harris was elected president and Cheslcy R. Perry, chairman of that convention, was elected secretary. At the convention in 1912 the name International Association of Rotary Clubs was adopted, and charters were , issued to Rotary clubs in Winnipeg, Canada, London, England, and Dublin, Ireland. The name was shortened to Rotary International in 1922. Cuba was the first non-KngJish-speaking country to welcome Rotary. The Rotary Club of Havana was chartered in April, 1916. On the continent of Europe the first club was founded at Madrid, Spain, in 1921. In South America the first club was founded at Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1919. Jn Australia the first club was formed at Melbourne in 192.1. lu Asia, the first club was formed at Shanghai, China, in 1919. The name “ Rotary ” was suggested by Paul Harris from the early custom of holding the meetings of the club in the offices of the members in rotation. The founder also devised the classifi-

cation principle, restricting membership in the Rotary club to but one man in each distinct line of business or profession. From the nanie “ Rotary ” and the thought of rotation among one’s friends, came the inspiration for the Rotary emblem, first a simple wheel and later the cog wheel, officially adopted in 1924. At the second convention, 1911, the expression: “He profits most who serves best,” was adopted as the beat expression of the principles of Rotary. Some years later the phrase “ Service Above Self was coined, and the two expressions were united in 1916 to form the Rotary motto of to-day. The Dunedin Rotary Club was formed in January, 1923, with a membership of 25 Rotarians, and for the past 13 years has functioned and flourished m the community until to-day its membership had reached the 90 mark. Apart from its weekly luncheons, which provide the basis of fellowship on which the successful working of the club depends, the local club has taken a keen interest in and assisted the youth nlovements of the city, paying special attention to the needs of crippled children, Boy Scouts, and the New Zealand Institute for the Blind. It has never been the policy of the Rotary Club of Dunedin to seek any form of publicity, but a review of its activities in the community over the past 13 years justifies the claim that at least in some small measure it is successfully carrying out the aims and objects of Rotary Internationa), and endeavouring to live up to its motto, “ Service Above Self.”