|
Where Is Rotary Going?
  By
Paul P. Harris
Founder of Rotary and President Emeritus
To
lunch, yes, says the author,
echoing a familiar Shawianism,
but, he adds, the movement goes
to many another place afterward.
WHEN the scintillating
George
Bernard Shaw, who discusses the prospect for war in this
issue, was asked where Rotary was going, he answered, "Rotary is
going to lunch." This answer has made Rotarians think. It has
not been by bread‑breaking alone that Rotary has become a
familiar word in scores of nations.
The man in the street has a vague notion that Rotary is trying
to do something international in scope, and he appraises the
idealism of Rotarians higher than their commonsense, remaining
firm in his conviction that international accord is an ideal
hung too high to be reached by human hands, and believing that
nations should address their energies to preserving peace within
their respective borders.
In
preserving peace, homogeneous people enjoy a great advantage
over heterogeneous peoples; the former have common backgrounds
of history and tradition on which to build. Have the Rotarians
throughout the world common background? Certainly they have not.
Rotary International probably is the greatest conglomeration of
racial, religious, and political elements which men ever have
had the audacity to bring together within one fold.
The conglomeration was not accidental, but deliberately planned.
If the man in the moon has a vein of humor, it is not
inconceivable that his sides shake with laughter as he looks
down upon a spectacle so unusual.
Rotarians in the United States think of the citizenry of their
country as heterogeneous, but compared with that of India,
Egypt, and the Straits Settlements, it is only mildly so. And
how about Rotary in its entirety? To build an enduring order of
the human material available may seem like attempting to rebuild
the Tower of Babel in defiance of prevalent political,
religious, and racial typhoons. Absurd as these aspirations may
appear, it is an incontrovertible fact that where not interfered
with the wheels of Rotary do go around.
What, then, is the motive power? In the words of the garageman,
"Let's take a look under the hood."
Friendliness is the motive power of Rotary. Friendliness is more
powerful and smooth running than any Diesel engine ever built.
Friendliness is a virtue in its own right; it begets others as
well. Neighborliness, kindliness, tolerance, and usefulness are
children of friendliness; they attack enemies of the social
order, not only banishing care, worry, envy, greed, suspicion,
fear, and anger, but also stimulating hope and courage. They are
the solvents of labor problems and, given a chance would be
solvents of international problems as well.
Friendliness worked in the factories of my friend the late Fred
Tweed, a pioneer veteran of the Rotary Club of Chicago. He never
had a strike though he employed hundreds of men. His big family
of workers was his pride and joy, and he made it his business to
appear among them at least once daily. He did not fire
instructions at his men; he counselled with them. Everyone
worked with "old Freddie," never against him. His plant's
continuous operation during the depression was due to the influx
of new ideas and the invention of new and useful commodities by
employees. Freddie is gone, but the spirit of friendliness lives
in the plant he created.
The man who sowed the seeds of Rotary in The Netherlands, Anton
Verkade, also believed in this friendly spirit. He so valued
personal contacts with his employees that he built his residence
in the midst of his industrial buildings and had the entire area
landscapcd and beautified. Going through his plant with him late
one Saturday night, I saw a group of employees finishing up for
the week and heard him chide them gently for working overtime.
When he walked among his employees, his presence was like a
benediction.
To
all doubting Thomases, I maintain that friendliness can be made
effective in any industry. Know your men, be their friend, and
trouble will melt away.
ROTARY entered the international field recognizing the solemnity
of its undertaking. Rotary hoped to lead men to think well of
each other irrespective of religious or political views.
Rotarians realize that they must tread softly when they cross
national borders. Politeness, friendliness, and tolerance must
be the order; and arrogance and preaching must be avoided. As
John Nelson said when President of Rotary International:
"Rotarians should leave their yardsticks at home when travelling
abroad."
My
wife, Jean, and I have attempted to serve as Rotary's
ambassadors of goodwill on all the continents and major islands
of the seas. Cooperating with local Rotarians and Government
officials, we have planted
Rotary trees as
living and growing symbols of international understanding and
goodwill. Gestures only? Quite true, but birds will nest in the
branches of these trees and generations of men will rest in
their shade. We like to think of them as harbingers of the
coming, of a day of international peace and amity, when all guns
will be silenced and war will be known no more.
Thanks for your stimulating and perhaps timely reminder, Mr.
Shaw; but really, Rotary already has several places to go ‑
after lunch.
|
