Tribute to Paul P.Harris

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1 The Founder of Rotary Fondly remembered

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Paul P. Harris, was the founder of Rotary, the world's first international service club

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The heart or spirit of Rotary came from one man- Paul P.Harris

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Paul Harris was born in Racine Wisconsin, USA on 19 April 1868 . He Married Jean Thompson Harris. They had no children.

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He received an L.L.B. from the University of Iowa and received an honorary L.L.D. from the University of Vermont. He was a lawyer.

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Paul Harris worked as a newspaper reporter, a business teacher, stock company actor, cowboy, and traveled extensively in U.S.A. and Europe selling marble and granite. In 1896, he went to Chicago to practice law.

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Paul was also prominent in other civic and professional work. He served as the first chairman of the board of the national Easter Seal Society of Crippled Children and Adults in the U.S.A. and of the International Society for Crippled Children.

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He was a member of the board of managers of the Chicago Bar Association and its representative at the International Congress of Law at the Hague, and a committee member of the American Bar Association.

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He received the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America for distinguished service to youth, and was decorated by the governments of Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France and Peru.

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One evening Paul visited a professional friend. As they strolled through the neighborhood, Paul's friend introduced him to various tradesmen in their stores.

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It was here Paul conceived the idea of a club that could recapture some of the friendly spirit among businessmen in small communities.

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On 23 February, 1905, Paul Harris formed the first club with three other businessmen: Silvester Schiele, a coal merchant; Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer; and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor.

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About the beginning of Rotary he said ‘There was no inspired beginning. Young businessmen, mostly from the country, came in response to my call. Unacquainted with city life, we gathered together to help and befriend each other.

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We had been lonesome and we had found a cure for lonesomeness. We looked forward to meetings as a traveler in a desert looks forward to oases . ’

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"If our philosophy is unsound, rest assured it will be known; if the principles we profess to stand for do not find expression in actual deed, we shall come face to face with the disapproval which our conduct will merit."

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Paul believed that "Life in Rotary should consist of a rational mixture of business with civic activities and good fellowship .”

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My plan for our Club provided that only one member of each business or profession would be eligible for membership

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We would thus be able to enjoy the fellowship and also to help each other in our respective vocations. The Club grew by leaps and bounds, and representatives of different nationalities, religions, and political faiths came in. Complete tolerance prevailed.

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Our peace and tranquility soon burst their bounds. We ceased to be content with isolationism and began Community Service, built upon the rock of fellowship and goodwill, and that foundation has never been shaken. Rotary became known as a beneficial influence in the city of Chicago.

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Paul realised that "Friendship is a living force, not a mere indulgence. Friendship is something more than conviviality.

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Almost contemporaneously, l started a campaign for Rotary Clubs in other cities. I went forward alone, but with the sympathy of all.

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Eventually, Rotary spanned the world.

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If I was the architect, Chesley R. Perry was the builder. He is to be credited with as much of the results as any other man. He served, as Rotary's Secretary from then until 1942, and editor of magazine

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Rotary came up the hard way, through the work of self-sacrificing men who gave of themselves unsparingly. Now it continues on its miracle-working way

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Rational Rotarianism was his first article published in the first issue of National Rotarian in 1911. Read his words with clear vision and determination about Rotary in the next slides

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‘ Rotarianism is a step in the evolution of humanity and in the emancipation of man from exactions of servitude to the interests of self ’ HE PROFITS MOST WHO SERVE BEST

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"We need a philosophy of life, one that enters its unceasing protest against the belief that happiness is to be found in the mere accumulation of dollars or in the acquisition of power"

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"Men work and play, fight and make peace, love and hate, live and die all in pursuit of happiness, and how often in ill considered pursuit of happiness. Men barter the joy of years for the mirth of a day"

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Happiness is not to be found in possessions.. Happiness is a state of mind, it comes unsought and it is the by‑product of wholesome, sensible and unselfish living and thinking.

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"It is a man's job to be a good Rotarian, and he who lives up to the precepts will be a good neighbor, a kind friend, a loving husband, a companionable father, and an asset to the community in which he lives."

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"If you, Brother Rotarian, think that you have a great mission to perform in Rotary,.... … ..remember that great missions are serious undertakings ’ ' ’

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Do not expect to perform great missions in a day. First, live with the principles of Rotary till they are as familiar to you as your own business, and associate with Rotarians when they constitute your warmest and closest friends .

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A Rotarian who sees nothing in Rotary beyond the business can get out of it . He is a dead Rotarian and the sooner he can be buried the better for the cause." " A material Rotary would soon be a dead Rotary.

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"Thank God for our struggles, because without them we cannot gain strength. Aye, thank God for our failures, for without them we cannot succeed. The lives of great men and of great nations are measured by difficulties overcome, not by luxuries indulged in. Men rise from their Gethsemanes, nations from their Waterloos."

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"If our philosophy is unsound, rest assured it will be known; if the principles we profess to stand for do not find expression in actual deed, we shall come face to face with the disapproval which our conduct will merit."

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About friendship he said "Friendship is a living force, not a mere indulgence. Friendship is something more than conviviality.

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"He who tries to find the good in others will be rewarded for others will surely find the good in him.

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Friendship, like happiness, is frequently elusive when directly sought, while it as frequently comes to men unsought when they are working together in a worth‑while cause ."

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" Friendliness is not a lone star; it is one of a constellation. Its sister stars are kindliness, neighborliness, and cheeriness; they are scarcely less luminous.

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Friendship, like happiness, is frequently elusive when directly sought, while it as frequently comes to men unsought when they are working together in a worth‑while cause ."

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. Of all of earth's sad and lonesome creatures, the most hopeless is he love not his fellow-men. As it is with individuals, so it is with nations."

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Members of the first Rotary club reunite at Comely Bank, the home of Paul P. Harris, in 1942.

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"The best antidote for international fear is international understanding; the best way to cultivate international understanding is through business and social intercourse. ‘‘

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"Thank God for our struggles, because without them we cannot gain strength. Aye, thank God for our failures, for without them we cannot succeed. The lives of great men and of great nations are measured by difficulties overcome, not by luxuries indulged in. Men rise from their Gethsemanes, nations from their Waterloos ."

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"Presidents come and presidents go, but the movement's keynote remains unchanged - – Happiness Through Fellowship and Service."

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"Friendliness is not a lone star; it is one of a constellation. Its sister stars are kindliness, neighborliness, and cheeriness; they are scarcely less luminous.

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In international affairs heretofore, emphasis has been placed upon the differences between men; differences in race, religion and politics largely.

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In Rotary, the approach is entirely different. Emphasis is not placed on the differences between men; it is placed on their similarities. All men regardless of race, religion or politics believe that the ideal of service is ennobling

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"Peace On earth to men of good will." These words were not spoken first by Rotary, but Rotary carries them along.

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‘ God be with us to give us wisdom, judgment, discernment, love for all, under all conditions

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We Must Plan for Peace "But, we ask, must the best genius of men be devoted to the science of war and none to the science of averting it?

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Rotary's most glamorous purpose is to foster international understanding and good will, and during our many years of experimentation we have ac ­ cumulated considerable knowledge on that baffling subject

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Rotarians were members of 20 delegations and chairman of seven of them at the San Francisco meeting of the United Nations. More power, more power to you, my beloved Rotary!

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Now, for the first time in the world's history, the nations have joined together and organized what men know as the United Nations. Rotarians are deeply thankful that the governments of the world are following the trail blazed by Rotary in 1905.

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‘ No, Mr. Rotarian, I did not in 1905 foresee a worldwide movement of 6,000 Clubs and 300,000 men. When a man plants sapling in Springtime, can he be sure that it will grow a mighty tree? Does he not have to reckon on rain and sun, and the smile of Providence? Once he sees the first bud, ah, then he can begin to dream of shade. ’ Paul Harris said in 1945

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‘ No, Mr. Rotarian, I did not in 1905 foresee a worldwide movement of 6,000 Clubs and 300,000 men. When a man plants sapling in Springtime, can he be sure that it will grow a mighty tree? Does he not have to reckon on rain and sun, and the smile of Providence? Once he sees the first bud, ah, then he can begin to dream of shade. ’ Paul Harris said in 1945

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Paul P Harris died on 27.1.1947, 27.1.2011 is his 64 th Death Anniversary .

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When President emeritus Paul Harris passed away on 27 January, 1947, his dream had grown from an informal meeting of four men to some 6,000 clubs.

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with 1.2 million members brought together through Paul Harris' vision of service and fellowship In the past five decades, the organization has grown to more than 33000 clubs in 200 countries

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Let us remember his words to serve mankind and to enjoy friendship beyond caste creed and colour

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With Love and Regards for all my friends in Rotary from Rtn.Adv. T.Ramakrishna Kurup Rotary club of Quilon East, Dist 3211