ROTARY

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1928, Page 3

ROTARY

a candid friend. WHAT THE •MAX IN THE STREET" THINKS. A ICELAND. Jan. 21. Ilotarinns at their luncheon yesterday heard same candid criticism ot themselves—so candid,,’ indeed, .that they must have been astonished. AH' Julius Hoghcn, who claimed to he acting as loud speaker for the man in the street, after lie- had made his speech, hade “Good-bye to all the Rotarians who were previously unfriends.”

\i cording to the ‘‘Alan in the Street.” said Air lloghcn, Rotarians always agreed with all their speakers. They cheered Air A tilery to the echo when lie spoke of Empire trade, and then went hack to business and sold Japanese and German goods, because there was more profit in them. Announcing himself as the “Loud Speaker for the man itt the Street,” Air lloghen said that this same garrulous person had decided that loud speaking was one ot the first qualifications for Rotary. 'Hie address would not add to the human qualities of self-reverence which Rotaiians were supposed to have in big proportions, but it would try their quality of sellcontrol. The worst would he first. The Alan in the Street believed that Rotary was really a modern fallacy and having nitric up his mind he looked around for facts to support it. First there was the motto of “Service Above Self.” which the man though- was an inverse interpretation of “Self hofor.’ Service," and that Rotarians lived up to it fully. If the motto really means •Service before Self." then the service was not too Inr before. Ihe puhlii idea was glint a man who wished to serve did not broadcast it from Hi" housetops, but bid his light under a bushel. The inclusion of “self” in anv motto invited emphasis <>n that word. The Alan in the St.rcet did not know the second half of the slogan. "He profiits best who serves best.”” But. mu.! Mr Hoghcn. "I bet he wishes he did.” I “Rotary is an o-gamsntion to make eial Travellers.’ said the Loud Speaktho world safe for American commercr. “ and its only object is purely a commercial one. The man says that a protest of morality makes the public | )UV more and that self-interest is confounded with righteousness. He believed that Rotarians sat down among their money hags and dictated theit principles to others. Rotary was unlike charity, in that it exalted and puffed itself up. The man in the Street wanted to see more evidence of altruism than a Christmas tree once a year.

“Rotary seems to he a dub more exclusive than the Ark. because that insinuation had at least two of every kind of animal.,” continued the speak er. "The limn in the Street” says that Rotary is a Yankee produce from the Land of Liberty and Prohibition, world peace and larger navies, moving picturer.s and happy divorces. “AA’i* owe America many of the amenities of civilisation, the phonograph and seedless mi-ins. the Charleston, the Blaek'nottoni. and Rotary, and the greatest of these is the phonograph, allhogh Rotary makes a very good see-, ond.”

An organisation lo force good fellowship was foreign t*> the British nation lie continued. There a* actually singing at the meetings "A Rotarinn told me it was puri-singing,” said Mr Hogben. ‘T am willing lo agree that part pf it limy In'* singing. I wonder if any of you have -loml off and listened to it?” The calling of members by “pot” names was a practice rarely met with outside the age of ten years. Roys rarely did it at school. except with the obect of derision. The speaker could not imagine* himself calling; old and respected men by their Christian names. “This may he* said in defence of Rotary that you do not wear paper hats.” he* contiucel. “and that while you are engaged in a childish occupation here you keep out of other misehicl."

Speaking lor hintsell. Mr llogbon said. “By request no flowers.” There was great applause when the president Air \V. J Holdworth. thanking Al I |ngkcn. said that the secretary had been right in going to tllP Law Society tor a “Loud Speaker.

Mr Holdswnrth Imped that lie might Ik) given tin* opportunity ol lolling tho Law S'jciff \ what the 'Olan in the Street” thought about that* in.-Ji-tut ion. (La lighter. >