|
1947 San Francisco Convention
Tributes to Paul P. Harris
Conrad Bonnevie Svendsen, RC Oslo, Norway
CONRAD BONNEVIE SVENDSEN: Human ability is great. But what this
great thing may lead to we have experienced during the years of
war.
We
Rotarians have also experienced what human ability may result in
when it is led by a straightforward character and the goodness
of a rich heart. Our whole organization, the joy and happiness
it gives us, the richness which is coming to us in friendship
and unity, we owe to him whose memory we honor today.
Even the fact that Rotary International today is the result of
one man's longing for the good, and his struggle to make his
longing become a reality, proves that it is right to have
confidence in the justification of the movement and in the
belief that it shall attain its goal.
The organization is not the result of the influence of outside
powers, of artificial construction ‑ no, from its first small
beginning, it is its own inherent power, its longing and
aspirations which have led it forward. What we experience is a
true organic growth and development ‑ a good innate power is
working.
As
long as we maintain what he did, taking human power and ability
in the service of the good heart, no outside influence shall be
able to destroy the creation.
May his picture always be a living reality to us. Let us honor
the memory by having his line as our single line of conduct; the
faithfulness of the will, the straightness of character, and the
goodness of heart.
(Applause)
CHESLEY R. PERRY: The fourth speaker is
Herbert Schofield of the Rotary Club
of Loughborough, England. (Applause)
|
