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21st Convention |
| Chicago May 27-31 with 9,508 in
attendance Rotary's Silver Anniversary |
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1930 Silver
Jubilee |
1930 Dinner  |
The Growth of
Rotary 1928- 1930 |
 M. Eugene Newsom,
Durham, North Carolina"Who among us, though, can think of Rotary's beginnings, of its struggles and accomplishments through twenty‑five years, of our pilgrimage at this time to its birthplace, without finding those thoughts ever turning to that sterling character, friend of us all, Founder of Rotary, Paul Harris. Gifted with the force of simplicity‑sturdy in his faith‑prophetic in his vision - ready and willing at all times to be the servant of the least of us - surely providence has been pleased with his handiwork, and has preserved him to us through the years that he might still impart to us something of that faith and courage which he so fully possesses, in the charting of our course which leads to goals farther on." From “Rotary's Increasing Purpose”, RI President M. Eugene Newson, 1930 Chicago Convention. The 25th Anniversary Convention at (obviously) Chicago in 1930 disappointed with its over-emphasis on administrative matters. Plenary sessions were over long and the whole convention felt overcrowded. Some of the questions arising focused on whether or not it was proper to have more than one Rotary Club in a city. Secretary Perry warned the Convention that there was a danger of too many rules. The Convention was set against a background of economic depression which led to eighteen clubs being lost. All but 3 of the previous International President's were at Chicago. The House of friendship was located on the lower level of the Stevens Hotel and many trips were organized - to the University of Chicago and boating on Lake Michigan. Wives of Rotarians enjoyed tea at the Edgewater Beach Hotel. There was a magnificent Venetian Carnival in Lake Michigan, just off the Navy Pier. Rotarians were also invited to enjoy a round of golf from no less than 30 different golf clubs. Paul Harris was not present due to health problems and, as had become the custom, a message from the founder was read out to the audience. "Welcome Rotary, welcome, welcome back home", his message had begun. "I am not ashamed of the Rotary of 1905. It contained the germ of all that there is today, although it was at first very much self-centered." He went on to use a well-known phrase about the battle between the 'cans' and 'cants'. "The cants had never won a single permanent victory. The broad visions, the nobler purposes have always won. Rotary is a social movement". Harris' message described Rotary as 'a social movement and as such was in danger of the blighting effects of precedent. It has already suffered from the plague'. He went on: 'Rotary needs a department for constructive criticism - something comparable to the research departments of great businesses.' He went on to conclude: 'If Rotary is to realize its proper destiny, it must be evolutionary at all times, revolutionary on occasion...' Before any delegates could show any disappointment that their founder was not present-especially since he only lived a few blocks away-a remarkable event occurred. The audience suddenly became aware that he WAS PRESENT IN THE HALL along with Jean. The hall erupted with cheering and applause. He was placed impromptu on stage and before RI President Gene Newson had finished telling his fellow Rotarians that regretfully 'Paul can't speak to you this morning', Harris was speaking to his people -just a few words - his first to the Convention in 18 years. Paul said, "I do…entertain fond hopes that in some future occasion I shall be able to appear in my own person and read or deliver a message to you." Paul's exile from Rotary Conventions was now over. Jean Harris also spoke: "We who have done so little, deeply appreciate seeing you all and meeting you who have done so much". Paul Harris showed the movement at their Silver Jubilee celebrations that his real place was with the great masses in the floor of the hall rather than with the administrators on stage. The delegates stood until the great man had left the hall. President Newsom paid tribute to the 'mother' club and Harris. "Gifted with the force of simplicity - sturdy in his faith - prophetic in his vision - ready and willing at all times to be the servant of the least of us - surely providence has been pleased with his handiwork, and has preserved him to us through the years…"  President Herbert Hoover also sent his greetings by
saying: "The impressive attendance from so many countries is renewed
evidence of the spirit of international good will which is so
significant a development of our times and in the encouragement of which
Rotary has played such a wonderful part."Seventeen of the original 1905 Rotarians had a group photograph taken at the 25th Convention. Those present included the 'songster' Harry Ruggles and Al White (the man who was responsible for ending the 'rotating round the offices' in Club #1). Unfortunately, neither Harris or Silvester Schiele were pictured. Nicholl's Golden Wheel Cal Thomson THE CHICAGO CONVENTION 1930 (RIBI Rotary Wheel magazine)  In 1930, the
European delegates to the Silver Jubilee Convention went out en bloc.
Accommodation had been reserved on the Cunard liner, R.M.S. Carmania for
the outward journey and on the R.M.S. Ascania for the return. It was
perhaps appropriate that the Carmania was also celebrating 25 years
afloat! The plan was for the ship to leave Southampton on June 7,
calling at Vlissingen in Holland, Le Havre in France and then to sail to
New York, reaching there on June 15.The party would then stay there for several nights at the Pennsylvania Hotel, with a variety of motor sightseeing tours arranged. On the 20th, the delegates would take a morning train to Philadelphia for a short tour of the city. Then, they would all travel further South by rail to Washington for a couple of nights at the Willard Hotel. More motor tours, and finally it was an overnight sleeper train to Chicago, reaching there on the afternoon of the 22nd.  For the duration of the Convention, the European
delegates were staying at a wide variety of hotels. On June 27, they
were back o a sleeper train to Buffalo for a trip to the Niagara Falls.
After a steamer trip across Lake Ontario, the party went to Toronto and
then overnight to Montreal. Here, there was another sightseeing tour
arranged before embarking on the R.M.S. Ascania on the morning of June
29. For the return voyage, the liner called at Le Havre, and Plymouth,
instead of Southampton, with disembarcation scheduled for July 7 and 8.The cost of the tour from London with cabin class accommodation on the ship, first class travel on trains with sleepers for overnight travel, and all sightseeing and transfers was about £100. Basil Lewis |
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