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In
his speech about “Historical Evolution of Rotary Ideas”
Raymond J. Knoeppel from the Rotary Club of
New York City and Director of Rotary
International 1927-28, said the following:
“Many men have wondered whether Paul Harris ever visioned a pro-gress a
great as we have today. At on time, I wondered myself, but after several
years of closer contact with Paul and reading some of his early remarks,
I am convinced that he saw in the simple beginning something almost as
great as what has transpired, for he said at the same first convention
in 1910:
“I would not dare to tell you, gentlemen, right now what I think about
the future of this organization, or you would think me visionary.”
At
the banquet following the same Convention, Mr.
A. F. Sheldon, speaking,
said:
“As
a man comes into light of wisdom, he comes to see that only the science
of right conduct towards others pays. He comes to see that the science
of business is the science of human service. He comes to see that he
profits most who serves his fellows best.”
Resolutions
The resolutions
adopted or rejected by the Ostend convention dealt mostly with some
petty bureaucratic details or wild ideas like the introduction of
Esperando as the Official International Auxiliary Language of Rotary
(withdrawn). However, attendance was a major concern as can be concluded
from the first resolution (adopted): |
“To
extend the period of time during which a Rotarian may make up attendance
at the meeting of another Rotary Club”.
Epilogue
From the Weekly Letter of Rotary International Monday 11 July 1927:
At
a luncheon in Brussels, the Crown Prince of Belgium, representing the
Kind and the Council of State, presented the following decorations as an
expression of the Belgian Government’s appreciation of the Rotary
movement and its establishment in Belgium:
Harry H. Rogers – Commander of the Order of the Crown
Chesley R. Perry – Officer of the Order of the Crown
Picture Chesley R. Perry shown above and Officers Cross
Walter D. Cline (Committee Chairman, Rotary Club Wichita falls, Texas) –
Commander of the Order of Leopold II
Gaston Danthine ( Member of the 1927 Convention Administrative
Committee, from Brussels) – Chevalier of the Order of the Crown
Edouard Willems
(Governor of Distrikt 61, Belgium, 1927-28) – Officer of the Order of
Leopold II
Wolfgang Ziegler |
