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Rational Rotarianism: In Search of a Philosophical Basis |
 Rational Rotarianism: In Search of a Philosophical Basis . (See the full article here for further research) Essay and research by historian Dr. Wolfgang Ziegler Paul P. Harris, the thinker: "Cogito ergo Rotary" |
 Philosophy made simple: ad of the Cunard Line, The Rotarian,
June 1960We know to whom this shout was directed: the Rotarians of Chicago. But one notes with interest the fantasy in which Paul was indulging. He had seldom, if ever, shouted; would certainly never had dreamed of doing so from a platform. "It was in pursuit of it that the pilgrim fathers embarked in their frail craft upon the stormy waters. It was from the chrysalis toleration that lustrous winged liberty, awakened by the music of the sweetest toned bell on earth, sprang and floated away that July day in Philadelphia, while the world dreamed and wondered." And though Paul Harris was harking back to his beloved, and romanticised, New England boyhood, was he not only too aware that the society established by those Pilgrim Fathers was the most intolerant ever known on the North American continent? But, knowing his Rotary time was short, he had important things to say and nothing more important has ever been said about Rotary. So he writes his first article about "Rational Rotarianism" in the first issue of "The National Rotarian", Volume I, January 1911, No. 1 and asks: "What is the philosophy of Rotary as you understand it?" In his article, a few characters with different viewpoints express their opinion. To "Mr. Ethical Standard", this business-getting feature of Rotary looks dangerous. "What will people think of us", he asks. Let us skip for now the Bunyanesque bits - involving characters like Mr. Cash Discount and Mr. Vigorously Definite - and quote these powerful, prophetic lines, packed as they are with disturbing insight: Life in Rotary should consist of a rational mixture of business with civic activities and good fellowship. [...] There should be no occasion for meeting behind closed doors. If Rotarianism cannot stand the test of trial before a jury comprised of the entire American people, then it lacks rationality and should be changed. [...] No doctrine is immune from criticism. It is part of wisdom to profit from rational criticism, not so much because of what other people think of us as because of what they cause us to think of ourselves. [...] Let us be in a position to defend ourselves ... not by stentorian shouting of meaningless words but by logic that convinces. [...] A grave responsibility lies on your shoulders and mine. [...] Rotary is a huge, powerful machine. Unguided, it could crash down the aisles of time a menace to all mankind. Well directed, it will become a humanizing instrumentality of which we need not be ashamed. Paul Harris was writing more than a New Year’s Day Message for Rotarians of then and now. He was writing on the first day of the modern era, with the Armageddon growing impatient in the wings and Europe full of very real, brutal and three-dimensional "huge, powerful" machines about to thrash unguided "down the aisles of time", a menace and doom to all mankind and to the societies in which they were born [...]." "Mr. Vigorously Definite" says on the subject: "If anyone tells you that it is reprehensible to try to make a dollar or two for the wife and babies from club associates in straight forward business transactions tell that person that some foreign substance has gotten into his carburettor." "Mr. Cash Discount "goes one step further. "Business is what I am here for. It is my idea that a club can be either a business club or it can be a society club or something else." Finally a man speaks, whose statements occupy the biggest part of the 5000-word-article, and whose ideas are probably Paul Harris’s own. "Mr. Altruistic Equilibrium "finds boastful words: "Is there no place in Rotary for a man who believes that Rotary ought to be something more than a mere business exchange? Is there no place in Rotary for him who recognizes the fact that he, as an American citizen of this day and age, has been the recipient of a vast heritage, the result of efforts of generations who have passed beyond, and who thinks it his duty to do something toward balancing his account by doing something for the public present and for generations that are yet to come." "Men work and play, fight and make peace, love and hate, live and die all in persuit of happiness; and how often in ill considered pursuit of happiness. Men barter the joy of years for the mirth of a day. Rotarian philosophers, let us try to view this thing called life as a whole, look it over, up and down, in and out, and then pick it to pieces, dissect it, analyze, synthesize and understand it. Paul P. Harris, R.I. President 1910 - 12 "Let us not be frightened by the term "the philosophy of Rotary". [...] our philosophy embraces nothing more than the expression of the Golden Rule, that you do unto others as you would that others do unto you." Frank L. Mulholland, R.I. President 1914 - 15 "What is meant by philosophy is merely to attempt to get a universal explanation of things; to analyze the universe down to the dust it is made of." E. Leslie Pidgeon, R.I. President 1917 - 18 The list of these enlightening statements could be continued endlessly. No wonder, that Glenn C. Mead, R.I. President 1912-13 and chairman of the "Committee on Philosophy and Education", which had been already established in 1914 during the Convention in Houston, began his report at the Convention in San Francisco in 1915 with the following remarks: "If anybody came to this convention with his spear poised or his gun loaded for philosophers, I do not think he ought to point it at me - I was not on the spot at Houston when the trouble began." Summing up, Paul Harris believes that nearly all of the members of every Rotary Club in existence would readily fall into one or another of three classes. First. Those who believe with Mr. Ethical Standard that business should have no part in the club life of Rotary. Second. Those who believe with Mr. Cash Discount that business should constitute the entire club life of Rotary. Third. Those who believe with Mr. Altruistic Equilibrium that life in rotary should consist of a rational mixture of business with civic activities and good fellowship. Undoubtedly Paul Harris favoured the viewpoint of Mr. Altruistic Equilibrium. He introduces the service idea - so to speak through the backdoor - as an element of equal value in Rotary and makes it part of the Rotarian philosophy. Being a good democrat, in closing he asks the following questions: "Now, Rotarians of the United States and of Canada, what say you? Which side of the debate would you take and why? We want to hear from you." Yours, fraternally and very sincerely, PAUL P. HARRIS Chicago, January 1, 1911.  ...and my favourite photo of Paul from 1925Paul Harris, "The National Rotarian" (later "The Rotarian"), Vol. I. January 1911, No. Paul Harris, Anniversary Address "Hopes for the Rotary of Tomorrow", delivered at the U.S. Central Division Conference at Chicago, 22 February, 1915, printed in "The Rotarian", March 1915 All commentary by David Nicholl, author of "The Golden Wheel, the Story of Rotary 1905 to the Present" (1984). Nicholl devotes several pages of his book to the article of Paul Harris and concludes: "[...] his Rotary Manifesto is still more relevant than anything written about the Movement since, including much by himself in later years [...]." |
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