The earnest thinker and philosopher sat opposite me in the dining car, and fixing his steady and inquisitive eyes upon me, he propounded this inquiry: “Perry, what do you consider to be the philosophy of Rotary?” I didn’t feel prepared, at that moment, to discuss that question with the father of the Rotary idea, but he made me discuss it with him just the same, and since then I have given a great deal of thought at odd moments to the question which was and still is on Mr. Harris’ mind. I have analyzed the establishment and growth of the first Rotary Club (Chicago) and of many others. Orally and in correspondence I have discussed the matter with other Rotarians. At times I have started to follow the Seattle idea, the Minneapolis idea or some other “keynote” of Rotary, but the more I have thought and reflected and considered all angles of the question, the more I have been forced to come back to the Chicago plan (or what I understand to be the Chicago plan and that also of the great majority of all Rotary Clubs).

There is no question in my mind but that the Rotary movement has developed into a greater and grander example of fraternal co-operation than any one conceived possible or even thought of in the earliest days of the first club. As Ofttimes a child with plain and unattractive features and awkward and ungainly form has developed into a man of splendid physique and noble cast of countenance or into a woman of perfect figure, graceful carriage and most beautiful face, so, although Rotary may have started as a simple and more or less selfish endeavor to get additional business for those who were its first charter members, it has grown and developed into a marvelous great universal movement with elements of magnificent altruism, sparkling with beautiful gems of the philosophy and science of service to fellow man and to society.

Even so, why is Rotary different, unique, interest-arousing, successful? Why is it Rotary?

For my own satisfaction I have formulated the following statement which seems to me a true and consistent and more or less logical declaration of what Rotarianism is and how it is practiced.

The fundamental principle of Rotarianism is the belief that every man engaged in a reputable calling is entitled to all the business he can get and take care of on the “square deal” basis and that he should receive the active co-operation and support of his friends in getting it.

The primary purpose of a Rotary Club is the promotion of the business interests of its members. 

The methods by which this purpose is accomplished are:

• 1st. By the development of an intimate personal acquaintanceship among all its members.

• 2nd. By the encouragement of the practice of full and frank publicity in the club by the members regarding their respective lines of business.

• 3rd. By the cultivation of the practice of doing for “the other fellow” as we would have him do for us, believing that “as we unselfishly enable others to succeed, we ourselves make progress toward success.”