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Convention Message from Rotary's Founder
By
Paul P. Harris
Friends: I greet you and wish you a profitable and happy
gathering - One dedicated to War Service. When civilization is
at hazard other considerations must wait.
Governments and governmental machinery are tuning themselves up
to still greater undertakings. Discouragements are many. The
will may bend at times, but it shall never break.
For the British Government to have attempted to do in 1913 the
things which they have actually done since then would have
seemed ridiculous. For Americans to have talked of launching ten
million tons of shipping in one year would have seemed
vagarious.
Governmental machinery of 1917 was geared to do the work
required of it as well as could have been expected under the
circumstances, but 1917 governmental machinery today is an
ancient model as hopelessly out of date as a last year's
automobile or battle plane.
Achieving the Impossible
Have the British, the French, the Italian, the Belgian, the
American people been doing "great things"? Not as we heretofore
have understood the term "great." These things which these
people have been doing have heretofore been catalogued the
impossible; and yet, we may continue to expect greater wonders.
Is
the Liberty Motor a perfect piece of mechanism? Has the perfect
motor been invented? No, the best motors of the present day will
become obsolete. Then are the best human minds of the present
day perfect? No, far from it. The best of the human minds of the
present day must do their work and become obsolete.
There are intellectual depths to be attained of which we of
today cannot even dream. To fathom deeper and deeper into the
secrets of the universe will be man's privilege. Such is
progress; of such is life. This is a Rotarian day because it is
a day of stupendous service, of sacrifice. (Applause.)
Great organizations have been born anew since the beginning of
the war. Most of them have found some one duty which they have
been particularly qualified to perform. By assuming the
obligation to do one particular thing and subordinating
themselves in other affairs to other Agencies they have avoided
duplication of effort and at the same time accomplished
co‑ordination.
I
think that Rotary ought to find the one thing that it can do
better than any other agency; then permit nothing to interfere
with its accomplishment. Such a plan would be of benefit to all
and of especial benefit to the weaker clubs who would be carried
along by the power of the
movement. Of course, individual clubs should be permitted to
render whatever additional service the necessities of their
respective communities may dictate. There is inspiration in the
precision of the march, provided, of course, that the men keep
step.
The four hundred Rotary clubs should practice co‑ordinated
movement. President Wilson has exprest a very high
appreciation of Rotary and of the work it has done and is doing.
He is in sympathy with and expects much of this convention. He
must not be given occasion for disappointment.
The expectations of our own governmental head are equaled by the
governmental head of our British allies as is evidenced by the
presence of our friends, Andrew Home‑Morton and Thomas
Stephenson.
Would it not be an inspiring thing if the machinery of American
Rotary Clubs could be so perfectly adjusted that at some time
during the coming year every Rotary wheel on the same day, the
same hour, at precisely the same moment, could be set in
patriotic revolution by the executive head of our Nation? What a
demonstration of loyalty and efficiency that would be; what an
example for other organizations.
Time for a Greater Rotary
We
shall have to give service and also give money, give it
systematically. Every Rotarian will have to create a personal
budget. In the days of old, tithe giving was in vogue. Today,
many exceed the ancient mark. Rotary has no expensive churches
or club houses to maintain. The decks are clear for action. If
any Rotary club during this trying period distinguishes itself
for its dances, its sumptuous dinners, its card and theater
parties, its picnics, its automobile and boat rides, it might
appropriately establish Nero as its god, for it will truly be
fiddling as Rome burns.
Rotary has gained great power during the past year; more,
probably, than during any corresponding period. We can use all
of the power we can get and still fall short.
If
there ever was a time for a greater Rotary, it is today. If
there ever was a time when the will within struggled to burst
its bonds, it does so now.
We
have forty thousand men; forty thousand only; enough to usher in
the multitudes who will adopt the banner of SERVICE ‑ NOT SELF.
At
this critical moment in the world's history we want power, more
power, far more power. The work is here and it needs doing. Men
are giving their fortunes and their lives to the cause of
liberty. Mind you, this is the day when men do impossible
things.
Rotary has dedicated itself to the education of the individual.
What individual? Surely not the Rotarian individual only. There
are now forty thousand Rotarians, but there are a thousand
million non‑Rotarians who need educating. We must never permit
ourselves to become a super exclusive, hide‑bound little body of
two or three hundred thousand members. Of course, Rotary will
grow in the usual manner of growth and be extended to all
countries. We must hasten the process. (Applause.)
There are three very available ways for Rotary to project its
influence out into the non-Rotarian world.
Three‑fold Rotary Work
·
First ‑ By the elimination of all except general interest matter
from the columns of THE ROTARIAN, making of it a messenger of
service, and by the adoption of the usual means of increasing
its circulation among magazine readers in general.
·
Second ‑ By the development of the vocational section plan to a
point of real efficiency.
·
Third ‑ By holding club meetings to which the public are
invited. Thirteen thousand people were said to have attended the
Harry Lauder meeting given by the Rotary Club of Kansas City.
These were potential Rotarians. I would that some qualified form
of membership might be allowed all who serve patriotically,
devotedly.
The great march of human events is on it will make no
perceptible pause at the termination of the war. Before the last
reverberation of the tones of the dear old bell, proclaiming the
liberty of the world and peace, have died away, we and the
nations allied with us shall have embarked again on uncharted
seas.
The individual must have increasing opportunities of informing
himself on the vital subjects of the new day. This is the day of
physical action, of battle's clash. Immediately following the
termination of the war will come the day of mental unrest, of
clash of ideas and ideals. No institution is so sacred as to be
beyond danger. Even the home is being assailed. The
happy‑go-lucky age is past and we would not recall it if we
could, because we believe that right must triumph over wrong.
(Applause.)
Governments realizing the necessity of educating the masses to a
proper understanding of their purposes are spending vast sums.
The subtle problems of the future will command the attention of
the world's most astute and high-minded reasoners; and then the
masses will have to be given to understand.
Education is the most potential weapon placed by God in the hand
of man with which to combat the foes of individual and national
righteousness.
Disease, filth, squalor, drunkenness, immorality
and crime will vanish before enlightenment. The superman; who is
not a Greek god, tho he may look like one; not an Italian, tho
he has the passionate fire; not a Frenchman, tho heroic; not a
Briton, yet unflinching; not an American, yet idealistic; he of
no nation and yet of all nations, the Man International, must
rise from this chaos to defend the defenseless, to raise the
down‑fallen, to succor the needy, to intercede for the opprest.
We
and our allies, including prostrate but still living Russia,
have shouldered the burden of civilization and we must not lay
down our load.
If
it is to be the part of Rotary to educate the individual, then
in very truth it may said that Rotarians shall be leaders of
men. (Applause.)
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