The 1955 Golden Anniversary of Rotary (Districts 1020 and 1230)

On the date of February 23rd 1955, exactly 50 years since the first four Rotarians met for the very first time in Room 711 of the Unity Building, Dearborn St. Chicago, Scottish Rotarians in District 2 met to honour 50 years of service.

The venue was the North British Hotel, Edinburgh -a past meeting place of the Edinburgh Club and a personal favourite place of founder Paul Harris. Harris' portrait hung beyond the top table along with a giant Rotary wheel. Eighty-nine flags representing the flags of each Rotary country (as in 1955) flanked both sides of the hall.

District Chairman (now known as District Governor) Archibald Stevenson JP of the Hamilton Rotary Club welcomed a capacity crowd of some 350 Rotarians representing the 35 clubs to the special dinner. Among the special guests that night were the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Lord Justice General and various representatives of trade and professional bodies. The American Consul and the Chief Constable were also guests at the top table. Grace was said by Rotarian Dr. John A. Fraser of Hamilton R/C and chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen.

Stevenson would pay tribute to Paul Harris and ask for a moment's silence for the great man while regretting that he had not lived to see the Golden Anniversary of his ‘idea’. Interestingly, the DC stated that "This day and this function will be looked back upon, 50 years hence, by some, I hope, who are here."

The night of February 23rd 1955 was cold and wet - typical February in Scotland -and some guests had to abandon their cars in snowdrifts but the venue was warm and inviting.

What the Edinburgh News had to say	Promotional article	Invitation and booklet
	Cover

Among the many telegrams received at the anniversary dinner was one from the Duke of Edinburgh - an honorary member of the Edinburgh Club- and also one from the RI President Herb Taylor who, of course, is best known for penning 24 words of profound meaning - the 4 Way Test.

The theme for the evening seemed to have been one centred round the rivalry between Scotland's two main cities (Glasgow and Edinburgh) but carried out with wit and goodwill by all. The toast to "Rotary International" was given by Rev. Conrad Bonnevie-Svendson past Vice-President of Rotary International.

William B Hislop Past District Chairman of District 2 proposed a toast to the district and talked about the 'early aims of Rotary’. He told a very interesting tale of how he and his father had been introduced to Stuart Morrow and how Morrow when starting up the Edinburgh Club still retained the secretaryship of the Glasgow Club. The infamous W. Stuart Morrow had first organised the Glasgow and Edinburgh Clubs and made money out of the membership fees! (Hislop does not mention this.) Hislop quoted Morrow's idea of the Rotary Club -"The primary purpose of a Rotary Club is the promotion of the business interests of its members". It was only fitting that the enormous contribution of Dr Tom Stephenson was also mentioned. Hislop believed it was significant that BARC (The British Association of Rotary Clubs -precursor to RIBI) was set up in Edinburgh in 1913 and Rotary in Scotland had positively benefitted from the unique relationship with RI in Chicago.

Stevenson's reply and his toast to Rotary International included the words: "I also hope that Rotary's Golden Anniversary will leave a permanent mark in the communities around our clubs, not merely by our material contributions to community life, which I know will be many and varied, but by the moral and spiritual influence of our high example as business and professional men and as good citizens."