The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-28
R0TAR|ANS HAVE
BIRTHDAY PARTY.
MEMBERS GATHER AT THE NC
LURE HOTEL AND HAVE a h6A4
ZINE TIME-TALK BY j. BAUM.
Over six Hundred Rotary Clubs In the
United States in Fifteenth Birth
day Celebration.

FINE TIME-TALK BY ]. BAUM.
over six Hundred Rotary clubs In tho
United States in Fifteenth Birth
day Celebration.
More than stN hundred Rotary tluos
In the l'uitcd States and canada. ana
throughout the world. ace observing inc
fifteenth anniversary or me pirth 90 90
Rotary. which occurred February -
lgnI when four m"u y coal miner
mining generator. a tailor aud LAWYER
formed tho FIRST club at Chicago. The
membership now registered rs b,"u" en-
hracinE all the countries Of the wcrIo'
the last one To be added TO thr I'S' na t.S
juC been the Ffii Islands. The name
If Rotary" was chosen because the
members Of the club. during It's infancy
met IN rotation at tn" homes OF the
members, from which came the short
encd word.
Dinner at Mcclure.
Al the Mcl.ure yesterday the wheel
ins Rotary club met for it's noon day
luncheon, featured by Jasper Baum's
reading Of the "iilstory Of Rotary. IN.
ridental features were the endorsing OF
the suffrage amendment, for which the
club has gone on record at two other
times The resolution endorsing the
elimination Of the commercial taxation
uf Ohio cars travelling over West Nlr.
g!nla roads. and the announcements or
clyde Short that all members or Rotary
were ready 10 join the delegation which
will 20 to attend the ON TO Erie Con-
yention," to I've held in Erie tho last part
Of March. leaving here in a special train
which Rotary members from FairTOnt.
Huntington and other towns VIII he IN
vit"d to JON. making UP West virginia
delegation.
the Rotary club of Chicago and Its WORK
and organization. and the singing was
led by Elmer HoGlzlc.
Mr.. Baum's Address.
The address OF Mr. Baum was as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Baum's Address.
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Rotarians:
For the benefit OF the new members.
and likewise To refresh the memory Of
the older RotarianS. ! shall start at IN"
beginning and give 4 short condensed
history of the birth and growth Of the
Rotary club as an organization.
The lonesomeness Of man in n large
city and his desire to make friends and
charge his circle of acquaintance were
the motives that prompted Paul L. llar-
riS. an attorney Of Chicago. to invite
chcon February IS. 1905. This was ac-
tunlly the first Rotary luncheon held
but the possibilities Of personal benefit
and pleasure must have been very mani
fest in that Quartette OF COngcnial
tn" different places "f business of it'
mcmhers. as well as 10 invite others
whom they knew 10 join them,
Several names for the new club were
suggested by Harris, among them be-
lnS that Of Rotary" which had &C.
cured To him because they had been
holding their meetings in rotation n
the different places OF business Of the
members. The name "Rotary'' appeal
ed TO the members and WAS adopted.
The new club increased IN size until
1t numbered probably hI'y members
and evening meetings were held rcgu.
larly.
In 1908. three years later. a sistr,
club was organized IN San Francisco
which was' followed rapidly 10y other
clubs, in Oakland. Seattle and Los
Angeles.
There was no connection between
these different organizations. as tho,
were simply the result of accidental
seed sown by men who were "nthuscd
ny the Rotary idea. Except for ma
had been appointed to arrange the de.
tails Of holding a convention. there was
no official connection between any "l
the climbs until 1910. when the "National
Association Of Rotary clubs" NJ con,
vrntion of delegates from IN" different
clubs which had been called by ia,
board OF commissioners. and which was
held in Chicago in August of that year
This was the first Rotary convention
ever held. There were about fort
delegates present. representing four.
teen Rotary clubs.
The enthusiasm OF ono Of ~" dele.
gates Ia ihiS convention caused HIM &c
predict that IN eighty years the world
would sec thousand Rotary clubs OF.
Prediction by Harris.
! Will inform you IN n few minutes
how close prediction This gentleman
made.
l'am =. Harris "r Chicago. TIE orig.
iuator Of the Rotary club idea. was
elected president 81 tn" national asso.
citation. Cheslcy 4. Perry. likewise "t
chicago. and member OF Rotary since
, zoos. was chosen as secretary by IA,
board OF directors. 'h"s accepted tn
new office with ia" understanding that
nj w sSmSbS S Iyr'r en@ nf'I n% 1'T % "T
MI the position. but evidently no ON,
has ever been found. FOR Ches - Stil
with US as secretary OF the iuttrna.
tional association. and would like /,
testify 20 the taCN that il requires 4
real man TO fiji In" position.
The second convention was hold it,
| Portland. Oregon. IN 1911. rrIur IT, this
! convention IA committee had been AZ
/ pointed 10 formulate IN" various indi,
! vudial conceptions OF Rotary into =
concrete statement OF principles
The committee submitted it's report
! recommending the Rotary platform. anc
! the report and platform we're adopted
! 10y the convention.
y paper prepared by Arthur Frederick
sheldon. president of the Shcldor
| school and member Of. tho Chicago
! club, contained the sentence He profits
most who serves best"
The splendid possibilities in promo,
Interpretation Of this phrase created al
AN instant deep impression ON at Icqs,
on" Of those delegates. for a motion
was made that " be added as a last lin,
To The PLATFORM Afterwards il be-.
cams the Official slogan oC Rotary.
At the Buffalo convention in 1919 2
committee was appointed with arrho,
rtty 10 prepare code Of ethics for Ro.
At the Houston convention +, 1q,.
n" committee presented it's repor, -,
the form OF A drafted code, bur mo- mr..
lion was taken. rs IL was cousIdrrcd
wise I" have tn" different clubs thor.
"ughly discuss the code before IFS final
adoption 90" '''''
In 1915 Mt the San Francisco convc,.
| tion the Rotary Code of Ethics was
, adopted In virtually its orIginoI rnrm,
| ana II seems 10 me that If Ind hrcm
on" Of the gentlemen who concrivrd :,
| part or that code | would not ask
greater honor.
If my memory serves mo rorrcc,iy
| believe the Wheeling Rotary club lad
! the honor or being r"prcSsn tcd mr. ihis
I convention by BIil .lar"el Post" Irwin
Plan Of Membership
lust f"w words as To the nllu q,
| Limited or Restricted membership
Each OF the mon IN the original cIur
in Chicago followed different r.lIInr
and tho club was maintained ON ms
| basis. 80
such plan Is representative Of tn.
m !,