, 1923-02-24

the first. Attendance at Rotary meet
inss. which are held once each week.
usually at luncheon, is compulsory.
Any member absent from four Sue
cessive meetings without excuse-and
xcuses are only given in case OF
illness or absence from the city, nu.
tomatically forfeits his membership.
The result Is that for the month cf
November last tho attendance of
meetings of Rotary clubs throughout
continental North America averaged
a fraction less than So per e
One OF the great objects of Rotary
is to bring about among its members,
and through Its members among all
citizens Of tho community, n com
plete realization OF all the RESPONSE.
bilities of citizenship In the COM
munity. This year. in considering
how we could best celebrate our birth.
day anniversary we considered this
matter Of citizenship as of such para
mount Importance that we decided to
ask the men Mt the head OF the three
coordinate branches Of the govern
ment in each country in which
Rotary is established, to give us n
message to the citizens of that coun.
try that would sum up the individual
citizens responsibility for the proper
conduct OF his particular branch of
governmental service. Thus we have
the President of the United States
advising us that tho individual citi-
gems responsibility for executive gov.
eminent begins with the selection of
the executive. And we have the
Speaker of the House Of Representa-
tives stating the first duty and re-
uponslb'lity OF the citizen toward
legislation. The Attorney General
gives us his views as to the duty Of
the citizen with regard to obeying
the law.
w are this week carrying out
our principle OF service TO the com.
mun!ty in transmitting these mes
sages to as many citizens as we can
reach through our individual clubs in
all parts Of the world. through the
schools, the business houses. the in
dustrlal plants. the newspapers and
the radio stations OF the world.
Rotary and Rotarians throughout
she world today are pledging just
this sort of service to their fellow
citizens and on behalf Of Rotary
international I wish to reiterate that
pledge. AS n final word may I tell
you that the Rotary club of your
c ~ is an institution OF your city.
and occupies a unique place in the
world of affairs. There was never
more nee inNthe world for steadfast
adherence TO high ethical standards
and their application to every nc.
t witty Of daily life. particularly those
that have been lad down for us by
that have been lad down for us by
our President. our Speaker of the
House OF Representatives and IL
Attorney General. From the achieve
ments OF Rotary's past we are led TO
place great hope in It's future. But
that hope will only be realized
through the united effort OF every
member OF the organization, through
the coherent action OF every Rotary
club that holds membership in Rotary
International. and even more impor
tant, through a thorough understand
ng of Rotary principles and Rotnry
purposes by the citizens at large. No
Rotary club may expect to accom-
p!.sh its purposeof service to its COM
munity without the full confidence
and respect OF tho citizens OF the
community. I hope, therefore. that
this day will mark the beg inning Of
a Rotary New Year of achievement
and that Rotarians will daily carry
the message that ne profits most who
serves best In the most forceful md
practical way to the entire com
munity in which they live"