The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-01
M E N, w 0 M E N
 A ND T HIN c s

That it was a community affair was seen from the fact that the following clubs extended cordial invitation to all visiting Rotarians to avail them selves of all facilities of the clubs: Southern club, Old Colony club, Coun- try club. Roebuck County club, Bir- mingham Athletic club, Phoenix club, Automobile club, Hillcrest Country club, Birmingham Civic Association.
 I was so busy welcoming friends and delegates and acting as general utility man that I missed a great many good things In the convention sessions, and yet l heard enough to know that those who " ere fortunate enough to be pre- sent at all of the sittings were hav- ing a royal feast served them.
 For some years 1 had been hearing the Birmingham Rotarians felicitate themselves on being the best club in the Eighth district, very natural thing for any set of men to do, and no doubt, each club is guilty of the same thing and as matter of fact it's a poor bunch of fellows who do not believe that they are the best ever. To feel fit is one of the best helps to creating a worth while corps desprit
 1 made it a point as I heard the va rious speakers to compare them and their addresses with our local Rota- rians, and think I can truthfully and withou offense say that our men meas ure up to the very best in the district. A finer crowd of men than the visi- tors never gathered in Birmingham We all knew that they wovid reflect credit on Rotary, but somehow we failed to understand just what splen- did impression they would really make on the public.
 I can only speak about those talks which l heard, and yet many of the addresses which 1 did not hear were so talked about in my presence that I al- most felt that I had gotten them at first hand. The presiding officer of convention has much to do not only in
 
 and for this reason I wish to con gratulate Governor Smith on the way in which he handled the body. He did it with ease and dignity and always had it under control.
 There was one distinguished visitor who by his great set address, informal talks, and genial manner made host of friends I speak of pr. Crawford c. Mccullough of Fort William. Ontario, first vice president, International As sociation of Rotary Clubs. Say what you please, but there is an indefinable something about the high-class Cana takable air of thoroughbreds. His presence was a pleasure and inspira- ton to all who had the pleasure of listening to his speeches or meeting him in private conversation.
 I haven't space to go through the programme and make comment on all who took part, and for this reason having intimated that our local ''Rotes" were as classy as any in the district I am going to have something to say about a few of them in order to make good my statement Take, for instance. the welcome address of Rota- know that Percy has felicity of speech which is as charming as it is rare, When he is talking, I am always Df ipli po' rl< a the delicate inlay work of Robert Louis Stevenson" as he is mot happy in his well turned phrases and choice of words.
 But the real surprise of the meet was the hit made by Rotarian Howard Wester. Everybody who knows him is aware that as a scout director he stands at the top, but the thing none of us knew was his ability to swing a great audience into line and make them eat out of his hand and beg for more, not through the magic of ora tory, but simply because he had the courage and the tact to tell plain truths in straightforward manner that went direct home to the hearts ct men. Ed Andrews says the only trouble is there are so many invita- tions for Wester to visit other clubs
 
 he will be at home but little. There never was scintilla of doubt in the minds of any local Rotarian, but that our own preacher member, Henry Edmonds, was able to hold his own with any sky pilot in the dis trict when it came to being a royal good fellow and to delivering golden words whenever called upon I heard a scholarly we'll travelled man say in the presence of a distinguished company that the address of Rotarian Edmonds on Tuesday afternoon was one of the greatest sermons he had ever listened to in all his life. And he is constant great divines in this country and abroad.
 Now Rotarians Woodall, wester and Edmonds are the only local ones I | heard with the exception of few I spirited remarks made by our own quaint Rotarian John Sparrow who came very | near upsetting Governor Dick" with one of his out-of -the-way words, for in the heat of the moment he seemed to reflect on what he feared was ten- dency on the part of headquarters" | to regard any of it's communications to the clubs as being "sacrosanct." But John being a good sport with presiding officer publicly confessed that he didn't know what it meant, but feared it was dangerous.
 I went to several of the model lunch cons and while they were conducted in a way to give both pleasure and in- struction, yet they were not unusual,