New Britain herald., 1928-02-11
ROTARlANS MUST
 USE FIRST NAMES
DSroys Barsk Encourages Friendship and Promotes Interest

by their first names, custom fol- lowed largely by all local civic clubs. but not approved by a few. is an- sWered in 8 booklet sent out this week to members of the New Brit ain Rotary club. and entitled What the New Member Should know About Rotary"
 The booklet was written by Fred K. Stroop, president of the Rotary club of Temple. Texas. and contains The objects and code of ethics Of Rotary International. In chapter devoted to Calling members by their first names" the booklet says:
 Tt is requirement Of Rotary that each member shall ba ad- dressed by his given name, for m Rotary all barriers must be stricken down, all members must meet and greet each other in the friendlieSt terms, and there is no more friend ,v mode of greeting than to address one by his first name; for one doesn't just call man 'Tonr,' Bob John or Dick without feeling a, little closer 10 him. without feeling d little more interest in him. and T little warmer friendship for htn'. Thus in this simple practice Rotary encourages friendship and eNempli fes one of its finest precepts.' The issue has been the basis of some controversy in New Britain. In the local Rotary club, Judge R. F. Gaffney and School Committee man William Fl. Day have expressed their dlsinclinalion to using the nickname "R,ll' in addressing the club chaplain. Rer. William H. Al derson. In the Lions club, Harry 6. Hancock, himself past presl dent. steadfastly refuses to follow tho usual custom Of addressing President Harry C, Brown, as Pres ldent Harry" Neither Mir. Brown or the Rev. Mir. Alderson have ever expressed their personal preferences in public.
 Rev. MT, Aldersou has given his sanction 10 the custom, however. by . signing the nickname Eill' 10 per sonal correspondence among his masculine friends.
 olICrs SdiutCu L'SuttN
 Other clubs have faced the same problem and have met il in the same way. In the klwanis club there IS Abel" Ahlquist. who in professional life is Rev. Dr. Abel X. Ahldusf. Dr, Ahlquist seems to lose none Of inc respect of his civic club associ atcs when he sheds his dignity with his title The Lions club numbereS among its popular and activ" com mittee chairmcn Ray Gilman, who is the Rev. k. N. Gilman III ecclesiastical circles.
 In the Exchange club, where inc Rev. Samuel A. Fiske IS the recip- tent of respect and admiration oi his associates that amounts prac- tical]y to affection. nothing pleases him more than 10 be known by ms favoritc nickname, sam flske, the bishop of Berlin Rev. Dr. J. +, klingbcrg, while at Rotary meetings, also goes back 10 his boyhood days and Is John
 Among the same groups these customs are carried outside of thtlr meetings. and "Misters. RcvcrcndS, Doctors" etc. are being discarded.
 One of the exceptions to the rule is that Of Judge Gaffney. who IS ad- dressed by his fellow kotarians by his official title, probably the only kotarian in the city thus addressed. This is out of respect for the judge pcrsonaI convictions towards the clergy and men of distinction, al though he probably never dreamed of having exceptional consideration applied to himself.
 It is not so. however, in the hl- vanis club. where Judge NJ. D. SaNc remains plain "Morrey' SaNe. one exception noted by the kiWauis finb is that of hanging the same n'ck~ name on all physicians. Whil" in the Rotary club. Dr. William F. Elana- gan responds to plain Bill in the kiwanis club pr. A. J. sSavard, pr. Arthur <. Grant. pr. l.. E. Nc'r, Dr. II. |, CicSzynski and the late pr. II. T. Bray and l.. Y. tromcn all answered 10 inc same nIckna1ii"' '.Doc."
 Lawyers get no such consideration. ;,I John H. kirkhanl i'll the Rotary club resembles no nor. lhe dieni- lied corporation counsel. than does Joe" Woods, prosecuting attorney when at Lions m"tings. or Attorney Donald Gaffney. Nno IS plain l'oh 10 his NNanls friends.
 Thcss same cllstons arc h"lnS adopted hv men m public l'f' out side of civic cluh meetings. Al r"r~ 1ajn social o,cnt in one ot th' lars. .st Protestant churches some finn" .aco, the two ministers wore Ad- ,ir.sse,l as "Warrtu" Eioje"tt and "Ted" Greene. althot gh the latter sometimes seoms the very "ss"nC" "i g1gnitv. No one has az yet reported tn" adoption of George" lilll or Al" Haininger. but these would oc- casion little surprise under inc n"A custom. The Rev Samuel Sucliff". l,astor of the Episcopal rhur"h, 2 denomination usually Sin"nrmnus with dignity, is so accuetom"d 'o bearing himself called san" g1nons his fraternal aSSocGEffs that hH erarc"ly notices lt Secretary Ealph l.onsou of the Chamber of Com ,nerce, has eNpre essed a rreter'u"" for his first name rather than NIT Benson
 Although these ciy,c Eto1ps aHl others with whom they c"tne m "on- tact make no religious JisfinCtions and ln fact never think of differ cncas m faiths the natural instinct 10 associate 4 feeling of dignity and tornalty with inc Catholic clergy gives the custom there an entirely oiffercnt atmosphere. Catholic rter- gy are not prone to become actl"H in ,iubs and organizations ae 2 rUi'.