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GREETINGS FROM THE FOUNDER
Paul P. Harris, President Emeritus
Fellow Rotarians: Those of us who were connected with the
founding of the first Rotary club in this city twenty‑five years
ago have viewed with amazement the spread of the movement as
depicted before our eyes this evening in a form so colorful and
so full of precious historical associations.
Little did we dream that our weekly meetings of a small group of
business and professional men, united for friendship and mutual
helpfulness amidst the loneliness of a large city, would awaken
a similar feeling inherent in the hearts of men throughout the
world.
The early years of Rotary were spent in an endeavor to formulate
certain principles by which the movement should be governed, and
to discover the modes of activity by which Rotarians could put
into practice their ideals of Service.
The Rotary club has been adopted in practically every country of
the world embracing in its membership men of different races
with differing customs, with differing viewpoints, and yet the
basic principles on which the movement started are still
strictly observed.
Of
these one of the most important is that of classification, our
unique method of membership by which Rotary loans to one worthy
representative of each craft and profession a position of trust
in each local club. By this means each Rotarian can bring the
Rotary message to his particular calling - a message of
friendship, mutual understanding and fair play.
Rotary is a great movement ever moving forward, and it must
continue to work until in all countries of the world friendship
and fair play shall be found in all worthy vocations.
Just as Rotary has the purpose of promoting understanding and
goodwill amongst the many and varied vocations found in our
present day society, so it has an ever increasing purpose in
promoting friendship and goodwill amongst nations of the world.
If we are to achieve that goal which for centuries has been the
dream and the hope of the people of the earth ‑ the abolition of
war as a means of settling international disputes, then the
hearts of men must be so touched and moulded that mutual
understanding and goodwill will take the place of fear and
hatred.
"There the common sense of most shall hold a fretful realm in
awe;
And the kindly earth shall slumber lapt in universal law."
This is Rotary's ever increasing purpose. Let us as Rotarians
pledge ourselves anew to further the sixth object, the
advancement of understanding, goodwill, and international peace
through a world fellowship of business and professional men
united in that great ideal ‑ the application of the Golden Rule
as exemplified in our motto "Service Above Self."
* * *
The Founder was also present on Tuesday, when his annual
message to the convention was read by President Newsom, and
he was able to follow with a brief greeting to his fellow
Rotarians.
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