1937-02-16 — Page 8

NĂ-MAIL, FEBRUARY 16-1937.

CAN ROTARY AVERT WAR? Malaya's Governor On Power Of Movement

DECISION BETWEEN

RIGHT AND RIGHT

Can Rotary prevent war? Can the great world-wide organisa- tion of fellowship, to which over sixty new clubs were added last year, prevent civilisation from slipping over the abyss? What can Rotarians do in the cause of peace?

The views of a prominent Malayan Rotarian, Mr W. Allan Eley, Governor of the 80th District of Rotary International, were given to the Singapore club and he endeavoured to show that, while the Rotary spirit is spreading, too much importance should not be attached to the power of the movement to influence international decisions in the interests of Peace.

"I say I am proud of the Singa- pore Club, and entirely apart from its Rotarian activities, I unhesitat- ingly affirm that it is an institution of which Singapore may well be proud, for it counts as an uplifting and educational force in the life of the town. Its uniqueness in the cosmopolitan character of its mem- bership is a subject for comment throughout the Rotary world, and if the spirit of fellowship displayed within its borders were the prevail-

ing spirit in the deliberations of international bodies and even the meetings of the League of Nations, gone would be half our inter- national troubles and problems."...

BODY POLITIC

The speech of Mr. L. W. Amps at last Tuesday's meeting of the Hong Kong Rotary Club gives special interest to this expression of opinion from Ma- laya

wardness of truth to one's own

Bather do I believe that in the deepest conviction demands with re-end sanity will prevail, that though gard to them." We may well apply we may need many sharp lessons this to the thought I am trying to we will eventually forsake the path of progress. Provided we change

convey.

Do any one of us believe it is our conception of the Almighty and wrong to fight for one's country? think of him as the Father of man- Do any one of us believe that Ro-kind scrapping that nauseating ex- tary principles are wrong? Herein (pression "God is on our side” there must come the decision between is yet hope for religion as an im- right and right and past. history pelling power, whether it be proves that men throw aside their through Christianity, the Muslim religiony their lofty principles, their religion or any other.

In Rotary I have strong and convictions, when the call to na- tional assistance comes with im-abundant and abiding: faith. Sure- pelling force.

ly the spirit of Rotary is growing. Referring to what he thought con- stituted the qualities required in a leader, he said, "To my mind he

personality, sympathy, and, must possess three great qualities; all, idealism.””

If such a direful event as I have visualised were to happen 1. for ex ample, would shoot down dear old Sohaub (the president of the Club) on sight because I know that h would pop me off if he got first chance. Or if we are both too old to fight we would be in some more

I do not think I need speak to you sheltered department which aided the work of destruction of our about personality, you will-know hated enemies. Hated enemies, I what I mean by that. Of sympathy 1 will just say this: its keynote is said.

SYMPATHY

It is unthinkable that I could personal contact and understand- have any deadly quarrel with our ing President, but our respective Gov

No-

The third quality of the leader I ernments would decree that we behave mentioned is idealism. come sworn enemies. Let no one body can lead unless he has the gift think I am decrying or belittling the of vision and the desire in his soul Rotary movement when I make to leave things in the world a little

better than he found them. these statements.

It is that I feel just now that we are in danger of attaching too much importance to the power of Rotary to influence-national de cisions in the interests of Peace. ** This armament race what does it We stand aghast when all mean?

If the youth of the Empire is to grow up healthy and happy "Service must be our' -watch- word.”". That might have been the utterance of a Rotarian-actual- ly it is a quotation from a speech by the present King of England. Finally, the aims and objects of we think of ten millions killed and more millions maimed in the last Rotary are not new, they were born war but we feverishly prepare for long before Rotary came into be- numbers and in strength. Rotarian. Whether a country is ruled by twenty millions killed in the nexting, but the ideal we must stress is that of Fellowship, for a non-sec- Sydney recently regaled us with A ̈details of the large number of President, a Monarch or a Dictator, not one of them can govern without the consent of the governed.

we cannot rule by force is just as true-to-day-as-it ever was. Where And now let us look a little far-we have minorities ruling, the same ther ahead to the body politic. The principle applies, the rule must be Rotary Movement is growing in just and generous. -

Clubs which had been inaugurated

You within the past year, with a cor-will tell me that many of the Euro- responding influx of new members. The latest report from Rotary In-pean nations have conscript navies ternational Headquarters informs and armies. Yes, but you cannot for us of the formation of 62 new Clubs long make your soldiers and sailors fight unless they are willing to last year.

fight.

ROTARY'S AIM

WHAT IS CIVILISATION? tarian body such as Rotary is has g

And our boasted civilisation, no clear-cut distinctions between what of it? The evolution of man beliefs, dogmas and creeds, it is an from the tiniest atom, the gradual organization: striving for a better and steady growth, the develop-understanding of the men of ment from horrid agliness intonations. graceful beauty, of stunted bodies and limbs into stately forms.

Ages of progress in all that makes for a nobler and higher form

Surely we may accept this as a sign that men are beginning to realise that if we are to be saved I referred just now to the love of of-humanity-for what? For the from a cataclysm, greater than country being the dominating force creation of the deadliest weapons that of the last war the Rotary in the world to-day and it is here for killing one another, for the organisation and with it the Ro-that I would sound a warning note ghastliness of gases to destroy tary ideal must be fostered end that we do not claim too much forymen's langs--if they are fortunate strengthened. What then is the Rotary. We sit down in this Clut enough to escape instant death. Rotary ideal?

and in 4,000 similar Clubs in terms]" Givilisation-allied to Christian- of the closest harmony but does ity! Of what value is the combin Iram sometimes led to wonder anyone really believe that if, foation? Were they not Christian whether the love of country is not example, war broke out between nations that were at war with each the strongest force in the world to Germany and England or France other a few years since? Were not day, and that zeal for one's country and Germany that British Rotarians the Germans praying “God give us is the predominant factor in our dis-would refuse to take up arms victory 2 Were not devout French- putes How easy we find it to re against German Rotarians that Romen and Italians soliciting the Al- cognise the good in the individual, tarians in France would all become mighty, God give us victory?" no matter what his nationality, and pacists and declare themselves Were not prayers being offered in how correspondingly difficult to re- combatants? eognise and appreciate a similar collective virtue.

EXTREME «PENALTY

and thousands of English homes churches “God give us victory?" Did not many an American women's

God give

us

NEED ONE DESPAIR? in as

Thad #

It would ill become me to touch Such an attitude even now would heart atteratheli on controversial subjects in this in some countries where Rotary victory?" survey, but we are none of us ignor flourishes lead to the banishment, ant of the fact that the last War perhaps the death, of: Rotarians left us a heritage of nastiness. Our who expressed it. J. L. Garvin statesmen failed” to realise that a the Observers in referring to the long runt in war hat had lasted four years then constitutional crisis in Englanit de needed a similar period of delibera has recently said this, "In public:and tion for the adjustment of terris private affairs, true tragedy, as tories and boundaries that had beer swept aside as the result of the con- flicts

MINORITIES

erman thinker:sseidė in

rds, is not the confict right and wron but the confl between right and right.

lance th

It is an zimkes the s

FOR INSECT BITES ANDISTINGS.

all

Bites and stings are irritating in the extremel endothe temptation to scratch often outwinicks better judgment.

But it'

ng trouble to do this, for dirt may

get into the place land blood-pof

trouble

the

boils,

jorities we must al the minorities. The old

hat The doubt about

iliantion of Botary. But

ISHE KO