Evening star., 1922-02-19
KIWANIS CLUB IS LIVE BUNCF'';
( IDEAL CITIZENSHIP PROMOTERS
ORGANIZATION Grows From Luncheon Club
with Uncertain Beginning to One Of Most
Influential Bodies In Community

Kiwanian membership-ideals ex-
pressing the inner hopes. ambitions
and desires of the average business
man. those hidden, unexpressed but
fundamental reactions of the human
soul. which are the very fabric Of
life itself.
The last twenty-five years have
witnessed a wonderful development
of the social consciousness. The
average man of today has an inf
fellow men. more adequate under
standing of his obligations as a citi-
zen and a more vivid realization of
his responsibility to society than had
his father before him.
So it is found where Kiwanis. first
brought to the business man only a
luncheon club. proved the means by
which he might satisfy his hunger
for fellowship and invest his life in
practical service. kiwanis acquired
the aspects of movement only when
Ktwanians, without suggestion or
direction whatever, unconsciously used
1t as vehicle by which they could ex-
press their real selves. The unusual
spirit Of fellowship and equality Of man
hood represented in Kiwanis rendered
the organization a fitting emissary of a
great idea.
Strives to Serve Society.
kiwanis is leading a spiritual re-
nafssance in which the business man
IS finding his own soul. He finds it
In an organization in which he can
make application of principles which
before seemed SO theoretical and nm
practical as to be apart from the
realities of human experience. To the
true Nwanian his business or pro-
fession provides not only means for
earning livelihood, but also a means
by which he may serve society.
10 oh tbA
kiwapis idea-it is as old as the soul
Of man, but kiwanis has put the
breath of life into old ideals by
translating them into terms which
the average man may appreciate.
The year following the establish.
Detroit, 1915, two more clubs came
into being. one at Cleveland and one
at Pittsburgh. In the second year
thirty-five clubs were established.
and among them was the Kiwanis
club club Of washington: During 1.-THE the
were added to the list. so that in
1918 there were .seventy-three clubs.
At the time of the Birmingham.
Ala. convention in 1919, which
marks the transition period of many
scattering clubs into the we'll known
there were 1877 clubs. with approximately
$500 members. From then on Kiwanis
grew with leaps and bounds. In 1920 the
total number Of clubs was 1867. repre-
senting more than $1,000 members. and
figures showed that at the recent
cation approximately 200 clubs with
a membership Of about $4,000 existed
in the United States and Canada.
Contrary to the accepted idea, XII
wants is not an Indian name. 1t is
euphonious. coined word, which origi-
llNy hod q.
cribed to it by its originators. Yet 1t
has come to have a very definite
meaning through the constructive
work of its members. In every COM
munity in which Kiwanis exists 1t Will
be found standing for unselfish serv-
ice in the interest of the community,
the state and the nation. Its motto,
1--WE build" is the outward express
sicn Of the spirit of the organization.
Proper Spirit Created.
During its seven years of existence
Kiwanis has succeeded in doing
great amount Of good in civic welfare
work and charity. Its mission in a
community. it is pointed out. Is not
in the largest sense the accomplish
ment of the specific thing. but 1t Gre
ates that spirit in community which
enables other existing organizations
to accomplish more easily the things
for which they were organized. Nj
wants readily lends Its support to the
chamber of commerce. the church, the
Boy Scouts and other ORGANIZATIONS
working for the public good.
One Of the outstanding features Of
Kiwanis charity is its annual Christ
mas activities, it being estimated that
during the last Christmas season more
than 100000 poor people were helped
substantially by the Kiwanians or the
United States and Canada.
During the past year immense re-
lief was given the unemployed when
ali of the Kiwanis clubs followed the
suggestion made by International
President Harry E. Karr, that each
individual Kiwanian. in SO far as he
was able, give employment to one
more man.
Divided Into Twenfy-Nfne Districts.
International Kiwanis is divided
into twenty-nine districts. The head
quarters of the organization is in Chi
caeo, where a large force is engaged
analyzing problems which are faced by
the various clubs and communities.
Many distinguished personages
President Warren G. Harding, Presi-
dent Obregon of Mexico, the Prince of
Wales, Premier Greenfield of Alberta,
premier Teschereau Of Quebec. Gen.
John A. Lejeune, U. s. NJ. c.; Speaker
Frederick H Gillett. Senators Willis
of Ohio and Watson of Indiana. John
J. Tigert, commissioner Of education:
Cows. Hyde Of Missouri, Shoup Of
Colorado, Henall Of Iowa, McMaster
of South Dakota and Allen of Kansas.
In February, 1917, Kiwanis was in
troduced to Washington by ten OF
twelve business men, who used to