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"Giant Trees from little Acorns
Grow."
Paul Harris, 1933,
radio address from Boston |
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The fact is that
Sydney Pascall, RI president in 1931 was the first president to
plant a tree during a
presidential visit.
 But, it was Paul
and Jean Harris who created a friendship garden at their home,
Comely
Bank, in Chicago. In the 1930's they were invited by the board of
directors to visit many Rotary conventions and gatherings around the world.
In nearly 50 places that the project has been able to find, the Harris'
planted trees. Some even survived wars, some did not, but were replanted.
(reprint from the April 2007 issue of The Rotarian, upper left)
The purpose of
this section of our history project is to show the growth of Rotary from the
fellowship and love of one Rotarian to another. You'll read some of Harris'
writing and read of his travels. In the story of the trees is part of the
story of the greatness of Rotary itself.
Jack Selway, Founder
Rotary Global History |
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 The
Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth, the third club in South Africa, was
chartered on 25 April 1925. On the occasion of Paul and Jean Harris’
visit to the club in 1934, Paul planted a Norfolk Pine tree in our city
park which is still there today. It bears the inscription from Paul
Harris, “Witness humbly, build bravely, love widely”. The picture taken
in Port Elizabeth shows: Paul Harris, Jean Harris and DG Cecil Buchanan
(a Past President of the Port Elizabeth Rotary Club) |
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External Links |
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History Timeline |
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"It
is not good that the man should be alone" hence I took Jean with me and
her presence shed its customary glow over every picture." From Peregrinations, Volume II "We Become Pacific-Ocean
Minded" by Paul P. Harris, President Emeritus, Rotary
International - copyright 1937, Jean T. Harris, courtesy of the Rotary International Archives |
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