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| RID 81/83 Dr. Edgar (Ted) D. Gifford |
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"History is only valuable if it allows us to stand on its shoulders, and look into the future. The greater the history, and the finer the tradition, the farther we can see." |
 Ted
Gifford is a member our
RGHF Institute
alumni. Following are Ted's concluding remarks when he spoke at Chicago One on January 14, 2003: John McKay wrote: "The road to tomorrow leads through yesterday", and commentator Howard K. Smith said:"History gives us perspective". My favorite quote in this vein however is one of former Vice President of Rotary International Jack Pride from England: "History is only valuable if it allows us to stand on its shoulders, and look into the future. The greater the history, and the finer the tradition, the farther we can see." Yes, we have much of which to be proud in Rotary, but now it's future is up to us, all of us who are currently members of Rotary Clubs. Two occurrences to emphasis my final point which happen to relate to the Christian religion, but could relate to any of the religions in which Rotarians throughout the world believe. A college student member of our church who had been meditating about our religion wrote to our minister:"Why is it in the Christian religion we do not hear more about the disciples. After all if it had not been for the disciples the Christian religion might have died on the cross with Christ." Fellow Rotarians we are the disciples of Rotary. The founder and early leaders have all passed on. Near the end of World War 2 an ally scouting patrol was out in a war torn area of Europe, and they went into a cathedral that had been badly damaged by warfare, and in it they found the shattered remains of a statue of Christ. Filed with remorse about the destruction that had occurred in that building of worship for peace and human understanding they decided to leave a symbol of their belief in brotherly love. So the set about reassembling the statue, and were able to completely reassemble it except for the hands. They could not find the hands. So when they departed they left a sign in front of the statue saying "He has no hands but yours." Rotary has no hands but ours. Let's use them diligently to provide a dynamic future for our unique international organization, and thereby demonstrate to others everywhere how the permeation of the Rotary philosophy throughout society can enhance the future for all mankind. That was my "swan song" Jack, which I also finished talks with at several district conferences when I represented R.I. presidents. By the way Jack I am 92, (2010) and going along pretty well. I conclude with a George Burns quote: "If you live to the age of 100 you have got it made. Very few people die who are over 100." http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/historians/gifford.htm RID 81/83 Dr. Edgar (Ted) D. Gifford |
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Historians who continue this project |
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