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History of "ROTARY/One" Chicago 1905

February 23, 1905. The airplane had yet to stay aloft more than a few minutes. The first motion picture theater had not yet opened. Norway and Sweden were peacefully terminating their union. On this particular day, a Chicago lawyer, Paul P. Harris, called three friends to a meeting. What he had been thinking and talking about for some time was a club that would kindle fellowship among members of the business community. It was an idea that grew from his desire to find respect for individuals and well being within a group of like minded men. A walk after dinner, watching how a friend was admired by his neighbors made a profound impression on Paul. He wanted to find out if such a condition might happen to a "group" of people. For Five Years Paul thought about this vision, often discussion it with his dear from Silvester Schiele. Then on a cold Thursday night, in February, after one of many pleasant dinners together Paul and Silvester walked across a windy Chicago Street and crossed the river to their mutual friend Gus Loehr's office. Hiram Shorey, a tailor was there to. _**

SO, THE ROTARY CLUB OF CHICAGO WAS FOUNDED, THAT DAY, BY PAUL HARRIS. IT WAS THE FIRST “SERVICE CLUB” ORGANIZED IN THE WORLD. INTERESTING FACTS WHICH ARE RELEVANT TO THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE:

Original Members:

Paul Harris

Attorney

Silvester Schiele

Coal Dealer

Gustavus E. Loehr

Mining Engineer

Hiram Shorey

Tailor

Paul P. Harris

Organized National and International Movement. Suggested name “ROTARY” because meetings were rotated from office-to-office.

Charles A. Newton

Originated the Luncheon idea

Montague M. Bear

Creator and designer of the Rotary Wheel

Chesley R. Perry

Originator of the Name Badge

Presided over the first Rotary Convention (1910)

First secretary of Rotary International (1910-42)

Arthur F. Sheldon

Originator of the Motto, “He Profits Most Who Serves Best.”

In 1908, under an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, Paul. P. Harris, David D. Kagy and John W. Marshall signed the Charter Application for the Corporation known as the Rotary Club. Limited to a Board of five directors, the three objects for which the Corporation was formed were:

First

Second

Third

The promotion of the business interests of its members.

The promotion of good fellowship and other desiderata ordinarily incident to Social Clubs.

To advance the best interests of Rotary, and spread the spirit of loyalty among its citizens.

By the end of 1905, there were 30 members of the Rotary Club. In 1908, the second Rotary Club was formed in San Francisco, California, shortly followed by Oakland. Other clubs that were established soon after were Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City and Boston. (Read how Paul Harris himself numbered the first four.)

1910 saw the first Rotary Convention presided over by Chesley R. Perry, the originator of the Name Badge. At this first Rotary Convention, Perry became the First Secretary of Rotary International, serving from 1910 to 1942. (The ROTARY/One Foundation hosts a Chesley R. Perry Fellowship for members and friends who donate $1,000.00 to the Rotary/One Foundation.)

Chicago Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor formulated the Four Way Test in 1932, and in 1989, the Council on Legislation opened Rotary to women. On January 17, 1989, the Rotary Club of Chicago Board of Directors decreed certified copies of the reproduced Charter Application be presented to individuals and/or Rotary Clubs for distinguished service perpetuating Rotary and its ideal, “Service Above Self.” A copy of this charter may be viewed in the ROTARY/One offices.

Sources: Rotary International & The Golden Thread - Rotary Club of Chicago

Who were the first four men of Rotary? Little was generally known of Schiele, Loehr, Shorey, or Ruggles until Rotary Global History began to find all of the sources and bring them together in one place.

Now read what Rotary's founder Paul Harris wrote about each of them in "This Rotarian Age," in 1935.

ROTARY/One members honored in 1933 for 25 years of service (from The Rotarian)

The "Class of 1908" photo (The Rotarian)

Harry Ruggles at 84 with his son Kenneth, incoming president of ROTARY/One

Wolfgang Ziegler

Chicago Past Presidents

1905-1920

Wolfgang Ziegler

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