The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-20

llF you've met any of the nice visit
 ing Kiwanians, or Kiwanises, or whatever you'd call them--if you are like l am-the first impression you have received is that of distinct ly original type-with the spirit Of Kiwanis" just oozing out in big 'gobs" all over everywhere
 It is deliciously refreshing-this Xii wanis spirit-for it stands for pros- ress, push and pep not the least af which is pep" and besides all this a marked ability to put things ovei,' as it were-to do things" and do then, we'll
 Cummings yesterday, the clever and efficient international secretary o. Kiwanis c1ups and found out great many things about Kiwanis that : didn't know before and a great man. things about the international secre- tary that pleased me very much.
 Mr. Cummings is quite a youngish sort of man-good-loo and affabie. and with a tremendous fund of in- formation, covering many different branches of business, and he adores to talk "Kiwanis," and I don't blame him, do you, because if all the Xii wanians, or Kiwanises, all over, every where, are as nice as our own beloved Birmingham Kiwanis people. they are just about as clever and capable a lot as you'd find anywhere.
 MT. Cummings. in the first place, let me tell you, was educated to be Methodist minister. Now that's a good enough start, it seems to me, for any body. and he doesn't look unlike minister-his honest gray-blue eyes and his frank, earnest manner bear ing out my opinion of this phase of his character, and then--oh yes, I w&s telling you about how it all happened MT Cummings decided for some reason not to follow the ministry, but he came precious near to it, for he became af- filiated with the Y. M. c. A. early in the game and for several years was engaged in this work. Tn the mean, time he was for five years connected with the big Marshall Field mercan- tile emporium in Chicago, and-well, now let's sum it all up. First, MT. Cum mings, living in Evanston, was gradu- ated from the Northwestern univer- sity, and later from the Garrett Bible school; that spells training in ideals. Second. serving for several years as departmental manager at the great Marshall Field establishment in Chi ago; that spells business training: and, third. five years service as di- rector of activities for the Chicago Y. M c. A.. with a membership of 10000; and that spells organization. Doesh. it look as if it were prophetic that this clever young man went through these various branches just in order to fill the position he now occupies, for Kiwanis spells those three senti- ments-training in ideals, business training and organization.
 And now let Mir, Cummings, as in ternational secretary of Kiwans the first salaried officer ever employed py this great organization, tell you some- thing himself about Kiwanis and his connections:
 "ln the first place, Kiwanis," sad MT. Cummings, lis a movement to lift men out of the sordidness of conceiv- ing their business only as a means of accommodating dollars; it is a movement to convince men that only real success comes to the man who conceives his business or profession as providing for hlm an opportunity to serve his fe.- low men.
 "The qualifications of the express