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1 THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1927 THE CLINTON CHRONICLE, CLINTON, S. C. v. « PAGE ELEVEN THE EVOLUTION OF KIWANIS By 0. SAMUEL CUMMINGS, International Secretary All organisations must have a be- ceptance of any definite objective— ginning and Kiwanis is no exception to the rule. How it began and why it began is of small significance as com pared with the outstanding fact that it did begin. The first group of men as sembled under the name of Kiwanis met in Detroit, Michigan, in January, 1915. Evolution—A Law of Organization Life Few organizations, if any, enter up on their career with a scheme of or ganization so complete that subse quent growth will not require that co pious revisions be made. Even the without any statement of details, aims and purposes whatever. When a cer tain officer of the international or ganization entered upon his duties, he found every Kiwanis club seeking to find some definite expression for tl\£ Kiwanis idea. For three and a half years the Kiwahis movement had been growing—growing in spite of its lack of a definite objective understood and accepted by the entire membership. “But how do you reconcile the fact of the growth of Kiwanis and your Constitution of the United States, a statement that it had no accepted ideals, with the statement that the suc cess of any organizatoin depends up on its ability to convey some aspect of Truth to mankind?”—you will ask. The, officer before mentioned was con fident that the success was due to the fact that Kiwanis clubs were uncon sciously expressing some fundamental truths; that Kiwanis clubs were filling a great need in the live* of Kiwanians, in the lives of cities in which Kiwanis clubs were established and in the lives of the two nations in which Kiwanis clubs existed. This Kiwanian decided there was only one way to find out what ideals Kiwanis clubs held and that was to visit a large number of clubs in all sections of the country and try to catch the spirit of each one, ex amine its activities and, if possible, to “discover unto it” its own ideals, aims and purposes. The Ideals of Kiwanis Kiwanis ideals are the product of the collective idealism of those busy, practical men who are Kiwanians. Ki wanis' ideals are an expression of the inner hopes, ambitions and desires of average business men. These hidden, unexpressed but fundamental reac tions of the human soul are the very fabric of life itself. They are the pro duct of the moral and spiritual evolu tion of mankind. Those reactions are the hidden signs of that struggle in which every man engages, seeking to apply his philosophy of life to his du ties and privileges as a member of so ciety. The last twenty-five years have witnessed a wonderful development of the social consciousness. The average man of today has an infinitely greater appreciation of his fellow-men, a more adequate understanding of his obliga tions as a citizen and a more vivid realization gf his responsibility to so ciety than had his father before him. Kiwanis, first brought to the busi ness man as only bl, luncheon club, proved the means by which he might satisfy his hunger for fellowship and invest his Kfe in practical service. Ki-> wanis acquired the aspects of a move ment only when Kiwanians, without any suggestion or direction whatever, document of marvelous flexibility and the product of uncanny foresight on the part of its framers, has been amended eighteen times. No evidence exists to show that any national or international organization of Kiwanis c.ubs was contemplated by those associated with the establish ment and leadership of the first club. In other words, the present Kiwanis scheme of organization is a product of evolution. Our international constitu tion, the by-laws of the district organ izations and the standard by-laws of our local clubs are the products of the experience of the three units of our organization plan. An Example of Kiwanis Development As a typical example of how each element in our Kiwanis plan is the product of experience,' consider our unique and successful method of es tablishing new clubs. By a series of beneficial changes, at times, attended by most bitter opposition, we find that our extension work is today one of the most remarkable applications of fun damental organization science ever evolved. The combination ^of volun teer and professional assistance in the establishment of new Kiwanis clubs has been developed on an entirely new basis and because of the unusual suc cess achieved has caused much favor able comment not only within pur own organization, but in the general field of organization science. To have de veloped a plan as complete as the one in use today before the first club was established, would have been utterly impossible. Failure and Success A man’s success depends upon the use to which he puts his successes and failures. The fact of failure is of ten the very basis for success. The big question is not, “Did you ever fail,” but “Did you use your failure to help you succeed?” As Jesus of Nazareth hung upon the cross of Calvary His life appeared a failure to the folk of His day. Yet in that “failure” lay the most colossal success of history,—the foundation of a new philosophy of life; a philosophy of love and service and immortality. KIWANIS (Song) Come all good fellows ana w.uk lay aside, > Come where good' ctieer and Kiwanis abide, Come now and sip of the good fellow ship that is waiting there. Come where the spirit fills all heart’s desire, Come where good fellowship to heights all aspire, Come now and hear in a sqng ringing clear on the blithesome air-^- Chorus: Kiwanis! Kiwanis! Good fellows meet today. Kiwanis! Kiwanis! Drive all our cares away. Kiwanis! Kiwanis! Yours is the spirit free. Kiwanis! Kiwanis! Drown all our glooms in the deep blue sea. Kiwanis Thoughts When a maj makes an unusual ef fort on behalf of the Kiwanis objec tives he finds that he has personally gained something for himself. He has been useful and the consciousness of that fact broadens >his perspective for other duties, the performance of which becomes delightful. He grows in val ue to his community and to himself. ■—Phar, Texas. Kiwanis is a common ground on which men can meet to more effec tively exercise that ever increasing desire to do good. The desire has al ways existed in men to help others. Individually they could do little; unit ed in Kiwanis they have accomplished much. Kiwanis success depends tm unity. Unity of thought, unity of pur pose and ability to cooperate has brought achievement. — Santa Maria, California. > L. BOSS LYNN Vice-President Clinton Kiwanis Club FROM THE CHESTNUT TREE Members cf Kiwanis Contribute Some of Their Favorite Stories Various Kiwanians have contributed anxiety, he called: these as their favorite stories: “The population of China," announc ed the school teacher impressively, “is “Mulcahy, Mulcahy! Have ye had a hemorrhage ?” so vast that two Chinamen die at ev ery breath we take.” The small boy was very patriotic, and father had pronounced views on the question of alien immigration, so this piece of news impressed him huge ly- Shortly afterwards, he was observ ed to be turning purple in the face, and puffing like an over-buriered stea.n engine. “What’s the matter? What are you doing?” asked the instructor of the youth, anxiously. “Killin’ Chinamen,” granted the pa triot. Kiwanis was well-night crucified more ul ? CO " 8Cl L OU8ly US * 6 lt as a V f hlcle by than once in its early history, but the i wblch th ^ could e , x P ress tl l el /„ real supreme fact is that those whose God-i s «! ve? * unu " ual s P mt f for given privilege it has been to lead Ki- shl P and th e qu^ty of manhood rep- — - 1 resented m Kiwanis rendered the or- wams have made every failure the; foundation for success. Ancient scientists spent years of their lives seeking a method by-which lead might be turned into gold. The | ancient alchemists were unsuccessful.! finding his own soul; He finds in Ki- ganization a fitting emissary of a great idea. Kiwanis is leading a spiritual ren aissance in which the business man is The alchemist of today is able by in telligent effort to turn the lead of failure into the gold of success. Kiwanis Ideals Products of Evolution Just as the machinery of the local, district and international units of the Kiwanis organization scheme are the products of evolution, so also are the ideals of Kiwanis. The success and permanency of any organization depends upon its funda mental ideals, aims and purposes. On ly those organizations endure which are the vehicles for introducing, de veloping or maintaining some aspect of Truth. No Definite Objective Strange to say the Kiwanis move ment grew without any conscious ac- The best man thought he'd take a look around and see that everything was running as a fastidious bride would wish it, and up in the room, where the presents were displayed, alone and unhappy-looking, he came upon a youth, seemingly readiy, like the wedding guest of the English poet, to “beat his breast.” He was wandering about, looking at silver and cut glass without seeing, them, and the best man hardly knew i * ac r e - how to approach him. I 1 h “Er—have you kissed the bride?” A teacher in one of the primary grades of the public school had noticed a striking platonic friendship that ex isted between Tommy and little Mary, two of her pupils. Tommy was a bright enough ycungsti r. but he wasn’t disposed to prosecute his studies with much of a vengeance, and his teacher saw that unless be»gct a hustle on him before tho end of the year he wouldn’t be pro moted. “You must study harder,” she told him, “or else you won’t pass. How would you like to stay back in this grade another year and have little Mary go ahead of you?” “Aw,” says Tommy in a blase tone, “I guess there’ll be other little Marys..” Harry Lauder, the noted Scottish comedian and golfer, was describing at a recent dinner a great golf pro fessional. “But he is ugly,” Mr. Lauder said. “Dear me, he is ugly! He is as ugly as that sultan who had all mirrors re moved from his palace so that he might avoid the pain of seeing his own he asked at last. And the answer told wanis an organization in which he can \ far more than its two meagre words might have been expected to. “Not lately!” he replied. make application of principles which before seemed so theoretical and im practical as to be apart from the real ities of human experience. The Kiwanian accept^ a new motive Said the editor to the new reporter: “You must learn never to state a fact for life—service to his fellow-men. The j has been proved a fact. ’V ou Golden Rule takes on a new signifi-1 are a P^ us * n ^° su ’‘ s - Do cance when translated into terms of i no ^ sa y ; tas bicr stole the funds’; daily experience. To the true Kiwan- | sa y <The cashier who is alleged to have ian his business or profession provides lS t°l en the funds.’ That’s all. Oh. get not only a means for earning a liveli hood but also a means by which he may serve society. There is nothing new about the Ki wanis idea—it is as old as the soul of man, but Kiwanis has put thg breath of life into old ideals by translating them into terms which the average man may appreciate. Here to Serve You We are serving hundreds of satis fied customers every day. It is our aim always to give the lowest prices possible, prompt, efficient service al ways. — Everything to eat and wear. YOUR BUSINESS INVITED. ■r-** , Mercantile Co. something about that First Ward so cial tonight.” And this is the report turned in by the young man who heeded the editor’s warning: “It is rumored that a card party was given last evening to a number of reputed ladies of the First Ward. Mrs. Smith, gossip says, was the hostess, and festivities are reported to have continued until 11:30 In the evening. The sultan called on his grand viz ier one day and by accident happened to catch sight of his reflection. His hideousness overpowered him and he broke into violent sobbing. In his out burst the vizier joined. Finally the sultan calmed down, wiped his eyes, got ready to smoke and talk. But not so the vizier. He sobbed on an on. His master, tapping his slippper impati ently on the cushions, waited for him to cease. At last the sultan got angry and exclaimed: “Why do you weep longer than I, vizier?” “Alas!” the grand vizier exclaimed. “You wept, O commander of the faith ful, because you saw your face but for an instant, but 1 see it all day and every day.” A teacher in a certain school has several Jewish pupils. The other day she was explaining a sum in subtrac tion which these little ones found dif- The alleged hostess is believed to - be!^* cu ^ un derstand. the wife of John Smith the so-called j “ Now .*.” sail] shc> * to exemplify the grocer.” I * suppose I had ten dol lars and went into a store to spend it. A lad went into a large post office ^ ou ^_ m a ^ or f’* dollars, and asked for a penny stomp. “Next counter,” said the , T¥ , , briskly; “can’t you read ? Look at the < .' L ! v ’ r „ tbin8 ' S ' ** ow rnuc ^ labels.” ^ Then I spent two dollars for gloves, clerk ant ^ a dQllar and fifty cents for some did I have left? For a mcment there was dead si lence. Then a boy’s hand went up. “Well, Isaac, how much did I have left?” “Vy didn’t you count your change?” / / Kiwanian Jack Pinson j The lad dicLnoJ; answer. He went ! to the counter indicated, on which was i the legent “postage stomps,” and thought one. Then he affixed it to the 1 letter and went back to the clerk he . , . had at first addressed. That irdivid- said > aa r a disgusted tone, j ual was checking postal orders. When he had reached the end of the bundle he looked up quickly. “Well?” he asked. KTWANIF ryjEALS (Song) i Fhe h'ghc. “If I post this. letter tonight.” in quired the lad, “will it ’ tJ'G.een- 1 ville tomorrow’ morning?” “Certainly it will.” “Well then,” replied the lad. “you’re a liar, it won’t, for it’s going to Spar- Come join hands and shout the chorus, tanburg.” | B-irne from sea to sea, 1 Rising to the heavens o’er us. This story was told at a club the Where e ’ er nien ma - v be - in brotherhood s u iit f r in Kiwanis. Our nation’s oest with none epprea’d We’d strive for in Kiwanis Chorus: Shout it, breathe it, live it, do it. For Kiwanis men have will’d Shame that any man should rue it! other day: An Irishman was hard at work painting the top of a telegraph pole a , brittht green, when suddenly the pot of I ' or , - od -"d man WE BUlLD, I paint slipped and splashed on the side- business clean, no tricking mean ’walk. Not more than a few seconds We teach it in Kiwanis. 1 later another Irishman, also an em- ^'° scrv ® our best, meet ev’ry test, i ployee of the telephone company, came We learn it in Kiwanis. along. / To serve, to love, where e’er men move, He looked at the paint, then at his We seek this in Kiwanis. countryman oh the ladder coming To honor God and live his Word, down the pole. Then, with infected The purpose of Kiwanis. Clinton's Most Popular Department Store NEW FALL GOODS ARRIVING DAILY. EVERYTHING NEW YOU WILL FIND HERE. Our Stock Is the Most Complete At Moderate Prices. i. T"r THE BEE HIVE CLINTON, S. C V t Kiwanian Ned Anderson "L- Our Purpose Like Kiwanis — it is the constant desire of our Bank to grow in useful ness to this community. .The desire has always existed in men to help <> others — that same desire is ours to 3 4 * W render service and a helpfulness to our customers and friends. “THE BANK OF PERSONAL SERVICE 99 W The Commercial Bank •• Kiwanian Homer Henry The Clinton^ Chronicle—SI .50 a Year