“ROTARY.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXV, Issue 19008, 16 October 1931, Page 6

“ROTARY.”

ITS AIMS AND OBJECTS. ADDRESS BY DISTRICT GOVERNOR. Members of the Timaru Rotary Club were privileged to have a visit yesterday from District Governor H. G. Guthrie, of Dunedin, who gave a splendid address on the aims and objects of ‘"Rotary.” The weekly luncheon was presided over by Dr. L. S. Talbot (president), who introduced the speaker. District-Governor Guthrie said that it was a wonderful thought to stop and consider that all over the world there were groups of business and professional men working in the interests of their fellowmen, seeking the friendship of their neighbours both near and far. It was not too much to hope that in this effort lay the germ of the worldwide plan through which they might eventually effect world peace. The rotary emblem was a wheel with six spokes and twenty-four cogs, colours blue and gold, inscribed with the words “Rotary International.” • It was first of all a waggon wheel, and then came the suggestion of a cog wheel, as cogs typified co-operation and progress. The hub hight be taken to represent the central controlling office; the spokes the different countries or districts, and the cogs the general membership on classifications of business and professions represented in the general organisation. All could see the inspiring results of the first quarter century of the rotary movement. So much progress had been made that they should all be encouraged to believe that the goal of their six objects was not unattainable if they each caught the vision, and did their part. The six objects of rotary were splendid ideals, but too often they were prone to quote them without the four words which were the motive power behind those ideals “to encourage and foster.” There was no progress toward the world fellowship of business and professional men unless they, as individual rotarians, encouraged and fostered that ideal. The speaker said that rotary was judged by the lives of rotarians, not only in their own community, but by the people and the rotarians of other countries who might visit them, or whom they might visit. The genius of rotary was to bring together men of diverse types and occupations, of different nationalities and inheritances, not so much that they might harmonise these differences but that each might learn from the other, become broader and more tolerant, and thus more friendly. There were so many things in which they could unite that it seemed unwise to seek the things upon which the opinions of men were naturally divided. All had their own viewpoints, cherished their own religious beliefs and held to their own economic views. But these were things outside of rotary. They were agreed upon the benefits of peace, and the peaceful solution of disputes. They were agreed upon the delights of friendship, not only with their immediate neighbours, but with those around the comer, across the border, and on the other side of the world. They were agreed that it was the obligation of the more fortunate to share his bounty with the less fortunate, and it was more pleasant and more efficient to discharge this responsibility in a group than to act alone. There was no average man, nor did a rotary club endeavour to produce one. It did, however, endeavour to bring together the great and the small, the men of all worthy occupations in the city, to rub elbows, to become acquainted, and leam from each other than in union there was strength. The greatest advantage of a rotary club was the intimate friendship of men of divergent business interests, with the common ideal of personal service through their business and community life. The wisdom of a group of men who represented all the trades and professions of a community, all the different groups in a city, was usually based upon sound and conservative opinion. Such a cross-sec-tion was likely to produce a broader and less impulsive judgment upon questions relating to the public good. When all different shades of opinion were represented, there was little opportunity for a biased decision. This was the unique advantage of a rotary club, and therein lay its greatest advantage to the community. Things which received the endorsement of a rotary club, after careful consideration, could well be adopted by the community. The speaker went on to say that the days of school and college were over for the business and professional men who composed the membership of rotary clubs, but not their days of learning. Science and industry advanced so rapidly these days that the progressive man must continue his pursuit of knowledge, or drop back in the procession. A rotary club was a sort of study class where the weekly programmes and the frequent contact with other minds continued the training of school days, and developed the well-rounded man. Only men with active minds would be able to gain much from rotary. The ultimate goal of rotary was to increase the desire of its adherents for more and more useful knowledge of how to do the things that counted in life. The ranks of rotary were filled with progressive men, still learning, still eager to develop themselves and their social surroundings. The purpose of education should be to enable an individual to think constructively, to work effectively, and live abundantly, and in harmony with his neighbour, and to co-operate with him in making the world a better place in which to live. Should educational institutions approach this ideal, the men and women whom they would help to train should tend to elevate the social and economic standards of the world. Mr Guthrie said that the essence of rotary was rotation, and each rotarian was expected to rotate in his daily sphere, setting the example of “service above self.” Each rotarian was expected to fulfil his share of community service by his participation in other organisations according to his inclination. Mr Guthrie went on to deal with the spirit of rotary as it applied to club activities, and further stated that the principles and ideals of rotary were no new discovery, but only the revival of truths known for ages. The modern application of these truths was an indication that rotary was rather the result of the spirit of the times. The same spirit was now evident everywhere; co-operation was the slogan. There was reason to hope that the settlement of difficulties, both economic and political. would more and more be effected by peaceful and friendly discussion and examination of both sides. Rotary had helped to lake the spirit, of fellowship and cooperation out of the realm of idealism, and set it to work in the practical every day world of business and professional men. As rotarians. they were deeply grateful for the faith that was theirs in a life of service, for the enrichment, ol character that came from deeds of helpfulness and usefulness. for the great lbve of God, love of family and friends. While they built again for greater material prosperity, might they do so with better Judgment, broader charity, greater prudence and a surer faith that with temperance and regularity they should grow in vitality and in power, and achieve lasting

material success only as their ideals kept pace with ambitions, and while they gave thanks for their blessings, the present was a good time to heed the admonition: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” (Applause.) A hearty vote of appreciation was accorded the speaker for his able address.