Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-27
ROTARY IS MORE
THAN ASSOCIATION
Of LUNCH EATERS
H. B, Hening Tells Club What
He Got Out of Salt Lake
Conventions Impressed With
Spirit of Organization,

OOilFSll WIN llllPI SOOON w III
Spirit of Organization,
The spirit of Rotarianism was the
feature of the annual convention OF
the International Association of Ro-
tary clubs at Salt Lake City that most
impressed H. B. Hening, who repre-
scented the Albuquerque club. Mr.
Hening commented on this phase OF
the convention at length in his report
which he read at the clubs luncheon
yesterday.
Mr.. Henings report follows
| report on the tenth annual con-
vention of the International Associa-
ton of Rotary clubs at Salt Lake City.
i had the honor to be your official
and only representative at that con-
vention. 1t has cost you considerable
money. l ask your indulgence for a
statement of considerable length in
the hope that 1 may bring to you a
very little, at least, of the spirit of
Rotary as eXemplified in that splen-
did gathering. If / can do that, even
in small degree, the report will justify
the expense account.
Out of a wide experience as news
paper reporter / know of no more dill
ficult matter to report than a great
convention. There is so much in the
spirit of the crowd, in the personality
of the speakers in action; in the ele-
ment of personal contact that simply
cannot be impaired at second hand.
My first impulse was to write this re-
port before leaving Salt Lake, while
every convention impression was WV
idly in mind. l deferred the writing
until last night thinking that a few
days of disassociation would cool
what might be too enthusiastic re-
port, My impressions are clearer now
than then, and my enthusiasm for
Rotary is greater now than then.
wish | had eloquence so that l might
convey both to you in convincing fash
ion. Having no gift of speaking, ! can
only express the sincere hope that you
gentlemen, my associates in this CLUB,
may have the good fortune to get
into personal contact with the great
broad, uplifting spirit of Rotary as
it is eXemplified in one of these con-
ventions. Thus. and thus only can
you see clearly that Rotary is more
than huge, loosely woven association
of $4,000 lunch eaters; and that 1t is,
as a famous Rotarian at Salt Lake
said, "A virile, useful growing fra
ternity OF pfafn men, Without { secret
sign or password, but with slogan
that is big and broad and strong
enough to deny the need of secrecy
and to embrace all mankind in its
practical benefits. He profits most
who serves best"
| earnestly hope, fellow Rotarians,
that many of us may go to the next
Rotary convention. 1t is worth the
money and the time and the discom-
fort of crowded trains and overflow
ing hotels For we learn at these con-
ventions that the slogan of Rotary
is more than a mere formula; that it
is living spirit of the new day ana
time; earnestly sought after and lived
up to by business men, manufactur-
ers, professional men-men in all
walks of life; that it is a leading
force in the new world movement in
which service--personal service to the
point of sacrifice-has become a
working creed of everyday living.
After this Salt Lake convention l
am prepared to expect that Rotary
will be found no small influence, at
ing in that new field of true brother
hood over which we must carry on
if we are to find our way safely
through the social disturbances and
economic unrest of our time. | am
quoting, in this expression of belief
in Rotary and its potential influence,
not from any one speaker at Salt
Lake. but from the composite of all
nd heard
in the larger and smaller gatherings
of that great assemblage of men who
are not theorists or idealists, but SIM
pie. homely business men who are
merchants, manufacturers, employers
and employed, such as we who gather
here each week.
There was a luncheon in the news
paper section of Rotary. Forty-one
newspaper publishers were there. r
had expected that they would discuss
the rising prices of paper and the diff
ficulty of labor, the vexing tempo
rary problems of our business today.
But they didn't. When they talked
of labor it was of ways and means to-
save labor from it's own worst enc
mics, the agitators apd the reds. For
the rest, they talked of ways and
means to make newspapers of more
genuine service in their communities;
cleaner influences for true citizen
ship and high patriotism. ] tell you,
gentlemen, that in this day and under
the conditions of today in the newspa
per business, spirit that can stir
idealism and upward strivings amongl
newspaper publishers is spirit worth
observation-disclosures it's power Is be-
yond all question.
| was told that this was the spirit
that prevailed in every other section
al meeting, just as it was the prevail