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In 1905..... 37 year old attorney
Paul Harris changed the
world.
From
the years 1891-1896 Paul Harris, who was raised by his New
England grandparents with values of tolerance toward all, gained his
law degree in 1891. 1In his senior year, a former
graduate told his class that they should “Go to a small town for
five years make a fool of themselves, then go to the big city!” Paul
decided to hit
the road for the entire world.
He worked as a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, 1891;
manual laborer on a fruit ranch, then raisin packing plant, teacher
at the L.A. Business College in 1892. Denver, Colorado, 1892: Actor
in a stock company, reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, cowboy,
reporter for The Republican. Jacksonville, Florida: St. James Hotel
night clerk, traveling granite/marble salesman 1892/93, reporter on
the Washington Star, cattleman on a ship 1893, haymaker and cannery
worker 1893, sub-foreman of the gang of cattlemen 1893, (where he
wrote that, on his first voyage, he experienced sub-human
conditions); orange picker in Florida 1893, back to Jacksonville
selling marble granite. His territory included the southern states,
Cuba, the Bahamas and Europe. When he announced that he was going to
Chicago to practice law his employer said, "Whatever the advantages
of settling in Chicago may be, I am satisfied you will make more
money if you remain with me." To which Paul replied: "I am sure you
are right but I am not going to Chicago for the purpose of making
money; I am going for the purpose of living a life." 1896-1905 In 1896, he did go to Chicago to practice law. One evening, in 1900, Paul went with a professional friend to his suburban home. After dinner, as they strolled through the neighborhood, Paul’s friend introduced him to tradesmen in their stores. This reminded Paul of his grandparent’s home in New England. “Why not have a fellowship composed of businessmen from different occupations, without restrictions of politics or religion?” he thought.1905-1908 2On February 23, 1905, Paul Harris had dinner with his closest friend, Chicago coal dealer Silvester Schiele. Afterwards they walked over the river to Room 711 of the Unity Building where they met their host, Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer; and another friend, Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor. Harris proposed that they form a club. No name was chosen for the group. The second meeting was March 9th. Three other men, Harry Ruggles, William Jenson, and A. L. White joined them. Ruggles was a printer, and created the “name badge” version of the Rotary “wheel” and also started singing in Rotary. In fact his singing kept the group from disbanding more than once. Paul Harris later wrote: "The significant occurrence of the second meeting was the introduction of Harry Ruggles, the printer. Harry was destined to play an important part in the life of the Chicago club, for through his suggestion of club singing his influence has been made felt by the entire movement." Paul P. Harris, page 95 "The Founder of Rotary 1928. Two weeks later the group gathered at the office of Silvester Schiele, in his coal yard at Twelfth and State Streets. Six of the previous seven were present along with Charles Newton and Arthur B. Irwin. 1908-1910 1Paul was very interested in starting Rotary in other cities. The second Rotary club was founded by Homer Wood in San Francisco in 1908. 7Wood then quickly organized Oakland #3 (When did weekly meetings begin? 6According to the general secretary in 1948, it was Oakland #3 in 1909.) Seattle #4 and Los Angeles #5. In fact, before the end of 1909, there were seven clubs, including New York City #6 and Boston #7. That's right, in 1908 and 1909, Homer Wood started four clubs. In the rest of the United States there were two, and the San Francisco club is credited, by some, with starting New York. GROWTH OF ROTARY AROUND THE WORLD Paul Harris had a vision of “Around the World Rotary” which was also opposed by many of his fellow Rotarians. It was not until he won the loyalty of the man who was to be Rotary’s secretary from 1910 – 1942 that Rotary became organized and international. That man was Chesley Perry, whom Paul called the “Builder of Rotary.” The design in the Rotary Wheel changed as Rotary grew. Click on the photo for a larger view 1947 5As Rotary spanned the globe, branch offices were opened in Europe, South America, South Asia, Southwest Pacific. In the UK British Rotary had its own office. 6When Rotary International President Emeritus, world traveler, author and prominent Chicago attorney Paul Harris passed away on January 27, 1947, his dream had grown from one group of four to 6,000 clubs in 75 countries with 300,000 members brought together through the service and fellowship of Rotary 1947-89 4Two world wars changed the face of Rotary – parts of the Far East and Eastern Europe were closed to Rotary. Eventually, clubs were re-established in Japan, Germany, Poland and Hungary. In 1990 the first club was opened in the former Soviet Union and China. In 1987, Rotary membership was opened to women, and in 1989 the RI Council on Legislation standardized all Rotary documents and rules.1989-2005 Rotary came close to removing polio from the face of the earth and, in 2005, returned, again, to Chicago to celebrate the first 100 years. How did Rotary get its name? Harris explains from "The Founder of Rotary" page 96: "During the course of one of the early meetings, Paul suggested several possible names for the new club. Among others—Rotary. It met with general favor and was adopted forthwith. The significance of the name becomes apparent on examination of the original plan of the club, which provided for rotation in the place of meeting, in the chairmanship, and even in membership which was to be continued for one year only." (For other "Firsts" in Rotary, Click here) 2Who was the first Rotary president? Silvester Schiele. The meeting, where a president was chosen, happened to be in Schiele's office, hence, as a courtesy, he became the president. "Silvester Schiele, my most intimate Chicago friend, and one of the three who first met with me, was made our first president, and has been a constant member. Gustavus Loehr and Hiram Shorey were the other two but they failed to follow through. On the other hand Harry Ruggles, Charley Newton, and others who were quickly added to the group, with hearty zest joined in developing the project." (Paul Harris, page 231 "My Road to Rotary") |
1My Road To Rotary,
Copyright Rotary International 2The Golden Strand, Copyright
Rotary Club of Chicago 3First Men of Rotary, The Rotarian
Magazine, copyright Rotary International 4Rotary Club of
Peoria 5Rotary International 6My Road To Rotary –
Appendix, copyright A. Kroch and Son 7 Rotary Archives
Department 8Seventy-Five Years in San Francisco, copyright
SF#2 |
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