The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-17

upon and made living force OF an
eternal and fundamental truth ex-
pressed in the motto of Rotary ''Serv-
ice Above SETTLE Profits Most Who
Serves Best
Arthur Frederick Sheldon, the man
who originated the above motto of
Rotary, said recently before the Con-
vention of International Association
of Rotary Clubs at Edinburgh, Scot
land:
ut is high time for men to recog-
nize the fact that there are natural
laws of the Kingdom of Man. and
that as such they are universal in
their application.
And the Principle of Service is to
the natural laws of human relation
ships exactly what the law of gravita-
ton or principle of attraction is to
material bodies.
First-It is perfectly natural for
a motionless body heavier than air
| to gravitate toward the earth when
the support is removed from it.
| Second-It is perfectly. natural for
| trade, in any given line of business, to
graWtate to the institution in that
| line of business, which best serves the
world with its product.
! Third-It is perfectly natural for
| the right kind of employees to gravi-
tate toward. be attracted by, the in
stitution in any line of business
which, broadly speaking, truly serves
its employees the best.
Thus we do see that there is no
sickly sentiment about the natural
| law of service. 1t is the basic law of
| sound economics.
THE world has long labored under
the mistaken belief that the law of
the survival of the fittest' in the hu-
man kingdom is the law of the sur
vival of the strongest, physically and
| mentally, and that the physical and
| Ycf hi
| ercised. From this arose the false
doctrine that might physical and
mental strength) made right.
THE 'seIf'-the 1.-THE individual
| inherently and naturally desires pres
| ervat:on. This natural desire to pre-
serve self is a fixed principle of hui
man nature. The mistake we have
made is in the belief of the natural
and only correct and certain means of
preserving self.
1.-The law of the survival of the fit
/ test is not the law of the survival of
physical and mental strength, self
Ilishly exercised. 1t is the law of the
Ilsurvival of the most serviceable, and
Ilspiritual power, or righteousness, is
| lone of the natural elements in might.
II He profits most and survives best,
who serves best. The way to preserve
| self is to serve others. Service to
| others is enlightened self-interest.
| EelfiShnesS is the road to Seif-deStruc-
| ton. Service to others is the road to
| elf-construction, the preservation of
| $elf-interest.
THE Philosophy of Rotary stands
| or falls upon that proposition. The
| history of the evolution of the appli-
| dation of the law of service in indus
| TRIAL and commercial relationships is
most interesting. Here we can but
| briefly outline its trend.
From the very beginning of the
contractual relationships between en-
Hloyer and employed the employers
| Of the world have desired, expected
and. as far as possible, demanded
good service from employe or en-
ployer.
I'm the early days of commerce and
| industry, business was barter and in
the very early days of it the employer
| did not expect or desire the employe
| to serve the customer! The employe
was expected to help the employer ex-
| plot the customer.
Employers Have Awakened.
Relatively speaking, only a few
years ago the employers of the world
awakened to the fact that good service
| to the customer was sound economics,
| for the simple reason that excellence
| of service from the house as a whole,
| including both employer and employees,
to the patrons of the house. is the only
possible way of securing progressively
profita BILE patronage. It is the only
possible method of insuring perma-
nence of trade relationships with the
purchaser of the product. AS soon as
this fact was clearly perceived en-
ployers began demanding good service
from their employees to their patrons,
as an element in service from employe
| to employer
But changing back to Topeka and
to the other towns as well, it was soon
seen that the Rotary club could not
necessary to be done in the way of
serving the community. There were
other men in the town besides a few
ROtarianS who were and are just as
eager to be of service to their COM
mun.ty, and SO the natural and the
Illogical followed-organizati like
Kiwanis, the Lions and the Civilians
have sprung up and have spread and
are spreading and meeting the same
success as Rotary clubs.
The why is easily answered. Deep
down in the heart of every man-no
matter how much he may pride him
self on being practical, hard-headed
and bushes -like-is an unselfish
spark. Fan that spark with an OPP
portunity to perform some unselfish
act, and It will develop into a frame
which will give warmth and comfort
to others as well as to himself.
No Rotary club can hope to usurp
and use all the opportunities for serv-
ice in Topeka. or in any other town
its size. There is room for the XII
wants, there is room for the Lions,
there is room for the Civilians, and as
long as each and all of them conform
to the ethics of their organization,
there will be work for them to do and
plenty of It.
Topeka will be made a better town
to live in. Topeka will be made a
better business town. In fact, all will
hn oil Iof <,4r
are here.