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DISTRICT 707 AS OF JUNE 30th, 1963

(see over)

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DISTRICT 707 AS OF JUNE 30th, 1963 (cont'd)

(cont'd Page S-3)

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DISTRICT 707 AS OF JUNE 30th, 1963 (cont'd)

(see over)

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DISTRICT 707 AS OF JUNE 30th, 1963 (cont'd)

(cont'd Page S-5)

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COMMENT - This list of Clubs may be questioned by some careful investigator. He must keep in mind that R.I. records the date the Charter was issued or in the early days the date the new Club was admitted, rather than the original organization date.  As per example, this list shows the Toronto club, No. 55, March 1st, 1913 but the club was organized on October 28th, 1912.  There are two or three similar cases that could cause confusion.

(J.A.C.)

NOTE - Club numbers were discontinued from June 30, 1951 due to the loss of several hundred clubs during and after World War II. This made numbers meaningless. (J.A.C.)

(cont'd Page S-6)

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ADDRESS ON THE LIFE OF PAUL HARRIS –

APRIL 19th, 1968, BEFORE THE ROTARY CLUB

OF TORONTO

By: J. A. Caulder

On this date 100 years ago a baby boy was born in the city of Racine, Wisconsin. His parents named him Paul and this baby boy was to grow up and become the founder of this great service club "Rotary International".

Mr. and Mrs. Harris had another son, Cecil, who was 3 years old when Paul arrived and later a girl was born who was named Nina May. She was two years younger than Paul.

Mr. Harris was a druggist and Mrs. Harris taught school and gave music lessons to help the family income. Times were very difficult in 1869 and Mr. Harris was not a good businessman so there were financial problems.

Mr. Harris originally came flora Vermont and his parents still resided there in the small town of Wallingford. They corresponded with the elder Harris and he and his wife agreed to take Cecil and Paul for a time in order to give their son and his wife a chance to get in better shape financially. Paul and Cecil, then 3 and 5, landed at Wallingford one summer evening accompanied by their father and were met at the train by grandfather Harris. A little later the boys met their grandmother. They were lucky boys as their grandparents were fine God fearing people. Vermont was a great little state well known for its rugged

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granite and its equally fine solid citizens, also of course for its fine maple syrup.

When suppertime arrived the boys fell in love with their new home. They had plenty of good nourishing food and Mrs. Harris Sr. was a splendid cook.

The grandparents told the boys what they were expected to do and obedience was stressed.

Mr. Harris returned to Racine but business did not improve and eventually, it failed. The fancily and Nina May moved around a good deal and finally grandfather bought another drugstore for his son at Fair Haven about 25 miles from Wallingford. The family were reunited and in due course three more children were born. Guy, Claude and Reginald. Guy died in childhood. Claude was killed in the Philippine war and when Paul wrote his book "My Road to Rotary" in 1945, Reginald was living in California. He had been a member of the faculty of the University of Wyoming and had served in World War 1.

We know little of the family from this date on.

The new store at Fair Haven, Vermont, failed as did a third store later on.

Paul moved once more to Wallingford with his grandparents and grew up in ideal surroundings, he loved to tramp over the

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hills, fish in the artisans, attend school and church and finally graduated from high school and entered the University of Vermont.

In Paul’s book he uses a common word I often heard ms a boy. If a boy was a mischief he was a Rapscallion and it is obvious that Paul was the worst Rapscallion in the village. He tells about making maple syrup and trout fishing, also picking berries. He thoroughly enjoyed his young life at Wallingford. He also tells about the annual pig killing about Christmas and how he loved the fried cakes (now called doughnuts) his grandmother made.

After the failure of the third drug store Paul's parents moved to Colorado where his mother died in 1920 and his father in 1926.

Grandfather Harris told Paul he was to go to the University o£ Vermont at Burlington and he left home with high hopes. At the end of his first year he was expelled. We do not know why. In 1962 Margaret and I were in Vermont and I decided to spend a day seeing Burlington and Wallingford. I saw Dr. Geo. V. Kidder, Dean of Arts, and we talked about Paul and his expulsion. He told me he had just been examining the old files and he assured me that Paul had done nothing wrong but he knew who had committed the misdemeanour and refused to tell his name. For this reason he was expelled. Dr. Kidder added that the university had been

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pleased to grant him an honorary degree which proved that Paul's record was good.

He and his grandfather talked it over and Paul entered Princeton that fall. Perhaps fees were high and two years later he entered the University of Iowa and graduated with an L.L.B. in 1891.

When he was at Princeton his grandfather Howard Harris died and when at Iowa his grandmother died. Paul was now on his own.

During the summer holidays he sold granite for one of the leading quarrie operators in the state and later in life he returned to the same company for summer employment.

Today as we attend the Rotary luncheon in Toronto a large number of past officers of Rotary and many members of clubs in and around Chicago plus the Racine Rotarians are in the city of his birth to do honour to his memory. The place where he was born has long since been torn down and a business structure erected on the spot but there is a plaque on the front of the building marking this as the birthplace o£ Paul P. Harris, the founder of Rotary.

The small school house where he attended as a boy at Wallingford, is now a Paul Harris Memorial and it is especially fitting that this has been ac designated as it was built in 1818 by James Ruston, a grand parent, or likely great, great grand parent. The grounds are well kept

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and in the Front lawn there is a huge granite boulder an which is but the words "This is where Paul P. Harris attended school as a boy." It is only used now for very special events Paul would like this simple memorial. All his life he remained a man who loved the simple life and fame did not change him in any way.

Before Paul graduated he had decided he would spend 5 years seeing the world and getting to know the people and their problems. Perhaps it was these 5 years that made him always side with the so-called under dog.

These five years took him to many lands. He was a newspaper reporter, taught school, packed raisins in California, acted in a stock company, herded cattle in Colorado, hotel clerk in Florida, sold marble when he could not find any thing interesting to do. He and a pal made many trips to Europe in cattle boats, covered all Europe and always was learning about other people, He had visited Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893 and was struck with the vigor and pep he found in that bustling city. Perhaps that is why he in 1891, applied for a license to practice law in the toughest city in U.S.

He had no money or no credit rating and did not know a soul in Chicago.

He rented a small room, No, 711, in the Old Unity building, now 127 North Dearborn St. He told a friend he was not starting in law to make a fortune but

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to give service where needed. On this building also there is a plaque which says "In this building Paul F. Harris started to practice law in l896."

Times were very tough and the going was not easy for Paul. He was very lonely in this great, bustling and very evil city. He would spend days helping a widow or an orphan child knowing full well he would never collect a penny in fees. One day a coal merchant came to Paul's office and gave him an account for $20.00 which he said was no good. Paul did not write the man but went to see him and got the $20.00. Silvester Schiele was amazed. Paul refused to take any pay for the service but he was well repaid as later he became one of the original four to organize the first Rotary club. He idolized Paul all the remainder of his life and when he would become discouraged over Rotary, Silvester would always encourage him to hang on.

Paul liked to recall how back in Vermont everyone was friendly and all used first names in addressing friends. He longed for some of this in Chicago. He talked with Silvester Schiele about the idea of organizing a small club where men could gather for social visits and just perhaps Paul at the time thought such a club might get him some clients. He discussed the matter with his tailor, Hiram Shorey, also with Gus Loehr, a mining engineer who had an office just across the hall. These men

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liked the Idea and finally they agreed to meet on the evening of February 23rd at

8 P.M. at Paul's office. Paul and Silvester had dinner together at Madam Galli's restaurant which was only a block away. They were discussing the new club. When they met at 8, Paul's office was too small and it is thought they moved across the hall to Gus Loehr's office but Silvester Schiele claims they met in his office. There is nothing sure about the date Feb. 23^rd, 1905 as no minutes were kept until 1908 in Jan. when Ches. Perry joined the club. It is obvious also that the details about the club, the name and the single classification and other matters took many meetings. I have in my possession a letterhead of the Chicago Club and plainly printed on the top are these words "The Chicago Rotary Club was organized on February 23 - 1904". It can never be settled now as none of the originals are living but it does not matter and R.I. have officially settled the date as 1905.

There has never been a resolution to use first names but it became custom to do so and it led to a feeling of friendship.

The name Rotary was adopted as it was decided to rotate the meetings between the members’ offices. None of the members even thought the club would ever have over 50 members or that there ever would be another Rotary club.

In 1905 the new and struggling club got up a constitution and its objects were stated No. 1 - To develop business between

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the members and, No. 2 - To develop friendship. It was decided to only accept one man from each business or profession. This caused a great deal of criticism in Chicago but Paul Harris told me himself that the club would never have gotten anywhere had the single classification not been adopted right at the beginning. Also attendance at every meeting was another definite principle. Soon it was decided that they must change their objectives and Service was declared No. 1 clause. Paul also however told me that the club would have got nowhere except for the personal business idea. In 1915 when Howard Feighner was secretary of the club of San Francisco his first business after the club got seated was to go to the hat check room and go over every hat to make sure it was bought from the Rotary hat member. The idea died officially in Chicago long before that but had been an important item until after 1915 in San Francisco. Now that kind of thing would be frowned upon.

The club grew and Harry Ruggles was number 5. Jensen was No. 6 and Charlie Newton was No. 7. Shorey and Loehr dropped out in a few weeks but more came in. For months they met after dinner in the different offices but then met twice a month on a regular basis. They did not start weekly meetings until 1907. In 1906 Dr. C. W. Hawley, an eye specialist, reported that a young Dr. in nearby La Grange lost his house. The

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club passed the hat and collected $150.00 and gave it to the doctor. This was the first good act done by Rotary's Club No. I.

One evening they were meeting in Bill Todd's flour and feed store. A visitor was there from Seattle and he was asked to say a few words. He began to tell a shady story. Harry Ruggles knew what was coming and jumped up and said "Come on fellows and let us sing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart". Ruggles had made it clear that Rotary was not the place where shady stories were welcome. This was the first song ever sung by group of business men in public. At the 50th anniversary of the founding held in Chicago in 1955 Harry Ruggles then 85 came from California and he led the great convention in the same song.

Paul Harris was human and he showed it by always having a glass of beer with his dinner. The club started the same way but to use Paul's own words "We had to stop the beer as there was always someone who wanted 5 or 6". After the Houston Convention in 1914 had a resolution presented to bar drinking at Rotary luncheons Milwaukee stopped and in U.S. and Canada that rule has been fairly well recognized. The then President of the National Ass’n, of Rotary Clubs, Frank Mulholland of Toledo wisely ruled that they could not legislate for the world. In 1913 Rotary had spread to Canada and to G.B. (Canada 1910; G.B. 1911)

Paul refused to accept the Presidency so Silvester Schiele became the first President of Chicago No. I and A.L. White

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was the second and Paul Harris the third. Again to show how human he was, in his second year as President someone just in a joke charged him with not conducting the club properly. He took it as a great offense and walked out of the club and did not come back for six months. He was a great prankster but did not like it when the joke was on him.

After the original four Harris, Schiele, Shorey and Loehr I have said that Ruggles (a printer) was No. 5, Jensen No. 6 (Real Estate), Chas. Newton (Insurance) was No. 7.

In 1997 this ambitious club with over 150 members decided that downtown Chicago needed a public comfort station. They got the backing of the city officials and raised $20,000.00 and that station is still in use in the basement of Chicago's old City Hall.

The club continued to grow and prosper, In 1906 Silvester Schiele suggested to Paul that the members give classification talks and a week or so later Schiele made the first one in Rotary history.

In 1908 two very important men joined Rotary, Chesley R. Perry who was made Secretary when the National Association was formed in 1910 and remained as Secretary and General Secretary until June 30, 1942. Also Arthur Frederick Sheldon who had a School of Salesmanship. He made, and so did Perry, a great impact on Rotary.

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The men to be remembered from those days especially are Paul P, Harris, Silvester Schiele, Harry Ruggles, Chas. Newton and Perry and Sheldon. The laid the foundation. Paul. Harris used to say "I may have been the architect of Rotary but Ches Perry was the builder".

By 1907 the club had over 150 members. In 1908 the second club was formed in San Francisco and Rotary was on its way. In 1910 Paul met a scotch lassie, Jean Thomson of Edinburgh. Two years later the plucked a beautiful spot from their future home. They named it "Comely Bank" after the street in Edinburgh where Jean spent her early days. In the beautiful spot they entertained their friends for over 30 years. It was a rare treat to be invited to spend a few hours in their home. What a treat to be invited to "Comely Bank" for a good meal and a two or three hour chat.

We knew Paul and Jean intimately from 1919 to 1947.

Paul died on January 27, 1947 and was interred in beautiful Mt. Hope cemetery in Chicago. 0n his. tombstone are carved the words "Paul Harris, founder of Rotary International" and close beside him lies Silvester Schiele and on his stone there is engraved "Co-founder with Paul Harris of Rotary International".

In 1929 I was moving from Regina to Toronto and I invited Paul to be the representative of R.I at my last western conference. He readily agreed. When he arrived in Regina we invited him to stay

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at our home where he could be quiet. He was delighted and so were we. We had the pleasure of having him in our home as our guest. It is a memory we will always cherish. He was quite ill at the time.

At the first session he spoke and made such a hit that I had delegations from Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. They wanted him to come to their clubs and tell them the Rotary story. Although he was not well he agreed. All the clubs changed their meeting dates so he spoke at Calgary on Monday, Edmonton on Tuesday, Saskatoon on Wednesday and Winnipeg on Thursday. We got his a ticket around the circuit and a drawing-room for each night. Rotary in those days was very short of money and if we wanted a man to attend our conference we had to pay all expenses. In a couple of weeks we got a refund from the Railroads as he turned in the drawing rooms and took lower berths to save us a few dollars. Such a man was Paul Harris.

Another little incident is worth noting. When he attended the first Rotary convention held in Mexico City in 1935 he hired a taxi and the driver deliberately swerved his car to hit and kill a beautiful dog. His first thought was to call the police but as he thought it over he realized that he had 1000 years of more civilized background than his Mexican driver had and in keeping with his lifelong policy of trying to see the other person's point of view he did not report the cruel driver.

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The small club that Paul started in 1905 with only 4 members now has over 13,000 clubs in 142 countries and about 560,000 members.

Paul’s partner for 37 years, the Scottish lassie Jean Thomson died Scotland in 1964. She was beloved by all who knew her.

Paul has left a great heritage but not a great fortune. When Jean died every dollar in his estate was willed to the Rotary Foundation.

In 1919 he met Fred Reinhardt, another Chicago lawyer, and they formed a partnership known as Harris, Reinhardt and Russell. This was a successful law firm and highly respected. Paul’s specially was real estate and Probate. He joined the Chicago Bar Ass’n in 1906. In 1932 he represented the American Bar Association at the International Congress of Comparative Law at The Hague and was one of the outstanding speakers.

It was said long ago that a highly successful firm is but the shadow of some great man. Surely this is true in the case of Paul Harris.

When on his death bed he asked "What kind of a memorial would you like", he replied "Get behind the Rotary Foundation plan. His heart was in the plan. R.I. made an appeal following his passing and in two years the Foundation received about $2,000,000.00.

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The first students were chosen in 1948 and no, almost 2500 have benefited from the plan. The Foundation now has about $70,000,000.00 surplus on hand and beginning 1970-71 it will spend $2,000,000.00 per year. This amount will be available but may mot be needed.

We can estimate the good that will eventually, come out of this great project which was proposed by Arch Klumph at the convention in Atlanta in 1917.

Now it is up to us to carry on and keep the memory of Paul Harris always before us so that his good work will continue.

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ADDRESS BY J. A. CAULDER ON ROTARY’S YESTERDAYS AT THE ZONE INSTITUTE –

OCTOBER 25^TH, 1970

The same address had been given at the opening of the Lake Placid Institute in May, 1970.

Mr. Chairman, former Int. Pres. Joe Abey, R.I. Director from Canada, past Int. Officers, Rotarians, Ladies and guests.

I am pleased to be asked to take part in this our first Central Zone Institute. If my speech is not as clear as usual I hope you will excuse me.

In speaking of Rotary's yesterdays, I think it is well to say a good deal about our founder, Paul P. Harris. A successful concern is but the shadow of the great man or men who built it. All of you who were privileged to know him intimately I am sure, will agree with what I will say about him. I knew Paul intimately from 1919 to 1947.

On April 17, 1868 Paul was born at Racine, Wisconsin. Today the old house has gone and a business building has been erected on the spot. When the old home was demolished a plaque was placed on the building "The place where Paul P. Harris was born". On April l9th, 1963 hundreds of Rotarian’s from all over America and a few from the outside world met at Racine to celebrate the birth date of Paul.

His father was a druggist and to out, his mother taught school and also gave music lessons. When Paul was 3 years old his brother Cecil was 5 and his little sister Nina May was about 1 year old. Conditions were tough and the parents decided to write Mr. Harris parents in Wallingford, Vermont and ask them to take Paul and Cecil for a year or so. They readily agreed and on a chill fall day (likely 1871) the two small boys arrived in Wallingford and met by their grandfather. They arrived at his home and met their grandmother. She had a great dinner ready for Paul and Cecil

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Nina May went to live with some other relative. Even this did not help and finally the business was bankrupt. Cecil in a short time left Wallingford and lived with other relatives.

Paul grew up in a splendid country and his grandparents were God fearing people so he was raised well. He loved to pick mushrooms and wild berries and fish in the local streams.

Paul grew up As I did with relatives and he records in his book "My Road to Rotary" how he attended church and Sunday school, went to the Kickapoo Indian shows, the admission was only 3 cents, went to see Uncle Tom’s Cabin. He picked raspberries

in July and blueberries in August. A fine wholesome way to grow up.

The school house where Paul attended in Wallingford was built by Paul's great grandfather, James Ruston in l818 and later it was bought by the town of Wallingford and turned into a memorial to Paul. Margaret and I went to Wallingford and met one of the Rotary Trustees. Paul could not think of any memorial he would prefer to this small school-house which carry so many fond memories of his boyhood days.

He grow up and graduated from high school and his grandfather told him he would enter the University of Vermont, Burlington a few miles away.

At the end of his first year he was expelled from the university. We visited the university in 1962 and talked with Dr. Geo. Kidder, Dean of Arts. He told me that Paul did nothing wrong but he refused to squeal on his pal.

During Paul's entire life he returned to Wallingford to visit the spot he loved so well.

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In the meantime Grandfather Harris started Paul's father up in business at Fair Haven only 25 miles from Wallingford and when there, three more sons were born.

I overlooked to mention that Paul in his childhood slept on mattresses filled with fresh straw and on Saturday evening took his bath in a washtub beside the kitchen stove. Same as we did in E. Ontario in 1889.

His grandfather sent him to Princeton for one year but likely fees were too high and he went to Ames, Iowa and from there he graduated in Law in 1891. The university of Vermont granted him an Honorary Degree a few years ago so that wiped out the stigma if there was any.

After his stay at Princeton he dropped out of school for one year. When at Princeton his grandfather died. It was a great shock to Paul.

During his year out of college he joined a granite company and proved he could sell.

The three sons born at Fair Haven were Guy, Claude and Reginald. Guy died when young, Claude was killed in the Philippine War and Reginald became a Professor in Wyoming University.

At the time when Paul wrote his book above referred to Reginald was retired. Cecil had died when young so not a single male heir was left to carry on the Harris name.

I can best show the kind of a man Paul because before graduation he had decided to spend 5 years seeing the world and getting to know people. The year following Paul went to the University of Iowa.

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His father had failed at Fair Haven so the family moved to Colorado. This might have been the reason why Paul finished his law course in Iowa.

Then grandmother Harris died and Paul was on his own. His mother died in 1920 and his father in 1926.

He graduated in 1891 and he and a pa; took a job on a cattle boat to England. He saw all the world worth seeing in the five years from 1891 and 1896. He returned to the U.S. several times and took any job that he could find. He worked in a hotel, joined a show on the road and when all failed he returned to the granite business with his former employer.

Finally the 5 years were up and he decided to settle down in that booming city of Chicago. He had visited it once and liked the prospect – World’s Fair 1893. He hung out his shingle at Room 711, Old Unity Building, now 127 N. Dearborn St.

During the 10 years prior to 1896 he had read the recorded histories on England, Russia, France, Germany and the Scandinavian countries.

Starting a law practice in the busy and booming city of Chicago in which he did not know a single person, he became very lonesome. He thought a lot about his Vermont home. He began to think of starting a small club where a few congenial friends could get together.

He had collected a bad debt for Silvester Schiele, a coal dealer. He refused to accept any payment for his services. He and Silvester became close friends and Silvester was to play a great part in the years ahead.

Paul had been thinking of starting a small social club and the more he thought the more sure he was that the idea was good. This was in 1904. He suggested the club idea to Silvester and he was all for it. He also discussed it with Hiram Shorey,

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his tailor, and with Gus Loehr, a mining engineer who had a small office like his own in the same building.

They agreed to get together for dinner and talk it over. Finally on Feb. 23^rd, 1905, the date was set and Paul and Silvester had dinner at Madam Gallies Restaurant close by. They met in Paul’s office but it was so small they moved across the hall to Gus Loehr’s office. Nothing definite happened that evening and for several more but eventually they agreed to form a club and call it the Rotary Club as they were going to meet at the members’ offices turn about.

I have a letter from the Chicago club and typed across the top was "The Rotary Club of Chicago organized on Feb. 23^rd, 1904". This was used for 10 years and no one objected. No records were kept until 1908 so there are many unsolved arguments about how and when it was organized. They are all gone so this is one of the unsolved questions.

Money was very scarce but Paul joined the Chicago Bar Ass’n. There were 8 or 9 thousand lawyers in Chicago. He did all he could to develop honesty in the wayward few.

Before Paul had graduated he told his friends he was not going into law to get rich but to help the widows and orphans who could not protect themselves.

Some of you recall that in 1955 Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle. This book was all true but was very rough. Surely Paul and his pals started in a city that needed them.

These men decided early in its history to demand 100% attendance and to only have one member from each business.

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Paul had been called a Rapscallion at Wallingford. He was a great jokester.

Paul liked a g1ass of beer with dinner and Chicago No. 1 started that way. Paul told me that some men wanted 5 or 6 and some one or two beers and then a couple of whiskies. So they had to stop it entirely.

Hiram Shorey and Gus Loehr dropped out soon. Silvester stayed on and his backing helped Paul to make a success.

I was in Chicago when the Club was formed but no one asked me to join them.

Paul suggested one night that they should use first names like they did in Vermont. It was never officially adopted but through custom it has become part of our existence and perhaps our success.

The club was called Rotary as they agreed to rotate their meetings at the members’ office or place of business. One night they met at Bill Todd’s feed and grain store. A visitor from Seattle was asked to say a few words. He (not a Rotarian) started to tell a crude story but Harry Ruggles jumped up and said "Come on boys let us sign ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart’".

In 1956 I was in Taipei and even the R.I. directory was not correct. Finally someone told me where the club met. As I approached it I knew I was in the right place as 80 or 90 Chinese were singing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."

The 5^th man to join was Harry Ruggles who was to leave a great record behind him.

Today Silvester Schiele lies beside Paul in Mt. Hope Cemetery and on his stone is carved – "Silvester Schiele together with Paul Harris organized Rotary"

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These word were ordered by Mrs. Schiele but Paul and everyone knows they were true. In 1955 at the 50th Anniversary of the Founding, thousands visited the cemetery to pay their respects to Paul and Silvester. In 1955 Ruggles came from California to lead the crowd of 15,000 sing "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."

The 6^th man to join was Jensen and the 7^th was Charlie Newton. Jensen did not play an important role in Rotary but Newton made himself felt.

So up to 1906 the top man was Harris, Schiele, Ruggles and Newton. Newton was an insurance man and was one of the organizations of Marsh and McClennan, now the world’s largest insurance company.

In 1907 regular meetings were arranged first at night and later at noon.

In 1908 a man from San Francisco, Manual Munoz visited Chicago. He and Paul were old pals. He visited Rotary and when he returned to San Francisco he discussed Rotary with Homer Wood and soon San Francisco had Rotary Club No. 2.

Then followed Oakland, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York and Boston and Rotary was on the way.

In 1910 there were 16 clubs in U.S. In 1910 the Winnipeg Club was organized and Rotary was international.

The first convention was held in Chicago, in 1910 and was known as the National Ass'n. of Rotary Clubs of U.S. There were 69 at that first convention from 13 club out of 16.

I overlooked mentioning 1908 as a great year. In Jan. two new members joined, Chesley R. Perry and the other was Arthur Frederick Sheldon

These two men made a great mark on Rotary. The 1911 Convention was held in Portland. At that convention Arthur Frederick Sheldon made a very fine speech and ended with "He Profits Most Who Serves Best". Then the Minneapolis President made a speech and he wound up by saying "Service Above Self".

In Detroit at the 1934 convention these two quotations were adopted as Rotary slogans.

I can’t pass over Ches Perry lightly. He had joined Chicago No. 1 in June 1908 and in 1910 was chosen to be secretary of the new Assn. of Rotary clubs of America. I could write a book on Ches. Paul told me once that without Silvester Schiele the club would never have got to first base. He then continued, even with Silvester – without Ches Perry Rotary would never have gone around the world. I knew Ches very personally from 1919 until his death on Feb. 21^st, 1960.

He spoke Spanish perfectly and he was a real human being. I doubt if there was a man living in 1910 who could have steered Chicago No. 1 to an organization that went around the world in 20 or 25 years. Paul said once I may have been the architect but Ches. Perry was the builder. He served as Secretary and General Secretary from 1910 until the close of the Toronto convention in June 1942. He was hired on a part time basis in l9l0 at $100,00 per month and he supplied the office space and stenographer. At the end of the first year he had only received $400.00 instead of $1200.00 and he never got the $800.00. At the 1911 convention he was hired as full time Secretary at $1800.00 per year and from then on until 1942 he got his salary. He in return gave great service to Rotary and to mankind.

The names I have mentioned here, Harris, Schiele, Ruggles, Sheldon, Newton and Perry rank high in those early days. When I was on the R.I. Board in 28-29 Perry’s salary was $25,000.00 per year.

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All through those early years there had been a strong business appeal. Each week a member got up and reported the business transacted between club members. In 1906 the club issued its objectives. The first one was "doing business with each other." As only one man could join from each business this objective was severely criticized. Then new objects were written. The first was "To develop acquaintance between members." The second was "to develop business." In 1915 a definite move was made to remove business altogether. In that year Howard Feighner was Secretary of the San Francisco Club and it was his job as soon as they sat down to go out and check every hat to see if it was bought from the hat man in the club. This is unheard of now.

The convention to organize the national Ass’n in 1910 was held in the Congress Hotel, Chicago. There were 16 clubs then but only 13 were represented at the organization meeting.

Two hundred years ago in London, eng. They had a club very similar to Rotary. Also Benjamin Franklin organized the Junta Club in Philadelphia. The two clubs in London and Philadelphia were based on the single classification.

The men who helped Paul Harris did not now about them in 1905.

In those days only the owner ort General Manager were chosen. Later when lesser business officials were taken in this caused a lot of talk. There was talk of not allowing a company to pay a member’s dues and luncheon expense. This is no longer a matter of discussion.

The club had 170 members in 1907 and 250 in 1908.

At the third convention held in Duluth in 1912 a member from Winnipeg got up and said he was from Winnipeg, the first club outside U.S. and the club’s name should be changed from National Ass’n of

Page S-30

Rotary Clubs in U.S. to the International Ass’n of Rotary Clubs. In 5 minutes the change was made. The situation is quite different now.

In the famous year of 1910 Paul met Jean Thomson of Glasgow, Scotland. They were married soon after. They built a beautiful home in a suburb of Chicago and it was a great treat when a visitor Rotarian or a Dist. Gov. or Director was invited to Comely Bank to have dinner and an evening with Paul and Jean. Comely Bank was named after the street Jean lived on in Glasgow.

In 1906 Dr. C. W. Hawley, a doctor in the Chicago Club, reported that a young doctor had his horse drop dead. The hat was passed around and $150.00 collected to buy a new horse for the young doctor.

In 1908 someone proposed a comfort station should be built in downtown Chicago. They approached the Mayor and were given permission. They raised $20,000.00 and that comfort station is still in use.

Rotary has shown that it was operating to help people. What a list could be made up today. All over the world.

When the club was first organized in Chicago, Paul did not want to be President so Silvester Schiele was chosen. A.L. White was the second and Paul Harris was the 3^rd.

Paul served 2 years. When the National Ass’n of Rotary clubs was formed Paul was chosen as the first President. He served two years. Then Glen C. Mead of Philadelphia was next, then Russell F. Grenier of Kansas City and Frank L. Mulholland was the 4^th President. Better choices could hardly be found then or now.

Page S-31

Gilbert Chesterton said in referring to Rotary "This Rotary Age". Someone else said "Marriages are made in Heaven." This seemed very true about Paul and Jean.

Chicago started collecting dues in 1908. At the 1910 convention it was proposed that dues from each member be sent to Chicago each year and would be $2.00. This was seriously objected to by one or two representatives who said "If the dues are made $2.00 per year it will kill Rotary."

The Chicago Club got a state charter in 1908 and it was all done in Paul Harris handwriting.

When in 1907 the Club had 170 members Charlie Newton had all the insurance from 90 and at the same time Harry Ruggles had all the printing from 110.

Schiele suggested classification talks. It was adopted and he made the first one in 1907.

In 1919 Paul met Mr. Reinhardt and they formed the firm of Harris, Reinhardt and Russell. This continued until Paul’s death in 1947. Paul became so interested in Rotary that he made little money. Before he started in 1896 he told a pal he was not in law to make money but to help poor widows and orphans. However the firm made a name for the partners. Paul represented the Chicago Bar and the Illinois Bar at two meetings of the International Law Society at The Hague. Paul made outstanding addresses.

The National Rotarian was started by Paul and Ches Perry in January 1911.

R.I. was short of money and Guy Gundaker who presided at Toronto in 1924 as President was the first President who did not pay his own expenses.

Page S-32

When Leslie Pidgeon was chosen President 1917-18 he was the first from Canada and his congregation in Winnipeg gave him $10,000.00 to pay his expenses for the year. Next came Dr. Crawford McCullough of Ft. William, second in 1921-22. John Nelson of Montreal was No. 3 in 1933-34 and Arthur Lagueux of Quebec City was 4^th in 1950-51. No Canadian will quarrel with me when I say that Canada produced 4 good presidents between 1917-18 and 1950-51.

Paul could always call on good men to help without pay. Herbert Coates, U.S. 1919-1939, Fred Warren Teele of England, 1922-27, Jim Roth, U.S., 1922-27, Dr. Eduardo Moore of Santiago, Chile 1928-33, T.C. Tomsen of Denmark, 1928-32, Sir Frederick Everett James, England 1929-33, Grebel of Vienna 1930-35, Thorvall of Helsinki 30-35. These were all commissioners who worked for from 1 year to 5 for traveling expenses only but James W. Davidson of Calgary, who with his wife and daughter, spent 3 years in which he went around the world and in that time he spent $150,000.00 of his own money. He died shortly after coming home on July 18^th, 1933.

In 1921 New Zealand and Australia were anxious to have Rotary. C.J. Burchell was a leading lawyer in Halifax, had served as Dist. Gov. and as 3^rd V. Pres. Of R.I. in 1925-26, offered to let a young lawyer from his office go. He was J.L. Ralston, later Hon. J.L. Ralston. Ches Perry suggested Jim Davidson of Calgary to go with him. In the west we collected a few hundred dollars to help out but they paid most of their own and their wives expenses. The trip was a great success "down under."

In 11928 there was a strong request from Europe, and Asia and again Rotary called in Jim Davidson. Ralston then was a cabinet minister so could not go. Jim came to Chicago and Ches told him it

Page S-33

would take 7 or 8 months and R.I. could contribute $8,000.00. He and his wife and daughter left in the fall of 1928. That was a huge success. It took 3 years instead of 7 or 8 months. He had been Ambassador to Formosa and he wrote a history of the country which is still recognized the best in existence. He was a U.S. citizen but moved to Calgary in 1916 and became a Canadian citizen. He made the trip to the N. Pole with Peary in 1293. A wonderful man and a great Canadian. He was given the title of Rotary' s Honorary Ambassador.

I have already mentioned a few Rotarians who worked for their expenses for 1 to 3 years. Paul could always call on good men when needed.

Mrs. Davidson, Lillian, wrote a beautiful book on their round the world travels. They had 1000 copies made and autographed them and gave them to their close friends.

Rotary has been blessed with good secretaries. Ches Perry 1910 to 1942, Phil Lovejoy from 1942 to 1952 and Geo. Means from 1952 and still is on the job.

Branch offices were opened in Zurich, Switzerland and Bombay. Later the Bombay office was closed.

Think of the growth from 4 men meeting in room 911, Old Unity Bldg., Chicago on Feb. 23rd, 1905 to now (Oct. 5, 1970) - 14,502 clubs in 148 countries or areas and with 680,500 members. From July lst, 1970 to Oct. 5th, 141 new clubs in 32 countries.

Paul chose Chicago in 1896 to practice law. In 1905 Sinclair wrote "The Jungle". This is a great book and one can still go into a book store and buy it. It exposed the rotten side of' Chicago in business and politics.

Page S-34

Harvey C. Wheeler of Boston went to London and organized that club and became its first President.

Sheldon had business friends in Manchester and through them he got the Manchester club going.

Stuart Morrow saw Rotary in U.S. so went to Dublin and organized that club.

We have often heard it said that Rotary never paid anyone to organize Rotary Clubs but at Dublin and Edinburgh the organizer collected one pound ($4.86) per each new member. However Rotary did not pay it.

When Charlie Newton was President of the Chicago Club in 1923 he personally tiled the doer and refused admission to 125 members. They had been slow in paying their dues, did no work in Rotary and acted unbecoming to a Rotarian. He finally took about 75 back in but they had learned a good lesson.

Rufus Chapin came on the scene in Chicago about this time and he was a most valuable member. He was Treasurer of R.I. for years before his death.

Paul died in 1947 and Jean returned to Scotland and died in 1964. They left all their belongings to the Rotary Foundation.

In 192C the Rotary Club of Moose Jaw had 90 members and 65 travelled 1600 miles (Moose Jaw to Ft. William and back) to attend their District Conference.

It is well for us to ponder some of these figures and compare than with today. We had 16 clubs spread over 1400 miles from Ft. William to Edmonton and 850 sat down at our banquet in Regina in 1929.

Page S-35

Rotary was formed in England under the name R.I.B.I. in 1913 - now over 1000 clubs.

Arch Klumph of Cleveland attended the convention Atlanta, Georgia in 1917. He made a motion that was carried. It was that "Rotary should form a fund for helping people in distress". For years it only had collected a few thousand. When Paul was on his death bed a friend asked him "what kind of a memorial he would like to have". He said "Get behind the Foundation and put it over". The appeal to do this went all ever the world and money came from everywhere. When they had 2 millions the present student Foundation came into being and up to 1970 had sent 4000 students from their own country to where they would get the best in what study they wanted. This was for university graduates only. Now it has 3 or 4 different classes of students. After spending about $10,000.000.00 since 1948, the Foundation has almost $9,000,000.00 on hand and beginning 1972 will spend $2,000,000.00 on choice students. Many people feel that the Rotary Foundation is Rotary's greatest project. Our first student from Toronto was Ev Biggs and he feels his years in England gave him the broader view he needed to make the success he has made. The first students were sent abroad in 1948.

There is one story I must include in this address as it shows clearly what kind of man Paul was.

In 1929 I was getting ready to move from Regina to Toronto. In those days we could invite any past officer we wanted. As it was my last conference in my old stomping grounds I wrote Paul and asked him to come and talk to us. He was very unwell at the time but he readily said yes. Margaret and I went to meet him at the train. He looked terribly ill and Margaret asked him if he would not like to stay at our house instead of the hotel. He smiled and said it would be a delight.

Page S-36

We had him for 5 days and what a treat it was. The first morning he was on the programme for a short speech of welcome. The next day he told us all about Rotary.

After the meeting I had delegation from Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. All agreed to pay his expenses and all changed their meeting day so he could ride from one city to the next on an overnight train. He got him a drawing room for each night and he was on his way.

In a week or so we got a cheque from the CN and CPR as he had turned in his drawing and took lower berths. He just could not let us pay for his travelling in comfort.

Now it is up to us here today and Rotarians everywhere to do our best to carry on as Paul and the great leaders of 1905 to 1915 did.

Before me today we have 7 or 8 guests from Japan. They are young students who are on a student exchange in district 709 I believe. I trust these students and their supervisor will be able honestly to tell their friends in Japan how much they enjoyed their visit to our country.

Now we should all try our best to measure up to the Rotary standards set up by the great men who have preceded us.

Page T-6-1

ROTARY’S 6th CONVENTION

HELD AT SAN FRANCISCO

President - Frank L Mulholland of Toledo, Ohio,

Thos. Stephenson, Secretary of the Rotary Club of Edinburgh and Hon. Secretary of British Association of Rotary Clubs, brought greeting from Rotarians of Britain.

At this convention many names of future well known Rotarians were present, Allen D. Albert, Rev. E. Leslie Pidgeon of Vancouver, Albert S. Adams of Atlanta, Ga., Bru Brunnier of San Francisco, Arch C. Klumph of Cleveland, E. L. Skeel of Seattle, Alex R. MacFarlane of Vancouver, Geo. Harris of Washington and many others who came into prominence in later years. Bill Peace of Toronto was there and took an active part in the proceedings. We must not. overlook W. D. (Bill) Bigger of Detroit and Guy and Ann Gundaker of Philadelphia, Also Bob Copeland of Toronto and Jim Ryan of Calgary were-present and active.

The convention elected Allen D. Albert of Chicago as President.

1st Vice-Pres. Wm. Gettinger of New. York.
2nd Vice-Pres. Robert H. Cornell of Houston, Texas.
3rd Vice-Pres. Rev. E. Leslie Pidgeon of Vancouver, B. C.

Frank Mulholland remained on the Board as Immediate Past President.

Chesley R. Perry was re-elected Secretary.

Rufus F. Chapin of Chicago was re-elected Treasurer.

(see over)

There were 391 delegates entitled to vote. They were from 125 of the 156 clubs in the U.S. 8 from 9 clubs in Canada. There were no delegates from British clubs. There were 1,888 present in all, 965 men and 923 ladies.

Area or Divisional Vice Presidents were dropped and Rotary was divided into 19 districts. Each had a District Governor. There were 15 in U.S., 3 in Canada and 1 in Britain.

There were very important steps in Rotary’s development. It was decided the next convention would be held in Cincinnati.

The Governors from Canada were:-

District 16 - John C. Glass of Halifax

District 17 - Thos. J. Wells of Montreal
District 18 - James F. Ryan of Calgary.

The first Governor from Britain was J. S. Proctor (l9th District) G1asgow, Scotland.

The above three Canadians were therefore the first official officers from Canada except that Bill Peace of Toronto had served two years 1913-14 and 1914-15 as Area Vice-President.

Page T-7-1

ROTARY’S 7^TH CONVENTION HELD AT CINCINNATI ON JULY 16-20, 1916

President – Allen D. Albert of Chicago, Ill.

217 clubs were represented.

26 Int. Officers and 497 delegates.

473 from U.S., 22 from Canada, 1 from England and 1 from Cuba.

Rotary now in 4 countries.

The total registration was 3,828.

From Toronto – Manny Ridley, C.M. MacWilliam, R. J. Copeland and George Bridgen.

From Winnipeg - Uncle John Russell, Cordon E. Hunter and Stu Campbell.

The lone British delegate was - R. G. Knowles of London.

New Governors were elected from 19 districts. From No.16 Chas. J. Burchell of Halifax;

From No. 17 Dr. Bruce Carey of Hamilton and from No. 18, Stu Campbell of Winnipeg, From No. 19 - British Isles – Chas. H. Dewey of London.

New clubs in the year 1915-16 were of these 63 from U.S., Canada 3, British Isles 4 and Havana, Cuba.

Total membership 27000, a gain of 6,300. Total income for the year $21,561.09 and a surplus of $2,408.46.

The Rotarian had an income of $42,613.30 and a net profit of $2,785.80

(see over)

Page T-7-2

The expenses are interesting. Salaries $3,142.981 Vice Pres. and Directors $1,314,85. The 19th District Governor’s expenses were $402.90. Compared with 1964 the figures are astounding.

There were many resolutions but none of outstanding importance to the future of Rotary.

Arch. Klumph of Cleveland was elected President for 1916-l7.

lst Vice Pres. F.W. Galbraith of Cincinnati.

2nd Vice-Pres.- Guy Gundaker of Philadelphia

3rd Vice-Pres. - Rev. E.Leslie Pidgeon,Winnipeg.

Immediate Past President – Allen D. Albert of Minneapolis.

Chesley R. Perry was re-elected as Secretary and Editor of The Rotarian.

Rufus Chapin was re-elected as Hon. Treasurer.

Paul P. Harris was named President Emeritus.

There were now 5 Past Presidents.

Paul Harris, Glenn C. Mead, Russell F. Greiner of Kansas City, Frank Mulholland and Allan D. Albert.

The site for the next convention was Atlanta, Georgia.

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ROTARY’S 8th C0NVENTION HELD AT ATLANTA, GA.

JUNE 17-21, 1917.

Arch C. Klumph of Cleveland, President.

At this convention 267 clubs were represented U.S. had 249 clubs, Canada 13, British and Irish clubs had 4 and Cuba had 1.

There were a total of 596 voting delegates.

A total of 2,654 were present, including 770 women compared with 3,828 a year earlier at Cincinnati. It is difficult, as this is written to understand the drop.

Rotary now had 302 clubs compared with 230 the previous year, a fine increase, of 72 clubs. Canada had 15 clubs compared with 13 one year earlier. The British Isles had 13 and Cuba 1, in both cases the same as one year before.

The income was $27,836,90 and the net was $992.63. The Rotarian had an income of $57,497.60 and a net of $2,273.22.

The Board of Directors spent $11.45. Telephone and Telegraph expense $35.20. The salaries in the Secretary's office had gone up to $5,469.50.

The names of John Turner of Tampa and James F. Finlay of Chattanooga were becoming very familiar by this time. Also the name of W. J. Zimmers of Milwaukee who later was to have a son-in-law, Clifford A. Randall of Milwaukee who was to become Presidents
of R.I. in 1958-59. The name of H. S. Dennison of Toronto crops up at this convention. A resolution came up for R. I. to have a standing committee to carry on work

(see over)

Page T-8-2

with boys. J. C. Williams reported that Toronto did not publish a weekly bulletin but most large clubs did. One full session was given to this subject. Crippled Childrens work was proposed. Ed. Kelsey of Toledo told about his Club's work with crippled children and the Syracuse Club was active in it. Dr. James A. MacDonald spoke on "Service - A World Force". A resolution was adopted to spread Rotary to Latin America. Also one was adopted to have a permanent committee for work among boys. Major Gen. Leonard Wood attended the convention. Joe Turner of Roanoke, Va. appears at this convention. Also the name of Chas. J. Burchell of Halifax is prominent. He was finishing his year as Governor of the 16th District. Now as this is written (1965) he is the Senior Past Officer in Canada. Raymond D. Fosdick (the great New York preacher) and Newton D. Baker, Secy. of War for U. S., both sent letters expressing regrets over net being able to attend. World War I was at its worst but U.S. was not yet active in it. The constitution and By-laws of R.I. were studied and amended.

The Districts were increased from 19 to 20. Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Yukon and B.C. became No. 16. Old No. 16 became No. 17. District 17 became new No. 18 and No. 18, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta became No. 19. The British clubs became No. 20.

Donald A. MacRae of Halifax became Governor and R. J. Lydiatt of Calgary, Governor of the 19th District.

Guy Gundaker of Philadelphia ran for President but was defeated by the Rev. Leslie Pidgeon

(cont’d)

Page T-9-1

of Winnipeg. This was Guy’s second try and his defeat. was because he owned a part share in Kueglers Cafe at which liquor was sold.

At this convention Arch Klumph proposed that Rotary should start a fund established by Rotary for the development of understanding amongst the peoples of the world and for advanced study, etc. This was adopted and our Rotary Foundation was started. Now (1965) over $12,000,000.00 has been contributed to this fund and almost 2000 students have been helped.

The new officers for 1917-18 were as follows:-

President - Rev, E. Leslie Pidgeon of Winnipeg.
Immediate Past President -Arch C. Klumph of Cleveland.

1^st Vice-Pres. - Robinson A. McDowell, Lawyer Louisville, Ky.

2nd Vice Pres. – H. J. Brunnier, Structural Engineer, San Francisco.
3rd Vice-Pres. - Samuel B. Botsford, Buffalo, N.Y.

Secretary - Chesley R. Perry.

Treasurer- Rufus P. Chapin.

This was a fine convention and it was obvious Rotary would in time circle the globe.

·

ROTARY 9^TH CONVENTION. KANSAS CITY, MO.

June 24 – 28, 1918.

President E. Leslie Pigeon of Winnipeg presided. He is the only clergyman to ever be President.

This is considered one of the great conventions. England's back was against the channel. Belgium and France had collapsed and the outlook was serious.

(see over)

Page T-9-2.

A total of 367 clubs sent delegates. Of these 328 from U.S., 17 from Canada, 22 from G. B. and Ireland and 1 from Cuba. The total registration was 4,034 of whom 1,319 were ladies. There were 750 voting delegates. Secretary Perry reported a gain of 98 clubs in the year with 429. U.S. now had 385 clubs, Canada 21, Britain and Ireland 21 and Cuba 2.

The British government, under the stress of was, allowed two delegates to come over. They were Tom Stevenson of Edinburgh and Home-Morton of London. These men Pres. and Hon. Secretary of the British Association of Rotary Clubs. There was a memorable flag incident between Ashby Jones of Atlanta, Ga. and the two British delegates that brought tears to every eye at the session. Raymond Havens who was to be President of R.I. in.1922-23 becomes active at this convention. President Woodrow Wilson sent a message to the convention, as did Paul Harris, who was unable to attend. The flag presentation above mentioned is on pages 117 and 118 of the Kansas City proceedings. Ashby Jones said,

"As certainly as the priceless possessions of Runnymeade with its gift of the Great Charter of human liberty belongs to America, so Yorktown with its rebirth of democracy is the birth-right of England. For be it remembered that since that day no tyrant has sat upon your Throne but England has been ruled by the regnant will of the people".

Home Morton received the beautiful silk flag and kissed it. In reply, he said:-

"I could have wished that this task which now falls to me could have fallen to other hands, for unfortunately the race to which I have the honour to belong, is gifted with

Page T-9-3

with powers of expression in inverse proportion to the depth of our feeling. Never in my whole life for forty odd years have I found it so difficult to find words wherein to express the tumult of my heart as I do this moment."

Page 120 of the 1911 proceedings. Morton then presented a very small Union Jack with very appropriate words. On page 141 will be found a fine address by Donald MacRae of Halifax; Hugh Guthrie made a fine address on "Canada's contribution to the war". Page 228 of Proceedings. Much fine discussion on the fundamentals of Rotary.

John Poole, a banker from Washington, D.C. was chosen as President for 1918-19.

Immediate Past President - Rev. E. Leslie Pidgeon.

1st Vice-Pres. - Albert S. Adams, Atlanta, Ga.

2nd Vice-Pres. - Edward R. Kelsey of Toledo.

3rd Vice-Pres. - Willard I. Lansing.

Secretary and Rotarian editor - Chesley R. Perry.

Treasurer- Rufus Chapin.

There are now 24 District Governors including one from Britain (known as District Chairman) R. W. Wigmore of St. John, N.B, from Dist. #1; S. A. Luke from Ottawa, Dist. #4; Melvin J. Hutchinson of Edmonton from Dist. #19; (later a member of Toronto club); A. R. MacFarlane of Vancouver, Dist. #22.

The organization had a net of $8,081.38 on total receipts of $131,220.91. Rotary now had investments of $12,00.00.

R. J. (Jeff) Lydiatt of Calgary, Governor of Dist. #18 is shown on page 378.

Pete Snedecor of Portland became very important

(see over)

at Kansas City and he was R.I. President in 1920-21.

The writer of these notes was at the time a member of the club at Moose Jaw. We knew little of what Rotary was all about. We met every Monday noon in the café in the C.P.R. station. On Monday following the Kansas City convention a stranger walked into our meeting. He introduced himself as Leslie Pidgeon. He had his 12 year old daughter with him. The train stopped at our city 40 minutes and President Pidgeon was kind in visiting us. We convinced him he should tell us about the convention just closed. He did and most of us left real Rotarians in place of being merely members of a luncheon club. Leslie Pidgeon was the first President from Canada and he did a fine job.

The 1918 proceedings consists of 640 pages. It is unfortunate that every Rotary member can't read this report. Kansas City was one of the great conventions of R.I.

ROTARY'S 10TH CONVENTION - SALT. LAKE CITY.

June 16-20, 1919

President - John Poole of Washington, a. banker,

Salt Lake City was very hot being over 100° all week. Only 3,038 registered but it was a fine convention. The new Salt Lake Resort was officially opened and the Mormon City did a fine job of handling this l0th convention.

It was our first convention of R. I. and we saw Rotary politics in the raw.

(cont'd.)

Page T-10-2

At this convention E. E. (Merritt) Baker of Kewanee took an important part as Chairman of Employer-Employee relations. There is a great story about Merritt Baker on Page P11 Book 3.

All sessions were held in the great Mormon Tabernacle. It was at this convention where Dr. Chas. E. Barker first addressed a Rotary convention and was engaged by Rotary to speak to youth in America. He did a great work for Rotary and his story is told in Book 2, pages Q1 to Q 3.

The R. I. Board consisted of President John Poole, Immediate Past President E. Leslie Pidgeon of Winnipeg, Albert S. Adams of Atlanta, Georgia, 1st Vice-President-Edward R. Kelsey, 2nd Vice-President, and Willard Lansing, 3rd Vice-President.

Before the convention ended Bert Adams of Atlanta was chosen President. John Poole became Immediate Past President; John N. Dyer of Vinceines, Ind. 1st Vice-President; Estes (Peter) Snedecor of Portland, Oregon 2nd Vice-President; and James Finlay of Chattanooga, Tenn. 3rd Vice-president. Of these men Snedecor, Adams and Finlay were to play a leading role in Rotary for years.

Dyer and Bill Biggar of Detroit were in the running for President but owing to the good work of Russ Greiner, Past President, Adams was chosen.

Rufus Chapin was re-elected Treasurer and Chesley R. Perry, Secretary.

(see over)

Page T-10-3

At this convention, my first, I made many friends. I would mention besides Ches. Perry are Paul Harris and the men on both Boards, Joe Turner of Roanoke and his wife, Mary. They were close friends until Joe's death.

Harry Stanton, Sid McMichael and Bill Fulton all of Toronto. These men remained close friends while they lived. Bill Fulton and myself are the only two left. Bill is 95 and I take him to Rotary every Friday. Such are Rotary friendships.

At this convention it was decided to extend around the world. Also a resolution was passed to proven R.I. linking up with other organizations. This was to be an important move. Another resolution would prevent a club from endorsing a resolution from another club.

Also a resolution to have all clubs get publicity in newspapers. Another to teach thrift in Rotary clubs. Another for Rotary to assist in utilizing idle or wasteland by discharged military men.

The treasurer reported income of $81,151.61 and a net loss for the year of $3,496.96.

District Governors were becoming active and useful. For the year 1919-20 Dr. Crawford C. McCullough of Ft. William was Governor of District 19. F.A. Lidberry of Niagara Falls, N.Y. was Governor of the 4th district in which Toronto club was a part.

A very fine and interesting convention and it brought to light many men who became prominent in Rotary.

Page T.11-1

ROTARY'S 11TH CONVENTION-ATLANTIC CITY.

JUNE 21-25th,1920.

This was Rotary's First convention held at Atlantic City. The writer had been chosen resident of the Rotary Club of Moose Jaw and could have had his expenses paid, but business prevented him getting away.

President- Albert S. Adams, Atlanta, Ga.

1st Vice-Pres: John N. Dyer, Vincennes, Ind.

2nd Vice-Pres: Estes Snedecor, Portland, Ore.

3rd Vice-Pres: James V. Finlay, Chattanooga

Imm. Past Pres: John Poole, Washington, D.C.

Pres: Estes Snedecor, Portland, Ore.

1st Vice-Pres: Crawford C. McCullough, Ft. Wm.

2nd Vice-Pres: Raymond M. Havens, Kansas City

3rd Vice-Pres: Robt. H. Timmons, Wichita, Ka.

Imm. Past Pres: Albert S. Adams, Atlanta.

Rotary had 24 districts at this time, 20 in U.S., 3 in Canada and one in Great Britain, Harry Stanton of Toronto was elected District Governor for 1920-21. John E. Davies of Medicine Hat was chosen Gov. of the 19th District. Dr. Crawford C. McCullough who was D. Governor in 1919-20 (19th Dist.) was at the convention and elected 1st Vice-Pres. for 1920-21.

In June 1919 there were 516 clubs and in June 1920 - 758, a gain of 242. Canada had 24 clubs in June 1919 and 38 in June 1920. The British Isles had 23 in June 1919 and 38 in June 1920. Cuba had 4 and 6. At this date there was 1 club in Hawaii, 1 in

(see over)

Page T. 11-2

The Philippines, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, China, Panama, India and Argentina.

The Board for 1919-20 consisted of Albert S. Adams, President; John Poole, Immed. Past President; John N. Dyer, 1st Vice-Pres; Estes Snedecor, 2nd Vice-Pres; and James W. Finlay, 3rd Vice-Pres.

This convention elected Estes Snedecor President; Crawford C. McCullough 1st Vice-President; Raymond M. Havens 2nd Vice-Pres; and Robert H. Timmins 3rd Vice-Pres.

It was decided at this convention to each charge each club in the British Isles $10.00 per year dues.

The dues or fees for clubs in the U.S., Canada and Cuba would be $1.50 per half year plus a charge for The Rotarian.

For the year ended June 30, 1919 Rotary had spent $157,006.62 and had a surplus of $4,179.48. For the year ended June 30, 1920 expenses were $216,131.53 and the surplus was $16,933.21.

At this time B.C. was a part of District #22 along with Washington state and Alaska.

There were pages of amendments and resolutions but none of great importance. The organization was growing and everyone had ideas of great things to be done.

This was by far Rotary's largest convention to this date with 7,213 registered.

These were stirring days in Rotary.

Page T. 12-1.

ROTARY’S 12^TH CONVENTION – EDINBURGH,

This is considered to this day one of the greatest convention of Rotary.

The visit to Buckingham Palace has set it out in a very special manner. King Geo. V. entertained at a garden party and he was a gracious host.

President: Estes (Pete) Snedecor of Portland.

Immed. Past President: Albert S. Adams, Atlanta.

1^st Vice-Pres: Dr, Crawford C. McCullough, Ft. William, Ont.

2^nd Vice-Pres: Raymond Havens, Kansas City

3rd Vice-Pres: Robert H. Timmons, Wichita, Ka.

Secretary – Chesley R. Perry

Treasurer – Rufus F. Chapin

President: Dr. Crawford C. McCullough, Ft. William

Immed. Past Pres: Estes Snedecor, Portland, Oregon

1^st Vice-Pres: Ralph W. Cummings, Lancaster, Pa.

2^nd Vice-Pres: Wm. Coppeck, Council Bluffs, Iowa

3^rd Vice-Pres: H.J. Lutcher Stark, Orange, Texas

Secretary – Chesley R. Perry

Treasurer – Rufus F. Chapin

Rotary now had 24 districts but next year Cuba was to become the 25^th.

At this convention Donald A. MacRae of Halifax played an important part and continued to do so for some years.

Sir Harry Lauder addressed the convention; also sang at one of the banquets.

(see over)

The convention turned down a motion to purchase a permanent home for headquarters to cost not more that $500,000.00.

A resolution was approved for Rotary to adopt the official emblem.

A motion was approved for Rotary to set up a Bureau of Publicity at headquarters.

Finances were improving. The year ended June 30, 1921 showed income $317,018.63 and a surplus of $17,498.12. There was a list of securities and the organization as growing.

The Manual of Procedure was first distributed at this convention and it has been kept up ever since. This was the start of putting into print the history of Rotary from a legislative angle.

Canada was at this time playing an important part in Rotary. The election of Dr. Crawford C. McCullough made the second President Canada had provided and his term of office was to be one of growth and development. He was an important figure for years to come.

The attendance was 2,523, a large drop from 1920, but travel abroad was not so fast as it is in 1965.

The number of clubs in the world at the time of this convention was 991, a gain of 233 in the year 1920-21.

At this convention the Objects of R.I. were changed by adding a new paragraph as follows:

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Page T. 13-1

ROTARY’S 13^TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF R.I.

This was an important Rotary year for this writer. Our own Crawford C. McCullough was President and he had a great year.

The Constitution and By-laws of R.I. were overhauled, also the club Constitution and By-Laws.

From now on, every new club must adopt the Standard Constitution and By-laws and it is hoped the clubs now in existence will change. As this is written, July 1965, there are probably a dozen or less which have refused to do so. They now feel important because they cling to the old.

We had 25 District Governors this year. A great bunch of fellows. The writer was Governor of the 19^th. The job done was so poor the number had to be changed next year from 19^th to 4^th!

This Governor made one record that can’t be taken away from him as in November 1921 the 19^th district exceeded 90% in attendance for the first time ever. Next year, however, Arthur E. Johnston made a record of over 94%.

Our Governors in 1921-22 included such grand fellows as as Hart I. Seeley of Waverly,