The Washington herald., 1921-02-26
IDEA AND GROWTH
OF ROTARY TOLD
ATT CELEBRATION
d. C. Club Observes 18th
Anniversary of Great
Movements Birth.

How the first Rotary Club was
sounded in 1906 with four members
and how this nucleus has grown
until today there are 500 clubs with
IS. 900 members. was the story un-
folded before members of the WASH
lngton- Rotary Club at the New Will
lard yesterday afternoon by George
Harris, secretary Of the organiza-
ton
Gathered to celebrate the six
feenths anniversary Of international
rotary! the members received the
glowing record of their organiza-
lion from It's infancy with punctu-
Rted applause
Harris recalled, also, how the
local club has grown from 50 men,
bers IN 1Sf3 10 the present men,
bership OF 1o-nnder seven different
presidents. -Hs said the Washing
ton club was. the forty-sixth to be
granted a charter by the interna-
tional body; that event taking place
in July. 1872
Henry Stringer urged that the
potentksf- power of rotary not be
lost. and recommended that the
members lend their support to the
mover eht In the District for an
adedufe water supply.
= Tell. of Service.
Let our. hands. our hearts and
our m&nds be devoted to the full and
complete aiding and furthering of
the doetrine of service" urged WILL
lam CihbAngh in an adress dealing
with Is conception Of rotary. but
let uslbe sure that our service Is Of
that pFoad sort that knows no self
Interest. no bias. no favoritism and
no reSriction OF choice. Above all.
let nathing that rotary does be
open 70 the charge Of superficiality.
''Un>ess Rotary were built on high
standards Of truth." Clabaugh con-
inued ethics and merit, 1t could
not have grown to such Importance.
or. growing could not have main
tained. its pre,eminence.
Rofary is not a business organi-
Eatio1 .althorsh made up of business
and professional men. 1t does. how
ever, Aold out to all of us the op-
portunty Of advancing efficiency
and kfovlsdse along general busi-
ness Hnes, ~6y- promoting the ex-
change Of ideas between businesses,
as sueh--,
This one man from each business
idea ~ an Inspiration of genius, as
witness the numbers of organiZa-
tions which have been formed on
this principle since Rotary's birth.
.Exehanse of Thought.
In this one element alone we find
a large part of our success. The
exchange of Eought passing from
81 A.
mutual understanding that can only
result in the betterment of business
as whole. In this. also, we find
the reason for the lack of restraint
in discussin which tnds SO strongly
to unite US.
We all know and fully appre-
ciste that Rotary is composed of
business men and busy men. 1t is
patent that without some strong
and permanent basis no institution
could enlist and hold the devotion
and support of such a class
Rotsry rs not recreational club.
yet in the furtheranee of its pur-
poses recreation must of necessity
play an important part. By this we
accelerate acquaintance and relieve
what tmidity might otherwise evisr.
Rotary Is not a fraternity. with
In its tenets, however, we find those
principles which form the founda-
tion of all fraternities. In its culti-
walton of acquaintance and deepen
ing Of the brotherliness of our as
sociation. rotary lays the corner
stone for that willingness to serve
with each other of Gus that makes
possible the accomplishments which
stand as ours.
Rotary Itself Big Idea.
Rotary is not a civic organiza-
Hon. say that advisedly, although
We are charged with the duty of
aiding all proper and worthy civic
projects. Rotary functions more In
the dissemination of civic ideals
than sin active participation In
SPECIFIC projects. We must admit
that civic welfare is our basic aim.
No worthy cause of general public
import should fail to receive the
suppoft of rotary. but 1t should be
given~with absolute freedom from
localis sm or vocational interest.
we should lend our force to any
propeE effort in behalf of the COM
munitE as a whole, but never to the
furthsrasce OF the interests Of one
community in competition or exclu-
sion OF another.
Tould even go so far as to sug-
gest hat Rotary should enver be
permitted to throw its force behind
pro5ect unless the voice of the
minority were duly and properly
considered. Such action should not
be takfn ON any matter unless after
a twosthirds or a three-fourths vote
had sproved the endorsement. This
standard will save dissension, ILL.,
feeltps and personal affront or dis
satisfaction, that might otherwise
easily-result.
Rotary needs no big idea RRo-
tary b in itself a big idea"